TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry: which one should you get?
Costs, approval times, eligibility and the exact application steps for PreCheck, Global Entry, NEXUS and CLEAR.
Last updated · Reviewed by Mei Tanaka · Methodology: TravelOS aggregates official government entry rules, cost-of-living samples and carrier data.
Should I get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry?
Global Entry ($120 for 5 years) is the better buy for almost everyone: it includes TSA PreCheck and adds expedited US customs on international arrivals. Choose TSA PreCheck ($78 for 5 years) only if you never fly internationally. CLEAR ($199/year) skips the ID queue, not screening, and works best stacked on top of PreCheck.
Key facts
| TSA PreCheck cost | $78 / 5 years |
|---|---|
| Global Entry cost | $120 / 5 years |
| CLEAR Plus cost | $199 / year |
| Includes PreCheck? | Global Entry: yes · CLEAR: no |
| Typical approval time | PreCheck 3–5 days · Global Entry 4–6 months |
| Interview required | Yes (both; Global Entry allows arrival interview) |
| Eligibility | US citizens, nationals, LPRs (+ partner countries for GE) |
| Typical lane wait | Under 5 minutes |
| Fee reimbursed by | Many travel credit cards ($100–$120 statement credit) |
Which one should you buy?
- Fly internationally at all → Global Entry. $120 for five years, includes TSA PreCheck, and saves the longest queue of any trip: US customs and immigration on arrival.
- Domestic-only flyer → TSA PreCheck. $78 for five years. Shoes, belt and laptop stay put, lanes are usually under five minutes.
- Cross the Canadian border → NEXUS. $50 for five years, includes both PreCheck and Global Entry benefits. The cheapest route in, if you can get an interview.
- Fly weekly from a CLEAR airport → add CLEAR Plus. $199/year, biometric ID check only. Layer it on PreCheck rather than replacing it.
What each programme actually does
TSA PreCheck changes the screening experience: a dedicated lane, no shoes or belt off, liquids and laptop stay in the bag. Global Entry changes the arrival experience: a kiosk or facial-comparison lane at US customs instead of the main immigration hall, which on a full widebody arrival is a 45-minute swing. CLEAR changes only the identity check at the front of the line.
Costs, fee credits and renewals
Application fees are non-refundable and payable at submission. Most premium travel cards (and several mid-tier ones) reimburse a $100–$120 Global Entry or PreCheck application fee once every four years — pay with that card and the programme is effectively free. Renew Global Entry up to a year before expiry; benefits continue while a renewal filed before the expiry date is pending.
How the application works
Both start on the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) site with an account, a five-year address and employment history, and the fee. PreCheck also accepts in-person enrolment at IDEMIA and Telos centres, often with same-week appointments. Global Entry requires a CBP interview: book the first available slot anywhere you can reach, or use Enrollment on Arrival to interview at a participating airport when you next land from abroad.
Using it correctly once approved
Save your Known Traveler Number in every airline profile and booking. If PreCheck does not print on the boarding pass, the KTN is missing or your name does not match your passport exactly. Global Entry members should still declare goods honestly — a false declaration at the kiosk is the fastest way to lose membership.
Outside the US
Europe has national schemes rather than one programme: the UK's Registered Traveller and fast track, Germany's EasyPASS, and the EU/EEA e-gates for eligible passports. Japan's Trusted Traveler Program and Australia's SmartGate work similarly. If your travel is mostly outside the US, those, plus carry-on-only travel and fringe departure times, beat any paid US programme.
Put the fast lane to use
Compare 700+ airlines including Aeroflot, Emirates, Turkish, Lufthansa, ANA, JAL.
Cross-checks Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, Hotels.com, Trip.com (+70 more) for the lowest price on the same room.
Trusted traveller programmes — questions people ask
Is Global Entry better than TSA PreCheck?add
For most travellers, yes. Global Entry costs $120 for five years, includes TSA PreCheck at no extra charge, and adds expedited customs and immigration when you re-enter the US. TSA PreCheck alone costs $78 for five years and only speeds up domestic departure screening.
Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?add
Yes. Every approved Global Entry member receives a Known Traveler Number (KTN) that enables TSA PreCheck on domestic and international departures from US airports, as long as the KTN is saved in the airline booking.
How much do TSA PreCheck and Global Entry cost?add
TSA PreCheck is $78 for five years ($70 online renewal). Global Entry is $120 for five years. NEXUS is $50 for five years and also grants PreCheck. Many premium travel credit cards reimburse the application fee once every four years.
How long does Global Entry approval take?add
Conditional approval often lands within days, but interview slots are the bottleneck: 4–6 months is typical in 2026. Enrollment on Arrival lets approved applicants complete the interview at a participating airport when returning from an international trip, skipping the appointment queue entirely.
Is CLEAR worth it with TSA PreCheck?add
CLEAR Plus ($199/year) replaces the document-check queue with a biometric kiosk and then escorts you to the front of the screening line. It does not replace screening. It is worth it only if you fly weekly from a CLEAR airport; otherwise stack it with PreCheck or skip it.
Can non-US citizens get Global Entry?add
Yes. US citizens, US nationals and lawful permanent residents are eligible, plus citizens of partner countries including the UK, Germany, India, South Korea, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Panama, Switzerland, Taiwan and Singapore, usually after clearing a home-country vetting step first.
What disqualifies you from TSA PreCheck or Global Entry?add
Criminal convictions, pending charges, customs or immigration violations, false statements on the application, or an incomplete residency history. Global Entry vetting is stricter than PreCheck, so a customs violation can block Global Entry while PreCheck is still granted.
Two things we never travel without: a medical policy that actually pays abroad, and a way to claim cash back when an airline ruins the plan.
Travel medical insurance from ~$1.20/day
Schengen-compliant policies with up to €100,000 medical cover, issued online in about two minutes — no medical exam, instant PDF for your visa file.
- Covers emergency treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation
- Add-ons for sports, ski, diving and long stays
- Accepted for Schengen, UAE and most visa applications
Claim up to €600 for a delayed or cancelled flight
Under EU261 and UK261 you can be owed up to €600 per passenger. Compensair checks eligibility free and handles the airline paperwork on a no-win, no-fee basis.
- Delay over 3 hours, cancellation or denied boarding
- Claims valid up to 3 years back (6 in some countries)
- No upfront cost — fee only if the claim pays out
Partner links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps TravelOS free.