Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: Costs, Kids Rules and Which to Get

If you only fly within the U.S., TSA PreCheck is the cheaper way to get through airport security faster. If you fly abroad even once or twice a year, Global Entry is usually the better buy for Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck: it costs $120 for five years, speeds up your return through U.S. customs, and includes TSA PreCheck benefits on top.

Below is a side-by-side look at cost, eligibility, how to apply, and the details most comparisons skip, like how kids are handled, where New York, New Jersey, Boston and Fort Lauderdale travelers can finish a Global Entry interview, and how to avoid a lapse when you renew.

Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck at a glance

	TSA PreCheck	Global Entry
Run by	TSA (Department of Homeland Security)	U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
What it speeds up	Security screening at U.S. airports	Arrival into the U.S. from abroad, plus TSA PreCheck benefits
Application fee	$77.95 (CLEAR), $78 (IDEMIA) or $85 (Telos)	$120
Membership length	5 years	5 years
Cost per year	About $15.60 to $17	$24
Who can apply	U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents	U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and citizens of certain partner countries
In-person step	Short visit for fingerprints, photo and document check	Interview with a CBP officer
Your number for bookings	Known Traveler Number (KTN), usually starts with "TT"	CBP PASSID, usually starts with 15, 98 or 99

What TSA PreCheck gets you

TSA PreCheck sends you to a dedicated security lane at participating airports when the PreCheck indicator is printed on your boarding pass. According to TSA, in that lane you don't need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts or light jackets. TSA also reports that about 99% of PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes.

Two caveats: TSA still uses unpredictable security measures, and no one is guaranteed expedited screening on every trip. PreCheck also does nothing for you when you come back from an international trip. That's the gap Global Entry fills.

How to apply for TSA PreCheck

1. Apply online with one of TSA's enrollment providers. TSA says this can take as little as 5 minutes.
2. Visit an enrollment location for about 10 minutes for fingerprints, a photo, a document check and payment. CLEAR locations don't require an appointment.
3. Once approved, you get a Known Traveler Number. Add it to the "KTN" field of every airline reservation.

The fee depends on which provider you choose. Per TSA's PreCheck page, IDEMIA charges $78 at 623 locations, Telos charges $85 at 161 locations, and CLEAR charges $77.95 at 55 locations. Online renewal runs $70 with IDEMIA or Telos and $68.95 with CLEAR.

What Global Entry gets you

Global Entry is CBP's trusted traveler program for speeding up your arrival into the United States. Members can use the Global Entry Mobile App on iOS or Android to validate their arrival before entering the inspection area. Both TSA and CBP state that Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck benefits, so you don't need to buy both.

How to apply for Global Entry

1. Create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account. Every applicant, including children, needs their own account.
2. Complete the application and pay the $120 fee. CBP says the fee is non-refundable, even if you're denied.
3. Wait for conditional approval. CBP says about 80% of applications are approved within 2 weeks, but some take 12 months or longer.
4. Finish your interview, either at an enrollment center by appointment or through Enrollment on Arrival (below). Bring a valid passport and a second ID such as a driver's license. Permanent residents need their machine-readable green card.

The $120 fee took effect October 1, 2024, when a federal rule raised it from $100 and set the five-year membership period.

Who is eligible for Global Entry

CBP lists U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Mexican nationals, and citizens of Germany, the Netherlands, Panama and South Korea (Korean citizens must first enroll in Korea's Smart Entry Service). Canadians get these benefits through NEXUS rather than Global Entry. If you're not on that list, TSA PreCheck may still be an option if you're a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident.

Finish your Global Entry interview when you land

The step that slows most applicants down is the interview. Enrollment on Arrival lets conditionally approved applicants skip booking an appointment and complete the interview with a CBP officer when they arrive from an international trip. You'll need a valid passport (all of them, if you travel on more than one), proof of residency such as a driver's license or utility bill (not required for minors), and your green card if applicable. Domestic travelers can't use it.

CBP's Enrollment on Arrival list includes several airports our readers fly from:

• JFK – booths in several terminals
• Newark (EWR) – Terminals B and C
• Boston Logan (BOS) – posted hours of 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – Terminal One and Terminal Four

Hours vary by terminal, so check CBP's list before you fly. If you'd rather book an appointment in New York, CBP lists an office at JFK Terminal 4 (Main Lobby) and one at the U.S. Customs House at 1 Bowling Green in Manhattan, which is by appointment only.

Traveling with kids

This is where the two programs differ most for families.

TSA PreCheck: Children 12 and under can use the PreCheck lane with an enrolled parent or guardian without applying. Teens 13 to 17 can too when they're on the same reservation as an enrolled parent or guardian and the indicator shows on their boarding pass, though TSA says they may be randomly excluded. Kids 17 and under flying alone or with someone who isn't enrolled need their own membership.

Global Entry: There's no family pass at customs. Each child needs their own membership, account and interview. The upside: under the 2024 fee rule, minors under 18 pay no application fee if they apply at the same time as a parent or legal guardian, or if a parent or guardian is already a member. Applicants under 18 also need a parent's or guardian's consent.

So for a family that travels abroad, Global Entry for everyone can cost the same as Global Entry for the parents alone.

Which one should you get?

Get TSA PreCheck if:

• You only fly domestically, or go abroad less than once a year.
• You want the lowest upfront cost and no CBP interview.
• You're a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident who isn't eligible for Global Entry for some reason.

Get Global Entry if:

• You take at least one international round trip a year. The extra cost over PreCheck is roughly $35 to $42 over five years.
• You're traveling with children under 18 who can apply alongside you at no charge.
• You can wait for an interview or plan to use Enrollment on Arrival on your next trip home.

Before paying, check whether your credit card offers a statement credit for either fee.

Tips to get the most out of either program

• Add your number to every booking. TSA says you must enter your number in the "KTN" field of each reservation with a participating airline. Global Entry members use their PASSID as the KTN.
• Renew early. TSA lets you renew PreCheck online up to six months before it expires and recommends renewing at least 60 days ahead. Global Entry members can renew up to one year before expiration, and if you submit before it expires, CBP lets you keep using benefits for up to 24 months while the renewal is processed.
• Keep the same number. TSA says PreCheck members keep the same KTN when they renew.
• Still plan for lines. Expedited screening isn't guaranteed. At busy airports, see our guide to JFK TSA wait times for how to check live security lines.

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Prices and rules change. Always confirm with TSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection before you travel.