Expansion of ‘Global Entry’ for Japanese and Introduction of ‘Pre-Clearance’ at Domestic Airports, Announces Hawaii Governor

Hawaii Governor Joshua Green announced a joint public-private initiative to reduce the barriers to travel between Japan and Hawaii.

The initiative aims to introduce ‘Pre-Clearance’, a pre-customs procedure, at airports such as Haneda. Pre-Clearance is a program operated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that allows travelers to undergo customs and immigration inspection at their departure airport, rather than their arrival airport. It is already implemented in 15 airports across 6 countries.

Furthermore, there is an aim to expand the ‘Global Entry’ program for Japanese nationals, which is currently limited to 1,500 people. Global Entry is a Trusted Traveler Program operated by the CBP, allowing pre-approved low-risk travelers to expedite their customs and immigration inspections upon arriving in the U.S. Global Entry participants are also eligible for the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) ‘TSA PreCheck’. The governments of Japan and the U.S. are collaborating to eliminate the limitation on the number of participants by the end of this year.

The Hawaii Department of Transportation is working on improving the traveler’s experience, reducing waiting times, and strengthening security by utilizing advanced biometrics with the CBP’s Mobile Passport Control, among other initiatives.