Global Entry vs. TSA PreCheck®: What’s the difference?

Love to travel but don’t like waiting at the airport? Global Entry and TSA PreCheck® can help you get through the airport faster. But the programs aren’t exactly the same. 

Learn about the differences between TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry. Plus, find out how you can use your eligible Capital One Venture, Venture X, Spark Miles or Venture X Business card to get reimbursed for the application fee of either program.*

Key takeaways

• TSA PreCheck® is for travelers on flights departing from U.S. airports. 
• Global Entry is for travelers arriving at U.S. airports after traveling abroad.
• Global Entry members receive TSA PreCheck® benefits as part of their membership.
• Many travel credit cards, like Capital One’s Venture, Venture X, Spark Miles and Venture X Business, reimburse cardholders for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry application fees up to $120 every four years.

TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry are both Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) run by government agencies. Both programs help make travel to and from U.S. airports a little easier. Both also require an in-person interview at an enrollment center and a background check.

While the programs have similarities, they also differ in important ways. Here’s what you need to know about both programs:

TSA PreCheck® is a TTP administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Here are specifics about how the program works:

• Purpose: Expedited security screening when you depart from a U.S. airport or take a domestic connecting flight after returning to the U.S. 
• Key benefit: Bypassing the need to remove shoes, belts, laptops, light jackets and certain liquids in security lines
• Eligibility: TSA PreCheck® membership is open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, members of the U.S. armed forces and more
• Availability: Available at about 200 airports

Global Entry is a TTP administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Here are details about how the program works:

• Purpose: Expedited customs screening after you reenter the U.S.
• Key benefit: Avoiding paperwork and processing to reduce wait times
• Eligibility: Global Entry membership is open to U.S. citizens, legal permanent U.S. residents, Mexican nationals, citizens of certain other countries and more 
• Availability: Available at dozens of airports in the U.S. and abroad

Whether you choose TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry may depend on your travel plans. The TSA recommends Global Entry for people who travel abroad about four or more times a year. But TSA PreCheck® might be a better choice if you travel mostly within the U.S.

It’s worth noting that application fees for TSA PreCheck® can vary, depending on whether you apply through Telos, IDEMIA or CLEAR®, the companies TSA partners with to handle enrollments.

Yes. Global Entry membership automatically includes TSA PreCheck® membership.

TSA PreCheck® and Global entry are two common travel programs. Here are a few others: 

• NEXUS: Similar to Global Entry, NEXUS gives travelers expedited entry into Canada and the U.S. NEXUS costs $120 for a five-year membership and may include TSA PreCheck®.
• SENTRI: SENTRI is a TTP for travelers moving between Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Members get expedited vehicle and pedestrian access to Mexico and Canada. Membership may include TSA PreCheck® in U.S. and Canadian airports. SENTRI costs $120 for a five-year membership.
• CLEAR: Unlike TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry, which are federal programs, CLEAR is a private company that offers a paid membership program. Membership allows travelers to have their identity verified with the use of biometrics, which ideally speeds up the airport security process. CLEAR costs $189 yearly. CLEAR and TSA PreCheck® can be used together. For added convenience, you can combine enrolling in CLEAR and TSA PreCheck® at any participating CLEAR enrollment airport location.  

If you’re an eligible Capital One cardholder, you can receive up to a $120 statement credit on your application fee for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. Simply use your eligible travel card to pay the application fee when you apply for either program. 

Within two billing cycles, Capital One will reimburse you for the application fee. Both TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry are valid for five years, and you’re eligible for one statement credit per account every four years. 

To help you better understand your options, here are commonly asked questions about TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry:

TSA PreCheck® gives travelers expedited security screening for domestic flights. Global Entry helps speed up the customs process for those reentering the U.S. after traveling abroad. Global Entry members automatically get the added benefit of TSA PreCheck® membership. 

Remember, you can get reimbursed for the application fee for TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry when you use Capital One cards like Venture, Venture X, Spark Miles and Venture X Business. And that’s just one of the benefits of being a Capital One travel rewards cardholder. Learn more about Capital One’s travel rewards cards and apply online today.

Who wouldn’t want to get the most out of their credit card? Here are some things to know about Capital One travel rewards credit cards: 

• Get a one-time 75,000-mile bonus with the Capital One Venture X card and receive an additional 10,000 bonus miles every year, starting on your first anniversary. Terms apply.
• Earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and get 75,000 bonus miles upon signup with the Capital One Venture card. Terms apply.
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles with no annual fee with the Venture One card from Capital One. (View important rates and disclosures.) 
• Explore travel rewards card options by comparing Capital One Venture cards. 
• Learn how Venture X cardholders can get access to a worldwide network of airport lounges thanks to a complimentary Priority Pass membership.