The Best Credit Cards for Free Global Entry
The Best Credit Cards for Free Global Entry
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It has not been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any credit card issuer.
If you're a frequent international traveler, Global Entry and TSA Precheck can save you valuable time at the airport. Getting the perk at no cost with a credit card can save you money as well. Here are the best cards that offer reimbursement for Global Entry and TSA Precheck charges listed on our site. You can see the full list of cards with the benefit at the bottom of the page.
| Credit card with Global Entry reimbursement benefit | Annual fee |
|---|---|
| Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card | $95 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $550 |
| IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card | $89 |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | $550 (See Rates & Fees) |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card | $450 (See Rates & Fees) |
| United℠ Explorer Card | $0 Intro for the First Year, then $95 |
Global Entry is a TSA-sponsored program that allows you to bypass long customs lines when entering the U.S. The program also includes TSA Precheck, which lets you breeze through security. Approval into the program, which is valid for five years, is contingent on a background check and in-person interview. If you're interested in learning more about the Global Entry application process, read more below.
Top Cards with a Global Entry Credit
The best cards that provide a Global Entry credit are premium travel cards that also reward you for spending on dining and travel, spending with a specific airline (the United℠ Explorer Card), or staying at a particular hotel chain (e.g., IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card). Regardless of your credit card preference, signing up for Global Entry and TSA Precheck will make your experience at the airport significantly more pleasant.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Great Travel and Dining Rewards
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- On Chase's Secure Website
$550
16.99%-23.99% Variable
Excellent
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year
- 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. $0 foreign transaction fees.
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select
- Up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- One Year Complimentary Lyft Pink ($199 minimum value). Complimentary DashPass subscription from DoorDash after activating by 12/31/21.
Our Thoughts
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is the most versatile and rewarding credit card that comes with a Global Entry reimbursement. This card is often heralded as the best travel rewards card with good reason: in addition to the $100 Global Entry credit, it comes with a $300 annual travel credit, earns 3 points per dollar spent on dining and travel (after using the travel credit) and comes with a free Priority Pass membership.
Like most of the other cards on this list, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® provides a $100 credit that can be applied once every four years. It can be used on either Global Entry, which costs the full $100, or TSA Precheck, which costs $85.
How the benefit works: Once you charge the Global Entry purchase to your Chase Sapphire Reserve®, a credit for the $100 application fee will appear on your statement within 24 hours.
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card: Excellent for Everyday Spending
Our Thoughts
The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is a great choice for global travelers who have a lower spending profile or who don't want to shell out $500 in credit card fees. Compared to the other cards on this list, the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card has better general spending rewards and decently competitive welcome bonus: 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and ability to enjoy a one-time bonus of 50,000 miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $500 in travel.
The Global Entry and TSA Precheck benefit on the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card is similar to what is offered by the other cards on the list: an $85 or $100 fee reimbursement.
How the benefit works: Submit your Global Entry application and charge the $100 fee to your Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card. Within two statement cycles, a credit for the purchase will appear on your statement.
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card: Free Hotel Stays and Elite Status
Our Thoughts
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card gives up to a $100 fee credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry once every four years. If you're a frequent traveler who stays at IHG properties when on the road, the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card is a decent choice for getting free Global Entry.
You'll be rewarded more for general spending and non-IHG travel expenses by other cards on this list, like the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card and The Platinum Card® from American Express. However, the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card can earn you free hotel stays and Platinum Elite IHG status, which is great for travelers who frequently stay at InterContinental hotels and other IHG properties.
And there’s a good sign-up bonus: Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
How the benefit works: Charge the Global Entry application fee to the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card. A statement credit will appear on your account within 24 hours of the purchase being charged to the credit card.
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Luxury Perks for High Spenders
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.
- On American Express' Secure Website
$550
See Pay Over Time APR
Excellent/Good
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.
- Enjoy VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.
- 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- Enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,000 properties. Learn More.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Our Thoughts
For those who have substantial travel expenses, The Platinum Card® from American Express is the best card that comes with a Global Entry credit. The card has an industry-leading $550 annual fee, but it also has the highest rewards rate on flights and hotel spending if you book through the American Express travel portal or directly with airlines. You'll also have access to Amex's Global Lounge Collection at airports across the world.
It's important to note that this card is only worth it for luxury-seeking travelers who fly frequently and spend liberally. If you're looking to get a card with a Global Entry credit and don't care about luxury perks, there are cheaper options on our best picks list, like the Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card and the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card. There are even some no-annual-fee options on the full list below.
