Do I Need to Reapply for Global Entry If My Passport Is Lost or Stolen?
"Reader Questions" are answered twice a week — Mondays and Fridays — by TPG Senior Writer Julian Mark Kheel.
Global Entry is a great program that gives regular international travelers access to a fast-lane through customs and immigration when returning to the US from a trip abroad. But TPG reader Neurosci wants to know whether you have to apply for Global Entry again if you lose your passport or it's stolen...
[pullquote source="TPG Reader Neurosci"]Do you know if I need to re-apply for Global Entry if my passport was stolen and I was issued a new passport with a different passport number?[/pullquote]
When you're arriving back in the United States via air, your Global Entry membership is tied to your passport. You don't need to carry your Global Entry card — instead, you access it by scanning your passport at one of the Global Entry kiosks. So if your passport goes missing and you have to get a new one, you won't have Global Entry attached to your replacement passport.
But there's good news — you don't have to apply for the program again. Instead, you can simply assign your existing membership to your new passport using the Global Entry website from the comfort of your home, just as if you had renewed an expiring passport.
The only difference is that the Global Entry website changed in October, so if you haven't re-registered for the new version yet, you'll need to do that first. It's a little complicated, but you can follow the instructions in our post to make your life a bit easier. Then once you're registered, you'll want to navigate to your Dashboard and look for the link on the right marked "Update Documents."
The first box on the "Update Documents" page lists your current passport information. Simply click the blue "Edit" link at the upper right corner of that box, and you'll be able to change the info to reflect your new passport's number and dates.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that if your passport is lost or stolen, don't wait to report it. Stolen passports are often a source of identity theft and can be used for nefarious means, so it's best to let the State Department and even the local police know about it as soon as possible, or at least once you're certain it's not going to turn up in the laundry. Do keep in mind that once you report a passport as missing, it will be immediately canceled and can't be used again if you find it later, so make sure it's really gone before reporting it.
So, Neurosci, while there are a few steps you'll need to follow to get your existing Global Entry membership attached to your replacement passport, you should be able to get it done without any new applications or interviews. Thanks for the question, and if you're a TPG reader who'd like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or email us at info@thepointsguy.com.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.