Global Entry vs NEXUS vs SENTRI: Which Trusted Traveler Program Is Right for You?

Find the perfect fit for your travel needs. Review the application requirements, costs, and perks of DHS programs to skip the long lines at the border.

Global Entry

The Global Standard

$120/ 5 years

Best For

International air travelers arriving in the US.

Key Benefits

Expedited clearance at US airports
TSA PreCheck®
Expedited land border crossing (with card)
Does not require initial vehicle inspection

Drawbacks / Requirements

Long interview wait times (up to 11 months)
Requires Passport or Resident Card

Official CBP Source

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SENTRI

Southern Border Specialist

$120/ 5 years

Best For

Frequent land border crossers between Mexico and the US.

Key Benefits

Dedicated fast lanes for Mexico-US land borders
Access to Global Entry kiosks (if holding a passport)
TSA PreCheck® (Solo ciudadanos/residentes de EE. UU.)

Drawbacks / Requirements

All vehicles must be registered and inspected
Fewer enrollment centers available (mostly down south)

Official CBP Source

Take the Interactive Quiz

NEXUS

Northern Border Essential

$120/ 5 years

Best For

Frequent travelers between the US and Canada.

Key Benefits

Dedicated fast lanes for Canada-US land borders
Expedited custom clearance at Canadian airports
Expedited clearance at US airports (like Global Entry)
TSA PreCheck®

Drawbacks / Requirements

Requires approval from both US and Canadian governments
Interviews strictly limited to northern border centers

Official CBP Source

Take the Interactive Quiz

Global Entry vs NEXUS vs SENTRI: Which Program Is Right for You?

Feature	Global Entry	NEXUS	SENTRI
Cost	$100	$50	$122.25
TSA PreCheck Included	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Expedited US Entry	✅ Yes	US/Canada only	US/Mexico only
Interview Required	Yes	Yes	Yes
Avg Wait Time (2024)	4–18 months	2–6 months	3–9 months

Trusted Traveler Programs allow pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited processing at select U.S. airports and land border crossings.
— U.S. Customs and Border Protection, cbp.gov

Official Program Statistics & Processing Times

As of early 2026, over 14 million members are enrolled in the Global Entry program, according to official CBP statistics.
Current vetting processing times are estimated by the Department of Homeland Security at 6 to 8 months for Global Entry, 12 to 14 months for SENTRI, and 16 to 18 months for NEXUS (refer to the DHS Trusted Traveler Programs Guide).
Wait times for physical interview slots at popular enrollment centers can add several months. For example, scheduling a JFK Global Entry appointment or a LAX Global Entry appointment can take nearly twice as long as regional airports. Review availability via the CBP TTP Dashboard.
NEXUS: Available at over 100 land, air, and marine crossing locations between the U.S. and Canada.
SENTRI: Dedicated lanes at major Southern land border ports in California, Arizona, and Texas.

Sources: CBP Trusted Traveler Programs | DHS TTP Overview

The Core Challenge: Interview Availability

Regardless of which Trusted Traveler program you choose, the largest bottleneck is securing an appointment for your final approval interview. Demand is currently at an all-time high, leaving applicants waiting 4 to 11 months just to get a date at their local airport or border crossing.

That's where we come in. Our monitoring service scans the enrollment calendar 24/7 and sends you a text alert as soon as someone cancels, letting you snipe the slot and get your interview done in days—not months.

Trusted Traveler Programs FAQ

What is the main difference between Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS?: Global Entry is the primary program for international air travel into the U.S. SENTRI is optimized for expedited vehicle and pedestrian entry from Mexico into the U.S. NEXUS is designed specifically for expedited travel between the U.S. and Canada by air, land, and sea.
Does SENTRI or NEXUS include TSA PreCheck?: Yes, all three programs (Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS) include TSA PreCheck benefits for expedited domestic airport screening within the United States for approved U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.
Which program has the longest interview wait times?: Currently, Global Entry and SENTRI face the most severe backlogs, with applicants waiting anywhere from 4 to 12 months for an interview appointment at popular enrollment centers. NEXUS also experiences delays, particularly at shared border crossing locations.

Appt Helper

Global Entry vs NEXUS vs SENTRI: Which Program Is Right for You?

Feature	Global Entry	NEXUS	SENTRI
Cost	$100	$50	$122.25
TSA PreCheck Included	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Expedited US Entry	✅ Yes	US/Canada only	US/Mexico only
Interview Required	Yes	Yes	Yes
Avg Wait Time (2024)	4–18 months	2–6 months	3–9 months

Trusted Traveler Programs allow pre-approved, low-risk travelers to receive expedited processing at select U.S. airports and land border crossings.

Official Program Statistics & Processing Times

As of early 2026, over 14 million members are enrolled in the Global Entry program, according to official CBP statistics.
Current vetting processing times are estimated by the Department of Homeland Security at 6 to 8 months for Global Entry, 12 to 14 months for SENTRI, and 16 to 18 months for NEXUS (refer to the DHS Trusted Traveler Programs Guide).
Wait times for physical interview slots at popular enrollment centers can add several months. For example, scheduling a JFK Global Entry appointment or a LAX Global Entry appointment can take nearly twice as long as regional airports. Review availability via the CBP TTP Dashboard.
NEXUS: Available at over 100 land, air, and marine crossing locations between the U.S. and Canada.
SENTRI: Dedicated lanes at major Southern land border ports in California, Arizona, and Texas.

Sources: CBP Trusted Traveler Programs | DHS TTP Overview

The Core Challenge: Interview Availability

Trusted Traveler Programs FAQ

What is the main difference between Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS?

Global Entry is the primary program for international air travel into the U.S. SENTRI is optimized for expedited vehicle and pedestrian entry from Mexico into the U.S. NEXUS is designed specifically for expedited travel between the U.S. and Canada by air, land, and sea.

Does SENTRI or NEXUS include TSA PreCheck?

Yes, all three programs (Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS) include TSA PreCheck benefits for expedited domestic airport screening within the United States for approved U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.

Which program has the longest interview wait times?

Currently, Global Entry and SENTRI face the most severe backlogs, with applicants waiting anywhere from 4 to 12 months for an interview appointment at popular enrollment centers. NEXUS also experiences delays, particularly at shared border crossing locations.