How do I know when I'm approved for TSA PreCheck®? Most applicants receive their Known Traveler Number (KTN) in 3-5 days, though some applications can take up to 60 days.
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The fastest and easiest way to enroll in TSA PreCheck® is to start the application online.
TSA's goal is to provide you with the status of your application within 60 days of receiving the information you provided at enrollment. This may take longer if there was difficulty capturing your fingerprints during enrollment or any data is missing.
What are the odds of getting TSA PreCheck? TSA PreCheck may be the least exclusive club that's actually worth joining. More than 99 percent of travelers who apply are admitted into the expedited airport screening program, according to TSA spokesperson Jenny Burke.
If the identifying information on your application is incorrect or incomplete, then it may be denied. By the same token, there are situations when membership can also be suspended if you no longer meet eligibility requirements.
Applicants may be ineligible due to incomplete or false application information, certain violations of federal security regulations, or disqualifying criminal offenses and factors. Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI allow some foreign citizens to apply. You can find more information on all programs here.
TSA estimates that 95% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than five minutes in the security line. This is a small amount of time separating you from the back of the security line to the terminal, meaning the most useful benefit is, of course, saving time.
If you have both TSA PreCheck and Clear, then you not only go through the TSA PreCheck lane but get to cut the PreCheck line — if there is one. TSA PreCheck lines are typically short. In September 2021, 96% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than five minutes, according to the TSA.
According to the TSA: “Most applicants receive approval notification in 3-5 days, though some applications can take up to 60 days.” One way to speed up the process is to sign up using the TSA's new partnership with Staples stores.
To apply, applicants simply complete a TSA Precheck application online at tsa.gov or at an enrollment center. All candidates must schedule a visit to an enrollment center for a short interview and show proof of identity, citizenship and submit their fingerprints.
Most applicants receive approval notification in 3-5 days, though some applications can take up to 60 days. Considering this, applicants are encouraged to renew at least 60 days prior to expiry.
Travelers interested in TSA PreCheck must apply online for pre-approval. Once your interview is booked, you are required to bring an unexpired U.S. government-issued photo identification, plus proof of citizenship. Accepted documents include your passport or a driver's license and birth certificate.
Technically your spouse can't go through the TSA PreCheck lane without their own account. In some instances, however, security may allow them through when it's clear that their boarding passes match yours as the primary account holder.
Global Entry is a federal program allowing members faster screening when returning to the U.S. A five-year membership is $100 and includes TSA Precheck. The Trusted Traveler Programs website estimates application processing times of four to six months for Global Entry.
It's also worth noting that not every airport has TSA PreCheck and not every terminal within an airport has it. And TSA PreCheck lines may have their own hours and are not always open when the standard security line is open, such as early in the morning.