Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck (2026)
On official pages checked November 10, 2026, TSA PreCheck is a five-year TSA program that TSA describes as “$85 or less,” for dedicated checkpoint lanes. Global Entry is a CBP Trusted Traveler Program with a $120 non-refundable application fee and a five-year membership that official CBP pages say includes TSA PreCheck and expedited clearance on arrival in the United States. Official TSA language still says no individual is guaranteed expedited screening, and official CBP language says Global Entry members may still be selected for further examination. This is not a scored ranking, and it is not a credit-card guide.
How this page was made: this is a research-based comparison built from official pricing pages, plan or policy wording, and product documentation. We haven’t tested these products or policies ourselves, and we don’t invent scores. Our methodology.
Quick answer
Choose TSA PreCheck if you mainly need dedicated U.S. checkpoint lanes for five years at $85 or less. Choose Global Entry if you also want expedited CBP arrival for a $120 non-refundable five-year fee, which official CBP pages say includes TSA PreCheck. Neither program guarantees you will skip every extra inspection.
Last updated Pricing checked Nov 10, 2026
Check Global Entry pricing (opens in a new tab)Check TSA PreCheck pricing (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Global Entry | TSA PreCheck | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is, as written | A CBP Trusted Traveler Program for expedited clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Official CBP pages also say it includes TSA PreCheck and can be used at land borders. | A TSA trusted-traveler program with a Known Traveler Number for dedicated PreCheck lanes, where TSA says you can leave electronics, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, light jackets, and shoes on. |
| Official fee and term | $120, paid when you submit the application through the Trusted Traveler Programs system, for a five-year membership. Official how-to-apply page (last modified November 27, 2024): the fee is non-refundable, even if the application is denied. Official eligibility page (last modified October 27, 2026): the $120 fee is waived for minors under 18 if a parent or legal guardian is enrolled or in pending status. | TSA’s official page: five years of benefits for $85 or less, with current provider figures including $79.75 next to enrollment at 500+ locations, plus IDEMIA and Telos renewal prices listed on that page. Official FAQ: the fee maintains eligibility for 5 years. |
| Application and wait, as stated | Create a TTP account, pay, wait for a background check, then complete a required in-person interview for first-time enrollment. Official main page: most applications are reviewed within 2 weeks, while some can take up to 12 months or longer depending on criminal history. Official how-to-apply page: 80% of applications are approved within 2 weeks, while some can take up to 12 months or longer. We report both official phrasings. | Finish in person with documents, fingerprints, and a photo. Official FAQ: most applicants are described as receiving approval in 3–5 days, though some applications can take up to 60 days. |
| Who can apply | Official eligibility page: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, plus citizens of a listed set of other countries, with possible extra requirements by country. The same page says you must be 18 or older (minors require a parent or legal guardian’s consent) and, in the children section, that there is no minimum age. We report both official lines. | Official TSA fact sheet (last updated October 4, 2024) and current PreCheck pages: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can apply. |
| Children, as written | No minimum age, but a parent or legal guardian must consent and attend the interview if the applicant is under 18. The $120 fee is waived for a minor when a legal guardian is enrolled or pending. | TSA’s current official PreCheck page says children 17 and under can join an adult in the PreCheck lane for free. A TSA fact sheet last updated October 4, 2024 still says passengers 12 and younger traveling with an eligible passenger. We report both official figures. |
We compared official CBP Global Entry, eligibility, and how-to-apply pages with official TSA PreCheck and FAQ pages, all checked November 10, 2026. CBP’s how-to-apply page is last modified November 27, 2024; the eligibility page is last modified October 27, 2026; the main Global Entry page is last modified July 9, 2025. We report those official dates rather than treating every line as equally current. We have not timed lanes or kiosks, and we do not invent scores. Official TSA FAQ language already says you cannot switch or upgrade from PreCheck to Global Entry — Global Entry is a new enrollment. This page does not compare travel credit cards or card-linked fee credits. For a free CBP arrival app that is not a Trusted Traveler Program, see Mobile Passport Control explained.
Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck: side-by-side
| Global Entry | TSA PreCheck | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is, as written | A CBP Trusted Traveler Program for expedited clearance of pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. Official CBP pages also say it includes TSA PreCheck and can be used at land borders. | A TSA trusted-traveler program with a Known Traveler Number for dedicated PreCheck lanes, where TSA says you can leave electronics, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, light jackets, and shoes on. |
| Official fee and term | $120, paid when you submit the application through the Trusted Traveler Programs system, for a five-year membership. Official how-to-apply page (last modified November 27, 2024): the fee is non-refundable, even if the application is denied. Official eligibility page (last modified October 27, 2026): the $120 fee is waived for minors under 18 if a parent or legal guardian is enrolled or in pending status. | TSA’s official page: five years of benefits for $85 or less, with current provider figures including $79.75 next to enrollment at 500+ locations, plus IDEMIA and Telos renewal prices listed on that page. Official FAQ: the fee maintains eligibility for 5 years. |
| Application and wait, as stated | Create a TTP account, pay, wait for a background check, then complete a required in-person interview for first-time enrollment. Official main page: most applications are reviewed within 2 weeks, while some can take up to 12 months or longer depending on criminal history. Official how-to-apply page: 80% of applications are approved within 2 weeks, while some can take up to 12 months or longer. We report both official phrasings. | Finish in person with documents, fingerprints, and a photo. Official FAQ: most applicants are described as receiving approval in 3–5 days, though some applications can take up to 60 days. |
| Who can apply | Official eligibility page: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, plus citizens of a listed set of other countries, with possible extra requirements by country. The same page says you must be 18 or older (minors require a parent or legal guardian’s consent) and, in the children section, that there is no minimum age. We report both official lines. | Official TSA fact sheet (last updated October 4, 2024) and current PreCheck pages: U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents can apply. |
| Children, as written | No minimum age, but a parent or legal guardian must consent and attend the interview if the applicant is under 18. The $120 fee is waived for a minor when a legal guardian is enrolled or pending. | TSA’s current official PreCheck page says children 17 and under can join an adult in the PreCheck lane for free. A TSA fact sheet last updated October 4, 2024 still says passengers 12 and younger traveling with an eligible passenger. We report both official figures. |
| What is not guaranteed | Official CBP warning: members may still be selected for further examination when entering the United States, and program violations can end membership. | Official TSA page and FAQ: all travelers will be screened, and no individual is guaranteed expedited screening. |
What are the pros and cons?
