A Known Traveler Number is valid for 5 years from the date of approval.
A Known Traveler Number (KTN) is good for 5 years from the date it's approved.
Your KTN works everywhere U.S. Trusted Traveler Programs operate.
Forget airport-specific rules—your KTN isn’t locked to one terminal or border crossing.
It’s tied to the Trusted Traveler Programs run by CBP and TSA: TSA Pre✓®, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI. These programs speed up screening at every U.S. airport and land border. The KTN itself is just a digital ID, but it unlocks expedited lanes coast to coast (and into Canada or Mexico for NEXUS/SENTRI members). The whole setup falls under the Department of Homeland Security, so your access stays consistent no matter which port you hit. DHS
Every Trusted Traveler Program lasts 5 years.
| Program |
Validity Period |
Renewal Window |
Grace Period |
Application Fee (2026) |
| TSA Pre✓® |
5 years |
Up to 6 months before expiration |
No formal grace period; benefits lapse at expiration |
$85 |
| Global Entry |
5 years |
Up to 12 months before expiration |
Up to 24 months if renewal application is submitted before expiration |
$100 |
| NEXUS |
5 years |
Up to 9 months before expiration |
Not specified |
$50 |
| SENTRI |
5 years |
Up to 9 months before expiration |
Not specified |
$122.25 |
Your TSA Pre✓® benefits end the moment your KTN expires.
No warnings, no extensions—your TSA Pre✓® benefits disappear the second your KTN expires.
Renew early to keep your expedited screening active. Global Entry gives you a break: renew before expiration and you can keep using benefits for up to 6 months while your renewal processes. The others? Once that 5-year mark hits, you’re back to standard security lines.
Yes—you can renew up to 6-9 months early, depending on the program.
Absolutely—TSA Pre✓® lets you renew up to 6 months early.
Global Entry is even more flexible, allowing renewals up to a full year ahead. NEXUS and SENTRI members can start 9 months before expiration. Starting early is smart, especially during peak travel seasons when processing times slow to a crawl.
Only Global Entry offers a meaningful grace period.
Only Global Entry gives you breathing room.
Renew before your membership ends and you can keep using benefits for up to 6 months past the expiration date. The other programs—TSA Pre✓®, NEXUS, and SENTRI—don’t play that game. Their benefits cut off the instant the clock hits zero. (Timing your renewal is everything.)
Log into the Trusted Traveler Programs portal to check your expiration date.
Pop into the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) portal to see your exact expiration date.
It’s the quickest way to confirm when you need to renew. Still unsure? Check your boarding passes or airline profiles—your KTN usually shows up there too. Don’t wait until the last minute; set a reminder when you’re about 6 months out.
Renewals are done online; TSA Pre✓® takes about 15 minutes.
Most TSA Pre✓® renewals wrap up online in about 15 minutes.
Log into the TTP portal, confirm your details, pay the fee, and hit submit. Global Entry members face a longer haul—some still need an in-person interview, which drags the process out. The upside? Your KTN stays the same; only the expiration date updates. No new numbers to memorize.
Only if your renewal was submitted before the KTN expired.
Only if your renewal application was already in the system before your current KTN expired.
Global Entry members get the best deal here: renew early and you can keep using benefits for up to 6 months after expiration while your renewal processes. Everyone else? Benefits stop the moment your KTN expires. (Renewing 90 days ahead is a solid strategy.)
Children 12 and under can use a parent’s TSA Pre✓®.
Kids 12 and under can tag along in the expedited TSA Pre✓® line with an eligible adult.
They don’t need their own KTN—just the adult’s company. Spouses or partners, though, must apply separately; TSA Pre✓® doesn’t extend to travel companions automatically. Seniors 75+ don’t get automatic Pre✓®, but they can keep shoes and light jackets on during regular screening.
Some premium travel credit cards reimburse the renewal fee.
Yes—some credit cards now cover Trusted Traveler application costs.
Many issuers updated their benefits in 2025 to include this perk. Check your card’s travel benefits—if you’ve got a premium travel card, it might foot the $85 (TSA Pre✓®) or $100 (Global Entry) bill. A nice bonus if you’re planning to renew anyway.
PASSID is just another name for your KTN.
The CBP PASSID is simply your KTN by another name.
It’s the same 9-digit number you use for TSA Pre✓® and other Trusted Traveler Programs. On Global Entry cards, you’ll find it on the back, usually starting with 15, 98, or 99. Think of it as a handy physical backup—useful if you forget your KTN or need to show it at a kiosk.
