AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. Terms Apply to the offers listed on this page. Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers. Offers for Bank of America cards mentioned in this post have been updated as of 10/04/2024
Offers for The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card, HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard® credit card, HSBC Premier World Mastercard® credit card, Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card, HSBC Premier World Mastercard® credit card and HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard® credit card are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers
Update: The price increases mentioned in this post have taken effect.
If you're in the market for Global Entry or other trusted traveler credentials like NEXUS or SENTRI, you'll want to complete an application before October 1, 2024. This fall, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is harmonizing the application fees for all three programs. In other words, it'll soon cost more to apply.
Trusted Traveler Program Application Fees Like Global Entry Are Going Up
For 15 years, the fee structure for Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI has remained the same. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for much longer, as the CBP has signaled that application fee price hikes are on the horizon.
Traditionally, travelers were asked to pony up $100 to apply for Global Entry, $50 for NEXUS, and $122.25 for SENTRI. On October 1, 2024, the CBP will harmonize the application fees. To apply for each program, you'll pay $120.
Whether you've got an application fee waiver courtesy of a credit card or want to save a few dollars on the out-of-pocket cost to apply, it's worth completing an application before the higher prices take effect.
Outside of the obvious — saving money — it's unclear how card issuers will respond to the higher costs of applying for trusted traveler services. Will they adjust the fee credit to $120? Or will they cover the first $100 and leave you on the hook for the rest? We don't know for sure. To check, we've reached out to every issuer that offers some form of application credit. As of the time of publication, none has had an answer to this complex issue.
Which cards offer an application fee waiver?
The only thing better than breezing through security is the chance to do it for free. Several credit cards offer this perk, and it's worth taking advantage of it if you travel frequently.
Plus, taking advantage of application fee waivers now ensures you won't pay extra out of pocket come October — should issuers not amend the fee credit to match the higher fees.
Wondering which cards offer this perk? Here are some of our favorite credit cards with a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS application credit:
| Card | Credit Frequency | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| The Platinum Card® from American Express | 4 years for Global Entry or 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck depending on whichever application fee is charged to your eligible card first | $695 (Rates & Fees) |
| The Business Platinum Card® from American Express | 4 years for Global Entry or 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck depending on whichever application fee is charged to your eligible card first | $695 (Rates & Fees) |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | 4 years for Global Entry or 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck depending on whichever application fee is charged to your eligible card first | $650 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card | 4 years for Global Entry or 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck depending on whichever application fee is charged to your eligible card first | $350 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card | 4 years for Global Entry or 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck depending on whichever application fee is charged to your eligible card first | $350 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card | 4 years for Global Entry or 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck depending on whichever application fee is charged to your eligible card first | $650 (Rates & Fees) |
| Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card | 4 years for Global Entry or 4.5 years for TSA PreCheck depending on whichever application fee is charged to your eligible card first | $650 (Rates & Fees) |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® | 4 years | $550 (Rates & Fees) |
| The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card | 4 years (Global Entry application only) | $450 |
| Aeroplan® Credit Card | 4 years | $95 (Rates & Fees) |
| The New United Club℠ Card | 4 years | $695 (Rates & Fees) |
| The New United℠ Explorer Card | 4 years | $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 (Rates & Fees) |
| The New United Quest℠ Card | 4 years | $350 (Rates & Fees) |
| Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card | 4 years | $199 (Rates & Fees) |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | 4 years | $99 (Rates & Fees) |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card | 4 years | $99 (Rates & Fees) |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | 4 years | $95 |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | 4 years | $395 |
| Capital One Venture X Business | 4 years | $395 |
| Capital One Spark Miles for Business | 4 years | $0 introductory fee for the first year; $95 after that |
| Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® | 4 years | $595 |
| Citi Prestige® Card | 4 years | $495 |
| U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card | 4 years | $400 |
| U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card | 4 years (Up to $100 statement credit only) | $0 |
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card | 4 years (Up to $100 statement credit only) | $95 |
| Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite Credit Card | 4 years | $550 |
| PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® | 4 years | $95 (waived for existing PenFed Honors Advantage Members) |
| HSBC Premier World Mastercard® credit card | 4.5 years (Up to $85 statement credit only) | $95 |
| HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard® credit card | 4.5 years | $495 |
| Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® | 4 years | $95 (Rates & Fees) |
| One Key+™ Card | 4 years | $99 (Rates & Fees) |
| USAA Eagle Navigator® Credit Card | 4 years | $95 (Rates & Fees) |
| Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard® | 4 years | $499 |
| JetBlue Premier Card | 4 years | $499 |
Silver lining: Kids are free
If there's a silver lining to this fee increase, it's that kids under 18 years old will be able to access Global Entry for free when accompanying a parent or guardian who has Global Entry. Thus, children will be exempt from the application fee (if a parent or guardian is already enrolled) but will still need to apply.
Final Thoughts
Starting on October 1, 2024, application fees for Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI will all cost $120. If you've been waiting to apply for one of these programs, do so while you can at the lower price point.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: USAA Eagle Navigator® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card (Rates & Fees), The New United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees), The New United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees), The New United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees), Aeroplan® Credit Card (Rates & Fees), Chase Sapphire Reserve® (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum Business American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card (Rates & Fees), Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (Rates & Fees), The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees), and The Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.