Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck
Global Entry costs $120 for five years and TSA PreCheck costs $85 or less for five years, so Global Entry costs more per year by arithmetic: $24.00 against $15.95 to $17.00.
Maintained by Archie Chang · Sources checked against TSA, CBP, eCFR and Federal Register text on November 2, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Side by side
Every cell comes from TSA or CBP text saved when we checked on November 2, 2026, with the source named in the cell. Fees for TSA PreCheck are the prices tsa.gov listed for each enrollment provider.
| TSA PreCheck | Global Entry | |
|---|---|---|
| Fee | $79.75 (IDEMIA), $85.00 (Telos), $84.95 (CLEAR) for enrollment, as tsa.gov listed them on November 2, 2026; TSA’s headline is $85 or less for five years. | $120 application fee (CBP; 8 CFR 103.7(d)(13)). |
| Membership length | TSA says memberships last five years. | CBP says membership lasts for five years; 8 CFR 235.12(d)(3) says 5 years. |
| What it gives | TSA says TSA PreCheck provides expedited security screening for flights departing from U.S. airports. | CBP says Global Entry allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States; TSA says Global Entry provides expedited U.S. customs screening for international air travelers when entering the United States and that members also receive TSA PreCheck benefits. CBP lists TSA Precheck access among the benefits. |
| Who can apply | U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents (TSA). | U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and U.S. lawful permanent residents (8 CFR 235.12(b)(1)(i)), and citizens of the countries CBP lists on its eligibility page, subject to the reasons for ineligibility CBP lists. |
| How to apply | Submit an application online (about five minutes), then visit an enrollment provider in person (typically 10 minutes), where the provider checks identity documents, takes fingerprints and a photo and collects payment. | Create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account, complete the application and pay the fee, wait for CBP’s review; if the application is conditionally approved, the TTP account instructs the applicant to schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center, and CBP says in-person interviews are required for first-time enrollment. |
| Background check | TSA says the fee covers the operational costs associated with the background check, and that enrollees undergo recurrent criminal history vetting. | CBP: All applicants must undergo a background check. |
| Time to approval | TSA says most applicants receive a Known Traveler Number in 3-5 days, though some applications can take up to 60 days. | CBP’s Global Entry page (page last modified Jul 09, 2025) says Most applications are reviewed within 2 weeks while some can take up to 12 months or longer depending on criminal history; the How to Apply page (page last modified Nov 27, 2024) says 80% of applications are approved within 2 weeks while some applications can take up to 12 months or longer to be processed. |
| Renewal window | TSA says members may renew online up to six months before their expiration date, or in person at an enrollment center. | 8 CFR 235.12(d)(3): an applicant may apply to renew up to one year before the close of the participation period. |
| Children | TSA says children 17 and under can join an adult in the TSA PreCheck lane, with conditions that depend on the child’s age (details on the TSA PreCheck cost page). | CBP says there is no minimum age and that an applicant under 18 needs a parent’s or legal guardian’s consent. 8 CFR 103.7(d)(13) exempts an applicant under 18 from the fee only when they apply concurrently with a parent or legal guardian or their parent or legal guardian is already a participant; CBP’s pages word the exemption differently (see the Global Entry cost page). |
The TSA PreCheck cost page has the provider table, the renewal prices and the children rules, and the Global Entry cost page has the regulation, the Federal Register rule and the under-18 wording.
Cost per year
Arithmetic, not an agency figure: each fee divided by five years. Global Entry costs more per year than TSA PreCheck at every price tsa.gov listed. This leaves out renewal prices, which differ by TSA enrollment provider.
| Program and price | Per year |
|---|---|
| TSA PreCheck at the lowest listed price ($79.75) | $15.95 |
| TSA PreCheck at the highest listed price ($85.00) | $17.00 |
| Global Entry ($120) | $24.00 |
| Compared with | Over five years | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| TSA PreCheck at $79.75 | $40.25 | $8.05 |
| TSA PreCheck at $85.00 | $35.00 | $7.00 |
What each agency says about the other
“TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry are both Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trusted Traveler Programs. TSA PreCheck® provides expedited security screening benefits for flights departing from U.S. Airports. Global Entry provides expedited U.S. customs screening for international air travelers when entering the United States. Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck® benefits as part of their membership.”
“Global Entry Benefits
Available at major U.S. Airports
Reduced wait times in expedited processing lines
TSA Precheck access
Available to use at land borders”
“*While Global Entry’s goal is to speed travelers through the process, members may still be selected for further examination when entering the United States. Any violation of the program’s terms and conditions will result in the appropriate enforcement action and termination of the traveler’s membership privileges.”
“Your trusted traveler card will not grant you access to TSA PreCheck® lanes, instead you must add your PASS ID number in the KTN field when making airline reservations to ensure the TSA PreCheck® indicator appears on your boarding pass.”
“You cannot switch or upgrade between programs. If you are a TSA PreCheck Application Program member and would like to join CBP’s Global Entry Program because you frequently travel internationally, you must enroll with Global Entry as a new applicant and pay their enrollment fee. The cost to enroll in Global Entry is $120 for five years of membership.”
“TSA uses unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, throughout the airport. All travelers will be screened, and no individual is guaranteed expedited screening.”
Application steps
TSA describes the application this way:
“The online application takes about five minutes to complete, and the in-person visit typically lasts 10 minutes. During your visit, the enrollment provider will check your identity documents, take your fingerprints and photo, then collect payment. Please note, if enrolling through CLEAR, you have the option to pay online during the pre-enrollment step.”
CBP describes an interview and review time ranges; its pages give the ranges differently, each quoted with its date:
“Schedule and attend an in-person interview (In-person interviews are required for first-time enrollment)”
“After accepting your completed application, CBP will conduct a review. If your application is conditionally approved, your TTP account will instruct you to schedule an interview at a Global Entry Enrollment Center. Each applicant must schedule a separate interview.”
“Wait for CBP to complete your background check (Most applications are reviewed within 2 weeks while some can take up to 12 months or longer depending on criminal history.)”
“(Please Note: 80% of applications are approved within 2 weeks while some applications can take up to 12 months or longer to be processed.)”
Who can apply
“The TSA PreCheck® Application Program is only open to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents. Applicants may be ineligible due to incomplete or false application information, certain violations of federal security regulations, or disqualifying criminal offenses and factors.”
CBP’s eligibility page lists the countries after this opening:
“Be 18 years of age or older (minors require a parent or legal guardian's consent).
Be a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States or be a citizen of one of the following countries:”
Renewal
“Members may renew their TSA PreCheck® membership online up to six months before their expiration date. The new membership period begins as the current one ends, so there is no disadvantage to renewing early. Alternatively, members can renew in person at an enrollment center.
If members have changed their name since enrollment, they may either visit an enrollment center to complete the renewal process in-person or update their name by contacting the enrollment provider they have selected to process their renewal (up to six months before the expiration date). Name changes may take up to 45 days to complete and processing time varies by individual.”
“Every applicant accepted into Global Entry is accepted for a period of 5 years provided participation is not terminated by CBP prior to the end of the 5-year period. Each applicant may apply to renew participation up to one year prior to the close of the participation period.”
Frequently asked questions
Which costs more, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck?
Global Entry costs more. CBP lists $120 and TSA says $85 or less, each for five years. By arithmetic that is $35.00 to $40.25 more over five years, or $7.00 to $8.05 more per year, against the prices tsa.gov listed on November 2, 2026.
Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?
TSA’s FAQ says Global Entry members also receive TSA PreCheck benefits as part of their membership, and CBP lists TSA Precheck access among the Global Entry benefits. The member adds their PASS ID in the KTN field of an airline reservation.
Can I switch from TSA PreCheck to Global Entry?
TSA’s FAQ says you cannot switch or upgrade between programs, and that a TSA PreCheck member who wants Global Entry has to enroll with Global Entry and pay its enrollment fee.
Do both programs involve an in-person step?
TSA describes an in-person visit to an enrollment provider that typically lasts 10 minutes, where documents, fingerprints and a photo are collected. CBP says in-person interviews are required for first-time Global Entry enrollment.
Who can apply?
TSA says the TSA PreCheck Application Program is only open to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents. CBP lists U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and citizens of the countries on its eligibility page for Global Entry.
How long does each membership last?
TSA says TSA PreCheck memberships last five years. CBP says Global Entry membership lasts for five years, and 8 CFR 235.12(d)(3) says an accepted applicant is accepted for a period of 5 years unless CBP ends participation earlier.
More travel cost pages
Other travel document costs: how much a passport costs and passport book vs card.
Sources (checked November 2, 2026): TSA: TSA PreCheck · TSA: TSA PreCheck FAQ · CBP: Global Entry · CBP: How to Apply for Global Entry · CBP: Eligibility for Global Entry · CBP: Benefits of Global Entry · 8 CFR 103.7 (eCFR) · 8 CFR 235.12 (eCFR)