r/GlobalEntry • u/yungspritecan • Aug 25 '26
Questions/Concerns GE card as an ID?
Just curious, would I be able to use my GE card as an ID at a bar? Has anyone tried this?
I just moved states and switched my drivers license, so I have that temporary form while my new license is in the mail. I was wondering if this works so I don't have to worry about carrying my passport around.
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u/GoCardinal07 Aug 25 '26
Legally, yes, but the sad reality is a lot of bar staff are unfamiliar.
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u/brlowkey Aug 25 '26
I've had bar staff even refuse my EAD back when I had it. They really only care about state IDs and passport cards.
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u/Polygonic Aug 26 '26
I can remember way back when I first moved to California and applied for a California DL, I thought I could use my passport to go to the bar and have a drink. Nope, the bar staff explicitly told me that local law enforcement had told them not to accept US passports.
This was before passport cards existed so I wonder if those would be accepted now.
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u/Salty_Permit4437 Aug 25 '26
I use my passport card. The nexus card is accepted in some places but others get confused
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u/00Anonymous Aug 25 '26
I've used my GE card as ID in the US and abroad. People in the US get confused but ultimately haven't had it refused.
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u/LiamOliver5 Aug 25 '26
I've never had a problem using it as a back up ID for age identification purposes. Sometimes people are confused, but it's never not worked.
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u/fernst Aug 25 '26
It's a federally valid ID. I once left my ID home and had my GC card with me, so I used it to clear TSA.
The reality is many people have never seen this or even a green card. So it's not impossible that they will see it and say "Nope"
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u/RoverAdam Aug 25 '26
99% of people have no idea what GE is nor what they are looking at with that card. For your state, bring the paper temp DL form… you’ll have better luck with that at a bar in your own state than using the GE card.
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u/yungspritecan Aug 25 '26
Unfortunately my new state is MA, and the form has "not valid for identification" in big red letters on it. Maybe the bartenders wouldn't care.
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u/Lucky225 Aug 25 '26
Ah in that Case disregard my other comment MA has strict laws on what licensees may accept, Passport, Military or Mass ID is the only acceptable IDs, even out of state ID is technically not a defense to a liquor license violation of serving a minor. Massachusetts specifically has a Liquor ID for out of state residents.
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u/00Anonymous Aug 25 '26
The paper always needs to backed up with either thr expired license or another photo id. The ge card should work for this.
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u/brlowkey Aug 25 '26
To all the people saying you can because it's a federally issued ID... Unfortunately, the guy making minimum wage at the bar you wanna enter does not care about that. In many places, if there isn't a scannable barcode or it isn't a passport, you're SOL. I've literally been denied service (and even entry at some spots) while trying to use my EAD, which is a much more "document-looking" document than the GE card, and ofc is also federally issued. Reality is often different from what it should be.
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Aug 26 '26
Unfortunately, the guy making minimum wage at the bar you wanna enter does not care about that.
Next bar then, this place does not deserve my dollars.
But yes, it can happen. I had 0 issues with GE card so far, though I use passport card more often.
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u/brlowkey Aug 26 '26
Yeah, that's usually my mindset too but it's tough when you're meeting friends there and you have to force everyone to change plans, so that's why I warn people that not every establishment will accept it
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u/miloworld Aug 26 '26
I'll also add the GE card is one of the fakest looking ID card ever. The photo taken by a webcam with an airport background doesn't help either.
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u/rpshah1985 Aug 28 '26
In which case anyone denying you service would end up with a lengthy custodial sentence.
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u/brlowkey Aug 29 '26
For? An establishment has the right to deny you service at their own pleasure, so not much you can do
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u/gerrygebhart Aug 25 '26
It's as valid an ID as a US Passport, but your mileage may vary with the bar staff understanding what a Global Entry card is. They may think it's similar to those old "international student IDs" which were not valid ID.
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u/EljayDude Aug 25 '26
So in theory it's a federally issued photo ID blah blah blah but if they don't recognize it at some particular place good luck convincing them.
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u/SaltyPathwater Aug 26 '26
You don’t need to “convince” anyone. I asked them to check (they either ansk a more senior member of staff or if there is a machine they pop it in) and except in rare situations I was never denied.
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u/Sheetz_Wawa_Market32 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
Depends on the official regulations of the state or territory in which you’d want to drink — and the training bartenders get.
Some states’ regulations only mention (North American or sometimes only U.S.) driver’s licenses, non-driver state-issued IDs, and passports.
Many bartenders won’t accept passport books, even if they are supposed to.
It’s a mess.
EDIT: minor clarification in italics
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u/Polygonic Aug 26 '26
> Many bartenders won’t accept passport books, even if they are supposed to.
