Trusted Traveler Programs Compared: Which One Fits Your Travel Style

What Each Program Actually Covers

TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and CANPASS Air are five separate programs, each with different entry points and different benefits. They are not tiers of the same thing — they overlap in what they do, but they serve different travel patterns and borders.

TSA PreCheck speeds you through U.S. airport security lines only. You keep shoes, belt, and light jacket on; laptops and liquids stay in your bag. It works at roughly 200 U.S. airports. Global Entry covers U.S. airport security (the same as TSA PreCheck) plus expedited customs and immigration when you return to the U.S. by air, sea, or land. NEXUS is for people who cross the U.S.-Canada border frequently by land or sea — it gives you a dedicated lane at the border and TSA PreCheck at U.S. airports. SENTRI covers the U.S.-Mexico land border with a dedicated lane and TSA PreCheck. CANPASS Air is Canadian-only and covers Canadian airport security and U.S. customs pre-clearance at Canadian airports.

The key difference: if you fly internationally and return to the U.S., Global Entry saves time on both ends. If you drive to Canada or Mexico regularly, NEXUS or SENTRI saves time at the border. If you live in Canada and fly to the U.S., CANPASS Air may be enough. TSA PreCheck alone is useful only if you fly domestically or don't mind waiting in regular customs lines when you return.

Key Takeaways

• TSA PreCheck covers U.S. domestic airport security only; Global Entry adds customs and immigration for international returns.
• NEXUS and SENTRI are for land border crossers — NEXUS for Canada, SENTRI for Mexico — and both include TSA PreCheck.
• Cost ranges from $78 to $100 for five years, with some credit cards covering the fee as a cardholder benefit.
• Background checks take four to six weeks; you may be interviewed in person depending on the program and your location.
• Membership is not transferable, and you must renew before expiration or lose all benefits immediately.

Cost and What Your Credit Card May Cover

TSA PreCheck costs $78 to $85 for five years. Global Entry costs $100 for five years. NEXUS costs $120 for five years. SENTRI costs $122.50 for five years. CANPASS Air costs $120 CAD (Canadian dollars) for five years. These are the standard fees; some programs occasionally run promotions, but do not count on a discount.

Many premium credit cards reimburse the fee for one trusted traveler program per year. The American Express Platinum Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Visa Infinite cards commonly cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Some cards cover NEXUS or SENTRI instead. Check your card's benefits guide or call the issuer to confirm which program is covered and whether you need to submit a receipt for reimbursement. The reimbursement usually appears as a statement credit within 30 to 60 days of you submitting proof of payment.

If your card covers the fee, the program effectively costs you nothing beyond your annual card fee. If it does not, the cost is a one-time expense spread across five years — roughly $15 to $24 per year. Whether that is worth it depends on how often you travel and how much time you value.

Background Check and Interview Timeline

After you submit your application online, you will receive a conditional approval within one to two weeks. This means the initial review passed, but you still need an in-person interview. You then schedule an appointment at an enrollment center — these are located at major airports, some border crossings, and select post offices and police departments.

The interview itself is brief: 10 to 15 minutes. A TSA or CBP officer will verify your identity, ask about your travel history and criminal background, and may ask why you want the program. They are checking that your application is truthful and that you have no disqualifying offenses. Most people pass. If you do, you receive your membership number on the spot or by email within a few days.

The entire process — application to interview to approval — typically takes four to six weeks, though it can stretch to eight weeks if enrollment centers in your area are backlogged. Do not apply the week before a trip. Apply at least two months ahead if you can. If you are denied, you can request reconsideration, but this adds another four to eight weeks.

Who Cannot Get These Programs

You will be denied if you have a felony conviction, a drug-related offense, or certain immigration violations. You will also be denied if you have outstanding warrants, unpaid fines, or a history of providing false information to the government. The standards are strict because these programs give you expedited screening — the government is betting you are low-risk.

Misdemeanors do not automatically disqualify you, but some do: DUI, domestic violence, and theft are common reasons for denial. If you have a criminal record, contact the program before you apply and ask whether your specific offense is disqualifying. Some programs will tell you over the phone; others require you to apply and find out during the interview.

Immigration status matters for some programs. NEXUS, SENTRI, and CANPASS Air require you to be a citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. or Canada. TSA PreCheck and Global Entry require you to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If you are on a visa, you cannot get these programs.

TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry: When Each Makes Sense

If you fly domestically only — no international trips — TSA PreCheck is enough. You save time at security, and that is the only benefit you need. The cost is lower, and you do not need to interview at a border crossing or customs facility.

