Even if you only fly a few times a year, the hassle of waiting in airport security lines is often enough to justify signing up for TSA PreCheck® and Global Entry. These two U.S. government programs are designed to minimize the amount of time spent waiting in queues, which is a pretty nice travel perk.
Before applying for either program, it's important that you know the difference between them. Global Entry grants members expedited entry back into the U.S. after traveling internationally. For $100, approved members get a five-year membership that includes both Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. If you rarely travel abroad and don't want to pay for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck is $78 and gives you expedited security screenings at participating airports.
It's generally recommended that you apply for Global Entry rather than just TSA PreCheck. For just $22 more, Global Entry grants you access to both.
As more and more travel credit cards compete for customers, they are increasingly offering an up to $100 TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit as a benefit to cardholders. The best part is, this offer is typically available every four years, so it's not a one-time perk.
Credit cards that offer this perk usually come with an annual fee, but when you consider all the additional rewards you can earn using the card regularly, it usually offsets the costs. CNBC Select rounded up the top travel credit cards that offer Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck credit, ranked from lowest to highest annual fee.
Best cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ($395 annual fee) (See rates and fees)
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card ($95 annual fee) (See rates and fees)
- Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card ($95 annual fee)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® ($550 annual fee)
- The Platinum Card® from American Express ($695 annual fee) (See rates and fees)
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Rewards
Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5 Miles per dollar on flights and 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$395
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
Credit needed
Excellent
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Pros
- Large welcome bonus
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Cons
- High annual fee
- No introductory 0% APR period
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a competitive rewards program for common travel expenses: Earn 10X miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles for every dollar spent on flights through the portal. Plus, you'll earn 2X points on all other purchases.
You can redeem your points for travel by transferring them to 15+ travel loyalty programs (like Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Air Canada Aeroplan®), or you can use them to redeem any recent travel purchases. You can also redeem your points for actual cash in the form of a check, but points are worth half a cent per point if you go this route.
In addition to rewards, cardholders can benefit from an up to $100 statement credit for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, complimentary cell phone insurance* and access to over 1,300 Priority Pass airport lounges, as well as Capital One and Plaza Premium lounges.
*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
Other perks include receiving a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile bonus on each account anniversary, which help offset the $395 annual fee (see rates and fees).
Capital One Ventures Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Rewards
5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A for purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Pros
- 5 miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every 4 years
Cons
- No introductory APR
- There’s a $95 annual fee
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers no shortage of travel benefits and rewards. Cardholders earn 5X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles per dollar spent on all other spending.
The card has a $95 annual fee, and it has a strong welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus miles. Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. (see rates and fees)
Travelers going overseas can take advantage of no foreign transaction fees. And cardholders also get an application fee credit for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($78) every four years. As an added plus, you can use your Venture Rewards card to get access to exclusive sporting and music events, plus premiere culinary experiences, including the New York City Wine and Food Festival and the iHeartRadio Music Festival.
A downside: There's no introductory 0% APR period. From the start, cardholders are charged a variable APR of 19.99% - 29.99%; see rates and fees. And Capital One indicates on its website this card is for people with excellent credit scores.
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Receive 60,000 online bonus points — a $600 value — after you make at least $4,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
20.24% - 27.24% variable APR
Balance transfer fee
4% of the amount of each transaction
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
- Up to $100 annual airline incidental credit
- Priority Pass™ Select membership
- 25% to 75% more points for Preferred Rewards members
- No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- No special financing offers on new purchases
Information about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Who's this for? The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card is a great choice for people who have a qualifying relationship with the bank. All cardholders earn 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
However, Preferred Rewards members earn 25% to 75% more points on every purchase, depending on the balance you have in your Bank of America® banking and/or eligible Merrill accounts. If you qualify for the highest tier — Platinum Honors, which requires a minimum $100,000 three-month average combined balance — you could earn up to 3.5 points for every $1 you spend on travel and dining purchases and up to 2.62 points for every $1 you spend on all other purchases.
