Compare credit cards that offer free Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
Receive a credit for your application fee every four to five years.
Travelers love Global Entry and TSA PreCheck for helping them avoid long airport lines.
Though these memberships might be well worth their cost, you don’t have to pay for them directly. With the right travel credit card, you can get your application fee reimbursed and clear airport security in no time.
What are the best credit cards with Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits?
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credits are popular perks for travel cards so you have a few options at your disposal. Here are some of our favorites:
On top of your statement credits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® also earns 5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards. On all other travel, you'll earn 3x points. All travel purchases start earning points once you've spent your first $300 on travel purchases each year to earn your $300 annual travel credit.
Pros
Earn points. Outside of travel you'll earn 10x points on Lyft rides through March 2022, 110x points on Chase Dining through Ultimate Rewards, 3x points on other dining worldwide and 1x points on all other purchases.
Signup bonus. Earn 50,000 points when you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Premium perks. In addition to your TSA PreCheck and Global Entry credit, you'll also enjoy an annual $300 statement on eligible travel purchases. Also, enjoy $60 in annual DoorDash credits in 2020 and 2021. Get complimentary access to airport lounges through Priority Pass Select. Plus, get a complimentary one-year membership to Lyft Pink and at least one complimentary year of DashPass.
Cons
Annual fee. You'll pay $550 annual fee for the card.
No intro APR period. Like many other travel cards, you won't get a 0% intro APR period on purchases, balance transfers or both.
Excellent credit score required. Being a premium card, your chances of approval greatly increase with a credit score of 740 or higher.
Annual fee
$550
Purchase APR
16.99% to 23.99% variable
Balance transfer APR
16.99% to 23.99% variable
Welcome Offer
50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, a value of up to $750 through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is the high-end Marriott option with premium benefits and a high annual fee. But those who often stay at hotels within the Marriott group may find this card to be well worth the cost.
Pros
Welcome offer. Earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases using your new card within the first 3 months of card membership. You can also earn up to $200 in statement credits on eligible US restaurant purchases within your first 6 months of account opening.
Reward points. Earn 6x points on Marriott stays, 3x points at US restaurants and flights booked with airlines, and 2x points on all other purchases.
Marriott benefits. Get a $300 Marriott statement credit each year, one free night award each year redeemable at rooms worth 50,000 bonus points or less, Priority Pass access after you enroll and more.
Cons
Annual fee
$450
Purchase APR
15.74% to 24.74% variable
Balance transfer APR
N/A
Welcome Offer
Earn 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card is one of the rare hotel credit cards that costs less than $100 but offers impressive rewards that rival even more expensive cards.
Pros
Reward points. Earn 25x points on IHG hotel purchases and 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants. All other purchases earn 1x points.
Signup bonus. Earn 125,000 bonus points and 1 Free Night once you spend $3,000 in your first 3 months of card membership.
Reward nights. Get one reward night each year on your card anniversary, plus every time you redeem your points for four or more nights, your fourth night is free.
Cons
Annual fee. The card comes with an $89 annual fee starting the second year. But the card easily pays off as long as you stay at IHG hotels at least few times a year.
No intro APR period. You won't get a 0% intro APR period on purchases or balance transfers, but this is standard with this type of card.
Annual fee
$89
Purchase APR
15.99% to 22.99% variable
Balance transfer APR
15.99% to 22.99% variable
Welcome Offer
Earn 125,000 bonus points + a Free Night after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Hit the spending requirements of $6,000 on purchases in your first 6 months to enjoy a hefty 100,000 Membership Rewards point bonus. Plus, this card has access to more than 1,400 airport lounges, including the ever-popular Centurion Lounge.
Pros
Welcome offer. Earn 100,000 points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases within your first 6 months of account opening.Earn points. You'll earn 5x points when booking flights directly through airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 annually, reverting to 1x points after. Earn 5x points on hotels booked through American Express Travel and 1x points on other eligible purchases.
Statement credits. In addition to your TSA PreCheck and Global Entry credit, you'll also enjoy an annual $200 airline fee credit after you select an airline and enroll. Other statement credits include a $200 hotel credit, a $240 digital entertainment credit and up to $200 in Uber credits.
Cons
Annual fee. As a luxury card, the Amex Platinum Card requires a $695 annual fee for use.
Narrow reward categories. This card is only particularly strong at earning rewards on travel and dining.
Potentially limited acceptance abroad. American Express cards are not as widely accepted worldwide as Visa or Mastercard.
Can't always carry your balance. Most credit cards let you carry your balance by paying interest. The Amex Platinum Card, however, lets you carry your balance on some purchases, but not on all of them.
Annual fee
$695
Purchase APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Balance transfer APR
N/A
Welcome Offer
100,000 points after spending $6,000 in your first 6 months
It's not easy to find a travel card loaded with perks that doesn't have an annual fee, but the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card comes close. You'll pay $95, all while enjoying your statement credits, a welcome offer, rewards and more.
Pros
Annual fee.You'll pay $95 to use this card for your first year. After that, you'll pay $95 annually.
Signup bonus. Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in your first 3 months of account opening, or still earn miles after you spend in your first . This is up to a $1,400 value if you earn the full bonus.
Earn miles. You'll earn 2x miles on all purchases.
Cons
Annual fee. You'll pay a $95 annual fee for this card.
No intro APR period. You don't get a 0% intro APR period on balance transfers or purchases with this card.
Annual fee
$95
Purchase APR
15.99% to 23.99% variable
Balance transfer APR
15.99% to 23.99% variable
Welcome Offer
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $600 in travel
The United℠ Explorer Card rolls a lot of value into a mid-tier airline card. You'll enjoy a solid signup bonus, accelerated rewards on United flights, hotels and restaurants, and a variety of travel perks, all for a modest $95 after your first year.
