Several major credit cards reimburse the TSA PreCheck process fee, but the card must be in your name and active when you submit your process
TSA PreCheck costs $78 to $85 depending on your location and processing method. A handful of credit cards — mostly premium travel cards and some business cards — will reimburse this fee as a cardholder benefit. The reimbursement typically appears as a statement credit within 1 to 3 months after you pay the TSA PreCheck fee directly to the TSA.
The catch is that you must charge the fee to the specific card offering the benefit, and the card must be open and in good standing when you explore. Some cards require you to use their travel portal or a specific payment method; others reimburse any TSA PreCheck charge automatically. A few cards reimburse TSA PreCheck only once per year or once per card membership.
Key Takeaways
- Cards that reimburse TSA PreCheck include the Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, American Express Platinum, and several others, but the list changes and varies by card issuer.
- You must pay the TSA PreCheck fee directly to the TSA using the card that offers the benefit — paying through a third party or travel agent may not trigger the reimbursement.
- The reimbursement is a statement credit, not a refund, so you still pay the fee upfront and wait for the credit to post.
- Some cards limit the reimbursement to once per year or once per membership, so check your card's terms before assuming a second process will be covered.
Cards that commonly offer TSA PreCheck reimbursement
Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred both reimburse TSA PreCheck or Global Entry (a similar program for international travelers) once per year. The reimbursement applies to either program, so you can use it for TSA PreCheck one year and Global Entry another, but not both in the same year.
American Express Platinum reimburses TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS (a trusted traveler program for the US-Canada border) once per year. The benefit is automatic — you do not need to register or submit a claim.
American Express Business Platinum offers the same benefit as the consumer Platinum card. Capital One Venture X also reimburses TSA PreCheck or Global Entry once per year.
Other cards that have offered this benefit in the past include the Citi Prestige, United Airlines cards, and some American Airlines cards, but benefits change frequently. Check your card's current benefits guide or call the card issuer directly to confirm whether TSA PreCheck reimbursement is still included.
How to claim the reimbursement
First, confirm that your card currently offers TSA PreCheck reimbursement. Log into your card's online account or call the customer service number on the back of your card and ask whether the benefit is active on your account. Some cards require you to have held the card for a certain period or to have paid an annual fee before the benefit kicks in.
Next, go to the official TSA PreCheck website (tsa.gov/precheck) and pay the process fee directly to the TSA using your card. Do not pay through a travel agent, a third-party booking site, or any other intermediary — the reimbursement typically only works when you pay the TSA directly. You will receive a confirmation email with your process receipt.
After you pay, keep your receipt. The statement credit usually posts within 1 to 3 months, but it can take longer. If the credit does not appear after 90 days, contact your card issuer's customer service and provide your TSA PreCheck receipt and the date you paid.
What happens if your card does not offer reimbursement
If you do not have a card that reimburses TSA PreCheck, you have a few options. You can open a new card that offers the benefit, but remember that you will pay the annual fee (usually $95 to $550) and may need to meet a minimum spending requirement. For many people, the annual fee is higher than the TSA PreCheck cost, so the reimbursement alone does not make the card worth it.
Alternatively, you can straightforward pay the TSA PreCheck fee out of pocket. At $78 to $85, it is a one-time cost (the benefit lasts five years), and the convenience of faster airport screening may be worth it to you regardless of whether a card covers it.
Some employers also reimburse TSA PreCheck as a travel benefit. Check with your company's human resources or travel department to see whether they cover the cost.
Global Entry as an alternative
Global Entry is a separate program run by US Customs and Border Protection that includes TSA PreCheck as a benefit. It costs $100 and lasts five years. If you travel internationally even occasionally, Global Entry may be worth the extra cost because it speeds up customs screening when you return to the United States.
Many of the same cards that reimburse TSA PreCheck also reimburse Global Entry — Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, American Express Platinum, and Capital One Venture X all cover it. Since Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck automatically, you get both benefits for the price of one reimbursement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use someone else's credit card to pay for TSA PreCheck and get reimbursed on their card?
No. The card used to pay the TSA PreCheck fee must be in your name, and the reimbursement goes to that cardholder's account. You cannot use a spouse's card or a family member's card and expect the benefit to work.
What if I pay the TSA PreCheck fee with one card and then switch to a different card that offers reimbursement?
The reimbursement will not work. You must pay the fee with the card that offers the benefit at the time you make the payment. Switching cards after the fact does not trigger a retroactive reimbursement.
Does the reimbursement cover the TSA PreCheck renewal fee?
Yes, most cards that offer TSA PreCheck reimbursement cover both the initial process and the renewal. However, some cards limit the benefit to once per year or once per membership, so check your card's terms to confirm the renewal is covered.
How long does it take to get the statement credit after I pay for TSA PreCheck?
Most cards post the credit within 1 to 3 months, but some take up to 90 days or longer. Check your card's benefits guide for the specific timeline, and keep your TSA PreCheck receipt in case you need to contact the card issuer to follow up.