{"slug":"tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry","title":"TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry","faqCount":5,"faqs":[{"question":"Should I get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry?","answer":"Get Global Entry — it includes TSA PreCheck and is only $35 more ($120 vs. $85) for 5 years. If you travel internationally even once in a 5-year membership period, Global Entry pays for itself in time saved at customs. The only reason to choose PreCheck only is if you're ineligible for Global Entry (which requires U.S. citizenship, U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident status, or qualifying nationality from a reciprocal agreement country), or if you're absolutely certain you won't travel internationally in 5 years. Check if your credit card covers the application fee — many premium cards reimburse TSA PreCheck or Global Entry."},{"question":"How long does Global Entry take to get approved?","answer":"The Global Entry application timeline has two phases: (1) Conditional approval — typically 2-6 weeks after application and background check; (2) In-person interview — this is the bottleneck. Interview appointments at enrollment centers can have 3-12 month waits depending on location. Shorter waits are sometimes available at airport CBP offices during low-traffic periods (\"interview on arrival\" at international terminals). The total time from application to active card is typically 3-9 months. TSA PreCheck conditional approval comes in about 3-7 days, with enrollment center appointments more readily available."},{"question":"How much does TSA PreCheck cost?","answer":"TSA PreCheck costs $85 for a 5-year membership (approximately $17/year). Renewal is $70 per 5-year term. Global Entry costs $120 for a 5-year membership (and includes TSA PreCheck). NEXUS costs $50 and includes TSA PreCheck for Canada-U.S. travel. SENTRI costs $122.25 and includes TSA PreCheck. Many premium travel credit cards (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) reimburse the $85-$120 application fee as a statement credit every 4-4.5 years — check your card benefits before paying."},{"question":"Can family members use TSA PreCheck?","answer":"TSA PreCheck benefits are tied to individual Known Traveler Numbers (KTN) — it is not a family membership. Each family member needs their own PreCheck or Global Entry membership. However, children 12 and under can accompany a PreCheck adult through the PreCheck lane without their own membership; children 13 and over need their own. There is no family discount on applications."},{"question":"Does Global Entry work for all international countries?","answer":"Global Entry is a U.S. re-entry program — it speeds your return to the United States from any international destination via automated kiosks at major U.S. airports. It does not provide expedited clearance in foreign countries (though Trusted Traveler programs in other countries like Canada's NEXUS serve similar purposes for Canada-U.S. travel). The PreCheck benefit from Global Entry applies to U.S. domestic departures and most international departures from U.S. airports on participating airlines."}],"faqPageSchema":{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#faq","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry","inLanguage":"en-US","name":"TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry — FAQ","description":"Frequently asked questions about TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry","dateModified":"2026-10-20T09:00:06.757Z","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"},"isPartOf":{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#article"},"license":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/","speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#faq-speakable","cssSelector":[".faq-answer"]},"mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#q1","name":"Should I get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#a1","text":"Get Global Entry — it includes TSA PreCheck and is only $35 more ($120 vs. $85) for 5 years. If you travel internationally even once in a 5-year membership period, Global Entry pays for itself in time saved at customs. The only reason to choose PreCheck only is if you're ineligible for Global Entry (which requires U.S. citizenship, U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident status, or qualifying nationality from a reciprocal agreement country), or if you're absolutely certain you won't travel internationally in 5 years. Check if your credit card covers the application fee — many premium cards reimburse TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#q2","name":"How long does Global Entry take to get approved?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#a2","text":"The Global Entry application timeline has two phases: (1) Conditional approval — typically 2-6 weeks after application and background check; (2) In-person interview — this is the bottleneck. Interview appointments at enrollment centers can have 3-12 month waits depending on location. Shorter waits are sometimes available at airport CBP offices during low-traffic periods (\"interview on arrival\" at international terminals). The total time from application to active card is typically 3-9 months. TSA PreCheck conditional approval comes in about 3-7 days, with enrollment center appointments more readily available.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#q3","name":"How much does TSA PreCheck cost?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#a3","text":"TSA PreCheck costs $85 for a 5-year membership (approximately $17/year). Renewal is $70 per 5-year term. Global Entry costs $120 for a 5-year membership (and includes TSA PreCheck). NEXUS costs $50 and includes TSA PreCheck for Canada-U.S. travel. SENTRI costs $122.25 and includes TSA PreCheck. Many premium travel credit cards (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) reimburse the $85-$120 application fee as a statement credit every 4-4.5 years — check your card benefits before paying.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#q4","name":"Can family members use TSA PreCheck?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#a4","text":"TSA PreCheck benefits are tied to individual Known Traveler Numbers (KTN) — it is not a family membership. Each family member needs their own PreCheck or Global Entry membership. However, children 12 and under can accompany a PreCheck adult through the PreCheck lane without their own membership; children 13 and over need their own. There is no family discount on applications.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}},{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#q5","name":"Does Global Entry work for all international countries?","answerCount":1,"acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry#a5","text":"Global Entry is a U.S. re-entry program — it speeds your return to the United States from any international destination via automated kiosks at major U.S. airports. It does not provide expedited clearance in foreign countries (though Trusted Traveler programs in other countries like Canada's NEXUS serve similar purposes for Canada-U.S. travel). The PreCheck benefit from Global Entry applies to U.S. domestic departures and most international departures from U.S. airports on participating airlines.","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tsa-precheck-vs-global-entry","upvoteCount":1,"author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.aversusb.net/#organization","name":"A Versus B"}}}]}}