How the benefit works: Pay for the $100 Global Entry application fee with The Platinum Card® from American Express. A statement credit will appear on your account within eight weeks of the purchase date.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card: Competitive Rewards on a Premium Hotel Card
Our Thoughts
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card is a solid premium card for travelers who frequently stay at Marriott properties. In addition to the $100 Global Entry application fee credit, the card will also get you up to a $300 Marriott hotel credit and a free annual hotel stay.
Unlike the other co-branded hotel card on this list, like the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card has competitive spending rewards on travel and dining. If you're looking for other travel perks in addition to free Global Entry, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card should be on your short list.
How the benefit works: After paying your Global Entry application fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, a statement credit will post to your account within eight weeks. Amex takes a bit longer to post statement credits in order to confirm that transaction data is reliable.
United℠ Explorer Card: A Solid Co-Branded Airline Card
Our Thoughts
If you're a loyal United customer, or if you tend to take international flights on one of the airline's Star Alliance partners, the United℠ Explorer Card is a good choice if you want to get reimbursed for Global Entry. Every dollar spent with United will get you 2 miles, which can be redeemed for flights on Star Alliance carriers, including Air China, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines.
If you're not a United loyalist or frequent Star Alliance traveler, one of the general rewards cards on this list will better suit your Global Entry reimbursement and other travel needs.
How the benefit works: Use your United℠ Explorer Card to pay for your Global Entry application. A $100 statement credit will be posted to your account within 24 hours.
What Is Global Entry?
Global Entry is a program sponsored by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that allows trusted travelers to re-enter the U.S. with expedited clearance at customs after traveling abroad. TSA Precheck gives pre-approved travelers access to an expedited security line at the airport. Admission to either program is good for five years and requires an in-person interview and background check.
Global Entry vs. TSA Precheck
Global Entry is best for international travelers who want to avoid spending their valuable time waiting in customs lines upon returning to the U.S. As a Global Entry member, the process for re-entering the U.S. is simple: go to a designated Global Entry kiosk at the airport, present your passport or permanent resident card and scan your fingerprints. You'll then be given a transaction receipt and directed toward the airport exit. Program membership—which is $100 and is valid for five years—also includes the TSA Precheck benefit.
| Global Entry | TSA Precheck |
|---|---|
|
|
In comparison, TSA Precheck is designed to help both domestic and international travelers reduce the time they spend waiting in airport security lines. Members of the program get access to a special expedited security lane and can go through airport security without removing their shoes, laptops, liquids, belts and light jackets. TSA Precheck membership does not include access to the privileges of Global Entry when traveling internationally. To be a member, you must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national or a Canadian citizen enrolled in NEXUS.
Note that you don't have to be a U.S. citizen to be a member of the Global Entry program. Membership is also open to citizens of 11 other countries, which include: Argentina, Colombia, Germany, India, Mexico, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
In addition, the CBP has international arrangements that allow Global Entry members to get expedited entry into 14 countries other than the U.S.:
- Argentina
- Australia
- Canada
- Colombia
- Germany
- India
- Mexico
- New Zealand
- Panama
- Republic of Korea
- Singapore
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United Kingdom
How to Use Global Entry
After you're approved as a Global Entry member, you'll be able to take advantage of the program every time you return to the U.S. for the next five years. To use the benefit and skip the customs line, all you need to do is find a Global Entry kiosk in the customs area and scan your fingerprints and passports. You'll then be asked to declare the goods and cash that you're bringing back into the country.
If you're carrying more than $10,000 in cash, or if your goods exceed the personal exemption amount, you'll have to wait in the regular inspection lane. Otherwise, you can confirm your flight information at the kiosk, take your receipt and show it to the CBP officer at the exit as you leave customs.
How to Use TSA Precheck
The first step to using TSA Precheck is to add your Known Traveler Number (KTN) to your reservation when you buy your ticket. This will put a Precheck indicator on your boarding pass and another special indicator in the barcode. After a TSA agent scans your pass at the first checkpoint, they'll direct you toward the expedited Precheck line. You can then go through security without removing your belt, shoes, laptop, liquids or light jacket.
To use TSA Precheck, you need to be flying on an airline that participates in the program. All of the major U.S. airlines currently take part in the program, and you can check for other airlines on the TSA's list of participating airlines.
