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Enrollment checklist: PreCheck, Global Entry and NEXUS, step by step
Pick your program and route: tick each step as you go. The ticks stay on your device and are never sent.
Enrollment and interview checklist
TSA PreCheck, first enrollment
0 of 9 done
Next: Pick one of the three providers listed on tsa.gov. IDEMIA, Telos or CLEAR, from $79.75 for five years. Only addresses ending in .gov (tsaenrollmentby…tsa.dhs.gov) are official.
You apply, pay and book interviews only on tsa.gov provider sites and ttp.dhs.gov. This site takes no application and keeps none of your ticks once you leave the page.
Enrolling takes two stages for every program: an application online, then a visit in person. For TSA PreCheck, the online part takes about 5 minutes on the site of one of the three providers, then a visit of about 10 minutes at one of more than 1,300 enrollment locations, where fingerprints and a photo are taken and the fee is paid. You bring either one document from TSA's List A, such as a US passport, or two from List B, such as a REAL ID license and a birth certificate. For Global Entry and NEXUS, you apply and pay first on ttp.dhs.gov with a login.gov account; after a background check, CBP grants conditional approval, and only then do you book the interview or use Enrollment on Arrival, with a valid passport and proof of address. CBP approves 80% of Global Entry applications within 2 weeks. The checklist above turns each route into ticked steps, with the source of each.
Is this renewal site official?
Verdict
Not an official TSA PreCheck site
| Official renewal prices | $58.75 to $84.95 |
| Official sites: tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov, tsaprecheckbytelos.tsa.dhs.gov, tsaprecheckbyclear.tsa.dhs.gov | |
TSA: a site to register for PreCheck that does not end in .gov is not official. Fraud: ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your card issuer.
Fees and rules read on tsa.gov and cbp.gov by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The four routes at a glance
| Program | Where you apply | Steps | Documents |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSA PreCheck | provider site ending in tsa.dhs.gov | about 5 min online, 10 min in person | List A, or two from List B |
| Global Entry | ttp.dhs.gov with login.gov | application, then interview after conditional approval | valid passport, proof of address, green card if any |
| NEXUS | ttp.dhs.gov with login.gov | application, two agency reviews, joint interview | passport or proof of citizenship, proof of residence |
| SENTRI | ttp.dhs.gov with login.gov | application, interview, vehicle inspection if needed | passport or proof of citizenship, vehicle papers |
Only two kinds of address are official: the three provider sites under tsa.dhs.gov for PreCheck, and ttp.dhs.gov for the CBP programs. Any site that charges more than the government fee to "help" you fill in the form is a private business, and some are outright scams. The tool below checks a renewal or application site from its address and price.
Is this renewal site official?
Verdict
Not an official TSA PreCheck site
| Official renewal prices | $58.75 to $84.95 |
| Official sites: tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa.dhs.gov, tsaprecheckbytelos.tsa.dhs.gov, tsaprecheckbyclear.tsa.dhs.gov | |
TSA: a site to register for PreCheck that does not end in .gov is not official. Fraud: ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your card issuer.
Before you start
- Use the name exactly as it appears on your documents. If your airline profiles use another form of your name, fix them now: the PreCheck indicator needs the name, date of birth and number to match.
- For Global Entry, check that your passport stays valid through the interview; bring every passport you travel on.
- For a child, a parent or legal guardian must give permission for the CBP programs and attend the interview. For PreCheck, children 17 and under usually need no membership; see the kids page.
- Decide how you will pay: a card with a fee credit makes the program free for you. The card credits page shows what each issuer covers.
Global Entry: the interview step
After conditional approval, CBP invites you to schedule an interview in your TTP account at an enrollment center, or to complete it on your return from abroad through Enrollment on Arrival, without an appointment. Two airports, Miami and Detroit, also offer Enrollment on Departure for same-day travelers. The interview page has its own checklist, with the questions to expect.
After approval
PreCheck gives you a Known Traveler Number starting with TT, TE or AC; Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI give a nine-digit PASS ID that works as KTN. Add it to each reservation and to your frequent flyer profiles, then check that the indicator appears on your next boarding pass. Note the expiration date: a renewal reminder file is on the PreCheck renewal and Global Entry renewal pages. If a step goes wrong, the Known Traveler Number page decodes the number and lists the usual causes.
If you only have a REAL ID license
For PreCheck, a REAL ID license alone is not enough: it is a List B document and needs a second one proving citizenship or status, such as a full US birth certificate. Global Entry needs a valid passport in every case. If you have neither a passport nor a birth certificate at hand, order the missing document before booking the visit.