Will an applicant be denied the Global Entry Program if they were convicted of a DUI or DWI over 20 years prior? If that was a felony conviction then yes. If you admit a misdemeanor probably not but my information is dated. Im sure this is spelled ot or you can call your enrollment center and ask before applying.

Yes, it is possible to get Global Entry with a 20-year-old DUI, but approval is not guaranteed as the program has "sole discretion" to reject anyone not deemed a "low-risk traveler." CBP background checks have no time limit and will definitely see an arrest from two decades ago. The general rule in 2026 is that a single, non-violent misdemeanor (like an old DUI) is often overlooked if you have a completely clean record since then and provide all court disposition documents during your interview. However, multiple DUIs or any felony-level conviction will lead to an automatic permanent denial. The best strategy is to be 100% honest on your application; "forgetting" to mention it is considered a fraudulent statement and is the number one reason for instant rejection. If denied, you can appeal to the CBP Ombudsman to argue that the 20-year-old incident does not reflect your current risk level.