TSA PreCheck or Global Entry? How to Pick the Right Trusted Traveler Program

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The security line is one of the few parts of a trip you can shorten for years with a single application. Most U.S. travelers end up comparing two programs: TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. They overlap, but they aren't the same thing. The deciding question is simple: do you ever fly home from another country?

What each program does

TSA PreCheck is run by the Transportation Security Administration. It gives approved travelers access to expedited screening lanes at participating U.S. airports. According to TSA, PreCheck passengers generally don't need to take off their shoes, belts, or light jackets, or pull out laptops or the bag of travel-size liquids. (Since July 2025, TSA has let most travelers in standard lanes keep their shoes on too, so the shorter line is now the bigger perk.)

Global Entry is run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Its main benefit is faster processing when you come back into the United States from abroad. CBP says Global Entry members also get TSA PreCheck benefits, using the Known Traveler Number that comes with membership.

Put another way, Global Entry covers both the trip out (security) and the trip home (customs). PreCheck only covers security.

How you apply

PreCheck: apply online, then go to an enrollment center for fingerprints and identity documents. TSA lists several enrollment providers, and their fees differ a little. Membership lasts five years.

Global Entry: apply through CBP's Trusted Traveler Programs website, pay the fee, and wait for conditional approval. After that you complete an interview, either at an enrollment center or through Enrollment on Arrival at participating airports when you come back from an international trip. The fee is $120, nonrefundable even if you're denied, and membership lasts five years.

PreCheck fees vary by provider and change from time to time, so check the official pages before you pay.

Traveling with children

The two programs handle kids differently.

PreCheck: TSA says children 17 and younger can go through the expedited lane with a parent or guardian who has PreCheck, as long as they're on the same reservation and the PreCheck indicator shows up on the child's boarding pass.

Global Entry: every traveler, children included, needs their own membership to use the Global Entry kiosks or lanes on the way back in. CBP waives the $120 fee for children under 18 who apply with a parent or guardian who is already a member or applying at the same time.

A family that travels abroad together often needs Global Entry for each person. A family that mostly flies within the country may only need PreCheck for the adults.

Which one should you get?

Here's a simple rule:

You leave the country at least once every year or two: Global Entry usually makes more sense, since PreCheck comes with it.

You only fly within the U.S.: PreCheck is enough.

You don't have a passport: Global Entry requires one, so start with PreCheck.

Common mistakes

Forgetting to add your Known Traveler Number to reservations. Without it, the PreCheck indicator won't print on your boarding pass. Save the number in each airline profile.

Letting membership lapse. In many cases both programs let you renew online. Put the expiration date on your calendar.

Assuming every airport and airline participates. Most large U.S. airports do. For smaller ones, check TSA's list.

Who can apply

The two programs have different eligibility rules, and that alone settles the choice for some travelers.

CBP says U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents can apply for Global Entry, along with citizens of certain partner countries listed on CBP's eligibility page. Applicants must be low risk travelers, and CBP can deny an application for reasons such as criminal convictions, pending charges, customs or immigration violations, or giving false information on the application. Global Entry also requires a valid passport, so travelers without one should start with PreCheck.

PreCheck is open to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents. It does not require a passport, though you will still need acceptable identification at the checkpoint, such as a REAL ID compliant license.

What the enrollment actually involves

For Global Entry, CBP lists the steps as an online application, a background check, and an in person interview with fingerprinting for first time enrollment. CBP says most applications are reviewed within two weeks, though some take 12 months or longer. Plan for the wait between conditional approval and the interview, since appointment availability varies widely by location. Enrollment on Arrival lets you finish the interview when you land back in the United States from an international trip, which can be much faster than waiting for a local appointment.

PreCheck enrollment is shorter: an online form, then a brief visit to an enrollment center for fingerprints and document checks. TSA says most applicants receive their Known Traveler Number in 3 to 5 days, though some applications take up to 60 days.

A free option for international arrivals

If you travel abroad only occasionally, CBP's Mobile Passport Control app is worth knowing about. CBP says it is free, requires no application or background check, and is available to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. You submit your passport details and a photo in the app when you land, then use a dedicated lane at participating airports. It can shorten customs lines, though you still speak with a CBP officer. It does not include PreCheck.

Cost per year

A simple way to compare value is cost per year. Global Entry's $120 fee spread across five years is $24 a year, and it includes PreCheck. If PreCheck alone at your chosen provider costs nearly as much for the same five years, Global Entry often wins for anyone with a passport who leaves the country even occasionally. Some credit cards and loyalty programs reimburse the application fee, so check your benefits before paying.

What neither program guarantees

Neither program guarantees expedited screening on every trip. TSA states that it uses unpredictable security measures, so even PreCheck members may occasionally be sent to standard screening. And CBP officers can still refer Global Entry members for further inspection. Think of both as "usually faster," not "always faster."

The bottom line

If you travel internationally even now and then, Global Entry usually gives you more for one application. If your trips stay domestic, PreCheck on its own saves the most time for the least effort.