Chase Sapphire Reserve Card: How To Use the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Credit

The Chase Sapphire Reserve^® has always been a next-level travel rewards credit card, ever since its August 2016 release to the general public.

Since then, competition has accelerated in the credit card space, but Chase has solidified itself as a mainstay if you’re looking for travel rewards. In fact, many of us immediately look to Chase when we consider getting a new card with fantastic travel rewards.

One benefit of holding this card is the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit. In this guide, we’ll focus on how this perk actually works.

Let’s get into it!

Card Snapshot

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.74% - 28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

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Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.74% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is the ultra-premium flagship credit card issued by Chase, and it currently offers a generous welcome bonus, plus the ability to earn up to 10x Ultimate Rewards points on your purchases:

• 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and Chase Dining booked through Chase Travel
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on flights booked through Chase Travel
• 3x points on other dining and travel purchases
• 1x points on other purchases

To give you an idea of how impressive these rewards are, we estimate a 10x Ultimate Rewards points structure to be equivalent to a 20% return on spending, which is incredible.

We’re not done yet, because you can get some immense travel benefits:

• $300 travel credit each account anniversary year
• 50% redemption bonus for travel purchased through Chase Travel and Pay Yourself Back, which includes select rotating categories (1.5 cents per point)
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
• Access to the Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
• Complimentary DoorDash DashPass subscription (activate by December 31, 2027), plus $5 in DoorDash credits every month
• Rental car perks at Avis and National
• Fantastic travel insurance

Lastly, the card features purchase protection, extended warranty, return protection, no foreign transaction fees, and, of course, a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit every 4 years.

How Does the Global Entry or TSA PreCheck Application Fee Credit Work?

The focus of this guide is to outline the ins and outs of the Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS fee credit offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Currently, when you use the Chase Sapphire Reserve card to pay for the application fee when applying for one of these Trusted Traveler Programs, you can get reimbursed for the application fee. There’s no enrollment required.

Trusted Traveler Programs are essentially programs offered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help preapproved, low-risk travelers depart or enter the U.S. and eligible international destinations more efficiently or quickly.

It’s important to note that you are not entitled to a fee credit every year — you are only entitled to a fee credit when you apply or renew. Usually, you can get it as often as every 4 years.

Importantly, if you pay an outside consulting firm or any other business a fee to help you apply for a Trusted Traveler Program on your behalf, you won’t get reimbursement for their fees.

You’ll only get reimbursed for the application fee when the card is used to pay for the application directly on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website.

Now, let’s take a look at the differences between the 3 covered programs.

TSA PreCheck

The program most well-known by U.S. travelers is TSA PreCheck, but interestingly, this would not be our first choice to spend your credit on.

TSA PreCheck affords travelers with the ability to seamlessly clear security when departing from U.S. airports.

Most of us know that there’s a separate security screening line at U.S. airports dedicated to those with TSA PreCheck, and this enables you to get through security in a fraction of the time it would take regular travelers.

Also, the TSA PreCheck offers relaxed screening with no need to remove shoes, laptops, belts, light jackets, or 3-1-1 liquids.

TSA PreCheck is valid for 5 years, and the format will usually look like “TT” followed by 7 alphanumeric characters (e.g. TT12A3BC4).

The initial application fee is $78, and renewals are $70, which are valid for another 5 years. However, you can get a credit for TSA PreCheck every 4.5 years, based on a 6-month renewal grace period.

Also, with TSA PreCheck, children under 12 may accompany a parent or guardian with TSA PreCheck on their boarding passes.

TSA PreCheck only covers air travel, and only U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents are eligible to enroll.

Global Entry

Global Entry is the Trusted Traveler Program we’d recommend the most. Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, plus so much more.

Global Entry also allows expedited entry back into the U.S. after returning from an international destination, whether you’re traveling by air, land, or sea.

At more than 75 international airports, Global Entry members can use self-service kiosks or e-Gates with facial comparison technologies to clear immigration without having to wait in long lines.

Global Entry members don’t need to fill out paperwork upon reentry into the U.S., either.

