Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck in 2026: How to Apply, Cost and Who Qualifies

TSA PreCheck speeds up security screening when you depart from a U.S. airport. Global Entry speeds up customs and passport control when you arrive in the United States, and Global Entry members also get TSA PreCheck benefits. Global Entry costs $120 for five years. TSA PreCheck costs $85 or less for five years, depending on the provider you pick. The TSA PreCheck application program is open only to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents. Citizens of some other countries can get PreCheck benefits through Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI. One catch: Global Entry does not turn on PreCheck by itself. You must enter your Global Entry PASS ID as the Known Traveler Number (KTN) in each airline reservation.

Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck at a glance

Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?

Yes, with a condition. CBP's benefits page lists "TSA Pre✓ Eligibility" as a Global Entry benefit, and TSA's FAQ says Global Entry members receive PreCheck benefits as part of membership.

The condition comes from TSA's benefits page: PreCheck benefits are not automatic. To get the PreCheck indicator on your boarding pass, you must:

1. Enter your PASS ID in the KTN field of every airline reservation.
2. Use the same name as in your enrollment, including a middle name or initial if you used one, and the correct date of birth.
3. Ask the airline to add your KTN to any existing booking.

The TSA FAQ adds that a Global Entry card does not open the PreCheck lane by itself.

How much do they cost?

Global Entry: $120, paid once, for five years of membership. CBP's How to Apply page (last modified Nov 27, 2024) says the fee is non-refundable, even if the application is denied. You pay by credit card or electronic bank transfer in the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) system. CBP's FAQ says the new fee, and the fee exemption for certain applicants under 18, apply to applications received on or after October 1, 2024.

TSA PreCheck: the TSA PreCheck page gives five years of benefits for $85 or less. The price depends on which of the three authorized providers you use. The same page lists these prices, and the renewals page lists the renewal prices:

CLEAR advertises PreCheck as free with CLEAR+; the page's fine print says that after you pre-enroll, CLEAR gives you a one-time code to join CLEAR+ for $134 for new enrollments (the CLEAR+ price minus the PreCheck cost). The TSA FAQ says you are not charged until you finish the in-person step (if you enroll through CLEAR, you can choose to pay online when you pre-enroll), and you can switch providers until then, but you must re-enroll with the new provider. Once the in-person step is done and payment is taken, there are no refunds.

Global Entry renewal price: the CBP pages do not state a separate figure. CBP's FAQ says the renewal application shows the fee on the Purchase Summary page, and that fees are for application processing and are non-refundable.

Global Entry card: CBP's FAQ says a replacement card costs $25. You do not need a card to use Global Entry at an airport.

Who can apply?

Global Entry: it depends on your citizenship

CBP's Eligibility page (last modified Jan 13, 2026) lists these as eligible, besides U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bahrain, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, India, Japan, Jordan, Germany, Mexican nationals, Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdom.

The International Arrangements page (last modified Jun 01, 2026) lists the same countries and adds Canada, which it describes as eligible for Global Entry benefits through NEXUS membership. The Eligibility page does not list Canada.

Mainland China is not on either list. The pages do not say more than that, so check the Eligibility page and your own country's arrangement page before you pay, because the list can change.

Being on the list is not always enough:

• The Eligibility page says additional requirements may apply, depending on your citizenship.
• CBP's FAQ says partner-country citizens may take part only if they are not entering the U.S. under certain visa categories, for example C-1, K-1 or M-1. The FAQ has the full list.
• Korean citizens must first enroll in the Smart Entry Service (SES), submit the Global Entry application through the Korean government's website, and be at least 17 (CBP FAQ).
• Members who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents must keep their visa information current with CBP. Adding or updating visa information, or a name change, must be done in person at an enrollment center (International Arrangements page).

The Eligibility page lists reasons you may not qualify, including false or incomplete information, a criminal conviction, pending charges or outstanding warrants (the page adds driving under the influence), and customs, immigration or agriculture violations in any country. The CBP FAQ also lists a criminal pardon from any country; the Eligibility page does not.

TSA PreCheck: U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, permanent residents

The TSA FAQ says the TSA PreCheck Application Program is open only to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents. It adds that Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI allow some foreign citizens to apply. CBP's TSA PreCheck page (last modified Sep 09, 2025) says citizens of partner countries enrolled in Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI are eligible to use PreCheck, as are Canadian citizens who are NEXUS members.

How long does approval take?

The two CBP pages word it differently:

• CBP's Global Entry page (last modified Jul 09, 2025): most applications are reviewed within 2 weeks, while some can take up to 12 months or longer, depending on criminal history.
• CBP's How to Apply page: 80% of applications are approved within 2 weeks, while some can take up to 12 months or longer.

For TSA PreCheck, the TSA FAQ says most applicants receive their KTN in 3-5 days, though some applications can take up to 60 days.

How to apply for Global Entry, step by step

Korean citizens first submit the application through the Korean government's website (see above), then create a TTP account, pay the $120 fee there, and schedule the interview after conditional approval. Everyone else:

1. Check eligibility. See the section above.
2. Create your own TTP account. You need one regardless of your age.
3. Complete the application and pay the $120 fee in your TTP account. The fee is waived only for applicants under 18 whose parent or legal guardian is enrolled or has a pending application.
4. Wait for CBP's review. If you are conditionally approved, your TTP account tells you to schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. Each applicant schedules a separate interview.
5. Attend the interview. CBP's Global Entry page says an in-person interview is required for first-time enrollment. Bring a valid passport and one other form of ID, such as a driver's license or ID card. Lawful permanent residents bring the machine-readable permanent resident card.

CBP's Enrollment Centers page (last modified Apr 14, 2025) lists centers by U.S. state, plus the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and Qatar. Two options skip the center appointment.

