Credit Cards That Pay for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck in 2026: Net Cost After the Credit

As of October 20, 2026, for a first-time applicant, the lowest annual fee among the ten cards we priced that carry the credit is none, on the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect: up to $100 every four years, only if the fee is charged to that card. CBP lists Global Entry at $120; TSA's lowest PreCheck provider price is $79.75.

That credit is $20 short of the Global Entry fee. Eight of the ten cards print a cap that covers the whole fee, and the lowest annual fee among them is $95, on the Capital One Venture. Bank of America Premium Rewards shares U.S. Bank's lower cap.

Financeradar data: the average annual fee across the 67 credit cards we track is $142, more than the Global Entry fee itself, and 36 of the 67 (54%) charge no annual fee (figures read between September 25 and October 20, 2026). An annual fee comes due every year, while this credit arrives once in four.

Ten cards with a Global Entry or PreCheck credit, ranked by net cost

The scenario is a first-time applicant who pays the application fee with the card. Net first-year cost is our arithmetic: the annual fee minus the credit received, limited to the fee charged and to the issuer's cap, so a minus sign means the credit is larger than the annual fee. The PreCheck column uses the lowest of the three provider prices on TSA's page. All fees and credits were read on October 20, 2026, on each issuer's page and on the CBP and TSA pages.

"Full Global Entry fee" means the issuer prints a cap of $120, the same as the CBP fee. Amex caps its PreCheck credit at $85 and every other cap is higher, so each card's PreCheck credit equals the provider price used. This is a cost-of-covering-one-fee view, not a verdict on a card: sign-up bonuses and other benefits are outside it.

How the net cost reads

Three cards come out negative for Global Entry, meaning the credit exceeds the annual fee: U.S. Bank, Capital One Venture and Bank of America Premium Rewards. From the Delta SkyMiles Platinum at $350 upward, the credit offsets only part of a year's fee, leaving $230 there and $775 on the Amex Platinum. These columns leave out the government fee you pay first, the Global Entry application fee or the lowest TSA PreCheck provider price. Add it and the first-year outlay for Global Entry is $20 on the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect, $115 on Bank of America Premium Rewards and the annual fee on the other eight; for PreCheck it equals the annual fee on every card.

The repeat window is the larger caveat. Each issuer prints the credit once per four years, but the annual fee is paid every year: four years of fees between credits come to $380 on the Capital One Venture and $3,580 on the Amex Platinum, our arithmetic. Memberships last five years, so a renewal falls after the window reopens, provided the same card is still open. Capital One requires the account to be open and in good standing when the credit posts, and Chase requires it open and not in default.

For other angles, see the credit cards hub, the best credit cards ranking, the travel credit card guide, the no-fee travel cards and the no annual fee guide.

1. U.S. Bank Altitude Connect: no annual fee, but a credit below the Global Entry fee

U.S. Bank's card page says the card has no annual fee and credits the Global Entry and/or TSA PreCheck application fee when it is paid with the card. The amount is in U.S. Bank's Guide to Benefits, which describes benefits in effect as of March 1, 2026: once every four years, at the cap in the table.

The weakness is the cap. The applicant pays the shortfall, and pays the whole fee first. U.S. Bank gives the posting time two ways, 1 to 2 billing cycles on the card page and 6 to 8 weeks in the Guide. It fits travelers who want a credit without a yearly fee and accept a partial cover.

2. Capital One Venture: the lowest fee of the eight that cover the whole Global Entry fee

Capital One's Venture page lists the annual fee and a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck whose cap equals the Global Entry fee. Its footnote allows one credit per account every 4 years, for whichever fee is charged to the card first, posted within 2 billing cycles.

The weakness is timing. The credit pays the fee once, and the annual fee keeps coming until the window reopens. The Venture X and Venture comparison covers the other differences. It fits applicants who want the whole fee covered at the smallest annual fee in this set.

3. Bank of America Premium Rewards: U.S. Bank's cap, with an annual fee

Bank of America's page lists an annual fee equal to the Venture's and airport security credits for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees every four years, capped at the same amount as U.S. Bank. We could not read Bank of America's terms text on October 20, so confirm the per-account limit and the posting time there before applying.

The weakness is U.S. Bank's shortfall with a yearly fee on top. For Bank of America's no-fee travel card, see the Travel Rewards review.

4. Delta SkyMiles Platinum (Amex): the lowest fee of the four Amex cards, with two repeat windows

Amex's Delta Platinum page lists a $350 annual fee and a credit for the full Global Entry fee, or up to $85 for TSA PreCheck, every 4 years. Amex's terms page allows one credit across the account in four years, for whichever program is charged first.

The weakness is a conflict between Delta's pages. Delta's card comparison puts the PreCheck credit at every 4.5 years, while Amex's card and terms pages say every 4 years. Global Entry reads the same on both. It fits Delta flyers who would hold the card for other reasons.

5. Capital One Venture X: the same credit as Venture at a higher fee

Capital One's benefits page lists the credit for a Venture X or Venture card, and the Venture X page lists a $395 annual fee and the same one-credit-per-account-every-4-years footnote. See our Venture X review for the rest of the card.

Because both cards print the same credit, the extra $300 a year buys no extra reimbursement. The higher fee has to be justified by other benefits, not by this one.

6. Citi Strata Elite: the annual fee is nearly five times the credit

Citi's card page lists a $595 annual fee and a credit every four years for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, up to the Global Entry fee. Citi's terms say the credit is one per account, the fee must be charged to the card, the first program charged gets the credit, and it posts in 1 to 2 billing cycles. Citi credits the fee whether or not the application is approved.

