- Global Entry costs $120 for 5 years and includes TSA PreCheck. PreCheck alone is $78.
- Cards that reimburse it every 4 years: Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X and Venture, Bank of America Premium Rewards, U.S. Bank Altitude Connect.
- The credit posts automatically when you pay the application fee with the card.
- Verdict: if you hold one of these cards, get Global Entry, not just PreCheck. It is effectively free and covers customs too.
Global Entry speeds you through US customs and includes TSA PreCheck for domestic security, and if you carry the right credit card, you never actually pay for it. Several travel cards reimburse the application fee as a statement credit. Below is every major card that covers Global Entry, exactly how the credit works, and whether Global Entry or TSA PreCheck is the smarter pick.
What Global Entry costs and what you get
In 2026, a five-year Global Entry membership costs $120, and it bundles in TSA PreCheck at no extra charge. TSA PreCheck bought on its own is $78 for five years. That $42 gap is the whole reason Global Entry is usually the better buy: for a little more, you get everything PreCheck offers plus expedited customs when you fly back into the US.
| Program | Cost (5 yrs) | What it speeds up |
|---|---|---|
| Global Entry | $120 | US customs on arrival + includes TSA PreCheck |
| TSA PreCheck | $78 | Domestic airport security only |
The credit cards that cover Global Entry
Here are the main US cards that reimburse the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, with what each covers. All of them post the credit once every four years.
| Card | Credit | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|
| Amex Platinum | Up to $120 GE / $85 PreCheck | $895 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | Up to $120 | $795 |
| Capital One Venture X | Up to $120 | $395 |
| Capital One Venture Rewards | Up to $120 | $95 |
| Bank of America Premium Rewards | Up to $100 | $95 |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Connect | Up to $100 | $0 |
Two takeaways. First, the credit alone should never be your reason to pay a big annual fee: on the Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve it is a nice extra worth about $24 a year (a $120 credit spread over five years), not a headline. Second, if all you want is the reimbursement, a low-fee card like the Capital One Venture ($95) or a no-fee card like the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect does the job for far less. Always confirm the current terms on the issuer’s site before you apply, since fees and credit amounts change.
How the credit works
Pay with the eligible card
Apply or renew at the official Global Entry or TSA PreCheck site and pay the application fee with a card that offers the credit. The credit is tied to the card, so make sure you use the right one.
Wait for the automatic statement credit
There is no coupon or code. The issuer detects the charge and posts a statement credit automatically, usually within a few days to a couple of billing cycles. If it does not appear, contact the card issuer.
Reuse it every four years
Most cards allow the credit once every four years per card, even though membership lasts five. If you hold two eligible cards, you can often cover yourself with one and a family member with the other, since the benefit follows the card, not the person.
Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck: which should you get?
If you ever fly internationally, get Global Entry. It includes TSA PreCheck, so you get faster domestic security anyway, plus you skip the customs line when you land back in the US. The only reason to choose TSA PreCheck alone is if you never travel abroad and your card only reimburses the smaller PreCheck fee. Since most of the cards above cover the full $120, there is rarely a good reason to leave Global Entry on the table.
Weighing a premium card mostly for perks like this? The Global Entry credit is a small piece of a much bigger picture. Run the full value in our free credit card worth it calculator, and see our verdict on whether the Amex Platinum is worth it or how it stacks up against the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which credit cards pay for Global Entry?
How much does Global Entry cost in 2026?
How does the Global Entry credit work?
Is Global Entry or TSA PreCheck better?
How often can I get the Global Entry credit reimbursed?
Does the Amex Platinum cover Global Entry?
If you already carry a travel card like the Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or a Capital One Venture, Global Entry is effectively free: pay the $120 with the card and the credit comes back automatically. Just do not pay a big annual fee for the credit alone, it is worth only about $24 a year. Get Global Entry over plain TSA PreCheck since it includes PreCheck and covers customs too, and use the calculator if you are weighing the whole card.
Sources
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Global Entry program and fees: cbp.gov
- American Express, Global Entry / TSA PreCheck application fee credit: americanexpress.com
- Card credit amounts and fees verified against issuer terms as of August 2026. Confirm current terms with each issuer before applying.
Last updated August 2026. We update this article when Amex Platinum Card benefits or annual fee change. See our affiliate disclosure, terms, and privacy policy.