Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
FREQUENT FLYER GLOSSARY
What are trusted traveller programmes?
Trusted traveller programmes are government programmes that DHS describes as providing modified screening for pre-approved members. DHS says they improve security by being more efficient during screenings and facilitate legitimate trade and travel. [1]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- DHS lists five programmes in the group: TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST. [1]
- DHS describes them as acting at different points: TSA PreCheck at airport security checkpoints, Global Entry and SENTRI on arrival in the United States, NEXUS when entering the United States and Canada, and FAST on commercial shipments. [1]
- TSA describes TSA PreCheck as five years of benefits for $85 or less, and lists three authorised enrolment providers with different fees. [2]
- TSA states that all travellers are screened and that no individual is guaranteed expedited screening. [2]
What do trusted traveller programmes do?
DHS describes members as pre-approved and says the programmes provide modified screening for them. It directs readers to its Trusted Traveler Programs FAQ for eligibility requirements and member responsibilities. [1] For the parts that apply to every passenger, see passport validity and entry check and advance passenger information.
In the United States the umbrella is DHS's Trusted Traveler Programs, and the department names five schemes under it: TSA PreCheck®, Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI and FAST. [1] DHS says the group can help move travellers through the line at the airport or port of entry, and it points applicants to a tool on its website for finding the right programme. [1]
The common thread in DHS's description is advance approval: it describes the outcome as modified screening for pre-approved members that improves security by making screenings more efficient. [1] DHS directs readers to its Trusted Traveler Programs FAQ for eligibility requirements and member responsibilities. [1]
Which programme helps at which stage of the journey?
The descriptions DHS publishes are not interchangeable. TSA PreCheck is the one described as speeding the security checkpoint before departure; Global Entry and SENTRI are described as speeding clearance on arrival in the United States; NEXUS covers entry to both the United States and Canada. [1]
| Programme | Stage of the journey | What the agency says it does |
|---|---|---|
| TSA PreCheck® | Airport security, before departure | Expedites traveller screening through participating TSA security checkpoints [1] |
| Global Entry | Arrival in the United States | Allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the U.S. [1] |
| NEXUS | Entering the United States and Canada | Allows pre-screened travellers expedited processing when entering the U.S. and Canada [1] |
| Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) | Arrival in the United States | Allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the U.S. [1] |
| Free and Secure Trade (FAST) | Commercial shipments from Canada and Mexico | A commercial clearance programme for known low-risk shipments entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico [1] |
DHS describes each programme separately. FAST sits apart in those descriptions, since DHS frames it around shipments rather than around a passenger's own journey. [1]
What does TSA PreCheck cost and how long does it last?
TSA says TSA PreCheck gives trusted travellers a speedier security experience in dedicated lanes across the United States, with five years of benefits for $85 or less. [2] Members can leave electronics and 3-1-1 liquids in their bag and leave on belts, light jackets and shoes. [2] TSA adds that its PreCheck lanes move faster and that about 99% of passengers wait less than 10 minutes. [2] An opt-in version, TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, is described by the agency as using only your face as ID in exclusive lanes. [2]
| Provider | New enrolment | Online renewal | In-person renewal | Active locations listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IDEMIA | $79.75 | $58.75 | $66.75 | 529 |
| Telos | $85.00 | $69.95 | $58.75 | 512 |
| CLEAR | $84.95 | $72.95 | $84.95 | 348 |
TSA also lists a CLEAR arrangement described as free* for TSA PreCheck when a traveller joins CLEAR+. It says that, after TSA PreCheck pre-enrolment or online renewal, CLEAR issues a one-time code to enrol in CLEAR+ for $134 for new enrolments or $146 for online renewals, described as the price of CLEAR+ minus the cost of TSA PreCheck; terms apply. [2]
How do you enrol and use a membership?
- Find an enrolment location and submit the initial application online, which TSA says can take as little as five minutes. [2]
- Attend an appointment or walk in, where documents are checked, fingerprints and a photo are taken, and payment is collected in about ten minutes. [2]
- Enter the Known Traveler Number (KTN) in airline reservations and travel profiles so that TSA PreCheck appears on the boarding pass. [2]
Three enrolment providers are authorised — CLEAR, IDEMIA and Telos — and TSA says that together they offer more than 1,300 enrolment locations. [2] Renewal is available online through the same providers. [2] Related term: electronic travel authorisation.
Exceptions and limits
- No guaranteed expedited screening. TSA states that it uses unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, that all travellers will be screened, and that no individual is guaranteed expedited screening. [2]
- Children. TSA says children aged 17 and under can join an adult in the TSA PreCheck lane for free. [2]
- Programme by programme. DHS points readers to its Trusted Traveler Programs FAQ for the eligibility requirements and member responsibilities attached to the schemes it lists. [1]
- Arrival versus security. Global Entry and SENTRI are described around clearance on arrival in the United States, whereas TSA PreCheck is described around security checkpoints before departure. [1]
- Commercial traffic. FAST is described by DHS as a commercial clearance programme for known low-risk shipments entering the United States from Canada and Mexico, not as an arrivals or checkpoint lane for passengers. [1]
Frequently asked questions
Does TSA PreCheck guarantee faster security screening?
No. TSA says it uses unpredictable security measures, that all travellers are screened, and that no individual is guaranteed expedited screening. [2]
How long does TSA PreCheck last and what does it cost?
TSA describes the benefit as five years for $85 or less, with fees varying by the authorised enrolment provider chosen. [2]
Can children use the TSA PreCheck lane?
Children aged 17 and under can join an adult in the TSA PreCheck lane for free, according to TSA. [2]
What is a Known Traveler Number used for?
It is the number a member enters in airline reservations and travel profiles so that TSA PreCheck appears on the boarding pass. [2]
Does Global Entry do the same thing as TSA PreCheck?
DHS describes them differently: TSA PreCheck expedites screening through participating TSA security checkpoints, while Global Entry allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travellers upon arrival in the United States. [1]
Sources
Sources accessed on 18 October 2026. SENTRI and FAST appear here only as DHS summarises them, and their eligibility rules, fees and validity are not covered; trusted traveller and registered-traveller schemes run outside the United States are also outside this page.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Trusted Traveler Programs overview, checked 18 October 2026
- Transportation Security Administration, TSA PreCheck®, checked 18 October 2026