TSA PreCheck Cost in 2026: Fees, Discounts, and Free Options

TL;DR

TSA PreCheck costs $78 for a new 5-year enrollment and $70 to renew. If you have the right credit card, military status, or a qualifying employer benefit, the real out-of-pocket cost is often $0. This article breaks down every fee and every discount.

At a glance

• New enrollment fee: $78 (5-year membership) — last verified 2026-04-29 at tsa.gov
• Renewal fee: $70 (online renewal only)
• Military: Free for active-duty service members and their accompanying dependents
• Credit card reimbursement: Yes — 5+ premium cards cover the full fee
• Enrollment providers: TSA/IDEMIA ($78), Telos ($78), CLEAR (bundled at $199/year)

Why the cost question matters

PreCheck is one of the few airport upgrades with a clear price tag — five years, one fee, no recurring subscription. But many travelers assume it’s expensive or don’t realize their credit card already covers it. A quick check of your card benefits could make it free.

And if you’re comparing PreCheck to Global Entry or CLEAR, the price isn’t the only variable. This guide gives you the full picture.

Full fee breakdown by provider

TSA allows multiple companies to run enrollment centers. The fee is set by TSA, so differences between providers are small.

Provider	New enrollment	Renewal	Notes
TSA / IDEMIA	$78	$70	Largest enrollment network; most locations
Telos	$78	$70	Smaller network; similar process
CLEAR	Bundled	N/A	PreCheck included with CLEAR Plus at $199/year
Military (all)	Free	Free	Active-duty, reserves, eligible dependents

Source: tsa.gov/precheck — fees confirmed April 2026.

The CLEAR bundled option is worth noting: if you’d pay for CLEAR Plus anyway (at $199/year for the biometric ID lane), adding PreCheck through CLEAR can make sense. But CLEAR membership is an annual recurring fee, while standalone PreCheck is a one-time 5-year payment. Do the math for your situation.

Credit cards that reimburse the TSA PreCheck fee

This is the most common way to get PreCheck at no net cost. Most cards reimburse once every 4–5 years — which conveniently aligns with the 5-year membership and renewal cycle.

Cards with TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit (5+ options)

1. American Express Platinum — $100 credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every 4.5 years (once per 4.5-year Amex billing cycle). Covers the full enrollment or renewal fee.

2. Chase Sapphire Reserve — $100 credit every four years. Covers TSA PreCheck or Global Entry enrollment. Apply through the TSA website and pay with your CSR card.

3. Capital One Venture X — $100 credit every four years toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry. One of the most accessible premium cards for this benefit.

4. Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard — $100 credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry per account, not per cardholder. Check current terms, as Citi cards can vary.

5. U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve — $100 credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years.

6. Bank of America Premium Rewards / Premium Rewards Elite — $100 credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

7. Delta SkyMiles Reserve American Express Card — $100 credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

Most of these cards have annual fees themselves ($250–$695/year), so PreCheck reimbursement is one of several benefits you’re weighing. If you already carry one of these cards for travel rewards, the PreCheck fee is effectively covered.

How to use the credit: Enroll at a participating provider (IDEMIA, Telos, or TSA.gov), pay with your eligible credit card, and the credit typically posts automatically within 1–2 billing cycles. No receipt submission needed for most cards.

Military: free TSA PreCheck

Active-duty U.S. military members (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force) don’t pay for TSA PreCheck — their DoD ID number serves as a Known Traveler Number and they’re automatically vetted through RAPIDS. No separate enrollment fee applies.

Active reserves and National Guard members: check your branch’s specific policy, as the automatic enrollment can vary.

Accompanying dependents on the same reservation as an active-duty member typically receive expedited screening, but this isn’t automatic without their own enrollment. Confirm current policy at tsa.gov/precheck.

Veterans who are no longer on active duty are not automatically included — they’d enroll through the standard $78 process.

