<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001181431-04-029826
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20040601
<FILING-DATE>20040607
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>MCWEY JEFFREY C
<CIK>0001226016
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-16111
<FILM-NUMBER>04852617
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC
<STREET2>FOUR CORPORATE SQUARE
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30329
<PHONE>4047282294
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC
<CIK>0001123360
<ASSIGNED-SIC>7389
<IRS-NUMBER>582567903
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>GA
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0531
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 GLENLAKE PARKWAY
<STREET2>NORTH TOWER
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30328
<PHONE>7708298238
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>10 GLENLAKE PARKWAY
<STREET2>NORTH TOWER
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30328
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd44830.xml
<DESCRIPTION>2004 GRANT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001123360</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLOBAL PAYMENTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GPN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001226016</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCWEY JEFFREY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10 GLENLAKE PARKWAY, NORTH TOWER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>LEGAL DEPT.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30328</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; Chief Mktg. Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>46.7</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>46.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>135413</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of option to buy shares of stock.  The option will become exercisable in 25% increments on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th anniversary of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeffery C. McWey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
