TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and NEXUS are trusted traveler programs that can help you speed through security or immigration during your travels. Each of these programs requires enrollment and charges an application fee.
Fortunately, many credit cards offer a credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS. And getting the credit is as simple as charging your application fee to your eligible card. If you hold a premium travel credit card, there’s a good chance that you already hold a card that can get you PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS for free.
Here’s how you can get a trusted traveler credit for Global Entry, PreCheck, or NEXUS application fees.
Popular that offer credits for PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS
| Card | TSA PreCheck credit | Global Entry credit | NEXUS credit | Important other details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Aeroplan® Credit Card Annual fee: $95 | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. | |||
 Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card Annual fee: $95 | – | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. | ||
 Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Annual fee: $95 | – | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. | ||
 Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card Annual fee: $395 | – | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. | ||
 Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card Annual fee: $550 | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. | |||
 Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® Annual fee: $595 | – | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. | ||
 Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card Annual fee: $350 | – | Receive either: $100 for Global Entry once every 4 years or $85 for TSA PreCheck once every 4.5 years. | ||
 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Annual fee: $650 | – | Receive either: $100 for Global Entry once every 4 years or $85 for TSA PreCheck once every 4.5 years. | ||
 Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card Annual fee: $350 | – | Receive either: $100 for Global Entry once every 4 years or $85 for TSA PreCheck once every 4.5 years. | ||
 Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card Annual fee: $650 | – | Receive either: $100 for Global Entry once every 4 years or $85 for TSA PreCheck once every 4.5 years. | ||
 IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card Annual fee: $95 | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. | |||
 Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card Annual fee: $650 | – | Receive either: $100 for Global Entry once every 4 years or $85 for TSA PreCheck once every 4.5 years. | ||
 The Platinum Card® from American Express Annual fee: $695 | – | Receive either: $100 for Global Entry once every 4 years or $85 for TSA PreCheck once every 4.5 years. | ||
 United℠ Explorer Card $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. | |||
 United Quest℠ Card Annual fee: $250 | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. | |||
 United Club℠ Infinite Card Annual fee: $525 | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. | |||
 U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card Annual fee: $0 | – | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. | ||
 U.S. Bank Altitude® Reserve Visa Infinite® Card Annual fee: $400 | – | One statement credit. Up to $100. Once every 4 years. |
What is a trusted traveler program?
Trusted traveler programs pre-approve low-risk travelers for expedited security and immigration screenings. Depending on the program, you may receive expedited security screenings at airports or at international border crossings. Here are the three most common trusted traveler programs:
TSA PreCheck® is run by the Transportation Security Administration and offers expedited security screening at over 200 airports across the country. If you’re enrolled in PreCheck, you usually won’t be required to remove your shoes, belt, or light jacket and your liquids and laptops can stay in your bags.
Global Entry is a program run by U.S. Customs and Border Protection that enables expedited clearance into the United States when returning from an international destination. Global Entry members use dedicated kiosks and can often bypass long waits at immigration. If you are approved for Global Entry, you will also be enrolled in TSA PreCheck.
NEXUS is a trusted traveler program jointly run by the United States and Canada. It allows for expedited crossing at northern land border crossings, as well as access to expediting immigration procedures at U.S. and Canadian airports. Eligible NEXUS members are automatically granted access to all Global Entry kiosks as well as TSA PreCheck.
How to get a trusted traveler credit
If your card offers credit for your TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS application fee, you must pay your fee with your card. Typically, you’ll be reimbursed as a statement credit within a few weeks of charging the enrollment fee to your card.
Upcoming trusted traveler fee changes
On October 1, 2024, the fee for Global Entry and NEXUS will go up to $120 per application. While most cards currently cap the trusted traveler credit benefits to $100, we expect many cards to increase the amount of their trusted traveler credits to coincide with the fee increase.
Paying the fee doesn’t guarantee approval
It’s important to note that paying the application fee won’t guarantee that you’ll get approved for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS. While most people will be approved for these programs, people with a criminal history, or who have previously violated security, immigrations, or customs regulations will find it more difficult to get approved.
Fortunately, if your credit card has a credit for PreCheck, NEXUS, or Global Entry, there is little downside to applying for these programs. You will receive your application fee reimbursement regardless of whether you are approved for the program.
Bottom line
Many premium credit cards offers a trusted traveler credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS. If you already hold one of the best travel credit cards, you likely already have this benefit on your card. Using the right card can get you a cash credit on your PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS membership fee once every 5 years.
