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Update TSA PreCheck when renewing passport?

Posted by on

I am renewing my US passport soon so I'll be getting a new number. I don't remember if I used my passport as photo ID when I enrolled in TSA Pre-Check (several years ago), but it occurs to me that if I did, my passport number might be linked to it. I'd hate to get to the airport and find out my KTN/Pre-Check is invalid because my passport number is different now.

So I researched online whether I need to update my KTN/TSA PreCheck with the new number and (surprise!) there is a lot of conflicting info on the interwebs.

Interestingly, the TSA website for Pre-Check doesn't answer this question (unless I missed it). It says if you have questions about Pre-Check that aren't answered on their website, contact the company you enrolled with.

So I called Idemia and the gentleman there said that TSA PreCheck does not use your passport to verify your identity, so you do not need to update them with changes. (Note that I did check Idemia's "update contact information" section of their site and there's no option to update your passport number.)

For good measure, I thought I would just check with Rick Steves travelers: have any of you gone through this process recently and if so would you mind sharing your experience?

Posted by
5364 posts

I got a new passport last Dec/Jan. I did the same search to see if I needed to update TSA with my passport and did not find any need to do so. I have traveled half a dozen times since then, both domestically and internationally, and TSA pre-check has worked as it always did.

Posted by
8876 posts

My case was a bit different. I got a new passport and needed to update the information for my Nexus Card. In theory this can be done online. Another option was to do it a CBP next time I was at SeaTac. I just walked into the office, updated my info and was out in about 5minutes.

Posted by
149 posts

I appreciate this question being raised as we will go thru these steps next year. BUT we have TSA PreCheck thru Global Entry and THAT has been very helpful to us getting back to US.

Posted by
1138 posts

I'm quite surprised at the responses that indicate there is no need to update a Global Entry account with a new passport number. I just renewed my passport in December 2023. There were instructions to update the Trusted Traveler info on the official State Department website.

Scroll down here to the question, "Should I update my Trusted Traveler information (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI) when I receive my passport?" The answer is "yes". https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/passport-help/after-getting-passport.html

US Customs and Border Protection also addresses the issue:
https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1265?language=en_US

it is easy to update the info online. Also, update any passport info that has been stored on airline frequent flyer accounts. Some airlines keep this info on your account, some require it be entered each time you fly internationally. Best to check.

Posted by
8964 posts

Rachel, TSA Pre-check is not just for international travelers, but all domestic travel as well. So it is not linked to your passport. It's just a number that you use when you book flights that links to the TSA database.

For Global Entry users, the number is linked to your passport, and there is a means on the GE site to update with a new passport number.

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