Pros
Signup bonus. Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.
Earn points. You'll earn 2x points when booking flights directly through United, booking hotels, or dining out. You'll earn 1x miles on all other purchases.
Travel perks. In addition to your TSA PreCheck and Global Entry credit, you'll also have access to other United perks, including free checked bags, priority boarding and more.
Cons
Annual fee. Get $0 intro annual fee for the first year, but pay $95 annually every year after that. However, with two United Club passes you already offset the annual fee.
No intro APR period. There's no 0% intro APR period on purchases or balance transfers with this card.
Annual fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
Purchase APR
16.49% to 23.49% variable
Balance transfer APR
16.49% to 23.49% variable
Welcome Offer
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.
We looked at a variety of factors consumers might weigh when selecting a travel card with TSA PreCheck and Global Entry statement credits, including card brand, welcome offer value, bonus point earning rates, additional travel perks, annual fee, and other hotel or travel concerns. We chose the credit cards that stood out among the rest in a given category or fulfilled a specific niche.
What’s changed in 2022
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® got a fee hike, but in return you’ll find perks like bonus Lyft rewards, complimentary Lyft Pink and DashPass memberships, and annual credits for DoorDash through 2021.
Also, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card got a boost to its signup bonus.
Compare credit cards with Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credits
When choosing a credit card with Global Entry and TSA PreCheck fee credit, take the annual fee into consideration as well as the additional perks and how often you’ll use them.
Credit cards that also have Clear
If you’re looking for a way to breeze through document checks at select airports and stadiums, check out Clear. It costs $179 annually, but you can offset this fee with some credit cards. These include:
Full membership with the American Express Centurion card
$100 discount with the American Express Green Card
$70 discount with United Airlines credit cards
$70 discount with Delta Air Lines credit cards
How to get Global Entry and TSA PreCheck free
Some credit cards offer a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application credit once every four or five years. But most of these cards come with an annual fee of $89 and up to $2,500 for the Centurion® Card from American Express. The PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card is one of the rare no-annual-fee cards that offer free Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credits.
Credit cards with Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
Chase Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credit cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
United Club℠ Infinite Card
United℠ Explorer Card
Southwest Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
American Express Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credit cards
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card
Capital One Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credit cards
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Citi Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credit cards
Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®
Citi Prestige® Credit Card
Chase Sapphire Reserve® Global Entry
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a fan-favorite travel card. It offers a $100 statement credit every four years for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. This lets you renew your five-year membership well in advance.
The card has a $550 annual fee, but its luxury benefits can help cover some of that cost. Such benefits include a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access and perks at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection properties.
You can earn accelerated rewards on Lyft rides, travel and dining. And when you redeem points through Chase Ultimate Rewards, they’re worth 50% more.
What are the benefits of Global Entry and TSA PreCheck?
Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are traveler’s programs that help you pass airport security or customs at specialized lanes. Because of that, you can save an average of 30 minutes on every airport that supports these programs. To learn the specific benefits of each program, check out our guide comparing Global Entry and TSA PreCheck.
What’s the difference between Global Entry and TSA PreCheck?
A Global Entry application costs $100, and a TSA PreCheck application costs $85. But with Global Entry, you also get TSA PreCheck. Both memberships last five years.
Who can use the Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credit card perk?
Most people use the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit for their own applications, but you can also use it for someone else’s. As long as you use your credit card while paying for the application fee, you should receive a statement credit.
How often do you get free Global Entry and TSA PreCheck with your card?
This depends on your card. Some cards give you the credit every four years, while others offer the credit every five years. In American Express’ case, you might even get a credit every four and a half years.
You might want the credit every four years so you can renew Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership well before it expires.
Here are a few cards that offer the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit, and how often you can get the credit.
Card
How often you get the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit
What do I need to know about free TSA PreCheck and Global Entry?
There are a few small but important details to keep in mind with your complimentary TSA PreCheck and Global Entry statement cards:
This benefit is a statement credit. That means that while you can apply your statement toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry status, you’re not necessarily guaranteed approval.
Status and benefit renewal don’t always match. After your first statement redemption, your next statement credit will likely be available before your prior status has expired. Make sure to use it!
TSA PreCheck is included with Global Entry. TSA PreCheck status is actually included with Global Entry. The tradeoff is a slightly higher application fee for Global Entry and more exacting qualification requirements.
Bottom line
Global Entry can be highly valuable, as you essentially get two memberships for the price of one. If you rarely travel abroad, however, TSA PreCheck might work just fine.
You may also want to consider other travel credit cards that can help you travel in style — from no annual fee products to luxury options.
Frequently asked questions
If they’re 12 or under, you can take them with you as long as you have the TSA PreCheck designation on your boarding pass.
Family members 13 and up must use the normal security lanes.
No. They must be a Global Entry member to use the kiosk.
No. You’re eligible for head-of-line privileges only at US airports with Global Entry kiosks. You can go to the front of the line when kiosks are out of service, upon direction from a CBP officer and at exit points.
An “X” could mean a variety of things. For example, the machine may have been unable to match your fingerprints. Or you’ve been selected for random inspection. If your receipt has an “X,” go to the nearest staffed passport control booth and give it to the CBP officer on duty.
If you keep getting the mark on your receipts, consider applying for a redress control number with the Department of Homeland Security. This will reduce the chances your identity is mistaken.
Kevin Joey Chen is a credit cards, banking and investments writer whose work and analysis have appeared on CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Business.com, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order by expertly navigating cutting-edge financial tools — including credit cards, apps and budgeting software.
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