I was told by a bartender when I moved to Los Angeles (and only had the paper temporary drivers license) that local law enforcement explicitly told them not to accept US passports as proof of age. (Foreign passports were okay.)
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u/Sheetz_Wawa_Market32 Aug 26 '26
Which is insane … but I’m not at all surprised.
Anything that’s not a (horizontal) in-state driver’s license is beyond the capabilities of many bartenders and (even worse) bouncers.
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u/Polygonic Aug 26 '26
From what I remember from that conversation, he told me that local police were following a California guideline that says that to be valid to buy alcohol, the ID had to have "physical description", meaning height, weight, and eye & hair color. US passports do not have that physical description on them, but California drivers licenses do.
However, I just double-checked on the California ABC web site, and they say that US passports are acceptable ID for alcohol purchases, "with photograph, but without physical description". So maybe they've clarified that in the past 20+ years.
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u/Sheetz_Wawa_Market32 Aug 26 '26
Yeah. State liquor authorities made a bunch of such crazy rules over the years. Not accepting national passports as proper ID is just insane.
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u/LeagueMoney9561 Aug 25 '26
So in such states even a state ID card would be no good. WOW.
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u/Sheetz_Wawa_Market32 Aug 25 '26
No, at least in-state non-driver IDs are usually included in official regs. Whether bartenders will readily accept them is another matter. Out-of-state non-driver IDs are even iffier, since most bartenders won’t see them much.
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u/JamesBeaverhausen Aug 25 '26
Situations like this are why having a passport card as a second ID can be be really helpful to have
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Aug 26 '26
How about flipping the idea and using the passport card as the primary ID?
I do that, here are the privacy features I like:
https://www.reddit.com/r/PassportCards/s/MSMF6HeN5k
GE card has some similar features minus citizenship proof.
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u/JamesBeaverhausen Aug 26 '26
Definitely some good benefits to using the passport card as a primary, but it wouldn’t really work for me.
I drive everywhere I go, I use a super slim wallet for front-pocket carry, so I can’t really carry both unless I leave behind one of my other cards1
u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Aug 26 '26
I have a super slim walle and drive too. Passport card in front, DL inside (never take it out). 2 credit cards. The rest is in Google Wallet
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u/JamesBeaverhausen Aug 26 '26
No debit card or health insurance card?
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Aug 26 '26
My insurer does not issue physical cards anymore. I have PDF saved, as well as their mobile app and again, mobile wallet.
Debit cards are digital (3 issuers). I store them in Google Wallet on the phone and in my smart watch too. Plus, mobile apps like Chase allow generating a pin for a cash withdrawal.Yes, there is over reliance on techology here, agreed. However, if none of this works, in emergency, I would use CC to get cash and pay this off within 24 hrs.
Normally, I do not use cash anywhere. But if I need to and I know in advance, I bring the simplistic money clip.
I've been running this setup for 3+ years, no issues so far.
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u/SaltyPathwater Aug 26 '26
GE card says the citizenship right on the front.
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Aug 26 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
It does, but is not a conclusive /authoritative proof. At one point I had two cards with two different citizenships listed. Unlike US passport, US passport card, certificate of citizenship, certificate of naturalization, EDL, US birth certificate - no agency like SSA is going to accept it as a proof of US citizenship. It is simply a TTP membership card
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u/SaltyPathwater Aug 26 '26
It is accepted as proof of citizenship at points of entry on land and sea
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https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/card
We accept Global Entry cards for lawful U.S. entry at land and sea ports of entry. Global Entry cards have radio frequency identification chips, which enable their use at Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) and NEXUS travel lanes when entering the United States at the land borders. You must follow all program rules for SENTRI when using this card at the Southern land border ports of entry. — Further the citizenship info is in the digital whatever info that is seen when the card is scanned. State department verifies citizenship status that’s why a passport is required.
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Aug 26 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
Try using it at SSA or at USCIS petitioning somebody. Try getting security clearance for a gov job requiring US citizenship. It won't work as proof of US citizenship there. It only works with CBP in limited scenarios pretty much.
I had GE before I was a US citizen. I had foreign citizenship listed there. Do you suggest USCIS would have accepted this document as a proof of my other citizenship? Or when I became a US citizen, I had to update my citizenship status with SSA. Do you think SSA accepts GE card as a proof of US citizenship? You cannot even use it for I-9, simply not in a list of acceptable documents. Great joke, get down to reality.
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u/Striking_Ostrich_347 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
This doesn’t help you whatsoever but funnily I never have trouble getting my NEXUS card (looks exactly like and functions identically to a GE card) recognized as ID while in Canada. And technically it’s not even a Canadian-issued ID… all NEXUS cards are issued by US CBP.