Cardholders can take advantage of an application fee credit for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($78) every four years. Additional travel benefits include travel insurance for trip delays, cancellations and interruptions, an up to $100 annual airline statement credit for qualifying purchases, such as seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight services and airline lounge fees and more.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Rewards
Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ 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 plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Annual fee
$550
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
22.49% - 29.49% variable
Balance transfer fee
5%, minimum $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent
Terms apply.
Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.
Pros
- $300 annual travel credit for travel purchases
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every four years
- Priority Pass™ Select lounge access at 1,000+ VIP lounges in over 500 cities worldwide
- Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
- Special benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
- Complimentary year of Lyft Pink membership
Cons
- High annual fee, but it can be offset by taking advantage of all the card’s perks
- No introductory APR
- Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,469
- Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $3,346
Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus
Who's this for? Chase Sapphire Reserve® is enormously popular among travelers for its luxe perks and strong rewards program. In addition to offering points on dining and travel purchases, cardholders get a $300 annual statement credit to apply to qualifying travel expenses.
But it's the perks that really make this card stand out for globetrotters. You can get a statement credit of up to $100 (every four years) to help cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees as well as enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which gives you access to more than 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with free amenities, such as Wi-Fi, snacks, beverages and more. Cardmembers traveling internationally also don't need to worry about foreign transaction fees.
Chase Travel℠ has everything you need to plan a vacation from booking rental cars to cruises. You can also use the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection to book rooms and take advantage of upgrades upon arrival, complimentary meals, flexible check-in times, extra amenities and special discounts.
The value of Chase rewards points varies depending on how you use them. If you redeem points for cash and gift cards, each point is worth $.01, which means that 100 points equal $1 in redemption value.
The value of points increases 50% when you redeem for travel on Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruise reservations when you redeem through Chase Travel℠. This is a great way to maximize the value of your rewards and makes this card stand out from the pack.
While this card does come with a substantial annual fee of $550, the many statement credits help to offset the costs.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Rewards
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, 1X points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
Annual fee
$695
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit Needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Pros
- Up to $200 in annual airline fee credits
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
- Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) and receive a statement credit that covers the full cost each month. $12.95 plus applicable taxes. Plus Up Benefits not eligible.
Cons
- $695 annual fee
- No special financing offers on new purchases
Who's this for? The Platinum Card® from American Express offers one of the most competitive rewards programs for eligible airfare and hotel expenses: Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel and 1X points on all other purchases.
In addition to rewards, cardholders can benefit from up to $200 in annual airline fee credits to cover incidentals (baggage fees, seat upgrades an in-flight purchases) and up to $200 in annual Uber cash savings. There's also an application fee credit for Global Entry ($100) every 4 years or TSA PreCheck (up to $85) every 4.5 years.
You can also take advantage of Global Lounge Collection access with more than 1,200 airport lounges across 130+ countries and special benefits at Fine Hotels & Resorts properties, such as up to a $100 hotel credit, complimentary room upgrades and free Wi-Fi.
Best cards for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credit
Credit Card | Annual Fee | Global Entry and TSA PreCheck terms |
---|---|---|
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | $395* | Application fee credit for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($78) every 4 years |
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | $95* | Application fee credit for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($78) every 4 years |
Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card | $95 | Application fee credit for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($78) every 4 years |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $550 | Application fee credit for Global Entry ($100) or TSA PreCheck ($78) every 4 years |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | $695 | Application fee credit for Global Entry ($100) every 4 years or TSA PreCheck ($78) every 4.5 years |
* Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card see rates and fees; Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card see rates and fees.
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
Bottom line
There are many travel credit cards that reimburse your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, and you don't need to shell out a large annual fee to get this benefit. It's generally recommended that you apply for Global Entry rather than TSA PreCheck as it includes all PreCheck benefits and would still be covered by your card's credit.
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Our methodology
To determine which cards are best for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck credits, CNBC Select evaluated dozens of popular travel credit cards with an up to $100 Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck credit offered by major banks, financial companies and credit unions that allow anyone to join. We compared each card on a range of features, including: rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is for the consumer to redeem points.
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For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.