Even if you travel just a few times a year, having either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry can make your time at the airport much better – and faster. And with long lines forming at airports as we head into summer travel season, having one of these programs could be more important than ever.
TSA PreCheck will get you through those long security lines faster, while also allowing you to leave on your coat, shoes, and a belt – plus keep electronics and liquids tucked inside your bag. Global Entry, meanwhile, is your fast-track ticket through immigration after landing back in the U.S. But Global Entry is a two-for-one: It also includes a TSA PreCheck membership, making it the best choice if you're planning any international travel.
Of course, neither program is free: Global Entry costs $100 for a five-year membership, while TSA PreCheck clocks in at $78 for a five-year membership (and now just $70 for online renewals). But if you hold the right travel credit card, you can cover the cost of enrollment in either program. Just pay your application fee with one of the credit cards below, and a credit will kick in to automatically cover the entire charge. It works once every four years.
Whether you've already got one of these cards in your wallet or are looking for a new card with this benefit, read on for our list of the best credit cards offering Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits.
Getting PreCheck or Global Entry is one of our top tips for summer travel – read the rest of our Summer Travel Week stories!
Best Credit Cards Offering TSA PreCheck or Global Entry Credits
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One officially launched the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card in late 2021 and it has been an immediate hit. The card offers a slew of premium benefits like a $300 annual travel credit for travel bookings in the Capital One Travel Portal, access to Priority Pass lounges as well as Capital One Lounge access, and a credit of up to $100 to cover the cost of enrolling in either Global Entry or PreCheck.
All that for a $395 annual fee – a fraction of what other top-tier cards charge. To take advantage of the PreCheck or Global Entry credit, all you have to do is pay for your application fee with your new Venture X Card. Within a few days, that credit will kick in automatically to cover the entire cost.
Better yet, the card allows you to add up to four authorized users to your account at no additional fee. While those users won't get a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit of their own, they will get their own lounge access privileges with ability to bring up to two guests with them on each visit. Already have a regular Capital One Venture Card? You can still get the brand new Venture X.
Capital One Venture miles can be redeemed for any travel expense – flights, hotels, cruises, etc. – just put the travel expense on your Venture X Card, then go back and cover the purchase using miles. Every mile is worth 1 cent toward travel, so 50,000 miles for example gets you $500 in flights, hotels, Airbnbs, and more. You can also transfer Venture Miles to nearly 20 different partner airline programs to get even more punch for your points.
Read more: Are You Eligible to Open the Capital One Venture X Card?
Click Here to learn more about the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Want Global Entry or TSA PreCheck from an even cheaper card? You're looking for the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Think of the card as the smaller sibling of the new Capital One Venture X Rewards Card, with fewer perks … but a much smaller price tag, too: The annual fee on the card is only $95. You'll be on the hook for the $95 fee right away in year one – Capital One does not waive the annual fee for the first year.
But even for that modest annual fee, you still get the same credit of up to $100 to cover a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership. Pay for your membership fee in either program with your Venture Card, and you're set.
We still think the Venture X Card makes more sense thanks to the host of benefits that make it easy to recoup that fee, but this is another option at a lower price point.
Click Here to learn more about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is one of the best premium travel cards on the market – and it's priced accordingly. With an annual fee of $695 (see rates & fees), it isn't for everyone.
But credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck are part of the reason we urge readers to do the math before ruling out cards with a big annual fee. Not only does the card offer up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years, but it also offers a host of other premium benefits like a $200 airline incidental credit, up to a $200 hotel credit for hotel bookings made through Amextravel.com (a two-night minimum stay is required for Hotel Collection bookings), up to a $200 annual credit for Uber rides, up to a $240 annual entertainment credit, up to a $100 annual credit to spend at Saks Fifth Avenue, and more.
Additionally, the card offers the best airport lounge access available from any credit card out there. There simply isn't a card that will improve your airport experience more than the Platinum Card from American Express.
Critically, the Platinum Card is also the one of the only cards that also offers reimbursement for CLEAR®. Each year, the card will provide up to $189 – enough to cover the annual cost of CLEAR membership. That means you could speed through security as fast as possible with both CLEAR and TSA PreCheck and whisk through immigration thanks to Global Entry – all covered by your Platinum Card.
The card also has a welcome bonus of 80,000 American Express Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership … but it can get much better. Be sure to check and see if you are eligible for a 150,000-point welcome bonus via CardMatch or seek out a friend or family member who can send you a referral link.
