Programme fees, interview wait times and card statement credits change. Figures below are planning ranges for mid-2026 — confirm on TSA, CBP, CLEAR and issuer pages before you pay. TravelShifu is not affiliated with these programmes.
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR compared for 2026 — fees, typical queue times, what each covers, card reimbursements, plus UK and Canada trusted-traveller equivalents.
Should you get TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or CLEAR in 2026?
Choose Global Entry if you enter the US from abroad even once a year — the fee includes TSA PreCheck and adds expedited immigration. Choose PreCheck alone if you only fly domestically inside the US. Treat CLEAR as an optional biometric queue shortcut that stacks with PreCheck at some airports, not as a substitute for either programme.
These three products solve different bottlenecks. PreCheck shortens the security lane when your boarding pass shows the PreCheck indicator. Global Entry shortens the US immigration queue on arrival and automatically enrols you in PreCheck. CLEAR verifies identity with biometrics so you reach the front of a security line faster — then you still need PreCheck (or standard screening) for the actual checkpoint.
For trip planning, pair membership decisions with the rest of airport day: documents in the carry-on packing list, a lounge plan from the airport lounge access guide, and the seasonal paperwork block in the summer travel checklist 2026. A Known Traveller Number does not replace passport validity rules.
How do PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR compare on cost, queues and coverage?
Illustrative mid-2026 ranges: PreCheck about $78 for five years, Global Entry about $100 for five years (includes PreCheck), CLEAR about $189 per year. Queue savings are largest at busy hubs; rural airports may show little difference. Coverage differs: PreCheck is US security, Global Entry is US arrival immigration plus PreCheck, CLEAR is selected airport lanes only.
Use the table as a decision frame, not a live price list. Application fees and CLEAR promotions move; interview backlogs swing by city. Always re-check TSA.gov, the CBP Trusted Traveler portal and CLEAR’s own pricing page before you commit.
Queue times are experience bands from busy US hubs, not guarantees. A quiet Tuesday at a secondary airport can make every programme look unnecessary; a Sunday peak at JFK or LAX is where memberships earn their keep.
| Programme | Typical fee (illustrative) | What it speeds | Typical busy-hub wait vs standard | Coverage footprint | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSA PreCheck | ~$78 / 5 years | US security screening | Often ~5–15 min vs 20–45+ min standard | Most major US airports; participating airlines | Domestic-only US flyers |
| Global Entry | ~$100 / 5 years (includes PreCheck) | US immigration kiosks + PreCheck | Immigration often minutes vs long hall queues | US ports of entry with GE kiosks + PreCheck network | Anyone who returns to the US internationally |
| CLEAR Plus | ~$189 / year (promos common) | Identity check / lane access before screening | Saves walking-to-front time; screening still separate | Selected US airports and some stadiums | Frequent flyers at CLEAR-heavy hubs who already hold PreCheck |
| PreCheck + CLEAR | Both fees stacked | CLEAR to the front, then PreCheck lane | Often the shortest security path where both operate | Overlap only where CLEAR serves that terminal | Weekly hub flyers with card credits covering fees |
Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?
Yes. Approval for Global Entry typically includes TSA PreCheck for the same membership period, so you do not need to buy PreCheck separately. After approval, add your Known Traveller Number (KTN) to airline profiles so boarding passes print with the PreCheck indicator on participating carriers.
The $22-ish gap between PreCheck-only and Global Entry is why most international travellers skip the domestic-only product. If you already hold PreCheck and later add Global Entry, confirm how CBP rolls the memberships together rather than assuming a perfect overlap of expiry dates.
Children and family rules differ: younger children can often accompany a PreCheck parent through security, while Global Entry enrolment for minors follows CBP rules. Do not assume one parent’s membership covers teenagers on separate reservations.
Is CLEAR worth it if you already have PreCheck?
CLEAR is worth testing only if you repeatedly fly through airports where CLEAR operates and the walk-to-the-front saving is real during your usual departure times. It does not replace PreCheck. Without PreCheck you may still face a standard screening lane after the CLEAR identity step, which erases much of the benefit.
CLEAR shines for people who already have PreCheck (or Global Entry) and hit the same congested terminals weekly — think New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Denver and similar hubs. Occasional leisure travellers who fly twice a year through a quiet regional airport rarely recover an annual CLEAR fee.
Some airline co-brand relationships discount CLEAR; some premium cards have offered statement credits historically. Treat every credit as temporary marketing — read the issuer’s current benefits guide rather than a screenshot from 2024. Educational note: TravelShifu does not push card applications; if a card you already hold lists a CLEAR credit, use the issuer’s claim process. See Amex Platinum benefits for how premium-card perks are structured in general.
- CLEAR ≠ PreCheck — different steps in the security process
- Stack only where CLEAR serves your terminal
- Annual fee needs frequent use to beat day-of stress alone
- Promotional airline rates can change or end
- Mobile document check / airline apps are a separate, free time-saver
Which credit cards reimburse PreCheck or Global Entry fees?