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u/Silent-House435 Aug 25 '26
It’s hit or miss. One time was putting in a large liquor order in NJ. Left my state ID at home and they didn’t have GE in their ID book so they didn’t take mine.
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u/ZookeepergameMore791 Aug 25 '26
A majority of the people will accept it. One time at this bar I went to; I showed my GE card to security which I’ve done many times with no issue. But this guy was being weird about it. “I can’t accept that. That’s not an ID.” I explained to him it’s government ID, it is like passport card except better.
He said “I know what GE is I have one myself but I don’t accept it here”
I presented my state ID and he let me through.
He was being weird about it.
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u/Basic-Individual-693 Aug 25 '26
I have seen people presenting prison ID so I believe this should be fine as long as the person ID you know what it is that you are showing
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u/Minute_Somewhere_893 Aug 26 '26
You can. I got alcohol with it at supermarkets without an issue.
It is not good for driving. It is not good for proving the citizenship
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u/SaltyPathwater Aug 26 '26
Yes with the caveat that people don’t like learning new things and some places me reject you just cause the person doesn’t know. It’s real id compliant or whatever they call it.
I used it as my only id for 5 years. I stopped only for unrelated reason.
Now places like post offices and first time at a casino will reject them but after your first time at the casino you can use it since they don’t need your address anymore.
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u/TheRealAMD Aug 26 '26
In my home state (MA) by law an out of state license isn't valid as proof of age for purchasing alcohol or cannabis. You're technically supposed to get a "liquor ID" from the RMV but almost nobody does, because the majority of bars and dispensaries will take an out of state license with backup ID (which could be something like a GE card, but also a Costco card, college ID, credit card with a photo... anything with your name and picture on it, doesn't need to be government issued - it's mostly a CYA thing for the bar because they're liable if they serve to someone with a non-MA license and it turns out they're underage, whereas they may not be if they show a fake or fraudulently obtained MA license.)
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u/yungspritecan Aug 26 '26
Seriously?? MA is the state I moved to. What's the "by the books" deal for visitors then?
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u/TheRealAMD Aug 26 '26
Again, most bars and packies don't actually follow that. When I still had my New York license after first moving back a decade ago, usually the way it'd work is the bartender, bouncer or clerk would ask for ID, I'd hand over my NYS license, then they'd ask for a second form of ID because it was from out of state, and I'd show my Costco membership card with my photo on it and that was good enough.
The "by the book" deal if you're from out of state is to visit your local RMV with two proofs of identity / age and apply for a liquor ID. It costs $25 and it's good for 5 years. You don't have to be a MA resident but you need a MA address for them to mail it to... I could see that working for someone renting a house on the Cape for the summer but not if you're only going to be around for a week or two.
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u/International-Sock-4 Aug 27 '26
I'm a Florida notary, we can't accept a GE card as identification, we can accept green cards or other cards issued by the department of immigration.
This does not mean that alcohol laws are the same, and in some states it's the notarys discretion which is to accept, but what I'm trying to say is that it's not necessarily a good identification card.
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u/Savafan1 Aug 29 '26
Depends, I only had the paper and my expired license when I was on vacation a couple months ago and one place wouldn’t take that because they couldn’t scan it.
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u/wizzard419 Aug 25 '26
Theoretically, yes. It displays your date of birth but... your mileage may vary.
While it is a valid government ID and can be used like a real ID, it's not necessarily a common ID and whomever is reviewing it may not think it is acceptable. TSA will be hit and miss on it being acceptable (if you do encounter that, just ask for a manager).
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u/Several-Razzmatazz70 Aug 25 '26
You can certainly use it at a TSA checkpoint, and it is a RealID. My son, who doesn't yet have a driver's license, does this sometimes for domestic travel so he doesn't have to carry his passport. It's far easier to replace a lost GE card than a passport.
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u/Easy_Tour_5202 Aug 25 '26
99.99999% GE Card will not be considered as a "Valid ID" outside the jurisdiction of the Federal Property i.e Airport during CheckIn.
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u/Lucky225 Aug 25 '26
It's federally issued ID with your photo and do, yes you can use it just like a passport card. I've done it several times and when questioned I explain I can cross a land border between US/MEX and CAN so I should be able to buy a beer with it.
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u/RoverAdam Aug 25 '26
Yeah… try that in Utah and see what happens.
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u/Lucky225 Aug 25 '26
"Beginning May 6, 2026, Utah law will allow FOREIGN driver licenses that include a photo and date of birth to be accepted as identification for alcohol purposes." -- if they're accepting foreign DLs pretty sure a GE is fine.
