TSA PreCheck: Everything You Need to Know + How to Apply [2024]

If you’ve traveled by plane before, you know just how tiresome the security process can be. Not only do you have to wait in a long line, but you also have the inconvenience of removing your shoes and coat and removing certain items from your bag.

That’s where TSA PreCheck comes in. With this program, you often enjoy a shorter security line and get to skip some of the bigger inconveniences of going through the standard security process. It does come with a price tag, but you can use credit cards that offer it complimentary.

Here is everything you need to know about TSA PreCheck, including its benefits, how to sign up, and how you can score a free membership.

Key takeaways

• TSA PreCheck is a program operated by TSA that offers a quicker and hassle-free airport security line experience at participating U.S. airports.
• You can apply for membership by submitting an application and attending an in-person interview. The program has an application fee and a renewal fee, which can vary between $78 and $85.
• If your application is approved, you can access designated security lanes, which allows you to not remove your shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, or light jackets during the screening process.
• Frequent flyers and business travelers can benefit from TSA PreCheck, as it saves time and reduces the hassle of airport security. Some travel rewards credit cards offer it complimentary, further reducing the cost for eligible cardholders.
• TSA PreCheck is available at more than 200 U.S. airports with over 85 participating airlines. It’s open to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and children 12 years old or younger traveling with an adult member.

What is TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck is a program operated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that can provide you with a smoother and quicker screening process at participating airports in the United States.

Launched in 2011, this program pre-screens passengers and determines whether they’re a security risk. If you make it through the process and are approved, you’ll enjoy an easier security process.

It’s available at more than 200 airports and with more than 90 participating airlines. As long as your flight reservations have your Known Traveler Number attached, the TSA PreCheck symbol will be printed on your boarding pass, allowing you to go through the designated line at participating airports.

TSA PreCheck benefits

If you’ve traveled recently, you know what a headache airports can be. There’s a reason even the best airports advise you to show up at least two hours before a domestic flight — it can sometimes take that long to make it through the security checkpoint and to your gate. Luckily, TSA PreCheck can help you speed through these security checkpoints.

Though you’ll still have to go through security as a TSA PreCheck member, you’ll enjoy a more expedited process. Here are some of the program’s key perks:

• Faster security screening: With TSA PreCheck, you can get through security screening faster at participating U.S. airports. The line is often shorter, and people can move through it more quickly.
• Less hassle: As a member, you don’t need to remove your shoes, belts, 3-1-1 liquids, laptops, or light jackets during the security screening process.
• Increased convenience: TSA PreCheck is currently available at more than 200 airports with more than 85 participating airlines nationwide. This means that you can enjoy the benefits at many airports across the country.

Additionally, one of my personal favorite perks of TSA PreCheck is that if you have children, they can join you in the expedited security line. Children 12 and under can join their parents in TSA PreCheck in all situations. Children ages 13 through 17 have to be on the same reservation as their parent(s) and have the TSA PreCheck designation on their boarding pass.

Having traveled through airport security with a baby (and then a toddler) countless times, I can tell you the process was faster and far less stressful once we got TSA PreCheck.

According to the TSA, 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers waited less than 10 minutes to get through security as of October 2024. And thanks to special offers from some credit cards, you can take advantage of complimentary access to this program.

How do you get TSA PreCheck?

Enrolling is a relatively simple, three-step process:

You can apply for TSA PreCheck online. According to the TSA, the process only takes five minutes to complete. It costs $78 and is payable via credit card, money order, company check, certified check, or cashier’s check.

Step 1: Apply online

You can apply for TSA PreCheck online by choosing one of the three providers: CLEAR, IDEMIA, and Telos. According to the TSA, the process only takes five minutes to complete. It costs between $78 and $85, depending on your enrollment provider, and payment methods vary by provider.

Step 2: Visit an enrollment location

Applying for TSA PreCheck requires an in-person appointment at an enrollment location. The appointment will include a background check and fingerprinting at an enrollment center.

When it’s time for your in-person appointment, you need to bring some documentation with you, such as:

• Current U.S. passport
• Current U.S. driver’s license
• Permanent Resident card
• Current U.S. military ID card
• Birth certificate

You can find a complete list of necessary documents on the TSA website. While at the enrollment center, the staff will take your picture. It’s used to verify your identity at TSA PreCheck checkpoints equipped with facial recognition technology.

There are over 500 TSA PreCheck application locations nationwide, so chances are there’s one conveniently nearby. You can find an enrollment center online by entering your zip code or airport code in the search field.

Step 3: Get your Known Traveler Number

Once your application is approved, you’ll receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN). Many applicants receive their Known Traveler Number within three to five days.

You can check your application status online. You should also receive a written notification from the TSA that details whether or not you were approved within two to three weeks of your in-person appointment, though some applications can take up to 60 days to be processed.

When I applied for TSA PreCheck this spring, it took five days from my in-person appointment to being notified that my application had been accepted.

How to use TSA PreCheck

To use TSA PreCheck, you must enter the traveler number onto your reservation when you book your flight. If you are part of an airline loyalty program, you can add your Known Traveler Number number to your account so it will be automatically entered whenever you book a flight.

When it’s time to head to the airport, your boarding pass will note your TSA PreCheck status. When TSA scans your pass at the security checkpoint, staff will direct you to the designated line.

In most cases, you can leave on your shoes and belt when you go through security. If you’re wearing a light jacket, there’s no need to take it off. And, if you have electronics or liquids, you can leave them in your carry-on.

Before you fly, make sure to check ahead of time to ensure the airport and airline you’re flying participates in TSA PreCheck. More than 200 airports and more than 90 airlines currently participate, but not all do. To find out if your local airport offers TSA PreCheck and to see if your favorite airline is a partner, visit the interactive website.

