TSA PreCheck speeds up airport security when you leave from a US airport, while Global Entry speeds up customs when you arrive back in the US, and Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck. As of October 2026, TSA lists five years of PreCheck for 85 dollars or less, and CBP lists Global Entry at a 120 dollar non-refundable application fee for five years. If you fly abroad even a couple of times a year, Global Entry is the one to apply for.
Both programmes come from the US government, both last five years, and both are run by the Department of Homeland Security, so it's easy to see why people mix them up. I read TSA's PreCheck pages and CBP's Global Entry pages side by side. Here's what each one says it does, as of October 2026.
TSA PreCheck and Global Entry side by side
| TSA PreCheck | Global Entry | |
|---|---|---|
| Run by | TSA (Transportation Security Administration) | CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) |
| What it speeds up | Security screening before you fly | Customs and passport control when you land in the US |
| At security | Laptops and 3-1-1 liquids stay in your bag; shoes, belts and light jackets stay on | Includes TSA PreCheck access |
| Fee | Five years for 85 dollars or less, set by the enrollment provider | 120 dollar application fee, non-refundable even if denied |
| Membership | Five years | Five years |
| How you apply | Online in as little as 5 minutes, then about 10 minutes in person for fingerprints and a photo | Online application, background check, then an interview |
| Children | 17 and under can join an adult in the lane for free, with rules by age | Minors are free with a parent already in or applying, but each needs their own account |
| Where it's used | Dedicated lanes at US airports | Major US airports and land borders |
The detail that matters on fees
TSA doesn't sell PreCheck directly. It has three authorised enrollment providers, CLEAR, IDEMIA and Telos, with over 1,300 enrollment locations between them, and each sets its own fee within TSA's five-years-for-85-dollars-or-less promise. On TSA's page, as of October 2026, Telos lists 85.00, CLEAR lists 84.95 and IDEMIA lists 79.75 for a new enrollment, and online renewals start lower.
Global Entry has one fee: CBP lists 120 dollars, paid when you submit the application through the Trusted Traveler Programs system. CBP's page is blunt that the fee is non-refundable, even if your application is denied, so check you're eligible before you pay.
The detail that matters on time
PreCheck is the quicker one to get. TSA says the online part can take as little as 5 minutes and the in-person visit about 10. Global Entry takes longer because CBP runs a background check first. CBP says 80% of applications are approved within 2 weeks, while some take up to 12 months or longer, and first-time applicants need an in-person interview. You don't always need an appointment: CBP offers Enrollment on Arrival and Enrollment on Departure, so you can finish the interview as part of an international trip you've already booked.
Travelling with children
This is where people get caught out. With PreCheck, TSA says children 12 and under can join you in the PreCheck lane without the indicator on their boarding pass. Children aged 13 to 17 need the PreCheck indicator on their own boarding pass, which happens when they're on the same reservation as you and your boarding pass has it. Put them on a separate booking and they won't get PreCheck unless they have their own Known Traveler Number.
Global Entry works differently. CBP says minors pay no fee when a parent is already a member or applying at the same time, but every applicant, whatever their age, needs their own Trusted Traveler Programs account and their own interview.
Which one to choose
- You only fly within the US: PreCheck covers what you need, and you'll pay less for it.
- You fly abroad a few times a year: Global Entry includes PreCheck, so one application covers security on the way out and customs on the way back.
- You need it quickly for a trip in a few weeks: start PreCheck, because Global Entry's background check can take weeks.
- You travel with teenagers: book them on the same reservation as you, or they'll be sent to standard screening.
- You rarely leave the country: CBP itself suggests PreCheck plus its free Mobile Passport Control app instead of Global Entry.
Once you're through security faster, a good carry-on packing list for business trips saves the rest of the time, and this piece on slow travel for founders is worth a read if you're on the road a lot.
My advice on PreCheck or Global Entry
If there's any chance you'll fly internationally in the next five years, apply for Global Entry and get PreCheck as part of it. The gap between the two fees is small next to the hours you'll save in a customs hall after a long flight. If you never leave the US, PreCheck is the sensible pick. Either way, remember TSA's own line: no traveller is guaranteed expedited screening on every trip, so still leave yourself a little time.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?
Yes. CBP lists TSA PreCheck access as one of the Global Entry benefits, so members get both expedited customs on arrival in the US and PreCheck lanes at security.
How much is TSA PreCheck compared with Global Entry?
As of October 2026, TSA lists five years of PreCheck for 85 dollars or less, depending on the enrollment provider, and CBP lists a 120 dollar non-refundable Global Entry application fee for five years of membership.
How long does Global Entry approval take?
CBP says 80% of applications are approved within 2 weeks, while some can take up to 12 months or longer, and first-time applicants must complete an interview.
Can my kids use my TSA PreCheck?
TSA says children 12 and under can join you in the PreCheck lane. Children 13 to 17 need the PreCheck indicator on their own boarding pass, which they get when they're on the same reservation as you.
Is the Global Entry fee refundable?
No. CBP says the application fee is non-refundable, even if the application is denied.