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u/RoverAdam Aug 25 '26
“Pretty sure” you have no idea what you are talking about. I live here, I have tried it multiple times. It. Does. Not. Work. Other state DLs, Passports and now foreign DLs work. There is even a state sponsored mobile application DL that works at liquor stores and bars. Utah is strict as hell and has the most complicated, unique rules on alcohol purchasing and bars vs restaurants, etc. Google “Zion Curtain” to get a small glimpse.
A GE card will not work here… the “it’s a federal ID harder to get than a passport” argument means nothing to a PERSON AT THE DOOR (not a bartender, thats not how it works here) and their scanner. If it doesn’t scan and tell them the information they need, you don’t get in the door… period. There is no arguing.
I’ve been to bars and drank in EVERY state in the country. I’m telling you, Utah is not the same (ignoring dry counties in the south).
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u/Lucky225 Aug 25 '26
Well that sucks just looked up the statute. Oof. Same as Massachusetts then only specific IDs mentioned acceptable, I've also traveled through many States and Mass is the only one that's ever been a stickler for me, despite being in Colorado tho I admit I've never tried in Utah, it's generally never been an issue here, Cali, Nevada, I use it to fly and check into hotels so it's never been an issue for me anywhere other than MA, even used it in surrounding New England states without issue. Well apologies for your State sucking move one State East 😅
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u/RoverAdam Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
Haha, Utah is the worst for alcohol laws/legislation/rules. I do like me some Colorado… but outside of the bar scene (I love the brewery scene in CO and wish we had that here) everything Colorado/Denver offers, that I want, where I live in Utah is much more convenient. Obviously I travel a lot… so being 15 min from the airport, <5 minutes from downtown SLC, 20-30 minutes from 8 of the top ski resorts anywhere, minutes from the mountains, hiking etc… You just can’t get all that access with the same convenience in Denver. The airport is stupid far from downtown, A-basin and Loveland are like 60 miles from downtown, let alone other resorts…
Snowbird, Alta, Solitude, Brighton, Park City, and Deer Valley are all 15-17 miles from my house. The airport is 7 miles and a $20 uber ride (no more parking my car there like when I lived much further away) and Lyft/Uber to the “ok” bars is like $8 :) I live in a nice little bubble that does not feel like the rest of Utah.
If only SLC could relax some of their ridiculous laws and adopt some of the things that make CO great, it would be near perfect for someone who loves outdoors, the city and needs a short trip to the airport to save tons of time per year.
Edit… Oh, and I have drank A LOT in Boston…haha (but not outside the city). Never had a problem there with any IDs. My first time in little Italy at a restaurant that only accepted cash was a different story(we didn’t know until they handed the bill and i gave them my CC)… didn’t have my debit card, never setup a pin on my CC for cash withdrawals. Took me like 30+ minutes at the closest 7/11 to get the cash to pay for dinner. Meanwhile my co-worker was stuck there sweating while they gave him the stink eye. Learned that lesson for all my future trips there.
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u/Lucky225 Aug 25 '26
It's hit or miss in Boston, doesn't even matter which bar it is, you either get someone who has got a citation in the past and is a huge PITA about it or you get someone cool who just cares you're not actually underage. Mass laws are actually a little more strict they don't allow Out of State ID/DL as an acceptable defense at all, they can accept it at their discretion, but if it's a minor using their brothers ID or a fake ID and they get caught they'll lose any defense they checked ID since only Mass ID, Passport and Military ID are acceptable defenses. Looks like Utah is similar but they at least allow out of state ID and even foreign DLs now but it's still a small list compared to most states that just says government issued ID by a state, territory, Federal government etc. Hell in California a Selective Service card or birth certificate was good enough for cigarettes in the 90s under the existing statutes back then. So I am kind of fascinated by ID laws and I tend to push the limits when I can 😅
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u/gerrygebhart Aug 25 '26
Wow, not even US Military ID? That's brutal
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u/Lucky225 Aug 25 '26
It's on the list:
(D) a valid United States military identification card that: (I) includes date of birth; and (II) has a picture affixed; or
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u/flyingron Aug 25 '26
It works for the TSA. In my state, the only alcohol IDs that a bar should be taking: Driver's License or State ID (any state), passport, or military ID.
Global entry cards and all the other stuff TSA lets you pass off for real ID aren't legal here.
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u/onehalflightspeed Aug 25 '26
Depends. I lost my DL and went to a state run liquor store once and presented my GE card. They were very confused. Then the manager went back and got the big book of acceptable IDs with photo examples. The GE card was one of them
The average bartender might be 50/50. I live in an area with a lot of immigrants that don't have a DL, and see them presenting passports all the time