Family pricing and transferability rules

TSA PreCheck is individual — you cannot share a KTN with your spouse, children, or travel companions.

Children 12 and under: Get expedited screening for free when traveling on the same reservation as a PreCheck-enrolled adult. No enrollment needed. This isn’t a loophole — it’s official TSA policy. The adult must be enrolled; the child gets through the PreCheck lane alongside them.

Children 13 and older: Must have their own enrollment to use the PreCheck lane. A 15-year-old traveling alone, for instance, needs to be enrolled independently.

Spouses and travel partners: No “family plan” exists for PreCheck. Each adult who wants the benefit must enroll separately.

If you have two adults and two kids under 13 in your family, one enrollment covers the PreCheck lane for everyone on the same reservation — making the per-trip math very favorable.

Comparing PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR costs

Program	Cost	Term	Includes PreCheck?	Best for
TSA PreCheck	$78 new / $70 renewal	5 years	—	Domestic flyers who rarely cross international borders
Global Entry	$100	5 years	Yes	Frequent international travelers
CLEAR Plus	$199/year	Annual	Optional add-on	Travelers who want the fastest possible ID step
Global Entry + CLEAR	~$299/year	Annual	Yes	Power travelers who want every advantage

If you travel internationally even occasionally, Global Entry’s $100 fee — which includes PreCheck — beats paying $78 for PreCheck alone. The extra $22 buys you expedited customs and border re-entry on every international return.

Common pitfalls

• Paying with the wrong card. The credit card you use to pay the enrollment fee must be the eligible card. Paying with a debit card or a different credit card means the reimbursement won’t trigger.
• Enrolling through CLEAR when you only want PreCheck. CLEAR’s bundle is $199/year, recurring. Standalone PreCheck is $78 once every five years. Unless you actually want CLEAR Plus, the bundle is 12x more expensive.
• Forgetting kids age out of free coverage at 13. If your kids are getting close to 13, factor in their enrollment cost for future trips.
• Not checking employer or association benefits. Some employers, credit unions, and travel programs offer PreCheck subsidies. It’s worth a five-minute check before paying.
• Confusing enrollment fee with no guarantee of approval. The $78 is non-refundable. TSA doesn’t approve every applicant — those with certain criminal history or immigration status issues may be denied. Check TSA’s eligibility guidelines at tsa.gov first.

What to do next

If your credit card covers the fee, start your enrollment now — you’re leaving a free travel upgrade on the table. If you’re military, your DoD ID number already functions as a KTN. Everyone else: $78 for five years of faster security works out to less than $16/year.

We help travelers navigate the enrollment and renewal process without guesswork. Start your TSA PreCheck application and we’ll confirm your eligibility, walk you through the steps, and track your approval.

Frequently asked questions

How much does TSA PreCheck cost in 2026?

New enrollment is $78 for a 5-year membership. Renewal is $70. Fees are confirmed at tsa.gov as of April 2026.

Can I get TSA PreCheck for free?

Yes — active-duty military get it free, and many premium travel credit cards (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X, and others) reimburse the full fee.

Which credit cards pay for TSA PreCheck?

American Express Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X, Citi AAdvantage Executive, U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve, Bank of America Premium Rewards, and Delta SkyMiles Reserve Amex, among others. Check your card’s current terms.

Is TSA PreCheck cheaper than Global Entry?

PreCheck costs $78 for 5 years; Global Entry costs $100 for 5 years and includes PreCheck. For frequent international travelers, Global Entry is the better value at only $22 more.

Do children need to pay for TSA PreCheck?

Children 12 and under traveling on the same reservation as an enrolled adult get expedited screening for free. Children 13 and older need their own enrollment.

Does TSA PreCheck have a family plan?

No. Each traveler who wants PreCheck must enroll individually. The only exception is children under 13 on the same reservation as an enrolled adult.

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Sources: TSA PreCheck enrollment fees, TSA PreCheck enrollment providers.