How To Get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry For FREE

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TSA Pre Check and Global Entry are Trusted Traveler Programs that help you breeze through security at U.S. airports or expedite re-entry to the U.S. after traveling abroad.  In this post, I’ll show you how to get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry for free!

What Is TSA PreCheck?

TSA Precheck is a program that allows you to speed through security at U.S. airports in the designated TSA Pre-Check lanes.  It’s kind of like an airport time machine — you don’t have to remove your shoes, light jackets, laptops, or liquids.

Once you apply, you will need to schedule your “interview” at a selected enrollment center where you will be fingerprinted and interrogated about your past criminal activity…ok, so there isn’t an interrogation, but they will do a background check.

Once approved, you will receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN).  Then, you just need to add this number to your airline reservations to get the TSA PreCheck designation on your boarding pass.  It’s a relatively simple process and costs $78 for a 5-year membership.

How To Get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry FREE
Travel back in time with TSA PreCheck. Image Credit: TSA PreCheck

What Is Global Entry?

Global Entry is a trusted traveler program that gives low-risk travelers expedited re-entry back into the U.S. after traveling abroad. With Global Entry, you can bypass immigration lines at select airports and use one of the Global Entry kiosks to process your re-entry back into the U.S.

The kiosk will quickly identify you and process your customs declaration. Global Entry is open to citizens of the U.S., Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Germany, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Colombia and Switzerland.

Canadian citizens and residents enrolled in NEXUS may also use the Global Entry kiosks.

How To Get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry FREE

Once you submit your online application, you will receive a temporary authorization that will allow you to schedule your interview at one of the enrollment centers (not the same locations as TSA PreCheck). Unless you check back every day to wait for a cancellation, don’t be surprised to wait 4 to 5 months for an open appointment.

At your interview, you will be photographed, fingerprinted, and asked about your travel plans. Then, you will receive a Known Traveler Number to add to your airline reservations.  There is a $100 fee for Global Entry, which is good for 5 years.

How to Get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry for FREE

This all sounds great, right? Getting these benefits for free is even better. Certain credit cards come with a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, so it makes sense to just go for the Global Entry membership since you will also get TSA PreCheck.

Global Entry membership costs $100 and is valid for 5 years. All you need to do is charge the application fee to your card, and it will be automatically reimbursed.

These are the credit cards I use to get Global Entry and TSA PreCheck for free:

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit CardEarn 75,000 bonus miles (worth $750+)

Chase Sapphire Reserve®Earn 60,000 bonus points (worth $900!)

The Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressEarn 120,000 Amex Membership Rewards points!

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Earn 4 free nights!

You can use the fee reimbursement for yourself or gift it to someone else. Many of these cards come with hefty membership fees, but they also come with lots of valuable benefits and bonus points in addition to the $78 TSA PreCheck or $100 Global Entry Fee Reimbursement.

Be sure to evaluate a card’s benefits before applying, and always pay your bill in full and on time every month! 

Now that you know how to get TSA PreCheck and Global Entry for FREE, where will your travels take you next?

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This Post Has 15 Comments

  1. Ah if only…I’m a New Zealander so no special queue jumping for me! But great that it is an option though, boy would I love something like this for every country ha ha!

    1. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel

      Wouldn’t that be nice if it was an international thing!

  2. This sounds great. Not having to remove shoes and jacket or put liquids in a bag would be so good! The price is really reasonable, definitely worth it!

    1. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel

      It’s definitely been worth it for me!

    2. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel

      …and a side note – I am dying to go to New Zealand! I have heard nothing but great things. My in laws are going later this year so I guess I will have to live through them until I can go!

  3. Corinne

    I hate, hate, hate lines, especially customs lines…so this is great info. I need to get off my duff and do it! Thanks.

  4. Castaway with Crystal

    Ahhh I got so excited reading this but then realised it was only for Americans, nooooo! You Americans have such great deals associated with your credit cards that we just don’t get in Aus and it’s annoying 😕

    1. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel

      yeah, sorry, the good credit card deals tend to be U.S only : (

  5. Elisa

    Interesting concepts to go through the airports easier! I wish there was something like this in Europe, especially for the items you don’t need to remove. Thanks for the info

  6. Paul

    Thanks for sharing, this is great to know! That should really help speed up the process.

  7. Nathan

    I knew one of these cards gave you these benefits but I didn’t know about the others. I love the Chase Sapphire! It’s my go to card.

    1. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel

      The Chase Sapphire cards are great! The Sapphire Reserve/Freedom Unlimited combo is my go to…I love Chase points!

  8. Gokul Raj

    That is a Time Saver. Some airport security can get real shitty with their checking.

  9. Heather

    This sounds like a great idea for those of us who always end up spending ages decanting all our cameras and laptops at security, and then often end up running to catch the plane as we’ve been held up for so long.

    1. Katie @ ZenLifeandTravel

      They can really be great time savers. I just love not having to take my shoes off when going through security!

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