TSA PreCheck lasts five years, and you can renew online up to six months before the expiration date. TSA recommends renewing at least 60 days ahead to avoid a lapse, you keep the same Known Traveler Number (KTN), and the price depends on which authorized provider you renew through. If the KTN expires before your flight, PreCheck simply won't appear on your boarding pass.

That last point is the one that catches people. The lane doesn't care that you booked the flight when your membership was still valid.

TSA PreCheck renewal, in four numbers
  • 5 yearshow long a PreCheck membership lasts
  • 6 monthshow early you can renew onlinethe new term starts when the old one ends
  • 60 daysbefore expiry: the date TSA recommends renewing byto avoid a lapse in benefits
  • $85 or lessfor five years, according to TSArenewal pricing varies by provider

As of October 2026 · Sources: tsa.gov/precheck and TSA's PreCheck FAQ.

When to renew

When the reminders come and when to act
  1. 6 months beforeRenewal opens online; first email or text from your provider
  2. 3 months beforeSecond reminder
  3. 60 days beforeTSA's recommended renewal deadline
  4. 1 month and 2 weeks beforeFinal reminders
  5. ExpirationKTN expired: no PreCheck indicator on your boarding pass

Sources: TSA FAQ pages on when to renew and how you will know your membership expires. Reminders go to members with a valid email or phone on record.

The new membership period starts when the current one ends, so TSA's own FAQ says there is no disadvantage to renewing early. The practical window runs from six months before expiry to 60 days before, with a margin for name changes or a snag with your documents.

You don't have to remember the date. TSA says its enrollment providers send renewal notices to members with a valid email or phone number on record: six months, three months, one month and two weeks before expiration, from IDEMIA / Universal Enroll. You can also look up your expiration date online with TSA's KTN lookup tool, which is also the first thing to try if PreCheck stops showing up on your boarding pass.

How to renew

You can renew online with any of the three authorized enrollment providers: CLEAR, IDEMIA and Telos. TSA's warning is blunt: they're the only authorized providers, so make sure you renew with one of them. TSA has also had reports of fraudulent renewal sites, and it won't reimburse people who renew through a fraudulent website. If it happens to you, report it to local police and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and call your bank.

Renewing in person at an enrollment center is the alternative. If your name has changed since you enrolled, you either renew in person or update your name with the provider first, up to six months before expiry. TSA says name changes can take up to 45 days.

What it costs

How to renew
  1. Look up your KTN and expiry dateUse TSA's KTN lookup tool.
  2. Pick an authorized providerCLEAR, IDEMIA or Telos, only.
  3. Renew onlineUp to six months before expiry; or in person at an enrollment center.
  4. Name changed? Update it firstRenew in person or update with your provider; it can take up to 45 days.
  5. Keep your KTNIt stays the same; check your airline profile still has it.

TSA says the renewal fee varies by enrollment provider, covers five years, and pays for the background check. For scale, its PreCheck page advertises five years of benefits for $85 or less. The price you're quoted by CLEAR, IDEMIA or Telos is the one to trust; TSA directs you to its PreCheck page for the current offerings.

Keeping your KTN working

The KTN is 9 or 10 characters (letters and numbers) and begins with TT, TE or AC. Because it stays the same after renewal, your airline profiles should still work, but it's worth checking it is attached to each booking: without a valid boarding pass showing the PreCheck indicator, you can't use the lane. If PreCheck is missing and your KTN is active, confirm with the airline that your KTN, name and date of birth match.

If you also hold Global Entry, your Global Entry number serves as your KTN, and it's renewed with CBP instead. The Global Entry renewal page covers that route. TSA says you can't switch between the programs; going from PreCheck to Global Entry means applying as a new Global Entry applicant.

ID at the checkpoint

PreCheck changes your lane, not your ID requirements. You still need an acceptable ID for domestic flights, and the REAL ID page covers what TSA accepts now. Children 17 and under can go through the PreCheck lane with an adult who has it.

Keep the date where you'll see it

Write the expiration date in your calendar with a reminder at seven months, so renewal is a planned errand instead of an emergency. The document expiry list guide shows which other dates are worth tracking, and the expiry checker tool builds the list in your browser.

Paperlock can read the KTN and expiry from a photo of your PreCheck letter or card, keep it in a Face-ID-locked vault, and, once reminders are on, remind you 30 and 7 days ahead. Prices and rules come from the provider and TSA, so check them before you pay.