Practical Hint: How to get a new or replacement Global Entry card

Let’s make one thing clear: In general, you don’t have to show up Global Entry card when doing customs procedures at the airport.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has clarified that members do not need a pass to access expedited customs routes for air travel. Generally, these cards are used to cross the land border into the United States

However, throughout this year, we have received feedback from a number of travelers who have encountered various situations when they were asked to present their physical card. In fact, this summer TPG determined four different situations where you might want to have your card available.

Add the fact that the Global Entry card can be a backup form of identification at the TSA checkpoint — not to mention a form of ID you can still use if you don’t get one. Real ID by May federal deadline — and that makes it a handy card to have in your wallet.

However, when we’ve talked about these cards in the past, we’ve heard from quite a few travelers who have never received a physical Global Entry card or don’t know where their card is at this time.

If you are very interested and are a current member of the program, here is what you can do to get a new card or a replacement card to document your Global Entry membership.

To get a new or replacement Global Entry card, you need to log into the US Department of Homeland Security portal where you manage your Trusted Traveler Program membership — ttp.dhs.gov.

There, you will log in. If it’s been several years since you’ve accessed your online account and can’t remember your password (I know I can’t remember my password), you can click “forgot my password” and perform a password recovery using the email address you used to create your account.

Once you’ve logged into your portal, you’ll be able to see your active membership — in your case, and in my case, Global Entry.

The box should include your membership expiration date and number, as well as the earliest possible date by which you can renew your membership.

On your member info screen, there is also a button that says “Change Card”.

When you click that, it will take you to a page where you will be asked to give a reason to replace the tag.

Again, on this page, CBP reiterates that a Global Entry card is not required when flying. However, as mentioned, there may still be reasons why you want a card.

There are a number of reasons you can come up with for needing a new card, whether it’s changing your personal information, never receiving the card, or having a damaged, lost or stolen card.

It will prompt you to answer some additional questions, after which you can submit a new card application.

As the information on the page indicates, this is purely for replacement cards and is not the same as card renewals. You will have to go through the entire Global Entry program membership renewal process to actually renew.

Therefore, “if your request to replace your card is approved,” CBP said, “your plan membership expiration date remains the same.”

In other words, all you’re doing here is getting yourself a new physical card, not an upgraded Global Entry membership.