The main downside is the application process is a bit more involved than applying for TSA PreCheck — you’ll first need to submit an application and receive conditional approval. After receiving conditional approval, you’ll need to schedule an in-person interview or complete an interview upon arrival at an eligible Enrollment or Arrival location.

In general, it’s recommended to opt for Enrollment on Arrival if you’re planning to fly internationally to the U.S. within the next 6 months. If your next international trip is further out than that, you can schedule an appointment instead.

The incremental value that Global Entry offers over TSA PreCheck is maximized if you’re an international traveler or if you tend to enter the U.S. through land or sea, such as through the Mexican border, for instance.

In addition to U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents, these foreign nationals of these select countries may be eligible for Global Entry:

Your Global Entry number is generally denoted as a 9-digit number, such as 123456789. This is known as your Known Traveler Number, or KTN.

The application fee for Global Entry is $120 as of October 1, 2024, which covers you for 5 years. You can qualify for a credit every 4 years based on a 1-year renewal grace period.

Hot Tip: Having trouble finding an available appointment? Appointment Scanner is a third-party service you can pay to subscribe to that will send you an alert if there are last-minute interview cancellations at your desired enrollment centers. You can also customize your notification preferences and set a date limit.

NEXUS

NEXUS is probably the most uncommon Trusted Traveler Program covered by the application fee credit.

And in fact, Chase is the only credit card issuer whose statement credits are eligible to cover NEXUS — usually, only TSA PreCheck or Global Entry are covered.

NEXUS actually includes TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, too, which is fantastic. The major reason why we aren’t as gung-ho for NEXUS as Global Entry is that it will not have widespread appeal to Americans. That’s because you need to visit a NEXUS enrollment center to have your in-person appointment/interview, so it’s impractical for most Americans who live far away from the U.S.-Canada border to make a trip up north just to have a NEXUS interview.

Along the U.S.-Canada border, you can access NEXUS processing lanes at designed entry ports, plus when entering Canada by air.

NEXUS is valid for 5 years, and you will pay an application fee of $50 to enroll. After submitting an application, you’ll need to make an in-person appointment at one of the NEXUS enrollment centers in Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Vermont, or Washington.

In addition to U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents, you can sign up for NEXUS if you are a Canadian citizen, Canadian permanent resident, or Mexican national that is part of Viajero Confiable (Mexico’s TTP).

Once you’re a NEXUS member, you’ll want to enter your Known Traveler Number (KTN) on all your flight reservations so you can enjoy these benefits.

Which Program Should You Choose?

So now, the question is: with 3 Trusted Traveler Programs eligible for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card’s application fee credit, which one makes the most sense?

If you live near the U.S.-Canadian border or would be willing to make a trip to perform an in-person interview, we recommend enrolling in NEXUS.

If you aren’t willing to travel that far for an in-person interview, we recommend enrolling in Global Entry. We also recommend Global Entry as the best long-term strategy to expedite the departure and arrival process, even though the initial application process is more complex than TSA PreCheck.

If you never see yourself traveling internationally, you can enroll in TSA PreCheck. Another benefit of choosing TSA PreCheck over Global Entry is the easier enrollment process.

Simply put, we recommend:

• TSA PreCheck if you are a domestic-only traveler
• NEXUS if you travel internationally and are located near the U.S.-Canadian border
• Global Entry for all other travelers

Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers a TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS application fee credit.

Keep in mind that authorized users won’t get their own credit, so you’re limited to a maximum of $120 in value every 4 years from this benefit.

Using this credit is easy, just pay the application fee from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol website using your Chase Sapphire Reserve card. The statement credit will usually post to your account within 24 hours of your transaction. No enrollment is necessary.

For most people, Global Entry is the right fit, especially if you’re an international traveler. That’s because Global Entry includes TSA PreCheck, in addition to the other Global Entry benefits. However, the main drawback of Global Entry is in the difficult enrollment process.

TSA PreCheck is a great intermediate solution, especially if you’re planning to fly and don’t want to wait to schedule a Global Entry appointment.

Lastly, NEXUS happens to be the best program objectively, but the enrollment process can only happen at enrollment centers, all of which are located near the U.S.-Canadian border, which makes it a non-starter for most Americans.