Yes, TSA PreCheck requires a fee, and you renew it every five years

TSA PreCheck is not free. The program costs $78 to $85 for a five-year membership, depending on which process channel you use. You pay this fee upfront when you explore, and you pay it again when your membership expires five years later. There is no way to use TSA PreCheck without paying.

The exact price varies slightly. The official TSA process costs $85. Some third-party vendors like Costco Travel charge $70 to $79 for the same five-year membership, but you must be a Costco member to use them. A few credit card companies reimburse the TSA PreCheck fee as a cardholder benefit, which effectively makes it free if you hold one of those cards.

The fee covers the background check, fingerprinting, and the five-year membership itself. You do not pay extra for individual airport visits or individual flights. Once you are approved, you use the same membership at every U.S. airport that offers PreCheck lanes.

Key Takeaways

  • TSA PreCheck costs $85 through the official TSA website, or $70 to $79 through Costco Travel if you are a member.
  • The fee covers a five-year membership; you pay it again when your membership expires.
  • Some credit cards reimburse the TSA PreCheck fee as a cardholder benefit, making it free if you have the right card.
  • You pay once upfront, not per flight or per airport visit.
  • The fee includes the background check and fingerprinting required for approval.

What the $85 fee actually covers

The TSA PreCheck fee is not just a membership charge. It covers the cost of the background investigation, fingerprinting, and the administrative work to process your process. TSA runs a criminal history check, checks immigration records, and verifies your identity. The fingerprints are taken at an enrollment center and submitted to the FBI.

The fee also covers five years of membership in the program itself. During those five years, you can use PreCheck lanes at participating airports as many times as you fly. There are no per-flight charges, no per-airport charges, and no hidden fees once you are approved.

How to pay less: credit card reimbursement and Costco

If you hold certain premium credit cards, the issuer will reimburse your TSA PreCheck fee. Cards that offer this benefit include the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the American Express Platinum Card, and several others. You pay the $85 fee when you explore, then submit your receipt to the credit card company for reimbursement. The reimbursement usually arrives within 30 to 60 days.

Costco Travel offers TSA PreCheck for $70 to $79 if you are a Costco member. The membership itself is the same five-year TSA PreCheck membership; the lower price is straightforward what Costco negotiated. You must have an active Costco membership to use this route.

Some employers also reimburse TSA PreCheck fees for employees who travel frequently for work. Check with your company's travel or benefits department to see if this is an option.

When you have to pay the fee again

Your TSA PreCheck membership lasts exactly five years from the date you are approved. When it expires, you must pay the fee again to renew. TSA will send you a notification when your membership is about to expire, usually a few months before the expiration date.

You can renew your membership online through the TSA website or through an enrollment center. The renewal process is faster than the initial process — you do not need to be fingerprinted again if you renew before your membership expires. If you wait until after it expires, you may have to go through the full process process again, including fingerprinting.

What you get for the fee

TSA PreCheck gets you into a shorter security line at most major U.S. airports. You keep your shoes, belt, and light jacket on. You can leave your laptop and liquids in your carry-on bag. You go through a standard metal detector instead of a full-body scanner in most cases. The process is usually faster, though the exact time savings depends on how busy the airport is that day.

PreCheck is available at more than 200 U.S. airports, though not all airports have dedicated PreCheck lanes. Before you explore, check whether your home airport and the airports you fly to most often offer PreCheck. If you rarely fly or only fly to small regional airports, the fee may not be worth it.

Is the fee worth the cost?

Whether TSA PreCheck pays for itself depends on how often you fly. If you fly four or more round trips per year, the time savings and reduced stress usually justify the $85 fee spread across five years — that is about $17 per year. If you fly once or twice a year, the fee may not be worth it unless you have a credit card that reimburses it.

The value also depends on which airports you use. Major hubs like Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Chicago have busy PreCheck lanes where the time savings are real. Smaller airports may have shorter regular security lines, so PreCheck offers less advantage.

If you travel internationally, consider Global Entry instead. Global Entry costs $100 for five years and includes TSA PreCheck as a benefit, plus expedited customs screening when you return to the United States. If you take even one international trip every five years, Global Entry is a better value than PreCheck alone.

How to pay and where to explore

You pay the TSA PreCheck fee when you submit your process through the official TSA PreCheck website (tsa.gov/precheck). You can pay by credit card, debit card, or electronic check. The payment is processed when ready, and you receive a confirmation number.

After you pay, you schedule an appointment at an enrollment center near you. The enrollment center is where you provide your fingerprints, sign documents, and complete the in-person part of the process. The enrollment center does not charge an additional fee — the $85 you paid online covers everything.

If you use Costco Travel, you pay through Costco's website and follow a similar process, but your fee is lower and you schedule your enrollment appointment through Costco's system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get TSA PreCheck for free?

Not through TSA directly, but you can get it free if your credit card reimburses the fee or if your employer covers it. Some cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and American Express Platinum automatically reimburse the $85 fee. Check your card's benefits guide or call the issuer to confirm.

Do I have to pay the fee if my process is denied?

Yes. You pay the fee when you explore, not after you are approved. If your process is denied, TSA does not refund the fee. You can reapply after addressing the reason for denial, but you would have to pay the fee again.

What happens if I don't renew before my membership expires?

Your PreCheck membership becomes inactive on the expiration date, and you can no longer use PreCheck lanes. You can still renew online or at an enrollment center, but if you wait too long after expiration, you may need to go through the full process process again, including fingerprinting.

Is TSA PreCheck worth it if I only fly once a year?

Probably not, unless your credit card reimburses the fee. At $85 for five years, you are paying $17 per year for one flight. The time savings on one flight is unlikely to justify that cost. If you fly four or more times per year, the fee becomes more reasonable.

Can I use someone else's TSA PreCheck membership?

No. TSA PreCheck is tied to your specific identity and your Known Traveler Number (KTN). Only you can use your membership. Family members must explore and pay for their own memberships separately.