NEXUS, Global Entry, and TSA PreCheck: How to Speed Through Immigration - and Which Credit Cards Pay for It

NEXUS ($120 for five years) covers US-Canada border crossings plus includes Global Entry benefits, Global Entry ($120) speeds you through US customs on international arrivals, and TSA PreCheck ($77 to $85) gets you a faster domestic security line, and the right credit card reimburses the entire fee. Choosing the right program depends on where you travel, which borders you cross, and whether you already hold a card that covers the cost.

Standing in a customs line at Pearson or JFK after a long international flight is one of those travel experiences that feels entirely unnecessary once you have used the alternative. Walking up to a kiosk, scanning your fingerprints, and being through immigration in under two minutes changes the entire arrival experience. Here is how each program works, what the application process looks like, and how to get your fee covered.

TSA PreCheck: The Domestic Speed Pass

TSA PreCheck is the simplest of the three programs. It gives you access to a dedicated security screening line at 200-plus US airports where you keep your shoes on, your laptop in your bag, your belt buckled, and your liquids packed. The line is almost always shorter than the standard screening queue, and the process itself is faster because you are not unpacking half your carry-on.

Key Details

• Cost: $77 to $85 depending on the enrollment provider (IDEMIA, CLEAR, or Telos). Membership lasts five years.
• Renewal: $59 to $70 depending on provider and whether you renew online or in person.
• Application process: Apply online through the TSA website, then schedule an in-person appointment at an enrollment center for fingerprinting and identity verification. The appointment takes about 10 minutes.
• Processing time: Most applications are approved within 3 to 5 days. Some take longer if additional review is needed.
• Coverage: Domestic US flights only. Does not help with international arrivals or border crossings.

TSA PreCheck is the entry-level program. If you only fly domestically within the US and never cross international borders, it is all you need. But if you take even one or two international trips a year, Global Entry is the better choice because it includes TSA PreCheck as a built-in benefit.

Global Entry: International Arrivals Made Painless

Global Entry is a US Customs and Border Protection program that lets approved travelers use automated kiosks when arriving in the United States from abroad. Instead of waiting in the standard immigration line, which can easily stretch to 45 minutes or more during peak times, you walk to a Global Entry kiosk, scan your passport or permanent resident card, place your fingerprints on the scanner, answer a few customs declaration questions on the screen, and walk through. Total time: typically under two minutes.

Key Details

• Cost: $120 for five years (increased from $100 in October 2024).
• Includes TSA PreCheck: Every Global Entry member automatically gets TSA PreCheck. You do not need to apply separately.
• Application process: Apply online through the Trusted Traveler Programs website, wait for conditional approval, then complete an in-person interview at a Global Entry enrollment center (usually located at major international airports). Interviews are about 15 minutes.
• Processing time: Conditional approval can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Interview availability varies by location, and some airports have long waits for appointments.
• Enrollment on Arrival: If you are conditionally approved, some airports allow you to complete your interview upon arriving from an international trip instead of scheduling a separate appointment. This can save weeks of waiting.

Global Entry is the sweet spot for most US-based international travelers. You get both the customs fast lane and TSA PreCheck for $120, only $35 to $43 more than TSA PreCheck alone, and you get five years of skipping immigration lines.

NEXUS: The Canada-US Power Card

NEXUS is a joint program between US Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency. It is designed for travelers who frequently cross the US-Canada border, but its benefits extend well beyond that. NEXUS is arguably the best deal in trusted traveler programs, and not enough people know about it.

Key Details

• Cost: $120 for five years (increased from $50 in October 2024).
• Includes Global Entry and TSA PreCheck: NEXUS members get Global Entry kiosk access when entering the US and TSA PreCheck for domestic flights. Three programs for the price of one.
• NEXUS lanes at Canadian airports: Dedicated NEXUS lanes for security screening at major Canadian airports including Toronto Pearson, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Ottawa. These lanes are often faster than even CATSA's regular expedited screening.
• Land border crossings: Dedicated NEXUS lanes at land border crossings between the US and Canada. During peak times at crossings like the Peace Bridge or Ambassador Bridge, this can save an hour or more.
• Marine reporting: NEXUS covers private boat crossings between the US and Canada.
• Eligibility: Open to citizens and permanent residents of both the US and Canada. You must be admissible to both countries.
• Application process: Apply online, receive conditional approval, then attend an in-person interview. The interview must be conducted at a NEXUS enrollment center (located at certain border crossings and airports), and since it is a joint program, you are interviewed by officers from both countries.

The catch with NEXUS has historically been interview availability. The program suspended new interviews during the pandemic and built up a massive backlog. Wait times have improved significantly since then, but scheduling an interview at a convenient location can still require planning ahead. Check the Trusted Traveler Programs website regularly for appointment openings, as they get added frequently.

If you are a Canadian traveler or a US traveler who visits Canada even occasionally, NEXUS is the clear winner. For $120 you get NEXUS lanes in Canada, Global Entry in the US, and TSA PreCheck domestically. At Toronto Pearson and Vancouver, the NEXUS security lanes can cut your screening time to just a few minutes.

Which Credit Cards Reimburse the Fee?

Here is the part that makes these programs essentially free for many travelers. Several premium travel credit cards offer statement credits that cover the application fee. Pay with the right card, and the charge is automatically credited back to your account.

Cards That Cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck

• American Express Platinum: Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years. Note: Amex does not reimburse NEXUS, so only Global Entry and TSA PreCheck are eligible for this credit.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Up to $120 credit every four years for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS. Chase is one of the few issuers that explicitly covers NEXUS.
• Capital One Venture X: Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (and potentially NEXUS, though availability may vary).
• Citi Strata Premier: Offers a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

Cards That Also Cover NEXUS Specifically

• Chase Sapphire Reserve: Confirmed NEXUS coverage.
• Chase United Explorer Card: Covers NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck.
• Chase United Club Card: Covers NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck.
• Chase IHG One Rewards Premier: Covers NEXUS, Global Entry, or TSA PreCheck.

The important distinction: not all cards that reimburse Global Entry also reimburse NEXUS. If NEXUS is your target, verify with the card issuer that the NEXUS application fee specifically triggers the statement credit. Chase cards have the broadest NEXUS coverage; Amex cards generally do not cover NEXUS.

Which Program Should You Choose?

The decision tree is straightforward:

• US domestic travel only: TSA PreCheck is sufficient. It is the cheapest option and solves the security line problem.
• International travel (no Canada focus): Global Entry. You get TSA PreCheck included, plus expedited customs on every international arrival.
• Any Canada-US travel: NEXUS. For the same $120 as Global Entry, you get all of Global Entry's benefits plus NEXUS lanes at Canadian airports and land borders. Even if you only visit Canada once a year, the dedicated security lanes and customs processing at airports like Calgary and Montreal make it worthwhile.

Pair any of these programs with a travel credit card that reimburses the fee and you are paying nothing out of pocket. Add Priority Pass lounge access from the same card, and your entire airport experience, from security to immigration to pre-flight relaxation, is transformed.

Arriving at the airport with trusted traveler status and a lounge to settle into is a fundamentally different experience from shuffling through standard lines. Once you have it, you will wonder why you waited so long. Check out our travel guides for more strategies to make every trip smoother.

Information is reviewed periodically and may change. Application fees, credit card reimbursement policies, and program benefits are subject to change. Always verify current details with the program website and your card issuer before applying.