How to Get Global Entry and TSA Precheck
The processes for getting Global Entry and TSA Precheck are simple and relatively similar. Both require you to submit an online application, which should take about five minutes, and appear in-person for an interview. Unless you've gotten into serious legal trouble or are the subject of a government investigation, you should have no problem getting approved for either program.
Global Entry Application Process
For Global Entry, the first step is to create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account. Once your account is established, log in, submit an application for Global Entry status and pay the $100 fee. After the CBP approves your application, you should set up an appointment at a Global Entry Enrollment Center—be sure to bring all valid passports and an additional form of ID. Through a program called Enrollment on Arrival, you also have the option of doing the interview at an airport anytime you return from a trip.
In most cases, you've been pre-approved for Global Entry if you make it to the interview phase of the application process. At the interview, you can expect to be asked basic biographical questions about your criminal history, job, and travel habits. You'll also have your fingerprints taken. After this appointment, you'll likely be verified as a Global Entry member, so long as you don't have a problematic criminal record, your application information is truthful and you've been confirmed as low-risk.
TSA Precheck Application Process
To become a TSA Precheck member, you need to fill out an online application, which should take roughly five minutes to complete. Next, set up an appointment at an enrollment center. Once you attend your appointment and are approved for Precheck, you can add your Known Traveler Number (KTN) to future ticket reservations and enjoy the benefits of expedited security.
Note that the appointment/interview for TSA Precheck is similar to the one for Global Entry. You'll be asked basic questions about yourself and have your fingerprints taken. If your criminal record is clean, there should be no problems. In total, the interview should take no longer than 10 to 15 minutes.
How Long Does It Take to be Approved for Global Entry and TSA Precheck?
For TSA Precheck, the application process should take no longer than a month. After submitting your application online, the TSA will take two to three weeks to review your documents. Once you're pre-approved, you'll go into an enrollment center for a quick background check and fingerprint scan. You'll be officially registered as a TSA Precheck member after this appointment.
For Global Entry, the CBP usually processes applications in three to four weeks. If you applied through the Trusted Traveler Program website, you can check on the status of your application on your dashboard. If the status reads "Pending Review," your application has been received by the CBP and is being processed. Once your status is updated to "Conditionally Approved," you'll receive a notification to schedule an appointment at an enrollment center.
Are Global Entry and TSA Precheck Worth It?
Both Global Entry and TSA Precheck are useful programs, but Global Entry is the better choice if you're deciding between the two—it's only $15 more ($100 rather than $85), and it gets you expedited customs clearance plus the expedited security access of TSA Precheck. Even if your international travel is infrequent, the small premium for Global Entry will save you both time and frustration when you do travel internationally. And if you don't want to pay this fee out of pocket, consider one of the cards on this list.
If you don't want to open a credit card, or if you don't travel internationally very often, you may be debating whether skipping the customs line is worth $100. First, consider that the Global Entry benefit is good for five years, so you're essentially paying $20 per year. And second, consider the fact that you could be waiting more than two hours to get through customs on any given afternoon, especially at a busier airport.
Full List of Credit Cards with Free Global Entry
The cards listed above are the best overall credit cards that also have a Global Entry credit. However, there are other cards that offer the Global Entry and TSA Precheck benefit that might work better for your travel needs and spending habits. Each card offers the benefit once every four to five years. Here's the list of all the widely available cards that we came across in our search.
| Card | Benefit |
|---|---|
| AAdvantage® Aviator™ Silver World Elite Mastercard® | Every 5 years |
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Visa® credit card | Every 4 years |
| Barclays Arrival® Premier World Elite Mastercard® | Every 5 years |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | Every 4 years |
| Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card | Every 4 years |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Every 4 years |
| Citi Prestige® Card | Every 5 years |
| Expedia®+ Voyager Card from Citi | Every year |
| IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card | Every 4 years |
| Mastercard® Gold Card™ | Every 4 years |
| PenFed Pathfinder Rewards American Express Card | Every year |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | Every 4 years |
| Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card | Every 4 years |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card | Every 4 years |
| United℠ Explorer Business Card | Every 4 years |
| U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve | Every 4 years |
| U.S. Bank FlexPerks® Gold American Express® Card | Every 5 years |
The information related to the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card, Citi Prestige® Card, IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card has been independently collected by ValuePenguin and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply to American Express credit card offers. See americanexpress.com for more information.
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How We Calculate Rewards: ValuePenguin calculates the value of rewards by estimating the dollar value of any points, miles or bonuses earned using the card less any associated annual fees. These estimates here are ValuePenguin's alone, not those of the card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer.