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Free TSA PreCheck for Veterans: New 2026 Eligibility Rules Explained
July 1, 2025
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Applying for TSA PreCheck usually costs $76.75 to $85. As of this year, some disabled veterans don't have to pay it at all.
What Changed
The VETS Safe Travel Act was signed into law in January 2025 with bipartisan support, backed by groups including the Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It took over a year for the VA and TSA to build the systems needed to verify eligibility, but the fee waiver is now live. Eligible veterans can apply for TSA PreCheck without paying the application fee.
This closes a gap that's existed for a while. Several groups have long had access to free PreCheck, including kids 17 and under flying with an enrolled parent, certain Hazardous Materials Endorsement holders, active military and DoD civilian employees, and Gold Star families. Veterans, as a group, generally weren't on that list until now.
Who Qualifies
According to the VA, a veteran must meet all three of the following to be eligible:
- Enrolled in VA health care
- Has a service-connected disability resulting in permanent blindness, loss of a limb, loss of use of a limb, or full or partial paralysis
- Requires a VA-issued wheelchair or prosthetic limb because of a service-connected disability
It's a narrow benefit, not something every veteran will qualify for. If you think you might meet the criteria, the VA's website has the current eligibility details and the process for applying with the fee waived.
If You Don't Qualify
The veteran waiver only applies to a specific group. If you're a veteran who doesn't meet all three requirements, or you're not a veteran at all, a handful of credit cards will still cover the TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee as a statement credit, including a couple of options with no annual fee premium to speak of. We break those down, including the newest addition to the list, in our guide to the best credit cards for TSA PreCheck.
Bottom Line
If you're a veteran with a qualifying service-connected disability, it's worth a few minutes to check your eligibility before your next trip. It's one less fee to think about and one more way to make it through the airport a little faster.
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Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
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