Several US premium travel cards have historically reimbursed one TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee every four to five years as a statement credit when you pay with that card. Exact lists, cadences and CLEAR credits change — check the issuer’s current benefits guide. This is educational context only; TravelShifu does not earn from card applications.
Typical pattern: pay the government or CLEAR fee on the eligible card, then watch for an automatic statement credit within one or two billing cycles. Spousal or authorised-user coverage is not universal. UK-issued cards generally do not reimburse US Trusted Traveler fees — British travellers using Global Entry (where eligible) usually pay cash and claim nothing.
Never open a card solely for a $78–$100 credit unless the rest of the product already fits your spending and fee maths. Interest on a carried balance wipes the “free” membership instantly. For broader card education see best travel credit cards 2026 and the fee-free spending habits in the travel money guide.
What are the UK, Canada and EU equivalents of these US programmes?
Canada’s NEXUS (~$50 for five years, illustrative) covers expedited US–Canada land, air and marine crossings and typically includes TSA PreCheck. The UK Registered Traveller Service closed; there is no identical UK successor for US-style domestic security lanes — UK citizens often use Global Entry where eligible, plus UK eGates at home. EU options are fragmented (for example Netherlands Privium), not a single PreCheck clone.
NEXUS is the standout North American stack: one membership can cover the land border car lanes many Toronto–Buffalo or Vancouver–Seattle travellers care about, plus PreCheck for US flights. Interview logistics involve both Canadian and US officers — book early. SENTRI covers the US–Mexico border for eligible travellers and is a different product again.
UK context: the former Registered Traveller Service (faster UK entry for frequent travellers) was withdrawn; do not rely on outdated blog posts that still recommend applying. British travellers planning US trips should instead focus on passport validity, ESTA or visa status, and — if eligible — Global Entry for the US arrival side. Home-side UK eGates already speed re-entry for many biometric passport holders when they work.
Europe has airport-specific fast tracks (Privium at Schiphol is the classic example) and airline status lanes, but nothing as nationally standardised as TSA PreCheck. For Europe paperwork and care, UK readers should still sort GHIC and insurance via GHIC vs travel insurance and best travel insurance 2026 — trusted-traveller memberships do not replace medical cover.
| Region / programme | Rough fee band | What it speeds | Notes for 2026 planners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada — NEXUS | ~$50 / 5 years | US–Canada border + usually PreCheck | Strong value if you cross often; dual interview |
| US–Mexico — SENTRI | CBP Trusted Traveler fee band | Land border into the US | Separate from Global Entry; check eligibility |
| UK — Registered Traveller | Closed / not available | Former faster UK entry | No drop-in successor — ignore stale how-tos |
| UK — eGates + Global Entry (if eligible) | GE fee if applying | UK return eGates; US arrival GE | Confirm GE eligibility for your nationality |
| Netherlands — Privium (example) | Airport membership pricing | Schiphol border / lane access | Airport-specific, not EU-wide |
How long does approval take and how do you apply?
Apply online via the CBP Trusted Traveler Programs site for PreCheck or Global Entry, complete the background questions, pay the fee, then attend an interview after conditional approval. Conditional approval can arrive in days to weeks; interview slots at popular centres can add weeks or months. Some airports offer Global Entry enrolment on arrival after an international flight.
Bring the passport you will travel on, and arrive early for the interview. After approval, enter the KTN in every airline profile you use — one missing field is why people still get standard lanes. Renewals are often online for members in good standing; start before expiry so you are not mid-trip without the indicator.
Build application timing into the same pre-trip block as passport checks. A summer peak departure is a poor moment to discover your passport fails a six-month rule at the airline desk — use the summer travel checklist 2026 as the umbrella sequence.
- Create / use a Trusted Traveler login before peak summer
- Pay the fee only when you can complete the interview
- Add KTN to airline profiles and every new booking
- Screenshot approval confirmation offline
- Renew before the membership lapses mid-season
TSA PreCheck, Global Entry and CLEAR questions, answered
Global Entry is the default for international US arrivals; PreCheck alone suits domestic-only flyers; CLEAR is a paid biometric shortcut that works best stacked with PreCheck at busy hubs. Verify live fees and card credits. UK Registered Traveller is closed; Canada NEXUS remains the cross-border workhorse.
- Can my spouse use my PreCheck? — No. Each adult needs their own KTN on the reservation; young children may accompany a parent under TSA rules.
- Does PreCheck work on every airline? — Only participating airlines when the KTN is correctly attached; budget-carrier quirks still happen.
- Is Global Entry usable for land borders? — Global Entry is primarily air/sea US entry; NEXUS or SENTRI cover many land use-cases.
- Do I need CLEAR if I have airline status? — Status helps boarding and some airline lounges; it does not replace CLEAR’s identity lane.
- Will mobile boarding passes show PreCheck? — Usually yes once the KTN is on the booking; check the indicator before you join a lane.
- Should UK visitors buy CLEAR for one trip? — Rarely. One-off leisure trips seldom justify an annual CLEAR fee.
- Does membership help with lounge access? — No. Lounges are a separate decision — see the airport lounge access guide.