These two programs are often mentioned together, but they speed up different parts of a trip. TSA PreCheck helps at airport security when you depart from a US airport. Global Entry helps at US customs and immigration when you come back from abroad. Knowing which line you dislike most is most of the decision.
The short version
- TSA PreCheck: expedited security screening at US airports, before you fly.
- Global Entry: expedited customs and immigration processing when entering the US, and it includes TSA PreCheck benefits.
Both are run under the Department of Homeland Security's Trusted Traveler programs. Current costs are listed on the official sites, and it is worth comparing them, as some travel credit cards reimburse the application.
Which one fits your travel?
Consider TSA PreCheck if most of your flying is domestic and you take few international trips. Consider Global Entry if you travel abroad regularly, because it covers both ends of an international trip. Official guidance points frequent international flyers, around four or more trips a year, toward Global Entry. You do not need both, since Global Entry already includes PreCheck.
If you fly internationally only now and then, there is a free option. CBP's Mobile Passport Control app lets eligible travelers send their details ahead of arrival at participating airports, which may shorten the wait without any membership.
How you apply
TSA PreCheck
You apply through a TSA enrollment provider, then complete a short in-person appointment with identity documents and fingerprints. Once you are approved, you receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN).
Global Entry
- Create an account on the Trusted Traveler Programs website and complete the application.
- Wait for conditional approval after the background check.
- Attend an interview at an enrollment center, or look at Enrollment on Arrival, which CBP offers to conditionally approved applicants at participating airports when returning from abroad.
Global Entry membership lasts five years. You cannot convert PreCheck into Global Entry, so you would apply as a new applicant, though giving your KTN on the form may speed things up.
The mistake that wastes your membership
Approval alone does not get you into the PreCheck lane. Your KTN must be on the reservation, and the TSA PreCheck indicator must appear on your boarding pass. Showing a membership card at the checkpoint will not get you in. So:
- Save your KTN in your airline profile.
- Add it to any booking made elsewhere, including through a travel agency, before you check in.
- Make sure the name and date of birth match your application exactly.
- Check your boarding pass for the indicator before you get to the checkpoint.
What about children?
The two programs treat children differently:
- TSA PreCheck: children aged 12 and under can use the lane with a parent or guardian who has the indicator. Those aged 13 to 17 need the indicator on their own boarding pass, so keep them on the same reservation as the adult.
- Global Entry: every traveler using it needs their own membership, including children. A child without one must use the regular line, and the family may need to go together.
A note on timing and connections
Do not plan a very tight connection around a membership. Global Entry can shorten your wait at immigration, but you still have to collect bags, go through customs and re-clear security when connecting onward. Our layover guide shows how much time to leave, and our guide to US preclearance covers airports where you clear the US before you board. If something does go wrong, read what to do after a missed connection.
Apply early if you have a trip coming up, because approval times can vary. In the meantime, you can compare live options for a route such as Chicago to London or Atlanta to Paris.