Global Entry: pros
- Official five-year CBP membership at $120 that includes TSA PreCheck, plus expedited arrival processing at major U.S. airports and official land-border use
- The $120 fee is waived for minors under 18 when a parent or legal guardian is enrolled or pending
- Official pages describe a free Mobile Passport Control app as an alternative if you take fewer international flights or are waiting for approval
Global Entry: cons
- The official $120 fee is non-refundable even if the application is denied, and first-time enrollment requires an in-person interview
- Some applications can take up to 12 months or longer, on official CBP language
- Membership does not guarantee you will skip further examination on arrival
TSA PreCheck: pros
- Official five-year checkpoint benefit at $85 or less, which is the lower official fee if you do not need CBP arrival processing
- Dedicated PreCheck lanes where TSA says you can leave electronics, 3-1-1 liquids, belts, light jackets, and shoes on
- Children 17 and under can join an adult in the PreCheck lane on TSA’s current official page, without a $120 CBP application
TSA PreCheck: cons
- PreCheck is not a CBP arrival program and does not by itself get you into Global Entry kiosks or lanes
- Official TSA FAQ: you cannot switch or upgrade from PreCheck to Global Entry; Global Entry is a new $120 enrollment
- Official language still says expedited screening is not guaranteed
Which should you choose: Global Entry or TSA PreCheck?
Buy the job you actually have. Official TSA PreCheck at “$85 or less” for five years is the checkpoint program. Official Global Entry at a $120 non-refundable fee is the CBP arrival program that, on official CBP pages, also includes PreCheck — so the extra official cost is for arrival processing, not a second checkpoint product. Neither official page promises you will never be pulled aside. We have not timed either line, and we do not compare credit cards. If you want a free CBP arrival option with no enrollment, start with Mobile Passport Control.
Choose Global Entry if…
- You take international trips into the United States often enough that a $120 non-refundable five-year CBP membership, with official PreCheck included, is the job you want
- You can complete a first-time interview and accept official wait language that can stretch to 12 months or longer
Choose TSA PreCheck if…
- You mainly want dedicated U.S. checkpoint lanes for five years at an official fee of $85 or less
- You already use, or plan to use, Mobile Passport Control for CBP arrivals and do not want a $120 Global Entry application
You cannot upgrade PreCheck to Global Entry
TSA’s official FAQ is plain: you cannot switch or upgrade from PreCheck to Global Entry. Global Entry is a new enrollment at $120 for five years. If you already have PreCheck, official CBP pages still describe Global Entry as a separate Trusted Traveler Program with its own application, fee, and interview.
Who should skip this?
- Readers looking for credit-card fee credits or a card-vs-card comparison. Those are out of scope here.
- People who want NEXUS or SENTRI compared in detail. Those are different Trusted Traveler Programs and are not in this table.
- Anyone who wants a timed “which line is faster” test. We compared official fees and terms, not stopwatch results.
Frequently asked questions
Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?
How much do Global Entry and TSA PreCheck cost?
Can I get a refund if Global Entry is denied?
Does this page recommend a credit card?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Nov 10, 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- CBP: Global Entry official page — $120, five years, includes TSA PreCheck language, may still be selected for further exam (last modified Jul 9, 2025; checked Nov 10, 2026) (cbp.gov)
- CBP: Global Entry eligibility — country list, $120 fee, minor waiver, no-minimum-age and 18-or-older language (last modified Oct 27, 2026; checked Nov 10, 2026) (cbp.gov)
- CBP: How to Apply for Global Entry — $120 non-refundable fee, 80% within 2 weeks, interview (last modified Nov 27, 2024; checked Nov 10, 2026) (cbp.gov)
- TSA: TSA PreCheck official page — $85 or less for five years, lane benefits, provider prices (checked Nov 10, 2026) (tsa.gov)
- TSA: TSA PreCheck FAQ — 5-year eligibility, no guaranteed expedited screening, cannot switch to Global Entry (checked Nov 10, 2026) (tsa.gov)
- CBP: Mobile Passport Control official page — comparison table of MPC vs Global Entry, including PreCheck included with GE (last modified Oct 26, 2026; checked Nov 10, 2026) (cbp.gov)
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