What is the cost difference between Global Entry and TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck costs $78 for a five-year membership, and $70 to renew. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, plus faster U.S. customs screening for international travelers arriving at U.S. airports. It's run by a different agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Global Entry costs $100 for a five-year membership.



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It costs $78 to apply for TSA PreCheck or $100 to apply for Global Entry (which includes TSA PreCheck, if approved). If you apply for TSA PreCheck first, you will have to pay another fee for Global Entry if you decide to apply later.

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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.

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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.

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Global Entry Benefits
  • No processing lines.
  • No paperwork.
  • Access to expedited entry.
  • Available at major U.S. airports.
  • Reduced wait times.


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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.

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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.

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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.

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What is the Global Entry interview like? During your interview, the agent will verify the answers that you provided on your online application and review your identification documents. They'll take your picture and your fingerprints as well. The process usually takes 10-15 minutes.

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In most cases, Global Entry is a better choice, especially if you travel internationally. Not only does it include TSA PreCheck but it will also expedite your re-entry back into the U.S. when you arrive from abroad.

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According to a New York Times article, 3 to 5 percent of the 30,000 Global Entry traveler applications submitted each month are rejected. Most common reason? Criminal background checks come up with some sort of red flag that causes the application to be rejected prior to any interview.

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