Cancel through the official TSA PreCheck website or by phone

To cancel a TSA PreCheck appointment, log into your account on the official TSA PreCheck website (universalenroll.dhs.gov) and select the appointment you want to cancel. The system will walk you through the cancellation process and confirm when it is complete. If you cannot access the website or prefer to speak with someone, call the TSA PreCheck customer service line at 1-855-347-8371. They can cancel the appointment for you over the phone and answer questions about refunds.

Have your confirmation number ready when you call — you can find it in the confirmation email TSA sent you when you booked the appointment. Customer service is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time.

Key Takeaways

  • Cancel online at universalenroll.dhs.gov by logging into your account and selecting the appointment to remove.
  • You can also cancel by calling TSA PreCheck customer service at 1-855-347-8371 with your confirmation number.
  • Cancellations made more than 30 days before your appointment usually result in a full refund of the process fee.
  • If you cancel within 30 days of your appointment, you may lose the fee but can reschedule for a later date at no additional cost.
  • Rescheduling to a different time or location is often faster than canceling and restarting the process from scratch.

Refund timeline and what to expect

When you cancel an appointment, whether you get your money back depends on how far in advance you cancel. If you cancel more than 30 days before your scheduled appointment, TSA PreCheck typically refunds the full process fee. Refunds are processed to the original payment method and can take 7 to 10 business days to appear in your account.

If you cancel within 30 days of your appointment, you forfeit the process fee. However, you retain your TSA PreCheck status and can reschedule your appointment at no additional charge. This is important: you are not losing your PreCheck membership, only the appointment slot itself.

Rescheduling instead of canceling

Before you cancel, consider whether rescheduling might work better. If you need a different date or location, you can change your appointment directly in your account on universalenroll.dhs.gov without canceling. Click "Reschedule" rather than "Cancel," and the system will show you available times at enrollment centers near you.

Rescheduling avoids the 30-day refund cutoff and keeps your process moving forward. If your current appointment is weeks away and you know you cannot make it, rescheduling now costs nothing and gives you more date options than waiting until closer to the appointment.

What happens to your process after cancellation

Canceling an appointment does not cancel your TSA PreCheck process itself. Your process remains in the system, and you can reschedule whenever you are ready. You do not have to start over or resubmit documents.

If you want to withdraw your process entirely — not just cancel the appointment — you can request that through customer service at 1-855-347-8371. This is different from canceling an appointment and should only be done if you no longer want TSA PreCheck. Withdrawing your process may affect your refund may be able to access depending on how far along your process is in the review process.

Canceling because you cannot reach the enrollment center

Some enrollment centers have limited hours or are temporarily closed. If your appointment is at a location that is no longer operating or has hours that no longer work for you, reschedule to a different center instead of canceling. The universalenroll.dhs.gov website shows real-time availability at all active enrollment centers in your area.

If a center is closed and you cannot reschedule nearby, contact customer service. They can sometimes move your appointment to a center in a neighboring city or county at no charge, which is faster than canceling and starting fresh.

Canceling an appointment you never scheduled

If you received a confirmation email for an appointment you did not book, or if someone else scheduled an appointment using your information, contact TSA PreCheck customer service when ready at 1-855-347-8371. Provide your confirmation number and explain that you did not schedule the appointment. They can cancel it and investigate whether there was an error or unauthorized use of your account.

Change your password on universalenroll.dhs.gov after speaking with customer service, especially if you suspect someone else accessed your account. If you believe your identity was used fraudulently, you can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I lose my TSA PreCheck membership if I cancel an appointment?

No. Canceling an appointment does not affect your PreCheck membership or status. You are only canceling the specific appointment slot. Your membership remains active, and you can reschedule whenever you need to.

Can I cancel an appointment the day before or day of?

Yes, you can cancel at any time through the website or by calling customer service. However, cancellations within 30 days of the appointment date forfeit the process fee. If you are canceling very close to your appointment, ask customer service whether rescheduling to a later date might preserve your fee.

What if I already paid but never received a confirmation email?

Log into universalenroll.dhs.gov with the email address you used to pay. Your appointment should appear in your account. If it does not, contact customer service at 1-855-347-8371 with your payment confirmation or receipt. They can locate your appointment and help you cancel or reschedule.

How long does it take for a refund to show up after I cancel?

Refunds are processed to your original payment method within 7 to 10 business days after cancellation. If you paid by credit card, the refund appears as a credit on your statement. If you paid by debit card or bank transfer, it may take an additional 1 to 3 business days for your bank to post the credit.

Can I cancel my appointment and get a refund if I already passed my background check?

If your background check is complete and you cancel within 30 days of your appointment, you still forfeit the fee. However, if you cancel more than 30 days out, you should receive a refund even if your background check is done. Contact customer service to confirm your refund status based on your specific timeline.