How to Get TSA PreCheck: Cost, Steps and Renewal

8 min read

Last updated November 9, 2026

To get TSA PreCheck, apply online, then visit an enrollment center for fingerprints, a photo and a document check. Once approved, you get a Known Traveler Number to add to your airline bookings.

Enrollment costs between $77.95 and $85, depending on the provider, and membership lasts five years. This guide explains each step, who qualifies, how renewal works and whether it is worth the money.

Key Takeaways

TSA PreCheck is a program from the Transportation Security Administration for faster airport screening.
You apply online and finish with a short in-person visit.
Enrollment costs $77.95 to $85, and renewal costs less.
Members usually keep belts and light jackets on and laptops in their bags.
Kids 17 and under can join a member when PreCheck shows on their boarding pass.

Inside this guide

What TSA PreCheck is
Who can apply
How much it costs
How to apply step by step
Using your Known Traveler Number
Rules for kids
How to renew
Is it worth it?
Frequently asked questions

What TSA PreCheck Is

TSA PreCheck is a trusted traveler program for flights that depart from airports in the United States. The security agency checks your background ahead of time, so screening at the airport goes faster.

Members use special PreCheck lanes. In most cases, you keep on your belt and light jacket. Laptops and allowed liquids can stay in your bag.

Since July 2025, the agency no longer asks most travelers in any lane to remove their shoes. So the biggest PreCheck perks today are shorter lines and fewer items to unpack.

PreCheck does not guarantee you will always get the fast lane. Random screening can still apply on any trip.

5 yearsHow long a TSA PreCheck membership lasts before renewal, per Telos, an official enrollment provider.

Who Can Apply

PreCheck is open to citizens and nationals of the United States and to lawful permanent residents. You will need documents that prove your identity and status.

A valid passport from the United States, or
A driver’s license plus a birth certificate or other accepted document
A permanent resident card for green card holders

Check the accepted document list on the official PreCheck page before your appointment. Bring originals, not photocopies.

Certain criminal offenses or false information on the application can lead to denial.

How Much It Costs

The agency now works with several enrollment providers, and each sets its own price. The official PreCheck site lists these current enrollment fees.

Provider	New enrollment fee
CLEAR	$77.95
IDEMIA	$78
Telos	$85

Renewal costs $68.95 to $78, depending on the provider and whether you renew online or in person. Telos lists an online renewal price of $69.95.

Providers do not refund the fee, even if the agency denies your application. Spread over five years, it works out to roughly $16 to $17 a year.

Quick tip. Many travel credit cards and some loyalty programs repay the PreCheck fee. Check your card benefits before you pay.

How to Apply Step by Step

Go to the official PreCheck website and choose a provider.
Fill in the online application, which takes about five minutes.
Book an appointment at an enrollment center, or walk in where allowed.
Bring your identity and citizenship documents.
Give fingerprints, have your photo taken and pay the fee.
Wait for approval and your Known Traveler Number.

The official site says the in-person visit takes about 10 minutes. CLEAR locations do not require an appointment.

Approval often arrives within a few days, though Telos notes some applications can take up to 60 days. Apply well before a big trip.

Good to know. Use only the official site or a provider it links to. Some look-alike sites charge extra fees for the same application.

Do you have TSA PreCheck?

Yes, and I love it
No, but I plan to apply
No, I rarely fly
Not sure

Using Your Known Traveler Number

Your Known Traveler Number is the key to the program. Without it on your booking, you will not get the PreCheck lane.

Add the number to every airline reservation.
Save it in your airline frequent flyer profiles so it fills in automatically.
Make sure your name and birth date match your application exactly.
Check that PreCheck appears on your boarding pass before you reach security.

If you forget your number, the official site offers a lookup tool. If PreCheck is missing from your pass, ask the airline to check your details.

PreCheck works with many airlines and at more than 200 airports, according to Telos. Look for the PreCheck sign at the security checkpoint.

Rules for Kids

Children 17 and under can go through the PreCheck lane with a member parent or guardian. The PreCheck indicator must appear on the child’s boarding pass.

Make sure the child is on the same booking as the member adult. If the indicator is missing, the child goes through regular screening.

Traveling as a family this winter? Our guide to traveling with kids covers flights and car seats.

How to Renew

Your membership lasts five years. Many members can renew online without another fingerprint visit.

Start the renewal a few months before your membership ends.
Choose a provider and confirm your details.
Pay the renewal fee, which is lower than the first enrollment.
Keep the same Known Traveler Number after renewal.

If your name changed or your documents expired, you may need an in-person visit. Check the renewal page for your situation.

What Happens at the Airport

On travel day, look for the PreCheck lane at your checkpoint. Show your boarding pass and identification to the officer as usual.

You place your bag and any metal items on the belt, then walk through the scanner. The whole process often takes just a few minutes.

Some smaller airports or early morning flights may not have a PreCheck lane open. In that case, you go through the regular lane and follow its rules for laptops and liquids.

Before any flight, make sure your ID is accepted. Our guide has REAL ID explained in plain terms.

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Common Application Mistakes

Using a name that differs from your identity documents
Forgetting to bring original citizenship documents
Applying through a look-alike website that adds fees
Leaving the Known Traveler Number off airline bookings
Letting the membership expire before a big trip

Double-check every detail before you submit. A small typo in your name or birth date can stop PreCheck from showing on your boarding pass.

TSA PreCheck vs Global Entry vs CLEAR

Program	What it does	Best for
TSA PreCheck	Faster security screening on U.S. departures	Mostly domestic travelers
Global Entry	Faster customs on return to the U.S., plus PreCheck benefits	Frequent international travelers
CLEAR Plus	Identity check with eyes or fingerprints before screening	Busy airports where it operates

Global Entry includes PreCheck benefits but costs more and requires an interview. CLEAR Plus is a private service that speeds up identity checks, and many people use it alongside PreCheck.

Is TSA PreCheck Worth It?

For many travelers, yes. If you fly two or three times a year, the time saved can easily justify about $17 a year.

Shorter, faster lines at most airports
Belts and light jackets stay on
Laptops and allowed liquids stay in your bag
Less stress on busy holiday travel days

It is less useful if you rarely fly or mostly travel abroad from other countries. In that case, Global Entry or nothing at all may make more sense.

Business travelers who fly monthly gain the most. Families who fly once a year for the holidays may still find the shorter lines worth it. Do the math for your own trips.

Flying during the holiday rush? See the busiest Thanksgiving travel days to plan around crowds.