10 Credit Cards That Cover Global Entry & TSA PreCheck Costs (2023)

12.09.2023 - 13:27 / cntraveler.com

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Sick of sitting in serpentine security lines and queuing up for interminable immigration processing? If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to enroll in Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. In fact, so many travel credit cards will reimburse you for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck costs that there is no reason not to submit an application for one of these programs if you are a cardholder.

Below, you'll find 10 credit cards that cover the cost of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and have other benefits that make them worth applying for, whether it's a low annual fee (bonus points if it's waived the first year), automatic elite status at hotel and airline partners, and airport lounge access. But first, we’re answering a few frequently asked questions about TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, so you’re fully up-to-speed on the programs before you pick the right card for you.

(Want to skip straight to our card suggestions? Jump to the travel credit cards that cover TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.)

There are a few key differences. For one, Global Entry holders can speed through customs and immigration when arriving in the US from an international destination, while TSA PreCheck is a domestic program run by the Transportation Security Administration. Approved passengers with TSA PreCheck can access expedited airport security checkpoints when exiting and traveling within the US and don’t have to remove their shoes or take out items like laptops from their carry-on bags. Travelers who qualify for Global Entry also receive access to TSA PreCheck, so you might as well apply for Global Entry and enjoy both programs.

Both programs last five years, and most cards offer reimbursements every four to five years to ensure your membership to either program is current.

For Global Entry, certain US citizens, US permanent residents, and citizens of 14 foreign partner countries—Argentina, Brazil, Bahrain, Colombia, Germany, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom—are all eligible. (Note: Depending on the country you’re a resident of, visas may also be required for entry into the US.)