Traveling this year? Here’s what you need to know about TSA PreCheck, CLEAR Plus, and Global Entry

There’s one thing everyone dreads when making their way to the airport: a long security line. Luckily, there are workarounds to expedite the process and get you to your gate in time for a pre-boarding treat.

Whether you’re jetting off to visit the Philly-themed bar in Tokyo or heading home after adventures abroad, programs like Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and CLEAR PLUS can help travelers move through the line faster.

Each offering similar privileges, the three programs often get conflated. Understanding what each program provides and how to apply can help you select the right program for your traveling needs.

Here’s everything you need to know about Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and CLEAR Plus.

» Read more: How to get a passport in Philadelphia

TSA PreCheck is an expedited screening program of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration that allows travelers to keep their shoes and light outerwear jacket on, as well as travel-size liquids and electronics in carry-on bags. About 99% of folks wait in the TSA PreCheck checkpoint lane for 10 minutes or less, according to TSA regional spokesperson Lisa Farbstein.

Visit tsa.gov/precheck to enroll for the service online. Select an enrollment provider that fits your needs in a location near you. Make an appointment to complete the process in-person, which includes fingerprinting, document and photo capture, and payment. Be sure to bring an original or certified copy of identity/citizenship status for the application process. Once enrolled, you’ll receive a “known traveler number” (KTN).

Fees vary among TSA-selected enrollment partners, such as Telos at $85 and IDEMIA at $78. (These are one-time fees for the five years the service is active). It’s important to start on the TSA site, Farbstein advises, because third-party vendors charge more money. “Don’t pay anyone in advance — only pay when you have your in-person enrollment, or you are getting ripped off.”

Accepted travelers typically wait about a week to get their KTN after their appointment.

The KTN you receive when enrolled in the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Global Entry program can also be used for TSA PreCheck.

TSA PreCheck is good for five years.

Enter your KTN into the online field when purchasing an airline ticket or give it to your travel advisor for your frequent flyer profile. You’ll find the TSA PreCheck indicator on your boarding pass.

It is not valid when flying from another country into the U.S.

Renew online or in-person with your selected enrollment provider. Telos charges $70 online and in-person, while IDEMIA asks for $70 online and $78 in-person.

Global Entry allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited clearance upon arriving on U.S. soil. Members enter the country at Global Entry lanes where processing technology advances them with photo verification of membership. Once the photo has been captured, instructions pop up on the screen for members to proceed to a CBP officer to complete the process. With Global Entry, you’ll skip processing lines and paperwork, have access to expedited entry benefits in other countries and reduced wait times, and will be TSA PreCheck eligible.

“One thing that applicants should understand about CBP’s Global Entry program is that this is a contract based on trust,” said Steve Sapp, public affairs officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “Members agree to comply with all U.S. laws, including truthfully declaring all items they are bringing back to the United States to a CBP officer, and in return, CBP grants them expedited arrivals privileges.”

If your are eligible for Global Entry, create a Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) account — all ages must have their own profile. Log in and complete the application with a $100 one-time nonrefundable for a five-year membership (even if an application is denied). If CBP conditionally approves your application , you’ll be instructed to schedule an interview at a Global Entry enrollment center. Note: Global Entry is member-specific and cannot be extended to others in your traveling party.

All applicants must undergo a rigorous background check and in-person interview before enrollment. According to Sapp, demand for the Global Entry interview is “extraordinarily high due to the incredible popularity” of this Trusted Traveler program.

Bring a valid passport and a second form of identification (driver’s license or ID card) to the interview. If you are a permanent resident, you must have a machine-readable permanent resident card.

If you are unable to schedule an interview before traveling, you can be conditionally approved upon arrival to the U.S. with Enrollment on Arrival (EoA) at participating airports. You must have a valid passport, proof of residency including driver’s license or rental payment statement (this is not required for minors), and a permanent resident card (if applicable).

Global Entry membership is good for five years.

Processing time varies but applicants may receive a conditional approval or a denial within a few weeks to a few months. Sapp recommends checking your Trusted Traveler portal for status updates.

You will be eligible for renewal one year prior to program expiration. Submit a renewal application before your membership expires to continue using benefits for up to 24 months after the expiration date.

Log in to your TTP account. Select renew on your Global Entry program membership section and declare your citizenship. Choose the program you wish to renew — you can also select to renew another eligible program. Acknowledge the program requirements and follow the guidelines to update all the application information on the final review page. Confirm, save, and certify the application. And pay the nonrefundable fees for application processing.

CLEAR Plus, a paid airport membership, uses facial, iris, and fingerprint biometrics. Members get a quick identity verification experience at the airport when they step up to a CLEAR pod and verify their identity with eye or fingerprint scans — no government-issued photo I.D. needed. CLEAR was founded by the TSA to meet baseline security and privacy controls, and is certified as Department of Homeland Security Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology.

CLEAR Plus is $189 a year. Prospective members with certain credit card rewards with airlines like United Airlines or Delta Airlines often receive discounts for enrollment. Additionally, military service members and government employees are eligible for CLEAR Plus at a discounted rate. Visit enroll.clearme.com/enroll to sign up with your government I.D.

You don’t need all three programs, but many members enjoy CLEAR Plus with both government services, said Ricardo Quinto, senior director of public affairs and communications at CLEAR.

CLEAR, co-founded by Caryn Seidman-Becker and Ken Cornick, is a program for expedited identity verification at the airport. TSA PreCheck is a U.S. government program for low-risk travelers to move through TSA with convenience. Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection expedited clearance program for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the U.S.

CLEAR Plus members do not need TSA PreCheck or Global Entry to reap the benefits of CLEAR. Quinto said members often find CLEAR Plus and TSA PreCheck complement each other for a quick route through the airport.

Expert sources

Ricardo Quinto, senior director of public affairs and communications at CLEAR

Steve Sapp, public affairs officer for U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Lisa Farbstein, TSA regional spokesperson