Global Entry costs the same to renew as it does to apply for the first time: $120, covering another five years of expedited customs processing when you fly back into the U.S. The fee is paid online when you submit your renewal application and is non-refundable regardless of outcome. * The processing time is the part that catches people off guard: renewals are currently taking 4 to 7 months to process, not the few weeks some travelers expect. Most applicants still need to complete an interview as part of renewal, even if they've held the membership for years without issue. * Because of that lag, CBP allows you to start your renewal application up to 12 months before your current membership expires — and given the current processing window, applying close to that 12-month mark is the only way to reliably guarantee your membership doesn't lapse before the new one is approved. * If your membership does expire while a renewal is pending, you generally lose access to Global Entry lanes until the new card is approved, so don't wait until close to your expiration date to start the process. * One easy way to make the fee disappear: a long list of premium travel credit cards offer an automatic statement credit that reimburses the $120 Global Entry fee, for both new applications and renewals — check your card's benefits before paying out of pocket.