These Credit Cards Provide Free TSA PreCheck and Global Entry

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Airports across the United States are almost as crowded as they were before the pandemic, leading to even more frustrating lines at security and immigration. If you’ve been dismayed by long security queues stretching far into the check-in areas, packed with anxious travelers worried about missing their flights—you’re certainly not alone.

Fortunately, you can steer clear of being one of those stressed-out travelers with TSA PreCheck, which allows you to swiftly navigate U.S. airport security checkpoints. (As per data from the Transportation Security Administration in October 2023, 99 percent of TSA PreCheck-enrolled travelers spent less than 10 minutes getting through security.) For a similarly smooth experience at immigration and customs, Global Entry accelerates the process upon your return to the U.S. from abroad. Both memberships are valid for five years.

The great news is that Global Entry automatically includes TSA PreCheck (though the reverse is not true), allowing you to access all the expedited lanes with just one application. Fortunately, many travel credit cards provide a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck as a perk for cardholders. They will reimburse your application fee as a statement credit every four years (when it’s time to renew your membership).

Here’s how your travel credit card can secure you Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck at no cost.

17 credit cards that reimburse Global Entry and TSA PreCheck application fees

Travel credit cards offer a range of benefits designed to help offset their annual fees. One of the most sought-after benefits is a statement credit every four years, covering up to $100 for Global Entry or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck. These credits fully cover the application fees for the programs. (Terms apply.)

Among the high-annual-fee cards that provide this benefit are:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ($395 annual fee)
• Capital One Venture X Business ($395 annual fee)
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® ($550 annual fee)
• Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card ($550 annual fee, see rates and fees)
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card ($650 annual fee, see rates and fees)
• The Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee, see rates and fees)
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee, see rates and fees)
• United Club℠ Infinite Card ($525 annual fee)

Several midrange annual fee cards also offer a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit:

• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card ($250 annual fee, see rates and fees)
• Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card ($250 annual fee, see rates and fees)
• Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card ($199 annual fee)
• United Quest℠ Card ($250 annual fee)

Even a handful of cards with low annual fees provide this benefit to cardholders:

• Aeroplan® Credit Card ($95 annual fee)
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card ($95 annual fee)
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card ($99 annual fee)
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card ($99 annual fee)
• United℠ Explorer Card ($0 annual fee for the first year, then $95)

How to use your travel credit card to apply for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry at no cost

Your journey to apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck starts online. (First, familiarize yourself with the differences between these trusted traveler programs to determine which one suits you best.)

When applying for Global Entry online, you’ll typically need to pay a nonrefundable fee of $100 during the application. If you use a credit card that provides a Global Entry credit, you should see a statement credit appear days to weeks after the fee is processed, offsetting the initial charge.

The process for obtaining your first TSA PreCheck membership differs slightly. You will complete the TSA PreCheck application online and then schedule an in-person appointment at an Enrollment Center to finish the process. At your appointment, you will pay the nonrefundable fee, which will later be reimbursed as a statement credit. The first-time, nonrefundable application fee for TSA PreCheck ranges from $78–$85 for a five-year membership, depending on the provider. Renewal for TSA PreCheck online costs $70, while in-person renewals can range from $70–$78, again depending on the provider. Online renewals can be paid online, of course.

Keep in mind that you cannot claim separate credits for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck within a four-year period—it’s one or the other. If you apply for TSA PreCheck now and later choose to upgrade to Global Entry within four years, you will not receive a reimbursement for the second fee. However, if you apply for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck is included automatically, so you won’t need to submit a separate application for it. The $100 fee covers both programs in that case.

Two cards offer statement credits for each additional cardholder

For nearly all credit cards, the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit applies to just one per account, regardless of additional cardholders or authorized users. However, there are two notable exceptions:

• The Platinum Card from American Express
• The Business Platinum Card from American Express

These two cards provide statement credits for every additional cardholder. For instance, if someone holds an Amex Platinum and has three additional users on their account, they can receive a total of four credits (up to $100 each), one for each card.

This article was first published in 2021 and updated on January 29, 2024, to reflect current information. While the offers mentioned are accurate at the time of publication, they may change at any moment and could have been altered or may no longer be available.