The system launched post‑9/11 to balance security with speed.
These programs rolled out after 9/11 to keep security tight without slowing everyone down.
Global Entry started in 2008, followed by TSA Pre✓® in 2011. The KTN acts like a digital key, syncing with airline systems and CBP databases so TSA agents can spot pre-vetted travelers before they hit the checkpoint. Clever system—your KTN stays the same across renewals, only the expiration date changes. Most renewals now process online in minutes, though Global Entry still sometimes demands an interview.
The Department of Homeland Security runs the Trusted Traveler Programs.
The Department of Homeland Security manages these programs as of 2026.
They keep everything consistent across airports and borders, so your KTN works the same whether you’re flying out of LAX or crossing into Canada. Keep an eye on your KTN status, especially during peak seasons—nothing derails a trip like realizing your benefits expired mid-flight.
TSA PreCheck® memberships last five years.
TSA PreCheck® memberships last five years from approval.
Your Trusted Traveler Program membership lasts 5 years.
Your membership with a Trusted Traveler Program lasts five years. After that, you’ll need to renew and pay the $100 fee to keep your benefits active.
Your KTN stays the same during renewal.
Nope. Members keep the same KTN when renewing.
Check your KTN expiration date via the Service Status form.
If you’re planning to renew, you can start the process up to six months before your KTN expires. To check your exact expiration date, fill out the Service Status form.
You lose the grace period if you miss the renewal deadline.
The Global Entry grace period lets you keep using benefits for up to 24 months if you renew before your membership expires. Miss that window, and you lose the grace period entirely.
You can renew online up to six months early; TSA recommends starting 90 days out.
You can renew your TSA PreCheck membership online up to six months before it expires, with the new membership kicking in as the old one ends. TSA recommends renewing at least 90 days early to avoid any lapse in benefits.
Most TSA PreCheck renewals take about 15 minutes online.
In most cases, renewing TSA PreCheck online takes about 15 minutes. You might wait days or even weeks for approval, though. Some members still need an in-person interview, which can stretch the process out.
A KTN is issued to everyone approved for TSA PreCheck® expedited screening.
A Known Traveler Number (KTN) is issued to all individuals approved for TSA PreCheck® expedited screening. Add it to your airline reservation in the KTN field so the PreCheck indicator shows up on your boarding pass.
Global Entry cards display the KTN (CBP PASSID) on the back.
Global Entry members will find their KTN—also called a CBP PASSID—on the back of their card in the upper left corner. It’s a nine-digit number, usually starting with 15, 98, or 99.
Update your TSA PreCheck name if it changes.
If you change your name, you’ll need to update your TSA PreCheck® membership to match. Travel with mismatched details, and you won’t be able to use your PreCheck benefits until the name change is processed.
All Department of Homeland Security Trusted Traveler Programs last five years.
Every Trusted Traveler Program from the Department of Homeland Security—including TSA PreCheck and Global Entry—lasts five years. Pay once, and you’re set until it’s time to renew. Clear is the exception, valid for just one year.
You can renew your Global Entry membership up to one year early.
You become eligible to renew your Global Entry membership one year before it expires. Submit your renewal before the deadline, and you can keep using benefits for up to six months after the expiration date while your application processes.
Renew Global Entry by logging into the TTP website and selecting the Renew Application button.
- Log onto the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) website.
- Select Manage membership—the Trusted Traveler Program Enrollment page will load.
- Click the blue Renew Application button—your Personal Information page will appear.
No—seniors must apply for TSA PreCheck separately.
No. Anyone who wants TSA PreCheck needs to apply. Seniors 75+ do get an expedited screening option in regular lines—no need to remove shoes or light jackets—but that’s separate from PreCheck benefits.
Spouses need their own TSA PreCheck; kids 12 and under can tag along.
Kids 12 and under can breeze through the PreCheck line with you, as long as you’re already in a Trusted Traveler Program.
Your spouse, though, needs to qualify for TSA PreCheck separately—it doesn’t extend automatically to travel companions.
Use an eligible credit card to get TSA PreCheck for free.
The easiest way to avoid the fee is by using an eligible premium travel credit card.
Many issuers now reimburse the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee if you pay with that card. Dozens of cards offer this perk, so check your travel benefits—it could save you $85 or $100.
Edited and fact-checked by the MeridianFacts editorial team.
