Which Credit Cards Cover Global Entry & PreCheck? $120 Math
Many premium travel cards reimburse the TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS application fee, usually up to $120 once every four years. That is the short answer to which credit cards have TSA PreCheck benefits: Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X and Venture Rewards, Amex Platinum, U.S. Bank Altitude Connect and United Explorer all list one, and you have to pay the fee with that card to get the credit.
The credit lowers what you pay. The interview wait runs on its own clock and is usually the slower step. This page does the fee math first, then shows where to check interview dates.
Worked example: your out-of-pocket cost on a $120 application
Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI each cost $120 from CBP, and each membership lasts 5 years. TSA PreCheck costs less. Sources quote $76.75 for new enrollments, with NerdWallet also citing $76.95 at Idemia and $85 at Telos. All of these fees are nonrefundable, even if the application is denied.
Here is what you pay after the card credit, using the credit amounts the sources list:
| Scenario | Fee | Card credit | You pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| No card credit | $120 | $0 | $120 |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Connect, Global Entry | $120 | up to $100 | $20 |
| Amex Platinum, Global Entry | $120 | $120 | $0 |
| Amex Platinum, PreCheck only | about $76.75 | up to $85 | $0 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve, NEXUS | $120 | up to $120 | $0 |
| Any Amex card, NEXUS or SENTRI | $120 | not eligible | $120 |
Two travelers make the gap bigger. Without credits, a couple pays $240. With two Altitude Connect cards (one each), they pay $40. With two cards that each give a full $120 credit, they pay $0. Membership is per person, so each traveler needs their own application, and each can use their own card.
A credit also has to be weighed against the annual fee if you would not otherwise hold the card. The Capital One Venture Rewards has a $95 annual fee, and its $120 credit is $25 more than that fee. The Amex Platinum has an $895 annual fee, so the credit covers a small part of it. Applying for a card only for the credit makes sense on the zero-fee cards, and only if you would use the card anyway.
Which credit cards have TSA PreCheck benefits? Card-by-card
These figures come from the sources listed at the bottom, checked in November 2026. Issuers change terms, so confirm the amount on the issuer's own page before you apply.
| Card | Annual fee | Credit and coverage as listed |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | $795 | Up to $120; one of the few cards that covers NEXUS; one reimbursement per account |
| Capital One Venture X | $395 | Credit once every 4 years |
| Capital One Venture Rewards | $95 | Up to $120 every 4 years |
| Amex Platinum | $895 | $120 for Global Entry or up to $85 for PreCheck; one credit per 4-year period |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Connect | $0 | Up to $100 every 4 years |
| Delta SkyMiles Reserve | $650 | Up to $120 |
| United Explorer | $0 the first year, then $150 | Covers NEXUS; credit usually up to $120 |
| Air Canada Aeroplan | $195 | Up to $120; covers NEXUS |
| IHG One Rewards Premier | $99 | Up to $120; covers NEXUS |
Travel Freely also lists the Chase Sapphire Preferred as covering NEXUS. Amex states that NEXUS and SENTRI applications are not eligible for its credit. Only Global Entry and TSA PreCheck qualify there.
Most of these are premium cards. Expect to need good to excellent credit, roughly a FICO score of 670 or higher.
Fine print that changes your cost
- One credit per card per period. Most cards give one credit every 4 years. Chase Sapphire Reserve gives one reimbursement per account, with no extra credit for authorized users.
- PreCheck or Global Entry, never both. Cards reimburse one or the other.
- Pay with the card. On Amex, if you apply separately for PreCheck on the same card, that fee is not credited.
- Posting time. Amex says credits can take up to 8 weeks to post. NerdWallet says usually within two months. You carry the $120 until then.
- Rejected applications. Amex credits the fee even if the application is rejected, but it does not credit a later fee within the 4 years.
Pick the program before you pick the card
Global Entry and NEXUS both include TSA PreCheck, so you need only one program. Applying for Global Entry enrolls you in PreCheck automatically. Global Entry members enter their PASS ID in the Known Traveler Number field when booking a flight.
- PreCheck: the cheapest option, for U.S.-only travel.
- Global Entry: for international travel. It needs a valid passport or a permanent resident card.
- NEXUS: for frequent Canada travel.
The tradeoffs are laid out in TSA PreCheck vs NEXUS. Applicants under 18 pay nothing when a parent is a member of, or applying for, NEXUS, SENTRI or Global Entry.
The step a card credit can't speed up: the interview
A credit does not enroll you or guarantee acceptance. For Global Entry, the CBP review of your application can take about 4 to 6 months, and some applications take over 12 months. After conditional approval, you still need an interview. Availability can be weeks or months away, and it varies a lot by location.
Check the next bookable dates before you commit to a center:
- Global Entry wait times by enrollment center
- NEXUS wait times
- SENTRI wait times
- Global Entry appointment availability, which shows each center's next bookable date
The availability page does not show whether a slot is open right now.
Ways around the wait
- Enrollment on Arrival. After conditional approval, you can complete the interview when you land from an international trip, instead of booking at a center.
- Renewals. A Global Entry renewal may not need an interview. If you renew before your membership expires, benefits continue 24 months past expiration.
- PreCheck renewals. Travel Freely lists $58.75 online or $66.75 in person. NerdWallet says most are approved within a week.
If you want an earlier slot, 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 book the appointment yourself on ttp.dhs.gov.
CLEAR+ is a separate product
CLEAR+ is not a government program and does not replace PreCheck. It costs $219 a year. Amex Platinum, Amex Business Platinum, Amex Green and Hilton Honors Aspire (a $550 annual fee) each reimburse up to $219 per calendar year, and you must enroll in CLEAR to get it.
After approval: add your number to the airline profile
Once you are approved, add your Known Traveler Number to each airline profile. If you skip this, PreCheck will not print on your boarding pass. Enrolling does not guarantee expedited screening on every trip.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The CBP fee is nonrefundable even if you are denied. Amex says it still credits the fee if the application is rejected, but it will not credit another fee within the same 4 years. Check your own card's terms before you apply.
Applicants under 18 pay no fee when a parent is a member of, or applying for, NEXUS, SENTRI or Global Entry. That leaves nothing for a card to reimburse. Adults each need their own application and their own credit.
Cards that reimburse the fee generally allow one credit per 4-year period, so timing matters. Global Entry and NEXUS last 5 years, which means a renewal can fall outside that window and a credit may be available again. Read the issuer's terms for your card.
No. Enrolling does not guarantee expedited screening on every trip. Your Known Traveler Number also has to be on the airline reservation for PreCheck to print on the boarding pass.