Card members can receive no more than one credit for up to $85 for TSA PreCheck or a $100 credit for Global Entry. You won't get a credit for each program.
Read our guide on 8 Great Ways to Use a Platinum Card Welcome Bonus.
Learn more about *amex platinum*.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is another option for securing up to a $100 credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry once every four years. The card now comes with a $550 annual fee.
Outside of the $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit it offers, it also comes with Priority Pass Lounge access, an annual $300 travel credit that can be used for any travel expense, and a host of other premium travel perks.
The card also provides reimbursement for a NEXUS membership which costs $50 for a five-year membership.
But with the launch of the new Capital One Venture X card, we think it has given the Sapphire Reserve some serious competition.
Read More: Does the Capital One Venture X Make the Chase Sapphire Reserve Irrelevant?
Learn more about the *chase sapphire reserve*.
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
A few years back, the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card joined the long list of cards that cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck enrollment once every four years. If you've already got this card in your wallet, just pay for your application with it and that credit will automatically kick in.
On top of that, the card earns 3x SkyMiles per dollar spent at both hotels and on Delta purchases and earns 2x SkyMiles per dollar spent at both restaurants and U.S. supermarkets. You'll also get a bunch of statement credits to help offset the annual fee including up to a $120 rideshare credit (doled out in $10 monthly installments), up to a $240 annual Resy credit (doled out in $20 monthly installments), and up to a $200 annual Delta Stays credit. You'll also get a companion pass for a buy one get one free ticket each year on your cardmember anniversary.
But the card's annual fee is $350 (see rates & fees). So if it's just signing up for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck that you're after, there are better options. The top-tier Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card also offers the same credit of up to $100 to cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Card Members can receive no more than one credit for up to $85 for TSA PreCheck or a $100 credit for Global Entry. You won't get a credit for each program.
Click Here to learn more about the Delta SkyMiles Platinum American Express Card.
The United℠ Explorer Card
The United℠ Explorer Card is another great option to get signed up for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. If you're a frequent United flyer, this card can make sense for a number of reasons.
In fact, this one is the cheapest option on the list to get Global Entry or PreCheck through a credit card. The card has an annual fee of $95, but that's waived for the first year of card membership. The card also provides reimbursement for a NEXUS membership which costs $50 for a five-year membership.
The United Explorer card also earns 2x points per dollar spent on purchases at United, restaurants, delivery services, and hotel stays. And if you pay for your flight with your United card, you'll also get your first checked bag free. You'll also get priority boarding privileges and two, one-time passes to the United Club lounge each year on your cardmember anniversary. These passes normally cost $50.
But one of the best benefits of holding the United Airlines Explorer co-branded credit card is the increased access it provides to award seats on United Airlines flights. Just for holding the card, you will see more saver-level award seats available when you search for ways to redeem your miles. Oftentimes, there is additional award availability during peak travel times and/or more popular routes.
The newer United Quest℠ Card also offers a credit of up to $100 to reimburse the cost of Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS, albeit with a steeper annual fee of $250.
Click Here to learn more about the United Explorer Card.
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
The *ihg rewards club premier* is another great option. On top of that application credit to cover the cost of either program, the card offers a free night each year on your cardmember anniversary for properties that cost 40,000 points or less. See our post on the best ways to use the IHG free night certificate.
You will also get automatic IHG Platinum Elite Status as soon as you get the card. Platinum Elite status with IHG gets you complimentary room upgrades when available and a 50 percent point bonus on paid reservations. It also gets you guaranteed room availability, priority check-in, and free late checkout.
You will earn 26x points per dollar spent at IHG hotels, 5x points per dollar spent on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants, and 3x points per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
The card has an annual fee of $99.
Learn more about the *ihg rewards club premier*.
How Global Entry & PreCheck Work
Signing up for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck is fairly simple and straightforward. But they're quite different.
Both programs start out the same. You’ll fill out an online application and pay the fee with one of the credit cards mentioned above. Once you get conditionally approved, you will head to a certified enrollment center for a short interview (bring your passport), fingerprinting, and a photo. If everything checks out, you should get the OK within a week or two.
However, there's no question that getting Global Entry can be more time-consuming. While it often just takes a few days to a week, getting conditionally approved can sometimes take many months or more. Plus, you need to schedule an in-person interview – and that's not always easy. Read our tips for scoring a Global Entry interview!
