Traveling through the airport just became a little easier for some veterans.
A recent federal law, the Veterans Expedited TSA Screening (VETS) Safe Travel Act, now allows certain veterans with severe service-connected disabilities to enroll in TSA PreCheck at no cost. While active-duty service members have long received this benefit, the expansion recognizes veterans whose disabilities can make air travel more challenging.
If you or someone you know is part of the military community, here's what you should know.
Who Already Receives TSA PreCheck for Free?
Several groups qualify for complimentary TSA PreCheck.
Active-duty military
Members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reserve components automatically receive TSA PreCheck. When booking a flight, simply enter your 10-digit Department of Defense ID number as your Known Traveler Number.
Gold Star Families
Immediate family members of service members who died in the line of duty may also qualify through a separate enrollment process.
What's New?
Beginning in 2025, and with enrollment now available through the Department of Veterans Affairs, certain veterans with severe service-connected disabilities may receive TSA PreCheck free of charge.
To qualify, veterans must:
- Be enrolled in VA Health Care.
- Have a qualifying service-connected disability involving permanent blindness, limb loss, loss of use of a limb, or paralysis.
- Require a VA-issued wheelchair or prosthetic because of that disability.
All three requirements must be met.
How Eligible Veterans Apply
Eligible veterans do not need to request an eligibility letter.
The VA automatically uploads a TSA PreCheck Application Fee Waiver Letter to the veteran's VA.gov account.
Enrollment must currently be completed through IDEMIA, the only authorized provider processing the fee waiver.
After receiving the eligibility letter, veterans email it to IDEMIA to receive an offer code before scheduling their enrollment appointment.
What If You Don't Qualify?
Veterans who don't meet the eligibility requirements can still apply through the standard TSA PreCheck process.
Before paying the enrollment fee, check whether one of your credit cards offers TSA PreCheck reimbursement. Many travel rewards cards include this benefit.
Helpful Tips for Travelers
Veterans traveling with prosthetics, wheelchairs, or other mobility devices can request additional screening assistance through TSA Cares.
Calling at least 72 hours before your trip can help ensure a smoother airport experience.
Even if you don't personally qualify for the new benefit, you may know someone who does. Sharing this information could help make future travel easier for a fellow veteran or military family.
