Atlanta Airport Global Entry: How It Works at Hartsfield–Jackson (ATL)

If you fly internationally through Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Global Entry can save you a lot of time when you come back into the United States. This guide explains how Global Entry works specifically at Atlanta’s airport, how to enroll, where to go in the terminal, and what to expect as an Atlanta resident or visitor.

What Is Global Entry and Why It Matters at ATL

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that gives expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers arriving in the United States.

For Atlanta travelers, the benefits are especially noticeable because:

• ATL is one of the busiest international gateways in the country.
• Immigration and customs lines can be long during peak arrival periods.
• Global Entry members usually pass through with kiosk or facial-recognition processing instead of waiting in the regular lines.

If you live in metro Atlanta or frequently connect through ATL on international trips, Global Entry can significantly reduce your time spent in the International Terminal (Concourse F) when you return.

Where Global Entry Is Used at Atlanta Airport

International Arrivals Areas

Global Entry is used only when you’re entering the United States. At ATL, that happens in:

• Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal (Concourse F)
• Concourse E International Arrivals (depending on where your flight parks)

When you land on an international flight into Atlanta:

1. Follow signs for Immigration / Passport Control.
2. Look for Global Entry signs separating those lanes from the regular lines.
3. Depending on how CBP is operating that day, you’ll be directed to:
   • Global Entry kiosks, or
   • Facial recognition / biometric processing with a Global Entry line.

Global Entry helps you:

• Clear immigration faster
• Move more quickly to baggage claim
• Proceed faster through customs (baggage screening)

Atlanta Global Entry Enrollment Center: Location & Basics

To finish your Global Entry application, you need an in-person interview at a CBP enrollment center. Atlanta’s main location serving the airport area is:

Global Entry Enrollment Center – Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson Airport

• Location: Inside or adjacent to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Areas served: Primarily international travelers using ATL
• Managed by: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Because physical office details (exact door numbers, office suite numbers, or direct phones) change over time, it’s important to:

• Check the official Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) site for
  • Current hours
  • Specific location directions
  • Appointment availability

Most travelers schedule interviews to coincide with an existing international trip via ATL.

How to Apply for Global Entry if You’re in Atlanta

Whether you live in Atlanta or are just passing through, the application process is the same nationwide. Here’s how it typically works:

1. Create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) Account

• Go to the official TTP website (run by the Department of Homeland Security).
• Create an account with your email and password.
• You’ll use this account to submit your application, pay, and track status.

2. Complete the Online Application

You’ll be asked for:

• Personal information (name, date of birth, citizenship, etc.)
• Address history for several years (use your Atlanta address if you live here)
• Employment history
• Travel history and any previous law enforcement issues

Answer everything fully and accurately. Incomplete or inconsistent information can delay approval.

3. Pay the Non-Refundable Application Fee

• Global Entry has a program fee (often $100-range per person, but verify current amount).
• The fee is non-refundable, even if your application is denied.
• Some travel credit cards reimburse this fee, but that’s optional and not required.

4. Wait for Conditional Approval

After you submit:

• CBP reviews your application.
• If you pass the initial screening, you’ll receive “Conditional Approval” in your TTP account.
• This can take days or several weeks, depending on volume.

Once conditionally approved, you can schedule your in-person interview at an enrollment center, such as the one at or near ATL.

Scheduling Your Global Entry Interview in Atlanta

Option 1: Standard Appointment at ATL

With conditional approval:

1. Log into your TTP account.
2. Choose “Schedule Interview”.
3. Select Atlanta Hartsfield–Jackson Airport (or another nearby enrollment center if you prefer).
4. Pick an available date and time.

Tips for Atlanta-based travelers:

• Appointment slots at ATL can book up quickly, especially around holiday and summer travel seasons.
• If ATL is full, you can:
  • Check nearby centers (e.g., other CBP locations in Georgia or neighboring states).
  • Look for cancellations by checking the site frequently.

Option 2: Enrollment on Arrival at Atlanta Airport

ATL has often participated in “Enrollment on Arrival” (EoA), a program that allows conditionally approved travelers to complete their Global Entry interview when they land from an international flight.

How it generally works:

1. Arrive from an international flight into ATL.
2. Follow signs for Global Entry / Enrollment on Arrival.
3. Tell the CBP officer you’d like to complete Enrollment on Arrival.
4. A CBP officer will review your documents, ask interview questions, and complete your enrollment.

This can be convenient if you:

• Live in metro Atlanta and are returning home from abroad, or
• Are connecting through Atlanta from another international destination.

Availability and hours can change, so it’s wise to verify that Enrollment on Arrival is active at ATL before counting on it.