Your first time through the PreCheck lane, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to join the program. The security lines are often drastically shorter, but that’s only half of the benefit. You get to leave your shoes, a belt, and a light jacket on while going through security. Your laptop and the carry-on approved liquids in your bag can also stay put as they go through the baggage screeners.
But Global Entry is a bonafide two-for-one, as you'll get a quicker trip through customs and immigration when returning to the U.S. as well as PreCheck benefits to speed through security. If you can stomach a potentially longer wait to finalize your enrollment, go for Global Entry if you plan to do any international travel.
Renewing an existing Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership? Using your card with one of these credits to pay for the cost will work for that as well.
What About Authorized Users On These Credit Cards?
Adding an authorized user to your credit card means that person will get their own physical card, which they can use to make purchases on your behalf.
It can be a great way to work toward the minimum spending requirement to earn a big welcome bonus. It’s a good option for spouses, families, or employees – especially if you want to share some sweet travel benefits. But for most cards on this list, authorized users will not get their own credit of up to $100 for this benefit … except for just one.
Authorized users on The Platinum Card® from American Express do get their own credit of up to $100 to apply for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Like the benefit for primary cardholders, that credit is available once every four years. That's another great way that you can share some great travel perks by adding authorized users to your account.
For the rest of the cards on this list, that's not the case.
Read more: Why You Should Add Authorized Users to Your Amex Platinum
Use Your Credit to Help a Friend or Family Member!
Already have Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership? You can use the credit from these cards to pay the application fee for a friend, family member, or significant other instead!
No matter who you are paying for, the transaction will show up the same on your card statement and the automatic reimbursement of up to $100 will kick in. Just keep in mind that while you can pay online for Global Entry, you'll likely be required to pay in-person for your TSA PreCheck account. That may mean you want to accompany them to their in-person appointment.
Read more: Can Someone Else Use My Credit Card's Global Entry Credit?
Bottom Line
Getting Global Entry or TSA PreCheck is a slam dunk, as more and more credit cards offer these credit to reimburse your application fee. While these aren't the only credit cards offering Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, they are the cards that will give you the most bang for your buck.
And remember: Global Entry includes a TSA PreCheck membership. So if you plan on doing any international travel in the next five years, Global Entry may be the better option.
I am already a venture one account holder. Was not see are of the annual fee the card sure looks the same.
Q. Is this for new members I am strongly considering global entry and my spouse has chase sapphire so same question for that card.
The Venture One Card does not offer the credit. Only the Venture Card. They are two different card products.
Not just for new members. Anybody who has these cards can take advantage of the benefits.
Get global entry. It’s so worth it.
If you get the Global Entry does that work for travel w/in the USA as well or do I need to get that and TSA precheck?
Global Entry includes a TSA PreCheck membership, so it’s the best option if you plan to travel internationally.
Is it worth upgrading the Chase Freedom Unlimited (or adding new card) to the Sapphire reserve? I have 70k chase unlimited points and know I will be traveling to UK this summer. The fees to LHR make it unreasonable to use miles ($500 fees and 70k Virgin miles). Seems lie the Sapphire would give me $300 travel expense and additional $350 by paying through portal?
If you’re thinking about it, I wouldn’t upgrade. I’d apply outright for a new account. Upgrading won’t make you eligible for the 50k point bonus
Global Entry application approved in days!!…..but there are not any available appointments in most areas. Not even projecting out for months. Calendar just shows up as none available. Do you know if they are accepting walk ins at airports without travel outside of the US? Or in the DC office?
I don’t know that. However, I would keep checking the schedule as there are often cancelations you can slide into those slots once they happen. Availability will be vastly different at each location. I just scheduled my renewal interview this week and there were tons of available appointments.
Hi Eric,
You are correct. The Altitude Reserve card belongs on this list. That is an oversite on my part and I have added it to the story. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
My global entry just expired. I missed the window for the grace period, while I would wait for a renewal. Is there a way to renew for just the pre check? Or will I have to start as if I never had pre check?
You’d have to apply separately for PreCheck
My family of 5 (self, wife, and 3 kids) are traveling internationally this summer, and I’d like to get Global Entry for all of us. Are you aware of any credit cards that will reimburse 5 applications? Thanks.
There are not any cards that will reimburse for more than one membership. However, you can use multiple credit cards that offer the benefit to achieve this.