U.S. · Travel IDs
Known Traveler Number format checker.
See whether your KTN or PASS ID has the shape TSA describes before you type it into a booking. Format only, nothing is looked up.
Short answer: A PreCheck KTN is 9 or 10 letters and digits, often starting TT, TE or AC. A Global Entry, NEXUS or SENTRI PASS ID is 9 digits. No public check digit exists, so a match never proves a number is active.
How a Known Traveler Number is built
TSA describes a Known Traveler Number as the identifier issued to anyone approved for TSA PreCheck expedited screening. It matters at the booking step: if the number is missing or mistyped, the PreCheck indicator will not print on your boarding pass. This page checks the shape of the number you have against the patterns TSA publishes. It does not look anything up.
There are two families of number, and TSA explains both on its Known Traveler Number page. Which one you hold depends on how you enrolled.
The two formats
- TSA PreCheck Application Program number. TSA says it is 9 or 10 digits long and can be a combination of numbers and letters. It typically begins with TT (IDEMIA), TE (Telos) or AC (CLEAR), the three enrolment providers.
- CBP PASS ID. For members of Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI, TSA says the KTN is the CBP PASS ID number. It is nine digits and usually begins with 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 50, 70, 80, 95, 98 or 99.
What the tool tells you
- Matches a common PASS ID shape. Nine digits starting with one of the listed prefixes.
- Nine digits, unusual prefix. The length fits a PASS ID but the first two digits are not in TSA's list. The word is usually, so this is not an error, just a prompt to compare with the card.
- Matches a TSA PreCheck number shape. Nine or ten letters and digits with at least one letter. If it starts with TT, TE or AC the tool names the provider.
- Does not match. Too short, too long or containing symbols. The tool lists likely causes, such as a letter O or I typed where a zero or one belongs.
Worked examples (made-up numbers)
150123456. Nine digits, prefix 15, which is on TSA's list. The tool says it matches the common PASS ID shape.
TT1234567. Nine characters, letters and digits, prefix TT. The tool says it matches the shape of a TSA PreCheck Application Program number issued through IDEMIA.
1501234567. Ten digits. A PASS ID is nine digits and a PreCheck number needs a letter, so the tool says it does not match either pattern and suggests checking for an extra digit.
12345678. Eight characters, one short of both formats.
No checksum exists
Many identifiers carry a check digit that lets a page prove a typo. We found no published check-digit rule for a KTN or PASS ID, so this tool cannot tell a mistyped number from a correct one that happens to have the right shape. That is why it never calls a number valid. The only real test is to book and see whether the PreCheck indicator appears, or to confirm with the program that issued it.
Where to find yours
For Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI, TSA says the number is on the back of the card in the upper-left corner, and also in your Trusted Traveler Programs account. For TSA PreCheck, look in the approval email or the account with the enrolment provider. Enter it in the Known Traveler Number field and leave Redress Number empty unless you hold one.
Who this is for
Travellers booking a flight who want to be sure the number they are about to type has the right shape, including Canadian NEXUS members whose PASS ID doubles as their KTN on U.S. bookings.
What this does not cover
It does not confirm that a number was issued, belongs to you or is active, and it does not check the expiry of a membership. It does not store or send the number. Rules and prefixes can change, so confirm against the TSA page cited below.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Known Traveler Number?
TSA says a Known Traveler Number (KTN) is issued to all individuals approved to receive TSA PreCheck expedited screening. You enter it in the KTN field when you book a flight so the PreCheck indicator can appear on your boarding pass.
How long is a KTN and what does it look like?
For people who applied through the TSA PreCheck Application Program, TSA says the number is 9 or 10 digits long and can be a combination of numbers and letters; it typically begins with TT (IDEMIA), TE (Telos) or AC (CLEAR).
What is a PASSID and is it the same as a KTN?
For Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI members, TSA says the KTN is the CBP PASS ID number. It is nine digits and usually begins with 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 50, 70, 80, 95, 98 or 99.
Where do I find my KTN?
TSA says Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI members can find it on the back of the card in the upper-left corner, or by logging in to the Trusted Traveler Programs website. TSA PreCheck Application Program members should look in their approval email or enrolment account.
Can this tool tell me if my KTN is valid or active?
No. It checks format only. No public check digit or lookup exists, so a number that fits a pattern is not proof that it was issued or is current. Only the airline booking, TSA or CBP can confirm that.
Do NEXUS members use their PASSID as a KTN?
Yes. TSA says for Global Entry, NEXUS and SENTRI the KTN is the CBP PASS ID. A NEXUS card by itself does not grant PreCheck lane access, so the PASS ID must be entered in the KTN field when you book.
Is a KTN the same as a Redress Number?
No. They are separate fields on a booking. A redress number is issued through the Department of Homeland Security Travel Redress Inquiry Program. Put your KTN in the Known Traveler Number field, not the Redress field.
Is the number I type sent anywhere?
No. The check runs in your browser inside an isolated frame with no network access. Nothing is stored or logged.
Sources
Retrieved
Runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent or stored.
Format only, not verification
This page checks the shape of a number only. It does not query TSA or CBP, cannot confirm that a number was issued, belongs to anyone or is active, and does not verify identity. Anything you type stays in your browser.