How Can I Get Global Entry For Free
While you technically can’t get a Global Entry membership for free, you can get a fee credit. Several rewards credit cards and certain airline loyalty programs offer reimbursement for the $100 application fee. Rewards cards that offer this reimbursement include:
- The Business Platinum Card from American Express
- The Platinum Card from American Express
- Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card
- BB& T Spectrum Travel Rewards
- Capital One Venture Rewards
You can also redeem your United MileagePlus miles for a Global Entry fee credit.
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Cards With Under $100 Annual Fee Offering Tsa Precheck Or Global Entry
There are currently at least 14 credit cards with under a $100 annual fee that offer a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees. Terms apply for enrollment. These cards include:
- Arvest Visa Signature® Credit Card*
- Provident World+ Travel Visa Signature Card*
- PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card*
- Expedia® Rewards Voyager Card*
- Commerce Bank® World Elite Mastercard®* ($95 annual fee TSA PreCheck only
With all of these cards, the annual fee is less than the $100 statement credit youd receive to reimburse a Global Entry application fee. That means youd actually save more than the first years annual fee by applying for one of these cards, paying the annual fee and then charging the application fee to the card. Plus, many of these cards have excellent sign-up bonuses and welcome offers.
One of our favorite cards on this list is the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card*. In addition to a lucrative welcome bonus, this card offers IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status, a fourth-night free on award stays of four or more nights and an anniversary free night certificate.
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The Chase Sapphire Reserve
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
- With Pay Yourself BackSM, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass Select and up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
Citi Prestige Card: Best For Premium Perks

The Citi Prestige has an annual fee that reserves it only for the upper echelon of cardholders that youd expect given its name. However, the benefits offset the fee and then some. The Prestige has a high points rate for air travel and restaurants, and it offers 3 points per dollar for hotels and cruise lines.
Plus, the $250 annual travel credit takes the sting from the annual fee and the complimentary fourth night at a hotel when you book through the ThankYou portal makes it worth it by itself. Be aware, though, that this feature is now capped at two times a year.
Even though some of the benefits on this card have been cut back, it still offers a great package. See it all below:
- 50,000 points when you spend $4,000 within the first three months
- 5 points per dollar on air travel and at restaurants
- 3 points per dollar at hotels and on cruise lines
- 1 point per dollar for all other purchases
- $250 annual travel credit
- Up to $100 TSA PreCheck and Global Entry credit every five years
- Complimentary fourth night at a hotel when booked through ThankYou.com
- Access to over 1,000 lounges through PriorityPass Select
- $495 annual fee
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Ihg Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Global Entry/TSA PreCheck Benefit: Get a credit of up to $100 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck charged to your card.
Annual Fee: $89, waived the first year
Other benefits: In the past, this card has offered welcome bonuses as high as 150,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first three months, which is nearly enough for two free nights at most of IHGs top properties around the world, such as the InterContinental Hong Kong. Every year you have this card, you also get an anniversary award worth up to 40,000 points, which should cover a night at most of the companys 5,000-plus properties around the world, including Kimpton Hotels and Regent Hotels. The card earns up to 25 points per dollar on IHG stays, two points per dollar at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants, and one point per dollar everywhere else. You’ll also get automatic Platinum Elite status, which among other perks, includes a free night when you redeem points for a stay of four or more nights.
Low Annual Fee Cards With Free Global Entry Or Tsa Precheck Credit
Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc. has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Eye of the Flyer and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the authors alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Travelers not wanting to shell out big bucks for premium travel cards have options when it comes to receiving free Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credits.
Note: The original version of this post was published on August 20, 2019. It has since been updated with more cards offering the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit perk.
René and I both have Global Entry and love it. TSA PreCheck is a must for any US traveler who flies even semi-regularly.
Travel internationally even once a year with a couple of domestic trips here and there? You definitely want Global Entry. Why? Because it speeds you through customs when returning to the US and includesTSA PreCheck.
Global Entry costs $100 for five years. TSA PreCheck runs $85 for five years. The extra $15 is worth it especially when someone else picks up the tab!
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How To Pick The Right Card
As you can see, many of the best travel credit cards offer free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership. While some charge steep annual fees those cards also come with other premium perks many of them charge modest fees, and some don’t charge an annual fee at all.
As you compare these cards, consider them holistically, including this benefit as well as their rewards programs, sign-up bonuses, other perks, and annual fees. Theres no single best credit card out there for everyone, so its good to know what you want before you apply.
Regardless of which one you choose, youre one step closer to shorter lines and a quicker security experience at the airport.
Our #1 Travel Card
Best For Rewards & Low Annual Fee
- Additional Cards Annual FeeN/A
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
The information related to Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Although this card doesnt have a slew of fancy perks, it does earn solid rewards at a low annual fee. This cards Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit comes around every four years.
Insider tip
If youre looking for other cards with low annual fees that offer these credits, check out the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card . For just $95 you get the application fee credits, along with a $100 incidental airline fee credit.
