TSA Pre Check

TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck can make airport security faster and more convenient for travelers departing from participating U.S. airports. The program can be used for eligible domestic and international flights on participating airlines. It does not provide expedited customs or immigration processing when returning to the United States.

What Is TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck is an expedited security-screening program operated by the Transportation Security Administration. It is available to eligible U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents who complete an application and security threat assessment. Once approved, members receive a Known Traveler Number, or KTN, that can be added to airline reservations.

TSA PreCheck is not limited to frequent flyers or travel within the contiguous United States. Eligible travelers can use it when departing from more than 200 participating U.S. airports on more than 90 participating airlines. It can be used for domestic flights and international flights leaving the United States, but it does not expedite U.S. customs processing after an international trip.

What Are the Benefits of TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck members typically use dedicated screening lanes at participating airports. These lanes often move faster and require travelers to remove fewer items from their carry-on bags. TSA reports that approximately 99% of TSA PreCheck passengers wait less than 10 minutes, although wait times and lane availability are not guaranteed.

TSA PreCheck screening benefits generally include:

• Leaving laptops inside carry-on bags
• Leaving approved 3-1-1 liquids inside carry-on bags
• Leaving food inside carry-on bags
• Keeping belts on
• Keeping light jackets on
• Using dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes when available

Travelers generally may now keep their shoes on at domestic TSA checkpoints, whether or not they have TSA PreCheck. This policy changed in July 2025, so keeping shoes on is no longer a benefit exclusive to TSA PreCheck. TSA may still require any traveler to remove items or undergo additional screening when necessary.

TSA PreCheck does not guarantee expedited screening on every trip. The TSA PreCheck indicator must appear on the traveler’s boarding pass to use the expedited lane. Showing an approval notice, KTN, Global Entry card, NEXUS card, or SENTRI card at the checkpoint does not provide access when the indicator is missing.

How to Enroll in TSA PreCheck

Begin at the official TSA PreCheck website, where you can compare TSA’s authorized enrollment providers. As of August 2026, the authorized providers are CLEAR, IDEMIA, and Telos. Prices, enrollment locations, appointment options, and renewal offers vary by provider.

The online portion of the application generally takes about five minutes. You will provide identifying and background information before selecting an enrollment location. Depending on the provider and location, you may schedule an appointment or visit a location that accepts walk-ins.

The in-person enrollment appointment generally takes about 10 minutes. An enrollment representative will verify your identity and citizenship or immigration documents, take your fingerprints and photograph, and collect payment. This is an enrollment appointment rather than a traditional travel interview.

Most applicants receive their Known Traveler Number within three to five days after completing enrollment. Some applications can take up to 60 days, especially when additional review is required. Applicants can monitor their status through the enrollment provider they selected.

How Much Does TSA PreCheck Cost?

A new TSA PreCheck membership currently costs between $76.75 and $85, depending on the authorized enrollment provider. Membership is valid for five years. The application fee is generally nonrefundable, even if TSA determines that an applicant is ineligible.

Current new-enrollment prices are:

• IDEMIA: $76.75
• CLEAR: $79.95
• Telos: $85

Renewal prices vary by provider and may differ depending on whether the renewal is completed online or in person. Members can renew through any authorized provider, even if they initially enrolled through a different one. TSA recommends checking the official TSA PreCheck renewal page for current offers before paying.

Some credit cards and loyalty programs reimburse the TSA PreCheck application fee when an eligible card is used to pay. Certain military members, Department of Defense civilian employees, qualifying disabled veterans, and other designated groups may receive TSA PreCheck benefits without paying the standard enrollment fee. Eligibility and participation requirements vary, so travelers should confirm their status directly with TSA or the organization providing the benefit.

Who Is Eligible for TSA PreCheck?

TSA PreCheck enrollment is available to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents. Foreign nationals who do not hold lawful permanent resident status cannot enroll directly in the TSA PreCheck Application Program. Some foreign nationals may receive TSA PreCheck eligibility through an approved Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler Program, depending on their citizenship and membership status.

A passport is not required to apply, but applicants must present documents that establish their identity and citizenship or immigration status. A valid U.S. passport can satisfy both requirements, while applicants without one may use another approved combination of documents. TSA provides a current list of acceptable enrollment documents.

Applicants may be denied, disqualified, or suspended for reasons that include certain criminal offenses, pending criminal charges, outstanding warrants, transportation-security violations, or false or incomplete application information. TSA evaluates each application through its security threat assessment. Travelers should review TSA’s current disqualifying offenses and eligibility factors for complete information.

Actions that may result in disqualification or suspension include:

• Interfering with security operations
• Violating airport access-control requirements
• Providing false or fraudulent documents
• Making a bomb threat
• Bringing a firearm, explosive, or another prohibited item to a security checkpoint or aboard an aircraft
• Committing fraud or intentionally misrepresenting information during enrollment
• Engaging in conduct that TSA determines presents a transportation-security risk

How to Use TSA PreCheck

After approval, add your Known Traveler Number to the appropriate field in your airline reservation. You can also save the number in your airline loyalty-program profile for future bookings. Your name, date of birth, and KTN must match the information associated with your TSA PreCheck enrollment.

TSA PreCheck does not issue members a physical identification card. Your KTN appears in your approval notification and can be retrieved through TSA’s KTN lookup system if you forget it. A KTN is not an acceptable substitute for the identification required at an airport security checkpoint.

The TSA PreCheck indicator must appear on your boarding pass before you enter the expedited lane. If the indicator is missing, confirm that your name, date of birth, and KTN were entered correctly and that your airline participates in the program. You may be able to update the reservation before check-in, but adding a KTN does not guarantee that the indicator will appear.

Not every airport checkpoint operates a dedicated TSA PreCheck lane at all hours. If a dedicated lane is closed, TSA may direct eligible travelers to a standard lane while providing modified screening procedures. Travelers should still allow enough time for airport arrival, check-in, and security screening.

TSA PreCheck Travel Tips

Choose an enrollment provider based on its price, locations, and appointment availability. Enrollment centers are available at airports and other locations across the United States, so an airport visit is not always required. TSA’s enrollment-center locator allows applicants to search by ZIP code and compare available providers.

Bring the exact documents required for your enrollment appointment. The name on your application should match the name on your identity and citizenship or immigration documents. It should also match the name used for future airline reservations.

Save your KTN in each airline profile you regularly use. Confirm that the number has been added to every reservation, including bookings made through a travel advisor or tour operator. Check your boarding pass for the TSA PreCheck indicator before arriving at the checkpoint.

TSA PreCheck can also be used for eligible international flights departing from participating U.S. airports. However, it does not expedite passport control or customs when you return to the United States. Travelers who frequently travel internationally may receive more comprehensive benefits from Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck eligibility.

Pricing, participation, eligibility requirements, and processing times were verified in August 2026 and may change. Travelers should confirm current information through the official TSA website before applying or renewing.

AUTHOR: GRAND EUROPEAN TRAVEL

Updated: August 18, 2026