Enrollment on Arrival (EoA)

Enrollment on Arrival lets conditionally approved applicants do the interview when they arrive in the United States on an international flight, at a participating airport. That includes arrivals through a designated CBP Preclearance location. Follow the signs to the CBP officers.

• You must already have applied on the TTP site and received the conditional approval. You cannot apply at the airport.
• Bring a valid passport (all of them, if you use more than one) and proof of residency, such as a driver's license with a current address or a utility bill (not required for minors). Bring your permanent resident card if you have one. The page does not say whether proof of a non-U.S. address counts.
• Domestic travelers cannot use EoA. If you already booked an interview, you can still use EoA; CBP's FAQ says the booked one is then cancelled automatically.
• Whether your whole travel party can use the EoA lane depends on the airport. Ask a CBP officer there.

The EoA page (last modified Jan 29, 2026) lists participating airports and hours, for example Chicago O'Hare (ORD, Terminal 5, 24 hours every day) and, outside the United States, Toronto, Vancouver and Abu Dhabi. Check the page for your airport.

Enrollment on Departure (EoD)

Enrollment on Departure lets conditionally approved applicants do the interview before a departing flight at select airports. The page (last modified Oct 01, 2026) lists Miami (MIA) and Detroit (DTW). It asks for the same documents as EoA.

How to apply for TSA PreCheck

1. Pick a provider. CLEAR, IDEMIA and Telos are the only authorized providers. TSA says a site that does not end in .gov is not an official TSA PreCheck site, and TSA does not refund payments made on fraudulent sites.
2. Pre-enroll online. TSA says this takes about five minutes.
3. Visit an enrollment location. You can make an appointment or walk in. The provider checks your documents, takes your fingerprints and photo, and collects payment. TSA says the visit takes about 10 minutes.
4. Receive your KTN. Most applicants get it in 3-5 days (some up to 60 days).

The required documents page asks for one List A document, such as an unexpired U.S. passport or a permanent resident card (green card). If you have no List A document, bring two from List B: a valid photo ID plus proof of citizenship. Bring originals or certified copies (notarized copies are not accepted). Names on all documents must exactly match the name on your application. If you have legally changed your name, also bring an original or certified name change document, such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree.

Using your membership: KTN, PASS ID and boarding pass

• PreCheck members enrolled through CLEAR, IDEMIA or Telos: your KTN is 9 to 10 digits, can mix letters and numbers, and starts with AC, TT or TE (TSA benefits page).
• Global Entry members: use your PASS ID as the KTN. It is nine digits and usually begins with 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 50, 70, 80, 95, 98 or 99. Find it in your TTP account. If you hold a card, it is also on the back.
• Cards: there is no TSA PreCheck card (TSA FAQ). Global Entry cards are issued only to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and Mexican nationals (CBP FAQ).
• Airlines: the lane works only on participating airlines. TSA's participating airlines page has the full list, including Air Canada, British Airways, Korean Air and Lufthansa.
• Where PreCheck works: departures from U.S. airports, including to a foreign country, and domestic connecting flights after you return (TSA FAQ).
• Global Entry kiosks: CBP's FAQ says airport kiosks need a passport or U.S. permanent resident card, not the Global Entry card. You can also choose not to use the kiosks and be processed by a CBP officer. CBP's Global Entry page says members may still be selected for further examination.

TSA's PreCheck page says about 99% of passengers wait less than 10 minutes in PreCheck lanes. That is TSA's own statement. TSA also says all travelers are screened and no one is guaranteed expedited screening.

Children and families

Global Entry: a parent does not have to be a member for the child to enroll. The $120 fee applies unless the parent or legal guardian is a member or has applied. If the parent has applied but is not yet a member, the parent's application must be in pending risk or conditionally approved status for the waiver.

TSA PreCheck (Families page and TSA FAQ):

• Children 12 and under go into the PreCheck lane with a parent or guardian who has the indicator. The child's boarding pass does not need it.
• Children 13 to 17 need the indicator on their own boarding pass. For that, the adult and child must be on the same airline reservation. If the child has no KTN, leave the KTN field blank.
• A child on a separate reservation without their own KTN does not get PreCheck. Children who often travel alone should enroll. A child in the PreCheck lane without an adult escort must show an acceptable ID. Contact the airline for its ID requirements for travelers under 18.
• A parent escorting a child with a gate pass gets standard screening, even if the parent is a member.

How and when to renew

Global Entry (CBP FAQ): you can renew from one year before your membership expires. If you submit a renewal before expiry, you can keep using benefits for up to 24 months after the expiry date. Renew in your TTP account: from the Dashboard, select the Renew button. An interview may not be necessary; your TTP account shows what is needed.

TSA PreCheck (TSA FAQ and renewals page): renew online up to six months before expiry, or renew in person at an enrollment center. The new period starts when the current one ends, so renewing early wastes nothing. TSA recommends renewing at least 60 days before expiry. Providers send renewal notices six months, three months, one month and two weeks before expiry, if they have your valid email or phone number. An expired KTN does not give you the indicator, even on a flight booked earlier.

Moving from PreCheck to Global Entry: the TSA FAQ says you cannot switch or upgrade. You apply to Global Entry as a new applicant and pay the $120 fee. PreCheck members who enrolled through the TSA PreCheck Application Program may be eligible for expedited Global Entry processing by giving their KTN (starting with TT, TE or AC). They must finish the Global Entry application before their PreCheck expires. Otherwise they get no PreCheck screening until Global Entry is approved.

Which should you choose?

CBP's Global Entry page names the free Mobile Passport Control app for people who take fewer international flights, but it does not say who can use the app.

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