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Best For Lounge Access
- Returned Payment FeeUp to $40
- Additional Cards Annual Fee$175 for first 3 then $175 per card
- Foreign Transaction FeeNone
The information related to The Platinum Card® from American Express has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
Like the Reserve, the Amex Platinum is another amazing premium travel rewards card, offering a Global Entry credit every four years and a TSA PreCheck credit every four-and-a-half years. Its biggest perk is its generous lounge access, which means free food and booze, fewer people, and lots of power outlets. It also comes with Uber credits and hotel elite status.
Insider tip
Trying to decide which premium travel card to get? Heres our head-to-head breakdown of the Amex Platinum vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Why To Not Get Pre
If youre not aware, Global Entry is an amazing program that allows you expedited entry back into the US. If you get Global Entry, then those long and winding lines through immigration and customs become a thing of the past , because youll be able to zip through a short line and get through Global Entry kiosks instead of waiting in the traditional lines open to the public.
I can state from personal experience that Ive avoided dozens of hours of waiting in line due to Global Entry. And waiting in line is not very fun at all. A 25 minute wait after a 15 hour flight feels a lot worse than your typical 25 minute wait at the DMV or doctors office.
The thing about Global Entry is that if you get it, you also get TSA Pre-Check. Most of the credit cards that offer statement credits for TSA Pre-Check also offer those credits for Global Entry which costs $100. So you get more value and more benefits if you use your credit card for Global Entry instead of Pre-Check.
The drawback to Global Entry is that it requires more effort to get through the application process. This is because they do a deeper dive into your background and require you to schedule an interview .
While you can sometimes schedule your Pre-Check interview for the next day, sometimes you may have to wait weeks or even months to schedule your interview for Global Entry.
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How To Get Global Entry Or Tsa Precheck For Free
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We have three young kids so we dont fly a lot.
But when I do, maaaaan, I love TSA PreCheck.
This post will tell you which credit cards will give you Global Entry and TSA PreCheck for free.
A few years ago, my lovely wife signed me up for TSA PreCheck and its been awesome. Its available at most busy airports and it lets you skip the main TSA checkpoint lines. Its becoming more popular, which means lines are growing, but you can skip some of the security theater at the airport like taking off your shoes.
TSA PreCheck has an international version, called Global Entry, but we dont travel enough to have considered it.
Did you know that a lot of travel credit cards are now offering free Global Entry and TSA PreCheck as a perk? Global Entry costs $100 and must be renewed every 5 years. PreCheck costs $85 and must be renewed every five years. These cards will reimburse you the cost of the application every five years!
How To Get Free Tsa Precheck Or Global Entry

Several travel rewards offer free TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership in the form of a reimbursement of the application fee or by using rewards points. The statement credit typically happens automatically, so youll just need to set up an appointment with the correct agency and use your credit card to pay the fee.
Depending on the card, it can take up to a couple of months to be reimbursed, but you can usually expect to get it sooner than that.
Heres a list of the credit cards that provide this benefit to cardholders.
Card |
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Register For Global Entry
Global Entry is offered through U.S. Customs and Border Protection and allows expedited clearance through customs for pre-approved low-risk travelers. Its great for frequent overseas flyers because its designed to get you through customs more quickly when you return to the U.S.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection website has a list of the airports where Global Entry is available, which include:
- Los Angeles
- New York
- And dozens more
Even if you are not a U.S. citizen, you may be eligible for membership to Global Entry. Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. and citizens of certain other countries are eligible for membership.
To apply for the program, you apply on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website and pay a nonrefundable $100 application fee. But if you have one of the credit cards listed above, you can have the fee reimbursed.
Once your application is conditionally approved, you schedule the final step of the approval process, an in-person interview with a CBP officer. If the wait times for an interview are too long, it is possible to get a same-day Global Entry appointment on arrival.
What Are The Best Credit Cards With Free Global Entry And Tsa Precheck
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great, flexible, flat-rate rewards credit card offering reimbursement for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck membership. Its annual fee is manageable, and it earns two miles on every purchase made so there’s no need to keep track of bonus caps or category spend. It also offers a number of other great travel benefits such as travel accident insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, and 24-hour travel assistance services. For the price, it’s a hard card to beat. If you’re a serious traveler and would like something with more travel perks, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is another great option to consider. A generous welcome bonus, an annual $300 travel statement credit, complimentary airport lounge access, and the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership application reimbursement more than offset the annual fee the first year, and numerous other travel perks help to offset it moving forward. Plus, with this card, points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, so you stand to quickly rack up a ton of points to put towards future travel.
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Airlines That Accept Tsa Precheck
Even though the TSA Precheck is a great program, your airline itinerary needs to be flying with a participating airline to skip the lines.
If you are flying on one of the domestic airlines, you shouldnt have a problem using your PreCheck status. Remember that to go through the special line. You need to be approved for a PreCheck program. The logo needs to be printed on your plane tickets for the TSA officer to process you through the shorter line.
All Credit Cards That Come With Free Global Entry Or Free Tsa Precheck
The cards listed above are the best overall credit cards that also have a Global Entry refund. However, other cards offer the Global Entry and TSA Precheck benefit that might work better for your travel needs and spending habits. Each card provides the benefit once every four to five years. Here’s the list of all the widely available cards that we came across in our search.
Card |
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Every four years for Global Entry, every 4.5 years for TSA Precheck |
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