Loading Page...

Do I need both Global Entry and TSA PreCheck?

Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck? Yes, Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck benefits so you don't need to sign up for both programs.



People Also Ask

If you have Global Entry, it also automatically includes TSA PreCheck membership. Both memberships last for five years before needing to reapply. However, when approved individually for TSA PreCheck, it does not include approval for Global Entry.

MORE DETAILS

A $100 one-time fee is required with your Global Entry application and must be paid at time of application submission through the Trusted Traveler Program (TTP) system. You can pay by credit card or through an electronic bank transfer.

MORE DETAILS

Visit the government's Trusted Traveler Program web page and you'll find Global Entry processing times estimated at 4 to 6 months, though as recently as a couple of weeks ago, CBP cautioned that for some applicants waits for an in-person interview could run anywhere from 6 to 18 months.

MORE DETAILS

Notably, Global Entry membership automatically includes TSA PreCheck membership. This means that travelers with Global Entry can enjoy a faster screening process whether they're traveling domestically or returning to the United States after a trip abroad.

MORE DETAILS

Benefits of Global Entry
  • No processing lines.
  • No paperwork.
  • Access to expedited entry benefits in other countries.
  • Available at major U.S. airports.
  • Reduced wait times.
  • TSA Pre?® Eligibility.


MORE DETAILS

If you're approved, at the end of the interview, you'll immediately be enrolled into the program and be given your Known Traveler Number (KTN). Your Global Entry membership card will arrive in the mail anywhere between seven to 10 business days after approval and you have 30 days to activate your card.

MORE DETAILS

Of course, you'll also need to be arriving from a flight abroad, but at least you can complete the interview without an appointment. It is possible to handle the Global Entry walk-in interview on arrival if you plan.

MORE DETAILS

Members enter the United States through automatic kiosks at select airports. At airports, program members proceed to Global Entry kiosks, present their machine-readable passport or U.S. permanent resident card, place their fingerprints on the scanner for fingerprint verification and complete a customs declaration.

MORE DETAILS

Notably, Global Entry membership automatically includes TSA PreCheck membership. This means that travelers with Global Entry can enjoy a faster screening process whether they're traveling domestically or returning to the United States after a trip abroad.

MORE DETAILS

While your card isn't required to access Global Entry kiosks at the airport, there are other scenarios in which you'll need it. If you plan to take advantage of Global Entry's access to NEXUS or SENTRI, your Global Entry card will be required.

MORE DETAILS

Do seniors automatically get PreCheck? No. Anyone who wants to receive PreCheck needs to apply. However, TSA does provide people who are 75 years old or older access to an expedited screening process in the regular screening lines: You can keep your light jacket and shoes on.

MORE DETAILS

If you're approved, at the end of the interview, you'll immediately be enrolled into the program and be given your Known Traveler Number (KTN). Your Global Entry membership card will arrive in the mail anywhere between seven to 10 business days after approval and you have 30 days to activate your card.

MORE DETAILS

The only potential downsides of Global Entry is that it requires fingerprinting and background check and costs $100 every 5 years. Scheduling and completing your Global Entry interview can also be a hassle, which is why taking advantage of Enrollment on Arrival can be wise.

MORE DETAILS

Global Entry is everything that TSA PreCheck is and more. If you have Global Entry, you'll automatically also get TSA PreCheck and all of its benefits. On top of that, you'll get to avoid the general customs line when returning to the U.S. from abroad.

MORE DETAILS