How Long Does TSA PreCheck Membership Last?

Travel is making a serious comeback, and that means lines at airport security have returned to their former glory. But that doesn’t mean you have to wait in those lines. Consider TSA PreCheck — a Trusted Traveler Program and a game-changing way to speed through airport screening, all while keeping your shoes on your feet and your laptop in your bag.

But whether or not you're already a member, you may be wondering how long TSA PreCheck lasts. Is there an expiration date? And what do you do when your membership is almost up? We explain it all.

The answer is straightforward: A TSA PreCheck membership is good for five years from your date of approval. And for those who travel often, joining can absolutely be worth it. The $78 fee over the course of the included five years breaks down to just $15.60 per year. And it's possible to get the TSA PreCheck application fee covered through a travel credit card.

With more than 200 airports and 81 airlines participating in TSA PreCheck, you’ll be set up to experience reduced security wait times — sometimes less than 5 minutes. And if you’re traveling with a child 12 or under, they can join you in the TSA PreCheck security lane.

During one trip I took around the holidays, TSA PreCheck actually saved me from missing my flight. Wait times in the regular security lines were an hour or more, but the TSA PreCheck line had only a handful of people in it.

» Learn more: How to get TSA PreCheck

You can being your TSA PreCheck renewal up to six months before your membership is set to expire. As this date approaches, you’ll receive a renewal notification by email (from “Universal Enroll”) or by phone.

You’ll get a heads-up starting six months before your membership expires, and then several more times leading up to the expiration date. You can check your expiration date online.

Renewing early may be better than waiting: While the Transportation Security Administration says most renewal applications take three to five days to process, they can take up to 90 days. If you don’t want to take any chances that your membership will lapse, plan to renew closer to the three-month mark.

You can renew online or in person at an enrollment center. Starting the process online costs $70, while doing so in person costs $78.

» Learn more: How to add TSA PreCheck to your airline ticket

If you don’t already have a TSA PreCheck membership, you may be able to sign up at no additional cost if you apply for the right travel credit card. There are many that offer reimbursement for the TSA PreCheck enrollment fee; all you have to do is use the credit card to pay for it.

In addition, if you’re already a member of United’s MileagePlus loyalty program, you can redeem United miles for a payment code that covers the cost of TSA PreCheck (at a value of just under 0.8 cent per mile, which is less than NerdWallet's valuation of United miles).

» Learn more: TSA PreCheck renewal fee dropped to $70, but you can get it for $0

TSA PreCheck membership lasts for five years, and you can renew up to six months before your current expiration date if you’re already a member. Renewing TSA PreCheck can be done online, and there are a slew of travel credit cards that will reimburse you for the application or renewal fee.