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

If you fly internationally through Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Global Entry can make your return to the U.S. much faster and less stressful. This guide explains how Global Entry works at Atlanta Airport, where to go, how to apply and finalize your interview in Atlanta, and what Atlanta-based travelers should know before, during, and after a trip.

What Is Global Entry and Why It Matters in Atlanta

Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that lets pre-approved, low-risk travelers use dedicated kiosks instead of standing in the regular passport control line when returning to the United States.

For Atlanta travelers, this can be especially valuable because:

  • ATL is one of the busiest international airports in the world.
  • Immigration lines can be long during peak arrival times and major travel seasons.
  • Many Atlanta residents and business travelers regularly fly to Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa through ATL’s international terminal.

With Global Entry, when you land in Atlanta from abroad, you skip the regular inspection line and use automated kiosks or eGates in the Global Entry area, then move on to baggage claim and customs.

Bonus: Most Global Entry members are also eligible for TSA PreCheck, which can speed up security screening when you depart from Atlanta, too.

Where Global Entry Is Located at Atlanta Airport

Global Entry is part of the international arrivals process at ATL. There are two main things to know:

1. Global Entry Kiosks / eGates for Arriving Passengers

If you land from an international destination into Concourse F (Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal) or Concourse E, you will follow signs to:

  • “Arrivals / Immigration / Passport Control”
  • Then look for “Global Entry” signs

Atlanta uses either Global Entry kiosks or automated passport control-style eGates (depending on current CBP setup). These are in the same general area as standard passport control but in a separate, clearly marked lane.

You will:

  1. Scan your passport (and often your face is scanned as well).
  2. Confirm your customs declaration answers.
  3. Wait for clearance, then follow the Global Entry exit lane to baggage claim and customs.

If you’re connecting to another U.S. flight within ATL, you will still collect your checked bags after Global Entry, clear customs, and then re-check bags as directed.

2. Global Entry Enrollment Center at ATL

To complete your Global Entry interview in Atlanta, CBP operates a Global Entry Enrollment Center at the airport:

Global Entry Enrollment Center – Atlanta Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Typically located in or near the International Terminal (Concourse F) area used for CBP processing.

Because airport office locations and hours can change, travelers usually:

  • Confirm the exact location and current operating hours through CBP.
  • Allow extra time to find the office within the international arrivals level of ATL.

This is where you would go for:

  • Scheduled Global Entry interviews
  • Enrollment on Arrival (if available when you arrive internationally)

How to Apply for Global Entry if You Live in Atlanta

Even though your interview might be at ATL, you do not apply directly at the airport. The process is online first, then in-person.

Step 1: Create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) Account

  1. Visit the Trusted Traveler Programs website (run by CBP).
  2. Create a TTP account with your personal information.
  3. Log in to start a Global Entry application.

Step 2: Complete the Online Application

You’ll be asked for:

  • Full legal name and personal details
  • Five-year address history (including your Atlanta address if you live here)
  • Five-year employment history (including any Atlanta-area employers)
  • Travel history and background questions

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

Step 3: Pay the Non-Refundable Application Fee

You’ll pay a non-refundable fee per applicant. Some credit cards reimburse this fee, but that depends on your card benefits.

Step 4: Wait for Conditional Approval

CBP reviews your application. If you are conditionally approved, you’ll receive:

  • A conditional approval notice
  • Instructions to schedule an in-person interview at an enrollment center

Applicants in Atlanta often choose to interview at:

  • Atlanta Airport Global Entry Enrollment Center, or
  • Another regional enrollment center (for example, if they’re traveling by car to another city that has shorter wait times)

Scheduling Your Global Entry Interview at Atlanta Airport

Once you’re conditionally approved, you can attempt to schedule at ATL.

How to Schedule

  1. Log in to your TTP account.
  2. Go to your Global Entry application.
  3. Select “Schedule an Interview”.
  4. Choose Atlanta – Hartsfield–Jackson Airport as your preferred location (if available).
  5. Pick a date and time.

Interview slots at busy airports like ATL can book up, so many Atlanta residents:

  • Check the scheduling system frequently for new openings.
  • Are flexible with weekday vs. weekend times.
  • Combine the interview with an already-planned trip through ATL.

What to Bring to Your Global Entry Interview in Atlanta

For your ATL Airport interview, plan to bring:

  • Valid passport (or passports, if you hold more than one)
  • Second form of ID, such as:
    • State-issued Georgia driver’s license
    • State ID card
  • Proof of U.S. residency, such as:
    • Georgia driver’s license with current Atlanta address
    • Utility bill, lease, or similar (if requested; policies can vary)
  • Conditional approval letter (printed or viewable on your phone)
  • Any permanent resident card if you’re a U.S. lawful permanent resident

The CBP officer may:

  • Confirm your information
  • Take fingerprints and a photo
  • Ask about your travel patterns (for example, frequent trips from Atlanta to Europe, Mexico, or the Caribbean)

Interviews usually only take about 10–15 minutes, but you’ll want to arrive early in case of security lines or airport navigation.

Using Enrollment on Arrival at ATL

If you are conditionally approved for Global Entry and are flying back into Atlanta from abroad, ATL may offer Enrollment on Arrival (EoA), depending on CBP’s current operations.

Here’s how it generally works:

  1. Return to ATL from an international flight.
  2. Follow signs for Global Entry / Enrollment on Arrival.
  3. Tell a CBP officer you want to complete Enrollment on Arrival.
  4. Have your documents ready (passport, conditional approval notice, ID).
  5. Complete your interview right then, as part of the arrival process.

