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Global Entry vs TSA PreCheck vs NEXUS vs SENTRI

Since the October 2024 fee harmonization, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI all cost $120 for five years — so the choice comes down to where you travel, not price. Here's the short version.

Global EntryTSA PreCheckNEXUSSENTRI
Fee (5 years)$120 (under 18 free with a parent/guardian member)~$78 (~$70 online renewal)$120$120
Airport security (PreCheck)✓ included✓ for US/Canadian citizens & US LPRs✓ for US citizens & LPRs
Expedited US customs on arrival✓ (Global Entry included)✓ (Global Entry included)
Land border lanesUS–CanadaUS–Mexico
EnrollmentCBP vetting + interview (any center, or on arrival)Fast — walk-in centers, days to approveCBP + Canadian vetting; interview at a Canada-border centerCBP vetting + interview at a Southwest-border center

The short answers

The real cost is the interview wait

As of August 2026, 20 of the 123 Global Entry enrollment centers we monitor list no open interviews at all, and another 7 have nothing within the next two months. PreCheck has no such bottleneck — but for the CBP programs, the interview is the constraint, and there are three ways through it: book any center nationwide (compare current waits), use Enrollment on Arrival on an international trip, or catch a cancelled slot.

Skip the interview backlog

Cancelled interview slots open up every day — they're just gone within minutes. Haya watches the official CBP scheduler every 5 minutes, around the clock, and alerts you the moment a slot opens at your enrollment center. Email alerts are free; push and SMS alerts for near-term slots are on Pro.

Get free appointment alerts →

Frequently asked questions

Does Global Entry include TSA PreCheck?

Yes. Every Global Entry member gets full TSA PreCheck benefits — add your Known Traveler Number to airline reservations. You never need to buy PreCheck separately if you have Global Entry.

Is NEXUS still cheaper than Global Entry?

No — NEXUS was famously $50, but DHS harmonized Trusted Traveler fees in October 2024 and NEXUS now costs $120 for five years, the same as Global Entry and SENTRI. NEXUS is still the most complete bundle for US–Canada travelers: members who are US or Canadian citizens (or US permanent residents) get Global Entry benefits and TSA PreCheck plus dedicated land lanes at the Canadian border.

Should I get TSA PreCheck or Global Entry?

If you take even one international trip every five years, Global Entry: it costs $120 versus about $78 for PreCheck, includes PreCheck, and adds expedited US customs re-entry. Choose PreCheck alone only if you fly strictly domestically — its enrollment is also faster, with walk-in centers and no CBP interview backlog.

What is the difference between SENTRI and Global Entry?

SENTRI adds dedicated southbound-friendly lanes for vehicles and pedestrians entering the US from Mexico. SENTRI members who are US citizens or permanent residents also get Global Entry and TSA PreCheck benefits. If you regularly cross the Mexican land border, SENTRI is the better $120; otherwise Global Entry is.

Which trusted traveler program is fastest to get?

TSA PreCheck — approval typically takes days and enrollment centers take walk-ins. Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI all require CBP conditional approval plus an in-person interview, and interview appointments are the bottleneck: many enrollment centers are booked out for months, though cancelled slots open daily and Enrollment on Arrival needs no appointment at all.

Do Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI cost the same?

Yes — since October 1, 2024, all three cost $120 for a five-year membership, and applicants under 18 are free when a parent or legal guardian is a member or applies with them.

More Global Entry guides

Conditionally approved? Next steps + getting an interview sooner Enrollment on Arrival: interview at the airport, no appointment Interview checklist: what to bring (and what happens there) Global Entry for children: free under 18, but everyone needs an interview All enrollment centers and current wait times