If you fly internationally and return to the U.S. by air, Global Entry is worth the extra $15 to $22 per year. You get TSA PreCheck at U.S. airports, plus a dedicated customs line when you land. On a busy day, customs can take 30 to 45 minutes in the regular line; Global Entry can cut that to 5 to 10 minutes. If you travel internationally more than twice a year, Global Entry pays for itself in time alone.

If you return to the U.S. by land or sea — driving from Canada or Mexico, or taking a cruise — Global Entry still covers you. TSA PreCheck does not apply at land borders, but Global Entry does. This is a reason many people choose Global Entry even if they fly domestically most of the time: it covers all the ways you might return to the U.S.

NEXUS and SENTRI: Land Border Programs

NEXUS is for the U.S.-Canada border. SENTRI is for the U.S.-Mexico border. Both give you a dedicated lane at the border crossing, which can save 15 to 30 minutes on a busy day. Both also include TSA PreCheck at U.S. airports, so you get the domestic security benefit as a bonus.

NEXUS requires you to be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You apply online, interview at a U.S. or Canadian port of entry, and receive your membership card in the mail. SENTRI requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. You apply online and interview at a U.S. port of entry on the Mexico border.

If you cross the border by car more than once a month, either program pays for itself in time saved. If you cross fewer than six times a year, the benefit is smaller, but you still get TSA PreCheck included. Some people get NEXUS or SENTRI primarily for the TSA PreCheck benefit and view the border lane as a bonus.

CANPASS Air and Other Canadian Options

CANPASS Air is a Canadian program that covers Canadian airport security screening and U.S. customs pre-clearance at Canadian airports. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and fly to the U.S. regularly, CANPASS Air speeds up both your departure from Canada and your arrival in the U.S. (because pre-clearance happens before you board).

CANPASS Air does not include TSA PreCheck, so it does not help you at U.S. domestic airports. If you fly within the U.S. after arriving, you go through regular security. If you are a Canadian who travels to the U.S. frequently but does not fly domestically, CANPASS Air is sufficient. If you fly within the U.S., you may want Global Entry instead, which covers both U.S. customs and TSA PreCheck.

Canada also offers NEXUS, which Canadian citizens and permanent residents can join. NEXUS gives you the land border benefit plus TSA PreCheck, making it useful if you drive to the U.S. or fly domestically.

Renewal, Expiration, and What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

All five programs expire after five years. You can renew starting 180 days before expiration. Renewal is usually faster than the initial application — often just an online form and a background check, with no interview required. Renewal costs the same as the initial fee.

If you let your membership expire, you lose all benefits immediately. Your TSA PreCheck number stops working at airports. Your NEXUS or SENTRI card stops working at the border. You cannot use an expired card to get through a dedicated lane or expedited security line. If you realize your membership expired after you arrive at the airport, you go through regular security like everyone else.

Set a calendar reminder for 180 days before your expiration date. Renew online as soon as you are may be able to access. The renewal usually processes within two to four weeks, so you will have your new membership before the old one expires. If you miss the deadline and your membership lapses, you must reapply from scratch — the full application, interview, and four- to six-week wait.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry?

No. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, so you do not need both. If you already have TSA PreCheck and want to upgrade to Global Entry, you can apply for Global Entry and your TSA PreCheck membership will be folded into it. You do not pay twice.

Do I need NEXUS if I already have Global Entry?

Not for air travel. Global Entry covers customs when you return by air. NEXUS adds a dedicated lane at the U.S.-Canada land border. Get NEXUS only if you drive to Canada regularly. If you fly to Canada and drive within Canada but return to the U.S. by air, Global Entry is enough.

What if I move to a different country?

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry remain valid as long as you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, even if you live abroad. NEXUS, SENTRI, and CANPASS Air require you to be a citizen or permanent resident of the country where you are using the program. If you move and lose that status, your membership becomes invalid.

Can I use someone else's trusted traveler card?

No. These programs are non-transferable. Your membership is tied to your name and biometric data. If you try to use someone else's card, you will be flagged and may face questioning. Each person who wants the benefit must have their own membership.

How much time do these programs actually save?

TSA PreCheck typically saves 10 to 20 minutes at security on a domestic flight. Global Entry can save 20 to 45 minutes at customs on return. NEXUS and SENTRI can save 15 to 30 minutes at the border. On a slow day, the savings are smaller. On a busy day, they are larger. The value depends on how often you travel and how much you value your time.