What to Bring to Your Global Entry Interview at ATL

For your scheduled interview or Enrollment on Arrival at Atlanta:

Bring at least:

• Valid passport (or passports, if you hold more than one nationality)
• U.S. permanent resident card, if applicable
• Second form of ID, such as:
  • Driver’s license (Georgia or other state)
  • State ID card
• Proof of current address (if different from ID), such as:
  • Utility bill
  • Lease or mortgage statement
  • Bank or credit card statement

For Atlanta residents, using your Georgia driver’s license and a local bill can help confirm your address if CBP asks.

What Happens During the Global Entry Interview at ATL

The interview at Atlanta’s enrollment center or via Enrollment on Arrival is usually brief, assuming your paperwork is in order.

You can generally expect:

• Identity verification
• Review of your application details and travel history
• Basic questions, such as:
  • Why you want Global Entry
  • Your typical travel destinations
  • Employment and residence history
• Photo capture for your Global Entry profile
• Fingerprinting or biometric data collection (if not already on file)

If you’re approved:

• In many cases, your Global Entry is activated shortly after the interview.
• You’ll see your status updated in your TTP account.
• A Known Traveler Number (KTN) is assigned to you, which you can use for TSA PreCheck (if included with your Global Entry membership).

Using Global Entry at Atlanta Airport: Step-by-Step

Here’s what to do when you arrive internationally into ATL as a Global Entry member:

1. Follow Signs for Passport Control

After deplaning:

• Follow signs for “Arrivals,” “Immigration,” or “Passport Control.”
• Look for the Global Entry signage; these lines are separate from standard passport lines.

2. Use Kiosks or Biometric Lanes

Depending on the current setup:

• You may use Global Entry kiosks (where you scan your passport and fingerprints and answer a few customs questions), or
• You may be directed into a facial-recognition or biometric lane designed for Global Entry and other trusted travelers.

You’ll receive either:

• A receipt from a kiosk, or
• Direct instructions from the CBP officer to proceed.

3. Baggage Claim and Customs

Next steps:

• Go to baggage claim in the international arrivals hall.
• Collect your checked bags.
• Proceed to customs exit, following any Global Entry or Trusted Traveler signs if indicated.
• In some cases, you hand over a kiosk receipt or simply pass through after a brief screening.

For Atlanta travelers with tight connections, Global Entry can help you clear the international arrival process faster, giving you more time to reach your connecting flight, especially if you need to re-clear security.

Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck at ATL

Many Atlanta travelers confuse Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. At Hartsfield–Jackson:

• Global Entry:
  • Used at international arrivals (when you’re returning to the U.S.).
  • Run by Customs and Border Protection.
• TSA PreCheck:
  • Used at security checkpoints before departure, both domestic and international.
  • Run by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
  • Separate enrollment program, but Global Entry usually includes TSA PreCheck eligibility.

If your Global Entry membership includes TSA PreCheck:

• Add your Known Traveler Number (KTN) to your airline profile and reservations.
• At ATL, look for the TSA PreCheck lanes in the main Domestic Terminal (North & South security checkpoints), and sometimes at the International Terminal security area.

Practical Tips for Atlanta-Based Global Entry Travelers

Choosing the Right Terminal at ATL

If Atlanta is your home airport and you’re leaving or returning on an international trip:

• Departing internationally:
  • Some airlines use the International Terminal (Concourse F) for check-in and security.
  • Others check in at the Domestic Terminal and then connect to E or F by plane train.
• Arriving internationally:
  • You’ll typically arrive at Concourse E or F, clear immigration and customs, then:
    • Exit into the International Terminal, or
    • Re-clear TSA to continue your journey if you’re connecting.

Global Entry speeds up the immigration and customs part of this process.

If You’re Just Connecting Through Atlanta

Many travelers are simply connecting through ATL on the way to another U.S. city:

• You still must clear immigration and customs in Atlanta.
• Global Entry can significantly reduce the time needed, giving you:
  • Less stress with short layovers
  • More time to reach your domestic connecting gate

Families and Children

Key points for Atlanta families:

• Each person (including children) must have their own Global Entry approval to use the line.
• Children without Global Entry must typically go through the regular immigration lines, even if the adults have it, so plan accordingly.

Keeping Your Global Entry Up to Date in Atlanta

Global Entry membership is valid for several years (commonly five). To keep using it at ATL:

• Log into your TTP account well before your expiration date.
• Complete the renewal application and submit any updated information.
• Some renewals are approved without another interview; others require a new interview, which can typically be scheduled again at the Atlanta enrollment center or completed via Enrollment on Arrival, if available.

If you move within metro Atlanta:

• Update your address in your TTP account as soon as you settle.
• CBP expects your contact information to stay current.

Quick Reference: Global Entry at Atlanta Airport

If you fly internationally through Atlanta’s Hartsfield–Jackson Airport more than occasionally, Global Entry can make your returns to the U.S. faster and less stressful. By understanding how the program is set up at ATL—where to go, how to enroll, and what to expect—you can decide whether it’s worth adding to your travel routine.