Learn About TSA PreCheck Application Steps

What TSA PreCheck Is and How It Works

TSA PreCheck is a program run by the Transportation Security Administration that allows certain travelers to move through airport security checkpoints more quickly. When you participate in TSA PreCheck, you go through a separate, streamlined security line at participating U.S. airports. As of 2024, TSA PreCheck is available at over 200 airports across the United States.

The program operates by vetting participants in advance. This means the TSA reviews background information about you before you travel. If you're enrolled, you receive a Known Traveler Number (KTN). You then provide this number when booking flights. The airlines and TSA use this number to identify you as a PreCheck member.

In the PreCheck security lane, you experience several differences from standard security screening. You can leave your shoes, belts, and light jackets on. Laptops and liquids stay in your carry-on bag instead of being removed. These differences save time because security officers have already conducted background reviews on PreCheck members.

TSA PreCheck typically costs $78 to $85 for a five-year membership, depending on how you submit your information. This breaks down to roughly $16 to $17 per year. Some people recoup this cost in savings after just a few round-trip flights by avoiding delays and spending less time at security.

The program also includes expedited security screening at some cruise ports and benefits when entering the United States at certain locations. TSA PreCheck membership does not guarantee you will never be selected for additional screening, but it significantly reduces the likelihood.

Practical Takeaway: Understanding that TSA PreCheck operates as a pre-vetting system helps you know what to expect. The program relies on background review rather than in-airport decisions about your trustworthiness.

Who May Participate in TSA PreCheck

TSA PreCheck is open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. U.S. citizens include people born in the United States, people who have been naturalized, and certain people born abroad to U.S. citizen parents. Lawful permanent residents are people who hold a valid green card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The TSA maintains certain standards for who can participate. People with certain criminal convictions are prohibited from joining. These include felony convictions for crimes of violence, drug trafficking, or crimes involving fraud. People with outstanding warrants or unresolved criminal charges typically cannot participate. The TSA also looks at your security history, including any violations of TSA rules or federal aviation regulations.

The program does not have an age minimum. Children as young as infants can be part of a parent or guardian's TSA PreCheck membership. However, children typically need their own Known Traveler Number to receive the security benefits. Some families choose to enroll children because it simplifies family travel through security.

TSA PreCheck is also open to military members, federal employees, and other groups in certain circumstances. Some uniformed service members and Department of Defense civilians may receive expedited processing or reduced enrollment costs. Frequent international travelers may also consider other TSA programs like Global Entry or NEXUS, which include TSA PreCheck benefits as part of their membership.

Immigration status matters for participation. If you are on a temporary visa, such as an H-1B work visa or student visa, you generally cannot participate in TSA PreCheck. Your immigration status must allow you to be in the United States for at least the length of the membership period.

Practical Takeaway: Check your citizenship or permanent resident status and review whether any criminal history might affect your participation before moving forward with learning about the enrollment process.

Steps for Submitting Your Information

The TSA PreCheck enrollment process begins with creating an account on the official TSA PreCheck website. You will need a valid email address to set up this account. During account creation, you establish a username and password that you will use to return to your enrollment information later.

Once your account is created, you complete an online form with personal information. This form asks for your full legal name, date of birth, addresses where you have lived in the past five years, and government-issued identification numbers. You will provide your Social Security Number and driver's license or passport information. The TSA uses this information to conduct background checks.

The form also includes questions about your citizenship, immigration status, and whether you have any criminal history. These are not trick questions—the TSA conducts background checks through multiple government databases regardless of your answers. Providing accurate information prevents delays and complications later in the process.

After completing the online form, the TSA directs you to schedule an in-person appointment. This appointment takes place at one of hundreds of enrollment centers located throughout the United States. These centers are housed in airports, government offices, and private facilities that partner with TSA PreCheck. You choose a date and time that works for your schedule from available openings in your area.

During the online form process, you will also arrange payment for your membership. The standard cost is $78 to $85 depending on the payment method and provider. Some enrollment centers accept different payment types, so you may have options like credit card, debit card, or check. Payment is non-refundable, even if you decide not to complete your in-person appointment.

After submitting your online form and scheduling your appointment, you will receive a confirmation email. This email contains important information about what to bring to your in-person appointment and what to expect. Many people print this confirmation email or save it to their phone to reference before their appointment.

Practical Takeaway: Gather your government-issued identification and Social Security Number before starting the online form. Having this information ready makes the process faster and reduces the chance of errors that could delay your appointment.

What Happens During Your In-Person Appointment

Your in-person appointment is a brief visit, typically lasting between 10 and 15 minutes. The appointment takes place at an enrollment center, which may be located at an airport, a government building, or a private enrollment facility. You should arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to allow time for check-in and to locate the correct office within the building.

At the appointment, a TSA official or authorized representative will verify your identity using government-issued identification. Bring the same identification you listed on your online form. Acceptable forms of identification include a current passport, driver's license, state identification card, or military identification. The representative will check that the information on your identification matches what you submitted in your online form.

The representative will take your fingerprints during this appointment. Fingerprinting allows the TSA to conduct federal background checks through the FBI and other agencies. Fingerprints are rolled onto an electronic scanner or paper card. This process takes just a few minutes. The fingerprints are used only for background checking and are not retained for other purposes after the background check is complete.

You will also review the information you provided on your online form with the representative. This gives you a chance to correct any errors or provide clarification. If you provided incorrect information on the form, the representative can note corrections. However, if you provided false information, this could result in denial of your membership request or other consequences.

The representative will also ask you questions about the information you provided. These questions might address gaps in your employment history, frequent travel to certain countries, or other details from your form. Answer these questions honestly and directly. The representative is checking that your answers are consistent and that you have not provided misleading information.

At the end of your appointment, the representative will tell you what to expect next. You will not receive your Known Traveler Number at the appointment. Instead, you will receive it after the TSA completes its background check, which typically takes between one to three weeks. You can check the status of your application through your online account.

Practical Takeaway: Bring the same government-issued identification you used when filling out your online form, and arrive early. The appointment itself is straightforward, but accuracy during the identity verification step prevents complications during background review.

What Happens After Your Appointment and Getting Your Known Traveler Number

After your in-person appointment, the TSA conducts a thorough background check. This check includes searches through federal criminal databases, immigration databases, TSA security records, and other government systems. The TSA examines your fingerprints through the FBI's fingerprint database. This process is the