This can be especially convenient for:

  • Atlanta residents returning from vacation or business trips.
  • Visitors who are using ATL as their primary U.S. entry point.

Because airport and CBP procedures can change, flyers usually verify that EoA is currently available at ATL before planning around it.

How Global Entry Works When You Land in Atlanta

Once you’re approved and your membership is active, here’s what to expect when you arrive at ATL from abroad.

Step-by-Step: Global Entry at ATL International Arrivals

  1. Deplane at Concourse E or F.
  2. Follow signs for “International Arrivals / Passport Control / Global Entry”.
  3. Enter the Global Entry lane instead of the regular line.
  4. At the kiosk or eGate:
    • Scan your passport
    • Look into the camera (for facial recognition if in use)
    • Confirm your customs declaration answers
  5. Once cleared, proceed to:
    • Baggage claim (pick up your checked bags)
    • Customs exit (hand any receipt or follow directions from CBP officers)
  6. If you have a connecting flight, follow signage to drop your bags at the re-check belt and proceed to your next gate.

This process is typically much faster than using the regular lines, particularly during busy arrival waves from Europe or South America.

Departing from Atlanta: TSA PreCheck and Security

Global Entry membership usually includes TSA PreCheck eligibility, which can be helpful at ATL’s often-busy security checkpoints.

When departing from Atlanta:

  • Make sure your Known Traveler Number (KTN) is entered in your airline profile or booking.
  • Check your boarding pass for the “TSA PreCheck” indicator.
  • Use the TSA PreCheck lane at:
    • Main domestic terminal security checkpoints
    • Other eligible checkpoints, depending on your departure concourse and time of day

PreCheck lanes at ATL often allow:

  • Keeping on shoes, light jackets, and belts
  • Keeping laptops and liquids in bags (with some exceptions depending on equipment and policies)

Note: Having Global Entry does not guarantee PreCheck on every boarding pass, but most members do see it regularly.

Tips for Atlanta Travelers Considering Global Entry

When Global Entry Makes Sense in Atlanta

Global Entry is often a good fit if you:

  • Take multiple international trips per year from Atlanta.
  • Connect through ATL on long-haul flights (e.g., Europe, Africa, South America).
  • Want both faster arrivals and TSA PreCheck-style departures.

It may be less important if you:

  • Rarely fly internationally.
  • Primarily take domestic trips from ATL and rarely connect back to the U.S. from abroad.

Choosing an Interview Location

Some Atlanta residents:

  • Prefer ATL Airport for convenience, especially if they’re already flying through.
  • Look at other regional airports if Atlanta interview slots are booked far in advance and they’re willing to drive.

If you choose ATL:

  • Schedule your interview for a time you are already at the airport for a flight, with several hours of buffer.
  • Remember that security wait times and terminal transfers at ATL can eat into your schedule.

Traveling With Children

Every traveler who wants to use Global Entry—including children—must have their own membership and typically attend an interview.

Families in Atlanta often:

  • Schedule back-to-back interview slots at ATL for all family members.
  • Use Enrollment on Arrival for the whole family when returning from an international trip, if available.

Practical Details for Locals and Visitors

Getting to the Global Entry Enrollment Center at ATL

If you’re heading to the Enrollment Center without taking a flight:

  • Driving:

    • Most people park in ATL’s International Terminal (Concourse F) parking area when the Enrollment Center is based there.
    • Follow airport signage to the International Terminal, then to Arrivals / CBP / Global Entry areas once inside.

  • MARTA + Shuttle:

    • Take MARTA to Airport Station at the domestic terminal.
    • From there, use the airport’s internal ground transportation options (such as airport shuttles) to reach the International Terminal (Concourse F), then follow signs to CBP / Global Entry.

Because ATL is large and sometimes confusing to navigate, many applicants:

  • Build in extra time (at least 30–45 minutes beyond the scheduled interview time) to park, move between terminals, and clear any security or ID checks.
  • Carry all required paperwork in an easily accessible folder or digital format.

Contacting the Atlanta Airport or CBP

For the most current Global Entry details that affect Atlanta specifically, travelers typically use:

  • U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) main contact channels for Global Entry questions.
  • Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport main information line for:
    • Directions to terminals
    • Parking and access to the International Terminal
    • General airport logistics

Official phone numbers and addresses may change over time, so it’s wise to confirm the latest details through the airport’s official information resources or CBP before heading out.

Common Issues Atlanta Flyers Run Into—and How to Handle Them

1. Long Interview Wait Times at ATL
Atlanta is a busy hub, so interview slots can fill quickly. Many locals:

  • Check the scheduling system frequently for cancellations.
  • Use Enrollment on Arrival if they’re already taking an international trip soon.

2. Name or Document Mismatches
If the name on your Global Entry profile doesn’t match your passport or airline reservation (for example, missing middle names), you might not get full benefits. Keep:

  • Your passport
  • Your Global Entry profile
  • Your airline frequent flyer accounts

all aligned with the same full legal name.

3. Lost or Expired Global Entry Card
If you use your Global Entry card for land border crossings, keep track of its expiration date and store it safely. If lost, you may need to:

  • Report it through your TTP account and follow CBP instructions to replace it.

Note: At ATL Airport, you typically just use your passport, not the physical card, for Global Entry kiosks.

By understanding how Global Entry works specifically at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, you can decide if it’s worth it for your travel habits, apply correctly, and move through ATL’s international arrivals and departures with far less hassle.