TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, NEXUS And CLEAR® Plus: What You Need To Know (2024)

To sign up for TSA PreCheck, you can either go to the Trusted Traveler portal or directly to the TSA PreCheck application site. After completing the application form, you can select an enrollment center and schedule an appointment. The TSA PreCheck application process is administered by third-party vendors IDEMIA and Telos at many centers across the country, including airports, local government offices and office supply stores.

Generally, you should receive your Known Traveler Number within three to five days of completing the application and enrollment process, although it can take up to 60 days. You’ll be notified by email once approved, but you can check the status of your application by logging in to the Trusted Traveler website.

Global Entry

To enroll in Global Entry, visit the Trusted Traveler portal to create your Trusted Traveler account, pay your nonrefundable fee and submit your application. Each individual regardless of age must have their own account.

During the application process, you’ll provide personal information that allows the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency to background check you. Once the background check is complete and your application is conditionally approved, you’ll be notified to schedule an in-person interview. Every person applying must have their own interview appointment. You should receive an email when the status of your application has changed, but we recommend that you check the dashboard in your Trusted Traveler account in case the email notification goes AWOL.

As soon as you have conditional approval, you can set up an appointment online at the location of your choice. Global Entry enrollment centers are usually located at international airports and land border crossings.

During the interview for Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent will verify your information, ask you a few basic questions (“Why do you want Global Entry?” “What do you do for a living?”) take your picture and process your fingerprints.

Global Entry also offers an option called “enrollment upon arrival.” Under enrollment upon arrival, applicants who have been conditionally approved can complete their interview when they arrive into the U.S. from an international flight. Over 50 U.S. airports offer Global Entry enrollment upon arrival, plus over a dozen international locations.

To complete your enrollment on arrival at an international airport, follow the relevant signage, directing you to a Customs and Border Protection officer who can conduct the Global Entry interview.

For the in-person interview, you’ll need to bring your passport, proof of residency and a permanent resident card (if applicable). This is not required for minors.

Once you’ve been approved for Global Entry, you’ll receive your Global Entry card within two to four weeks. Your Global Entry card has RFID properties that work on the expedited NEXUS/Sentri lanes when you enter the U.S. at land border crossings. In order to access this capability, you must activate the card in your Trusted Traveler account.

NEXUS

To apply for NEXUS, set up your Trusted Traveler account at the Trusted Traveler website. Complete the NEXUS application and pay your non-refundable $50 fee. A background check will be performed by both the Canada Border Services Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Once your application is conditionally approved, you’ll be notified to schedule your in-person interview. You should be informed via email that your application status has changed, but check the dashboard in your Trusted Traveler account regularly in case the email ends up in spam. Each applicant, including children, must have their own appointment slot.

The NEXUS interview process is more involved than a Global Entry interview since you’re being interviewed and approved by two agencies rather than one.

There are three options for the NEXUS interview, all of which need to be scheduled ahead of time:

1. Joint U.S. and Canada interview at land enrollment centers in the U.S. Officers from both U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Canada Border Services Agency conduct interviews together at the same location. These centers are few and far between and are located in U.S. cities along the border.
2. Split interview at a Canadian land enrollment center followed by an interview at a U.S. land enrollment center. Applicants are interviewed by Canada Border Services Agency officers at a Canadian land enrollment center, followed by an interview by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at a nearby U.S. enrollment center when you cross the border. When you make the appointment for the Canadian interview, the U.S. interview is automatically scheduled for the same date shortly afterward. This option is currently available only at three locations but further locations will be added in future.
3. Interview at a Canadian airport enrollment center followed by an interview at a U.S. preclearance location in a Canadian airport. The Canadian interview, conducted by Canada Border Services Agency officers is held at one of the Canadian airport enrollment centers. The second stage is an interview conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in the preclearance area of a Canadian airport before departure for the U.S. There is no need to schedule an appointment for the U.S. interview, but you would need to build in extra time prior to your flight for it.

Nexus cards will be mailed out after approval within ten days.. The card must be activated prior to using your NEXUS benefits.

CLEAR Plus

Signing up for CLEAR Plus is comparatively straightforward. It can be done on the spot in an airport. You also have the option to start the application process online and then finish the process by registering your biometric data at a CLEAR Plus airport checkpoint the next time you’re flying. The process only takes about five minutes and there’s no need to set up an appointment. You can use CLEAR Plus immediately after successful enrollment.