TSA PreCheck eligibility

TSA PreCheck is available to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents. There is no age restriction to join, though children don’t need their own membership to enjoy its perks.

Children 12 years old or younger who are traveling with an adult who is a TSA PreCheck member can also participate in expedited screening. Children 13 through 17 can also go through TSA’s expedited screening with their parents, but only if the designation is printed on their boarding pass.

When you apply for TSA PreCheck, the TSA will review your application and perform a background check to determine your eligibility. If you’ve been convicted or pled guilty to certain crimes, you can be temporarily or permanently banned from joining TSA PreCheck. For example, if you committed espionage, treason, or a federal act of terrorism, you will never be allowed to join.

If you were convicted, pled guilty, or found not guilty by reason of insanity within the past seven years of unlawful possession of a firearm, extortion, or assault, you are banned from the program as well.

TSA may also decide you’re ineligible for other reasons, including:

• Interpol and other international information that deems you a threat
• You’re on a terrorist watchlist or appear in a government database
• You have been adjudicated as lacking mental capacity or have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility

If you have been subjected to repeated delays or extra security screenings at the airport, or have been told your name appears in a government database that causes your TSA PreCheck application to be denied, you may want to educate yourself about the DHS Travel Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). By learning what a Redress number is, you may be able to resolve why you're being held back at the airport.

How do you renew your TSA PreCheck?

When you sign up for TSA PreCheck, your membership is good for five years. After that, you’ll have to renew your membership to take advantage of its perks.

When your membership’s expiration date approaches, TSA will send you a renewal notification via email. You can also check your membership status and see your expiration date online.

You can renew your membership up to six months before the expiration date. To renew, you need to enter your name, date of birth, and Known Traveler Number. You’ll also need to pay the fee when you renew. The renewal process can be completed online and is usually cheaper than renewing in person — you can renew for as little as $70, depending on the provider.

Some people will need to renew their membership by visiting an enrollment center in person. For example, if the fingerprints on file are low quality or if your name has changed, you may have to go to an enrollment center a second time.

This process can take up to three weeks to complete, so it’s a good idea to renew well in advance of any planned trips.

Is TSA PreCheck worth it for you?

TSA PreCheck is perfect for frequent travelers or business travelers. Parents of young children may find it invaluable, too. When you’re traveling with young children, you’re likely juggling several bags and holding hands. Not having to take out your liquids and take off your shoes can make travel less stressful. And if your credit card will reimburse you for the enrollment fee, there’s literally no downside to joining.

The fee covers five years of membership, so if you take at least a couple of flights a year, joining TSA PreCheck can save you a great deal of time and frustration.

TSA PreCheck also works well in combination with other security expediting services such as CLEAR. A CLEAR Plus membership can help you speed up the document verification process, and CLEAR kiosks are often located close to TSA PreCheck lines. CLEAR is a private company and not a government program, yet it can be worth it to see how TSA PreCheck and CLEAR work together to get you through the airport lines more quickly and efficiently.

If you only fly very occasionally and travel light, you may find that TSA PreCheck isn’t necessary. But most people will enjoy the more streamlined experience that it offers.

TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry

TSA PreCheck is just one available program that expedites security checkpoints. Another option to consider is Global Entry, a program that many credit cards will also reimburse you for joining.

Global Entry gives you TSA PreCheck access through expedited screenings. But it also offers expedited U.S. customs screening for international air travelers entering the United States. Global Entry is more expensive, as it costs $120.

One thing to keep in mind is that Global Entry does not allow young children to accompany you. Instead, each person needs to have their own Global Entry membership to qualify for expedited screenings. 

Credit cards that offer complimentary TSA PreCheck

While we find TSA PreCheck very useful, some travelers are put off by its fee. If that’s the case for you, there’s good news: you may be able to get a complimentary membership by signing up for certain travel rewards cards.

A number of the best travel credit cards offer a statement credit for the TSA PreCheck membership fee, as well as other valuable travel perks.

To qualify for the credit card statement credit for your TSA PreCheck enrollment fee, use your card to pay for your application. Once your fee is charged to your account, the credit card company typically issues you a statement credit. It can take up to four weeks for the credit to be issued.

Card name	TSA PreCheck benefit	Other benefits
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	Receive reimbursement of up to $120 for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry fees every four years	Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 Benefit from Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage, MasterRental Insurance, and Travel Assistance Service1
United℠ Explorer Card	Receive reimbursement credit of up to $120 for TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, or NEXUS fees every four years	Earn 2x miles on United® purchases, dining, and hotel stays and 1x mile on all other purchases Get a complimentary checked bag on United flights when you use your card to make a reservation
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	Receive reimbursement of up to $100 for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry fees every four years	Earn 5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases Benefit from a $300 annual travel credit Get complimentary airport lounge access, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip delay reimbursement
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Receive a statement credit of up to $85 for TSA Precheck every 4.5 years or up to $120 for Global Entry every 4 years	Earn 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to $500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases Up to a $199 annual CLEAR Plus Credit Up to a $200 annual hotel credit Up to a $200 annual airline fee credit Up to $200 annually in Uber Cash Get Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status Benefit from car rental loss and damage insurance, trip delay insurance, and trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Other popular ways to save on travel

FAQs

Bottom line

TSA PreCheck is one of the trusted traveler programs offered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in the United States, along with other programs like Global Entry, SENTRI, and NEXUS.

It can make your travel days go more smoothly, allowing you to go through a shorter security line and avoid removing your shoes or your liquids from your bags.

For frequent travelers, TSA PreCheck is more than worth the cost, especially since it lasts five years. And there are plenty of travel credit cards on the market that will cover the cost.

Are you wondering what other perks your travel credit card can get you? Here are some other money-saving perks your travel credit card might offer.