The weakness is scale. The credit offsets a small share of one year's fee and does not return for four years.

7. Delta SkyMiles Reserve and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: the same fee, the same credit family

Amex's Delta Reserve page lists a $650 annual fee and the Platinum's credit: the full Global Entry fee every 4 years, or a PreCheck credit after a five-year membership. That is the Platinum credit at $300 more a year, and Delta's comparison page carries the same 4.5 year PreCheck repeat.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is also $650 a year on Amex's page, which prints the credit for a 5-year plan, one credit in 4 years, whichever fee is charged first. Amex's terms add that a PreCheck plan shorter than five years gets no credit. The two cards tie at $530 net for Global Entry.

9. Chase Sapphire Reserve: $795, with NEXUS on the list

Chase's card page lists a $795 annual fee and one statement credit every four years, capped at the Global Entry fee, for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS. It is the only one of the ten card pages that lists NEXUS, which Amex's terms exclude. Chase's terms say the fee can be charged by you or an authorized user, and the first program charged gets the credit. Our Sapphire Reserve review covers the rest.

The weakness is channel and size. Fees paid through travel agencies or application assistance services are not eligible, only payments made directly to DHS, a listed partner or a TSA enrollment provider, and the $795 fee dwarfs the credit.

10. Amex Platinum: the highest fee of the ten

Amex's Platinum page lists an $895 annual fee and a credit for the full Global Entry fee every 4 years, or up to $85 for a five-year TSA PreCheck membership. That fee is also the top of the $0 to $895 range across the 67 cards we track. Our Amex Platinum review weighs it against the card's other credits.

The weakness is plain arithmetic: after the credit, $775 of the first year's fee remains. Amex also says a payment made through an electronic wallet or a third party may not be identified as eligible.

How the credit works

• The fee goes on that card. Every issuer here credits only an application fee charged to its card. Capital One's terms exclude fees paid via PayPal, and Chase excludes fees paid through third parties.
• You pay first. The credit is a statement credit that posts afterward, within 2 billing cycles at Capital One, within 1 to 2 billing cycles at Citi, and up to 8 weeks at Amex.
• One credit per account in each window. Capital One, Citi and the Delta and Marriott Amex cards word it per account, so a second applicant on the same account is not credited again inside the window.
• Approval is separate. Amex and Citi say they credit the fee whether or not the government approves the application. The terms we read from the other issuers do not say either way.

What CBP and TSA say

CBP's Global Entry page lists a $120 application fee, a five-year membership, a background check and TSA PreCheck access among the benefits. TSA's PreCheck page lists five years of benefits for $85 or less through three providers: CLEAR at $84.95, IDEMIA at $79.75 and Telos at $85.00.

Neither agency promises a faster line. TSA says no individual is guaranteed expedited screening, and CBP says Global Entry members may still be selected for further examination. For travelers with few international flights, CBP suggests PreCheck plus the free Mobile Passport Control app.

Cards left out

Two other cards we cover do not list the credit on their issuer pages as of October 20, 2026: Bank of America Travel Rewards, which has no annual fee, and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, which charges an annual fee. They are not ranked. Business cards and cards from issuers we did not read are also outside the list, so "lowest" here means among these ten. For fee comparisons across other cards, see credit card fees compared.

How we compared

We read each card's annual fee and credit on the issuer's own page on October 20, 2026: the ten pages linked above, Amex's expedited travel terms, Capital One's benefits page and terms, U.S. Bank's Guide to Benefits and Bank of America's terms. Government fees come from the CBP and TSA pages. Net costs, shortfalls and four-year fee totals are our arithmetic on those printed figures. We did not apply for any card or program, and issuers can change fees and credits at any time.

This is general information, not personalized financial advice. Financeradar may earn a commission from some links; it never affects rankings (how we make money).

FAQ

Which credit card pays for Global Entry?

Eight of the ten cards we priced print a credit cap equal to the Global Entry fee, and the lowest annual fee among them is $95, on the Capital One Venture. The U.S. Bank Altitude Connect has no annual fee, but its cap is below the fee, as is Bank of America Premium Rewards'. Every credit whose terms we could read applies only to a fee charged to that card.

How often can I use the Global Entry credit?

Once per account every four years, as each issuer words it, and Chase words it as one credit every four years. Memberships last five years, so a renewal falls after the window reopens if the card is still open. Delta's comparison page gives the PreCheck credit on its two cards a 4.5 year repeat, against 4 years on Amex's own pages.

Is there a no-annual-fee card with a Global Entry credit?

Among the ten, yes: the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect, with a credit every four years that falls short of the Global Entry fee. Bank of America Travel Rewards, also no-fee, does not list the credit on its issuer page.

Do I need Global Entry if I have TSA PreCheck?

Global Entry costs $120 and includes PreCheck access, per CBP. PreCheck alone is $79.75 to $85.00 for five years, depending on the provider. CBP suggests PreCheck plus the Mobile Passport Control app for people who take few international flights. Neither promises a faster line, and either credit works only if the fee is charged to the card.

Does the credit apply if I pay with a different card or a third party?

No. The issuers credit only the fee charged to their own card. Chase excludes travel agencies and application assistance services, Capital One excludes PayPal, and Amex says an electronic wallet or third-party payment may not qualify. Paying the CBP or TSA provider directly with the card keeps the fee eligible.

Cite this: Financeradar, "Credit Cards That Pay for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck in 2026: Net Cost After the Credit", October 2026.