The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has released a list of 23 countries whose citizens may qualify for Global Entry, a trusted traveller programme designed to speed up immigration clearance.
Global Entry allows approved travellers to avoid the usual immigration queues when arriving in the US. Eligible passengers use automated kiosks to submit their customs declarations and receive clearance.
Countries covered by the programme
The countries currently included in the US arrangements are:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Bahrain
- Brazil
- Canada, through NEXUS
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Germany
- India
- Japan
- Jordan
- Republic of Korea
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Panama
- Singapore
- Switzerland
- Taiwan United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
The CBP said it had established bilateral arrangements with the listed countries to support smoother travel into the US.
African countries absent from the list
No African country appears among the 23 nations covered by the arrangements.
As a result, travellers from Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Egypt must continue using the standard US Customs and Border Protection immigration process when they arrive in the country.
Global Entry can be particularly useful for frequent travellers because it reduces the time spent in immigration lines at busy US airports.
However, only approved members can use the automated clearance kiosks.
Canada’s participation comes through NEXUS, a separate trusted traveller programme intended to support travel between Canada and the United States.
See the full CBP Global Entry International Arrangements page.
TUKO.co.ke also reported that the US had announced one country whose citizens could visit for 180 days.
