Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck - which one do I need?
TSA PreCheck speeds up US airport security; Global Entry speeds up US customs on return and includes PreCheck. Compare costs and pick the right one for your trip1 travel.
Updated
What is the difference?
The two programs speed up different parts of the airport. TSA PreCheck, run by the Transportation Security Administration, covers the security checkpoint when you depart from a US airport. Global Entry, run by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), covers passport control and customs when you arrive in the US from abroad.
If you are planning trips abroad and booking hotels on trip1, the right program can save you time at both ends of the journey. Global Entry members get TSA PreCheck benefits too, so you do not need to buy both.
Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck at a glance
| TSA PreCheck | Global Entry | |
|---|---|---|
| What it speeds up | Security screening at US airports | US customs and passport control on arrival, plus security |
| Cost (as of 2026) | About $80 to $85, varies by provider | $120 |
| Valid for | 5 years | 5 years |
| Includes the other | No | Yes, includes TSA PreCheck |
| Who can apply | US citizens, US nationals and US lawful permanent residents | US citizens, lawful permanent residents and citizens of some partner countries |
| Application | Online form, then fingerprints at an enrollment center | Online form, background check and an interview with CBP |
| Children | 17 and under can use the lane with an enrolled adult if PreCheck shows on their boarding pass | Children need their own membership, but under-18s pay no fee when a parent is a member or applying |
Which one should you choose?
Get TSA PreCheck if you mostly fly within the US. You keep your shoes, belt and light jacket on, and laptops and liquids can stay in your bag.
Get Global Entry if you fly abroad at least once a year. For about $40 more over five years, you get faster re-entry to the US and TSA PreCheck included. The catch is the interview, which can take time to book in busy areas.
Neither fits if you are not a US citizen or resident and your country is not a Global Entry partner. Visitors from Visa Waiver Program countries use an ESTA instead.
How to apply
- TSA PreCheck: apply through one of the official enrollment providers listed on tsa.gov, then visit an enrollment center.
- Global Entry: apply through the official Trusted Traveler Programs site at ttp.dhs.gov, then schedule your interview.
Once approved, add your Known Traveler Number (KTN) or PASSID to your airline booking so PreCheck appears on your boarding pass.
Fees and rules can change, so check tsa.gov and cbp.gov before you apply. Avoid unofficial websites that charge an extra "service fee" to submit the same application.
Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck - FAQ
Yes. Global Entry members get TSA PreCheck at no extra cost, so you do not need to buy both. Add your Known Traveler Number, the PASSID on your Global Entry membership, to every airline booking so the PreCheck indicator appears on your boarding pass.
Global Entry costs $120 for five years, and children under 18 pay nothing when a parent is a member or applying. TSA PreCheck costs $79.75 to $85 for five years, depending on the enrollment provider. Fees change, so check cbp.gov and tsa.gov before you apply, and avoid unofficial sites that add a service fee.
Usually, if you fly abroad at least once a year. It costs about $35 to $40 more than TSA PreCheck over five years and adds faster US customs on every return. Arrival processing was briefly paused during a government shutdown in early 2026, but the program has reopened, so check cbp.gov for any notice before you travel.
US Customs and Border Protection says most applications are reviewed within two weeks, but some take up to 12 months or longer. After conditional approval you still need an interview. Enrollment on Arrival lets you do that interview when you land back in the US from an international trip, instead of waiting for an appointment.
No. Everyone still goes through airport security, but Global Entry members use the faster TSA PreCheck lane, where you keep your shoes, belt and light jacket on. That only works when your Known Traveler Number is on the booking and the PreCheck indicator shows on your boarding pass.
Yes. Global Entry is a faster lane, not a travel document. US citizens still need a valid passport to fly internationally and to use the Global Entry kiosks or touchless lanes when returning to the United States. Keep your passport details on your airline booking as usual.