- Global Entry is a fantastic way to save time every time you enter the US.
- Unfortunately, Global Entry isn’t free.
- While I believe it’s worth the price for frequent travelers, you might as well use a credit card that will reimburse you for the fee, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Platinum Card® from American Express.
Frequent travelers know that having TSA PreCheck or Global Entry makes your airport experience significantly more pleasant, especially during peak travel times.
Some of the top travel cards – include the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Platinum Card from American Express – will reimburse you for the cost of the Global Entry application (which includes access to TSA PreCheck), up to $100.
Global Entry lasts approximately five years, and all the cards on this list cover the cost of your application when you need to renew.
Here are eight top credit cards that cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee: $95, waived the first year
Notable features: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the best flat-rate, travel-rewards cards available. The simple rewards structure means that it's easy to earn miles on all your everyday purchases. You'll earn 2 miles for every dollar spent, and 10x miles on hotel reservations booked and paid for through Hotels.com/venture.
When you sign up, you can earn 50,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 in your first three months as a cardholder.
Use your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck with a list of 15 airline partners with a high miles exchange rate, including Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Qatar, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines.
Capital One gives a statement credit up to $100 for Global Entry every four years, but you won't see the credit on your statement until two billing cycles after paying the application fee.
Click here to learn more about the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card from our partner The Points Guy.
The Platinum Card from American Express
Annual fee: $550
Notable features: The Platinum Card from American Express card is consistently one of the top ranking cards for air-travel rewards. Among the best bonuses is an annual travel fee credit up to $200, and 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com.
To start, you can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 within your first three months as a cardholder. Though this is not an airline rewards card, Amex Platinum cardholders have access to some of the best airport lounges in the world, including Delta Sky Clubs while flying with Delta Airlines, over 1,200 Priority Pass lounges around the world, and American Express' own luxurious Centurion Lounges.
American Express gives a statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry every four years, and you'll see the credit appear on your account within eight weeks of payment.
Click here to learn more about the Amex Platinum from our partner The Points Guy.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Annual fee: $450
Notable features: After becoming a cardholder, earn 50,000 points after spending $4,000 within your first three months.
The points-earning system for this card is simple and lucrative, with 3x points earned on travel after your $300 annual travel credit is spent, as well as 3x points earned on dining. For booking travel, get the most out of your points by booking through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal, and redeem points for 1.5 cents each.
Chase offers a statement credit of up to $100 for Global Entry every four years, and you'll see the credit appear on your account 24 hours after paying the application fee.
Click here to learn more about Chase Sapphire Reserve from our partner The Points Guy.
The Business Platinum® Card from American Express
Annual fee: $595
Notable features: The Business Platinum Card from American Express offers many enticing benefits, and Business Platinum takes these rewards to the next level for qualifying cardholders. You can earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 within your first three months. Plus, 25,000 bonus points after spending an additional $10,000 in the same time frame. This offer gives you the opportunity to earn a total of 75,000 points, which more than pays the annual fee.
50,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 within your first three months. Plus, 25,000 bonus points after spending an additional $10,000 in the same timeframe
For earning points, Amex gives 5x points for booking prepaid hotel rooms and airfare through AmEx travel. The standard reward for spending with your Amex Business Platinum is one point per dollar spent, but this increases to 1.5 points per dollar for purchases of $5,000 and more.
The best way to redeem points to get the most value is by transferring them to more than 20 partner airlines and hotels, and booking travel through Amex Travel.
All authorized users on the card are eligible for a Global Entry statement credit of up to $100 every four years, unlike most cards with this perk, where the statement credit is only good for one application fee.
Click here to learn more about the Amex Business Platinum from our partner The Points Guy.
IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Annual fee: $89
Notable features: IHG is an often-overlooked option, but its credit card is one of the best for hotel rewards; it's made for travel enthusiasts and making the most out of stays at IHG properties. Right now, the card is offering a sign-up bonus of 125,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months.
The most significant reward is a free anniversary night each year that is valid on hotels costing up to 40,000 points per night. Additionally, cardholders earn 10x points with IHG properties, though IHG points are nowhere near as valuable as others listed in this article.
This card also gives 2x points at restaurants, gas stations, and grocery stores, and 1x points on all other purchases. (Currently, new cardholders can get 4x points on all non-IHG purchases for the first 12 months, and 25x points on IHG purchases for the first 12 months.) Cardholders are also eligible for a free fourth night when using points to book a hotel stay for three nights at eligible properties.
You're eligible for a Global Entry statement credit up to $100 every four years, and you'll see the statement credit on your account 24 hours of making that payment.
Click here to learn more about the IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card from Insider Picks' partner: The Points Guy.
Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card
Annual fee: $95
Notable features: The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card is designed to make the most on travel, dining, and more. You receive 50,000 bonus points after you make $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of opening an account. You also get up to a $200 annual statement credit for airline fees.
Earn 2x points spent on travel and dining, as well as 1.5x points spent on all other purchases. Points can be used with an exchange rate of one cent per point on a range of gift cards, or the same rate for cash back, travel, or a statement credit.
Bank of America gives a Global Entry statement credit up to $100 every four years.
United Explorer Card
Annual fee: $95, waived the first year
Notable features: United's revamped its rewards card program last year, and the new benefits are worth pursuing if you fly with United regularly. Earn 40,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 within your first three months as a cardholder, which is the lowest minimum spending requirement on this list.
Earn 2x points for every dollar spent at restaurants and on hotel stays and 25% back on in-flight purchases. To sweeten your airline experience, you can check your first bag for free when you use your Explorer Card to book your ticket (a savings of up to $120 per round trip), and get two one-time passes for the United Club on your cardholder anniversary.
You're eligible for a Global Entry statement credit up to $100 every four years, and the credit will post to your account 24 hours after making the payment.
Click here to learn more about the United Explorer Card from our partner The Points Guy.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card
Annual fee: $199
Notable features: This is Southwest's top-of-the-line business credit card, with benefits including four upgraded boardings per year when available, in-flight Wi-Fi credits, and 9,000 points every year on your cardmember anniversary.
The Southwest Performance Business Card earns 3 points per dollar on Southwest Airlines purchases and 2 points per dollar on social media and search engine advertising, and internet, cable, and phone services (and 1 point per dollar on everything else).
You're eligible for the Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit once every four years. The statement credit will post to your account within 24 hours of the application fee posting to your credit card account.