US Clear airport security program opens to Australians
The Clear+ program lets you skip to the head of the queue – for a price…
By Staff Writers, September 4 2025
Nobody likes arriving at a US airport and seeing a long line ahead of them – snaking back and forth, and in the worst cases around a corner somewhere.
There’s now a new way to jump to the front of the queue, with the Clear+ program opening enrolment to Australian, New Zealand, UK and Canadian passport holders.
Clear+ is a privately-run adjunct to the US government’s TSA PreCheck, with dedicated lanes at over 50 airports across the USA.
Those lanes, which reply on biometrics to confirm your identity, let you move straight to the front of the queue for TSA baggage screening.
Clear+ members also enjoy expedited screening at some 20 US sports stadiums and event venues, such as LA’s Dodger Stadium and New York’s Citi Field, and the company is now rolling out a network of automated biometric eGates “to help modernise America’s airports ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 games.”
The Clear+ eGates are already open at Seattle–Tacoma, Washington’s Ronald Reagan National and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airports, with another 30 airports following by year’s end.
None of this comes free, of course: Clear+ costs US$209 per year.
So how does Clear+ fit into the jigsaw puzzle of those other US fast-track programs of Global Entry, TSA PreCheck and Mobile Passport Control?
For Australians and other foreigners, the primary difference is that Global Entry and Mobile Passport are for arriving into the USA on an international flight, while TSA PreCheck and Clear+ work with TSA security screening before departure on a domestic or international flight.
Global Entry is now available for Australian passport holders and includes TSA PreCheck, making this combo the ultimate time-saver.
However, they comes with a cumbersome application and approval process, while Clear+ is far more straightforward.
Note that although Clear offers a Clear+ and TSA PreCheck ‘bundle’, TSA PreCheck remains available only to Australians who are U.S. permanent residents or on a I-551 visa.
Mobile Passport Control (MPC) remains the best-kept secret for Australians visiting the US.
It’s free, and can be used at all major US internaional airports – including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Honolulu and Dallas/Fort Worth, which are key entry ports for Australians.
First, download the free MPC app and set up your personal profile ahead of your trip.
On arrival, arrival over Wi-Fi or the mobile phone network, answer the usual questions in a digital customs declaration, and the app creates a unique QR code to be scanned at the immigration desk.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
21 Jul 2019
Total posts 229
Nothing says "Welcome!" quite like navigating the treacherous shoals of the bewildering hodge-podge of U.S. gov't and private industry outfits like TSA, TSAPreCheck, Clear, Clear+, MPC, Global Entry..etc etc. If there's a way to make more money out of long queues, you can bet they'll do it.
It's all about as 'clear as mud'.
Etihad - Etihad Guest
26 Apr 2019
Total posts 7
Global Entry is not quite as available as the article makes out, unfortunately. I applied last week and have received the following email from US Customs:
"Phase One, which is available to a limited number of people, is now fully allocated.
As a result, your application is currently on hold until Phase Two commences. This is expected later in 2025.
We will contact you again with information about next steps when Phase Two begins. Until then, no action is needed on your part. "
So, it's close, but not quite there and available for everybody yet. On the plus side though, the application process was very straightforward.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
05 Oct 2016
Total posts 163
Well that's good to know at least, because I was wondering about applying but didn't want to go through it all, only to be told "sorry phase 1 is full please reapply later" !
Thank you.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Apr 2018
Total posts 3
I used MPC app twice in January, 10 minutes through LAX - MPC goes into the diplomats queue - costs nothing, works a treat (you just need mobile coverage on landing to complete the form & photo so while you are waiting to disembark the plane)
30 Aug 2024
Total posts 2
I have Global Entry (Australian Citizen, phase 1), TSA PreCheck (obtained when I was a US PR) and until a few days ago CLEAR (free, via United Airlines status - although they no longer offer that). I've also used MPC countless times.
Given the choice, the only one of the 3 that's worth having is PreCheck. Global Entry is nice, but MPC gives 98% of the benefit for 0% of the pain/cost. Of course, as an Australian you can't get PreCheck as such, so I'd say that if :
If you travel to the US at least a few times a year, or if you travel a lot domestically within the US, Global Entry is probably worth getting (once phase 2 opens) - although to some extent that'll depend on the cost (Phase 1 didn't include a charge by the Australia government for the background check, where Phase 2 likely will). Not so much for the GE benefit (MPC works almost as well), but because it also gets you PreCheck.
If you don't travel to the US at least twice a year, don't bother with any of them. CLEAR isn't worth it if you're only travelling that much, and nor is GE. Live with the lines at security, and use MPC to bypass them at immigration.
Singapore Airlines - KrisFlyer
02 Dec 2016
Total posts 48
Should i just apply for Global Entry now? Or only apply when Phase 2 opens ?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
18 Jan 2017
Total posts 29
I use the APEC (also Crew) lane. Works a breeze at all APEC countries. Some you don't need a visa (example Vietnam).
21 Oct 2022
Total posts 4
I’ve just returned from the US this morning. I got my GE interview done about a month ago, and it makes international entry really easy. But the added benefit of the included TSA pre-check is a massive additional advantage that makes the total package really good.
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