Two ways to skip the standard customs/immigration line returning to the US from international travel: Mobile Passport Control (MPC) is a free Customs and Border Protection app; Global Entry is a paid program ($120 every 5 years) that includes TSA PreCheck. Both speed up arrival, but they work differently and at different airports. Here is the 2026 picture.
The two programs head-to-head
| Attribute | Mobile Passport Control | Global Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | $120 every 5 years |
| Includes TSA PreCheck | No | Yes |
| Application process | Download app + register | Online application + interview required (4-12 month wait) |
| Eligibility | US citizens + permanent residents + Canadian citizens + B1/B2 visa holders | US citizens + permanent residents (some countries available) |
| Airports supported | 30+ US airports + select cruise ports | 200+ airports nationwide |
| Time savings (typical) | 10-30 minutes vs standard line | 15-45 minutes vs standard line + PreCheck on outbound |
| Family use | Single account covers up to 12 family members | Per-person enrollment required |
When Mobile Passport Control wins
- Family of 4+ traveling together. One MPC account covers all 12 family members. Global Entry requires per-person enrollment ($120 × 4 = $480 + 4 individual interviews).
- Occasional international travelers. The free app is sufficient for 1-2 international trips per year. The $120 Global Entry fee doesn't pay back at that volume.
- Travelers without TSA PreCheck need. If you don't fly domestically often, the PreCheck benefit of Global Entry is wasted.
- Travelers at MPC-supported airports. The 30+ airports cover most major US gateways: ATL, BOS, DFW, JFK, LAX, MIA, ORD, SEA, SFO. If you fly through these, MPC works.
When Global Entry wins
- Frequent international travelers (4+ trips per year). The 15-45 minute time savings vs MPC's 10-30 minutes adds up.
- Travelers who also need TSA PreCheck. Global Entry includes PreCheck — saves an additional $78-$85 over 5 years.
- Travelers using premium credit cards that reimburse the $120 fee. Amex Platinum, Sapphire Reserve, Venture X, Venture, and Citi Strata Premier all reimburse the fee — making Global Entry effectively free.
- Travelers at airports without MPC support. Some smaller airports lack MPC; Global Entry works at all CBP airports.
The credit card reimbursement angle
Most premium credit cards reimburse the Global Entry application fee:
Amex Platinum — 100,000-point welcome bonus
Centurion Lounge access, Fine Hotels & Resorts, 5x on flights.
- Amex Platinum, Business Platinum: Up to $100 every 4-5 years for Global Entry
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: $100 every 4 years
- Capital One Venture X, Venture: $100 every 4 years
- Citi Strata Premier: $100 every 4 years
If you hold any of these cards, the Global Entry fee is effectively free. At that price, Global Entry is a clear winner over MPC alone.
Capital One Venture — 75,000-mile welcome bonus
2x miles on every purchase. Transfer to 15+ travel partners.
Capital One Venture X — 75,000-mile welcome bonus
$300 Capital One Travel credit, Priority Pass, 2x on everything.
Chase Sapphire Reserve — 75,000-point welcome bonus
$300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass, 3x dining/travel.
The "use both" strategy
For travelers who hold a premium credit card and want maximum time savings:
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- Apply for Global Entry. Use credit card reimbursement to cover the $120 fee.
- Also download Mobile Passport Control for backup. MPC works at airports with no Global Entry kiosk and as a fallback if Global Entry kiosks are down.
- For family travel, register all family members on MPC + apply Global Entry for the primary traveler. The primary traveler uses Global Entry; the family uses MPC.
The Mobile Passport Plus paid tier
In 2024, CBP launched Mobile Passport Plus — a $14.99/year tier that adds priority lanes at participating airports. For travelers who don't qualify for Global Entry or whose airports lack Global Entry kiosks, this is a budget alternative.
Bottom line
For travelers who hold a premium credit card and travel internationally 2+ times per year, Global Entry is the better choice — TSA PreCheck included, longer time savings, and credit-card-reimbursed fee. For occasional international travelers without premium credit cards, Mobile Passport Control's free app is sufficient. For family travel, MPC's 12-person family-account benefit makes it the more practical choice without spending $480+ on multi-member Global Entry enrollment.
How does this redemption fit a typical points stack?
For most points travelers, the optimal approach is to identify a target redemption first, then wait for the relevant transfer bonus before moving points. Most flexible-points programs (Amex MR, Chase UR, Citi ThankYou, Capital One Miles, Bilt) run periodic transfer bonuses to specific partners — 20-40% typical for Amex, 1-2 per month. Pointify's transfer-bonus tracker monitors active promotions across all major issuers and alerts when relevant bonuses go live. The strategic move: don't transfer speculatively; wait for confirmed award space + active transfer bonus.
Citi Double Cash — 2% on everything
No annual fee. Pair with a Premier for full ThankYou transfer access.
How to plan this trip on points
The optimal planning sequence for points-funded trips:
- Identify target redemption first. Don't transfer points speculatively. Verify award space exists for your dates + routes before committing miles.
- Open relevant credit cards 9-12 months ahead. Sign-up bonuses provide the bulk of points needed for major trips. Plan card opens around major recurring expenses to hit minimum spend naturally.
- Stay under 5/24 for Chase eligibility. Apply for personal Chase cards FIRST while under 5/24, then move to Amex / Capital One / Citi / Bilt (no equivalent restriction).
- Watch transfer bonuses. Amex MR runs 2-3 active per month at 20-40%. Don't transfer until a relevant bonus is live.
- Hold both Amex + Chase + Citi. The 3-issuer stack covers maximum partner depth — Hyatt + United (Chase exclusive), Delta + Hilton 1:2 (Amex exclusive), AAdvantage (Citi exclusive).
The cents-per-point decision rule
For every potential redemption, calculate cents-per-point: (cash value / points used) × 100. Aspirational premium-cabin redemptions (Lufthansa First via LifeMiles 17¢/mile, Cathay First via Alaska 21¢/mile, Park Hyatt aspirational at 3¢/point) produce dramatic cents-per-point. Standard portal redemptions produce 1.0-1.5¢/point. Below 1.0¢/point, pay cash and save points for stronger redemptions.
See which cards reimburse Global Entry on Pointify →
Last verified by the Pointify research team on May 1, 2026, against current Mobile Passport Control coverage and Global Entry application timelines. Airport coverage and program eligibility may change; verify current availability before relying on either program.
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