Trusted Traveler Program: Which One Is Fastest to Get?

Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST are the CBP options when you pick a trusted traveler program (FAST is for commercial truck drivers). Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI all cost $120 for 5 years, so the one with the earliest interview date is the fastest to get.

TSA PreCheck is a separate program run by TSA. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck.

Which trusted traveler program is fastest to get?

Price and process no longer separate the three CBP programs. Since October 1, 2024, the application fee is $120 for Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI alike. Before that, Global Entry was $100, NEXUS $50 and SENTRI $122.25. Some older pages still show $100; ignore them.

All three use the same application on the TTP system and the same CBP review and vetting. Every applicant then needs a personal interview and fingerprints or photo biometrics. The step that differs most between programs is how soon you can get that interview.

The last column links to live pages because the dates change and a number printed here would go stale. Those pages show each center's next bookable date. They do not show whether a slot is open right now.

Global Entry vs NEXUS vs SENTRI vs TSA PreCheck

The three CBP programs each cost $120 and last 5 years. TSA PreCheck costs $78–$85 for 5 years, depending on the enrollment provider. Global Entry includes PreCheck, so a Global Entry member does not need a separate PreCheck enrollment.

Who can apply for which program

• Global Entry: US citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and citizens of about 20 partner countries.
• NEXUS: US and Canadian citizens and LPRs, plus qualifying Mexican Viajero Confiable members. Both countries must approve you.
• SENTRI: US citizens, LPRs and Mexican nationals.

CLEAR is a private service outside the government programs.

Benefits overlap more than you might expect

• NEXUS members can use Global Entry processing and SENTRI lanes.
• US citizen and LPR SENTRI members can use Global Entry.
• Global Entry RFID cards work in SENTRI and NEXUS lanes when entering the US, but they are not valid for entering Canada through NEXUS lanes.

SENTRI adds one requirement: to drive in SENTRI lanes, your vehicle needs an inspection. Registering a vehicle with your initial application is free. Adding one later costs $42. A replacement card costs $25 in any program.

Minors under 18 pay no application fee if a parent or legal guardian is already a member or applies at the same time. Otherwise a minor pays the full $120.

Worked example: comparing two centers

Worked example, with made-up numbers to show the method. You live in a metro area with a Global Entry center and a SENTRI center, and you have no plans to drive through Mexico border lanes. You open the live pages:

The SENTRI interview is 115 days sooner, for the same $120. As a US citizen or LPR you could use Global Entry with a SENTRI membership. Before choosing on that basis, confirm on CBP's pages that the program covers what you want from it, including TSA PreCheck. Global Entry is the program that includes PreCheck.

The same logic applies to NEXUS near the Canadian border. Its joint CBP and CBSA interview means fewer centers, so check NEXUS wait times as well. The Global Entry availability page lists each center's next bookable date in one place.

Pick the program you will use. A fast date for a program that does not fit your travel does not help. If you fly internationally and never cross a land border, Global Entry is usually the fit, and an early SENTRI date comes with a trade-off you should weigh before you book.

Enrollment on Arrival can skip the wait for Global Entry

If you have conditional approval for Global Entry, you can finish the interview when you land from an international flight at a participating airport. Any interview you already scheduled is canceled automatically. Bring your passport and proof of residency. This route is for Global Entry only, so it can beat a distant interview date if you have an international trip coming.

Where the time goes before the interview

According to CBP as cited by Capital One, conditional approval takes about two weeks for most applicants but can take 12 months or more. You schedule the interview after that. The wait-time pages cover the interview stage, and this explainer on the approval-stage timeline covers the rest.

Renewals start up to 1 year before your membership expires. If you file before it expires, your benefits continue for up to 24 months past the expiration date, and a renewal may not need an interview.

Getting a text when an earlier slot opens

If the date you see is months away, GlobalEntryTexts texts you when a Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI interview appointment opens at the enrollment centers you choose. It costs $25, paid once, for 30 days of monitoring, and it is not a subscription. You can watch up to 3 centers for that price, and each purchase covers one program.

You book the appointment yourself on ttp.dhs.gov. GlobalEntryTexts never books for you. For a comparison of other alert options, see the alert services comparison.