If you’re looking to offset the cost of expedited passage through customs, there are several credit cards that offer Global Entry fee reimbursement. Even if you only travel internationally a few times per year, having Global Entry can save you quite a bit of times. Customs lines can be awful.
Applying for Global Entry requires a $100 application fee. This isn’t necessarily huge, but it’s good to know that you can avoid it by having any one of a number of credit cards that offer Global Entry fee reimbursement.
Credit Cards that offer Global Entry Fee Reimbursement
Most of the cards actually offer reimbursement for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. However, Global Entry itself includes TSA PreCheck, so it makes sense in almost all instances to apply for that program, as you get the benefits of both. Here are 7 credit cards that offer Global Entry fee reimbursement:
Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best premium credit cards on the market. The card does come with a hefty $450 annual fee, but it offers a $300 travel credit, Priority Pass membership, and other perks, including Global Entry fee reimbursement.
You can get one credit every four years with the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Note that Global Entry enrollment is good for 5 years at a time. Authorized users get their own lounge access, but unfortunately not their own Global Entry credit.
Platinum Card from American Express
The Platinum Card from American Express is very likely the best card for offsetting the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. This is because unlike the other options which only reimburse the application fee of the primary cardholder, each authorized user on a Platinum card account gets their own fee reimbursement!
Even considering the hefty $550 annual fee for the card, and the $175 fee to add up to 3 authorized users, you still come out ahead as this will give you 4 Global Entry fee reimbursements. This is in addition to many other benefits that Platinum Card AUs also receive.
So, for $725 out of pocket ($550 + $175 for 3 AUs), you could get $400 in Global Entry fee reimbursements, plus a $200 per year credit for airline incidentals for your chosen airline, and $200 in annual Uber credits. All in all, the perks can be totally worth the high fees if you travel frequently enough.
Even better if you get an Ameriprise Platinum like Dan did – because in that case your first 3 Authorized User cards are FREE (for the first year) and each AU card still gets the Global Entry reimbursement. READ MORE: One Amex lifetime bonus? I just applied for a 2nd Amex card
Business Platinum Card from American Express
The Business Platinum Card from American Express is another decent premium card pick. It also offers Priority Pass membership, as well as access to American Express Centurion lounges and Delta SkyClubs (when flying Delta).
One of the best features of the Business Platinum card used to be the ability to get 50% of your Membership Rewards points back when using “pay with points.” This benefit has now been reduced to 35% back.
The Business Platinum card offers one Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement every 4 years. Authorized users of a Business Platinum card also get a Global Entry credit, but this comes with a much steeper fee than the personal card at $300 each. Good if you want one fee credit. Bad if you want multiple.
Citi Prestige Mastercard
The Citi Prestige has been knocked down a few notches as the card has unfortunately been devalued this year. Some of the best benefits of the Citi Prestige still include Priority Pass membership, a $250 annual airfare credit, and the famous 4th Night Free benefit. Some of the other benefits that were axed in 2017 include free golf, Admirals Club access, and the ability to redeem your points at 1.6 cents each for American Airlines flights.
The Citi Prestige also offers one Global Entry of TSA PreCheck credit every 5 years. Depending on how much value you can get out of the other benefits, it is still a solid option among credit cards that offer Global Entry fee reimbursement.
[SEE: Chase Sapphire Reserve vs. The Platinum Card from American Express vs. Citi Prestige]
Citi AAdvantage Executive MasterCard
This card is a great one for those who regularly fly American Airlines. Although the Citi Prestige axed Admirals Club membership from its list of benefits, the AAdvantage Executive Card has you covered. Authorized users of the card get their own membership as well, and there is no fee for additional cards! So sign up your whole family and go cause some lounge overcrowding.
Unfortunately, authorized users don’t get the Global Entry fee reimbursement offered once every 5 years by the card. The annual fee for the Citi AAdvantage Executive MasterCard is $450.
U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve
The U.S. Bank Altitude Reserve is a relatively new option on the premium credit card market. While not as robust a card, in my opinion, as many of the other options, it could make sense for many travelers. The card offers a sign up bonus of 50,000 points which are worth up to $750 in travel. The card also offers $325 in travel credits.
This card is a unique option as it earns 3 points per dollar when using your mobile wallet for purchases. There is some speculation that this may be unsustainable and might eventually die, however.
In addition to a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee reimbursement, the Altitude Reserve card also offers Priority Pass membership and 12 GoGo WiFi passes per year for its $400 annual fee.
Ritz-Carlton Rewards Card
Unlike the other card options, the Ritz Carlton rewards card only offers a statement credit for Global Entry and not for TSA PreCheck. This probably won’t make much of a difference in most cases, as you’ll generally want to apply for Global Entry and not PreCheck, but it may make a difference for some people.
The Ritz-Carlton card also offers a $300 travel credit per year that covers airline incidentals, as well as $100 discount on round-trip domestic airfare when you book for two or more people as part of its Visa Infinite benefits.
Need Global Entry for your family? Consider NEXUS
NEXUS is a trusted traveler program that allows expedited crossing of the U.S.-Canadian border. If you travel to Canada by car even once in a while, it is worth having.
However, NEXUS is *also* a back door to getting the other trusted traveler programs you may be more interested in, namely, TSA Pre-check and Global Entry.
To top things off, NEXUS only costs $50 for adults. And kids are free. Consider the possibilities for a moment.
The only bummer is that you have to go to one of the NEXUS enrollment centers which are (quite logically) located near the U.S.-Canadian border. But if you have a large family and *really* want Global Entry, it might be worth planning a trip specifically to complete the interviews.
Conclusion
Ultimately, there are quite a few credit cards that offer Global Entry fee reimbursement. With these and potentially the NEXUS option, you should be able to get Global Entry for your entire family without breaking the bank.
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
Also The First National Bank of Omaha’s Travelite American Express offers Global Entry (but not TSA PreCheck) reimbursement along with no annual fee or foreign transaction or currency fee.
That is true but the card is not available for new signups
I am summering in northern Michigan and decided to finally get Global Entry so I could get it at DTW on my way home. I was surprised to find that they had an interview site at the Soo and decided to go there instead. The facility is at the bridge going into Canada and I was chided by the Customs officer for not getting Nexxus since it covered all, including boating and snowmobiling from US into Canada and vice versa and it was less expensive. I had no idea and now I feel foolish. Thanks for writing this article.
Does the Reserve card allow you to purchase GE as a gift for someone ele? I already have via AMEX Plat. Thanks!
Yes. I used my mom’s CSR for my wife’s Global Entry application. All that you see is the GE charge on the statement, and the credit is automatically applied.
If I apply for Nexus (not able to apply for globe entry because I’m a Canadian), and have a credit card listed above, that covers Globe Entry, will I still be covered for the $50?
Unfortunately, no. I wish you could. It would actually be nice to get Nexus x2, since it will cover the full $100 for GE.