The Global Entry enrollment center in Norfolk is housed in the historic U.S. Customhouse at 101 E Main Street, right on the downtown waterfront. It is the closest enrollment center for travelers throughout Hampton Roads, including Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Newport News, all of which otherwise face a considerable drive to reach any other Global Entry office.
The Customhouse sits directly across from the Hilton Norfolk The Main. Coming from the south on I-95, take US-58 East toward Norfolk, then I-264 East and Waterside Drive, turning right onto Martin's Lane and left onto East Main Street to reach the building. Coming from the north, take I-64 East through the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, then I-264 West and the same Waterside Drive exit. When you arrive, look for the granite stairs out front; the public entrance is to the left of the stairs at street level, not up the stairs themselves. You can preview the building on Google Maps or check the entrance on Google Street View.
This is an appointment-only location with no walk-ins, and CBP notes that the lobby has limited seating and no public restrooms, so plan accordingly. Confirm your scheduled time on ttp.dhs.gov, and be aware that CBP has stated Global Entry appointments here are cancelled during any federal government shutdown until further notice.
No available appointments at the Norfolk Customhouse?
An empty calendar at this office is normal rather than a sign something is wrong. It is the only Global Entry enrollment center serving the entire Hampton Roads region, so demand from a wide area concentrates on one small downtown office, and most openings appear because someone else cancelled rather than because a new block was released. Instead of reloading the government site by hand throughout the day, many travelers use Snapslot to get a text the moment a cancellation opens up here.
Knowing the Global Entry application process
Whether this is your first application or a renewal, the steps are the same:
- Submit your application: create an account on the Trusted Traveler Programs site, complete the Global Entry application, and pay the non-refundable fee.
- Await conditional approval: CBP reviews your application and background. Once conditionally approved, you can schedule an interview.
- Schedule your interview: usually the hardest step here, given how much of Hampton Roads this office covers. Snapslot alerts as soon as you are conditionally approved can help you secure a cancellation well before the next open date on the calendar.
- Attend your interview: arrive with your documents for a short conversation with a CBP officer inside the Customhouse.
- Await final approval: most applicants hear back shortly after the interview, with cards arriving by mail within a couple of weeks.
Preparing for your interview
Bring your current passport and a state ID such as a driver's license or Real ID card, exactly as CBP specifies for this location. If you are a lawful permanent resident, bring your green card as well. Interviews are not conducted without valid documents.
Be ready to talk through your travel history over the last five years. The interview is also an honesty check, comparing what you wrote on your application against your history and how you answer in person, so answer plainly and do not guess at dates you are unsure of. Dressing reasonably professionally, while not required, tends to make the appointment go more smoothly.
Skip the manual refresh. Snapslot watches Norfolk's Global Entry calendar and texts you the moment a cancellation opens.
Getting to your appointment
Because this office sits inside a historic downtown building rather than an airport, getting here is closer to visiting a city government office than making an airport trip, and there is no on-site parking to fall back on.
Parking near the Norfolk Customhouse
There is no public parking at the Customhouse itself. The closest option is the Town Park Garage at 110 West Main Street, a short walk away, with metered street parking sometimes available as well. Check the city's current parking rates before you go, since downtown Norfolk rates and availability can shift.
Taking public transit to the Norfolk Customhouse
Downtown Norfolk is served by The Tide light rail, and the MacArthur Square station sits only a few minutes' walk from the Customhouse near the Hilton Norfolk The Main, making this one of the more transit-accessible Global Entry offices in Virginia. If you are coming from Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, or Suffolk, a rideshare straight to the Main Street entrance is often more practical than combining a drive with transit, particularly for an early appointment. Since walk-ins are not accepted, arriving late is not really an option, so build in buffer time either way.
No available appointments?
If Norfolk's calendar looks empty, you have a few real options beyond waiting:
- Enrollment on Arrival: if you are flying internationally into a participating airport, you may be able to complete your interview upon arrival instead of booking a separate appointment. Check the current list of participating airports against your itinerary.
- Refresh the TTP site yourself: some travelers still check the official scheduler multiple times a day, since cancellations at Hampton Roads' only enrollment center can appear at almost any hour.
- Set up Snapslot alerts: instead of watching the scheduler yourself, get a text the instant this location has an opening.
A few specifics make this office different from most Global Entry locations: there is no public restroom or much seating in the lobby, so plan a tight itinerary rather than settling in, and the entrance is at street level to the left of the granite stairs rather than up them. Bring every document listed on your conditional approval letter, and note that each additional family member needs a scheduled appointment of their own.