Remember that before you can register your biometric data, you’ll need to provide a valid ID, such as a passport, a driver’s license or a permanent resident card.

How Do I Use My Benefits?

Once you’ve been approved for a U.S. Trusted Traveler Program, you’ll receive that Known Traveler Number or PASSID.

For TSA PreCheck, you can look up your KTN at this TSA PreCheck website link. For Global Entry and NEXUS, you can access your PASSID by logging onto the Trusted Traveler website and checking your dashboard.

To use TSA PreCheck when you fly, your Known Traveler Number or PASSID must be attached to your ticket. You can enter your number manually when you book your airline reservation. Better still, log into your airline loyalty program accounts and update your profile with your KTN. Future flights under your airline loyalty number should automatically attach your Known Traveler Number and you’ll get your TSA PreCheck, Global Entry or NEXUS benefits when available.

If your Known Traveler Number is successfully attached to your ticket, you should see the TSA PreCheck indicator on your boarding pass.

Look for the TSA PreCheck lane at the security checkpoint for expedited screening. Even if you have a card with your Trusted Traveler Program, the only thing that matters is having the checkmark on your boarding pass.

Global Entry members do not need to activate their Global Entry cards for use with air travel. After arrival at a U.S. airport, follow the signs for the Global Entry lane in the immigration area. The Global Entry kiosks use facial recognition to identify you. You’ll simply look into the camera on the kiosk, use the screen to declare food items or products, and proceed to the immigration officer. The kiosks can process multiple people at once if you are traveling with family who also have Global Entry.

If you want to use Global Entry to enter the U.S. at land border crossings using the NEXUS/Sentri lanes, you must activate your Global Entry card for it to be recognized. You can activate your card by signing into your Trusted Traveler account and navigating to the program membership section.

While it may seem silly to have a card if you might never use it, the card does work for a federal form of ID and is accepted at airports for domestic travel.

NEXUS members must activate their cards prior to using NEXUS kiosks at Canadian airports or at land and marine crossings. Your NEXUS card can be activated in your Trusted Traveler account.

To use NEXUS on arrival at a Canadian airport, follow the signs to the NEXUS kiosks. You’ll be asked to enter the number of travelers in your party, as the NEXUS kiosk can process up to five people at once. You’ll scan each NEXUS card and a photo of each member will be taken. Take the receipt from the kiosk and head to baggage claim if you have no items to declare.

CLEAR Plus does not count as a federally recognized Trusted Traveler Program since it isn’t government-operated or include TSA PreCheck, so you don’t get a KTN. Instead, CLEAR Plus can be used as soon as you’ve registered your biometric data. To use CLEAR Plus, go to one of the CLEAR Plus checkpoints at the airport and verify your identity by using your fingerprints or eyes. Once that’s done, you’re free to move on to the security screening line.

If you also have TSA PreCheck, either directly or through Global Entry or NEXUS, CLEAR Plus combined with TSA PreCheck can make for an even faster trip through the security checkpoint.

How Much Do Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, NEXUS and CLEAR Cost?

Currently, NEXUS is the cheapest option at $50; plus, children are free. TSA PreCheck costs $78 or $85 depending on the provider, and Global Entry is $100. Note that the Trusted Traveler Programs are valid for five years, making them relatively inexpensive on a per year basis.

Even though it’s the cheapest program, NEXUS has fewer interview centers than Global Entry which makes the process more challenging. Interview locations are at the land border so unless you live close to one or are flying soon, you may need to plan a trip to coincide with your interviews, either at the airport or at a land border location. This adds to the cost of getting NEXUS.

However, on October 1, 2024, the price for both Global Entry and NEXUS will go up to $120 for the five-year validity period.

CLEAR® Plus is by far the most expensive program of the four at $189 per year. CLEAR Plus members can add up to three family members or friends for $99 per year each, lowering the per-person cost of the program. Children don’t need to enroll, as the program is free for those under the age of 18 accompanied by a CLEAR Plus member. Alaska Mileage Plan, Delta SkyMiles and United MileagePlus members along with Delta SkyMiles and United credit cardholders are eligible for discounted rates, with free membership for top-tier elites. (Terms apply)