What Clear Does and How Registration Works

Clear is a biometric identity verification service that lets you skip the document-check line at airport security. You scan your fingerprint or face, confirm your identity in seconds, and move straight to the TSA screening checkpoint. Registration happens online and takes about 10 minutes, though you'll need to visit an airport kiosk within 30 days to complete the biometric scan.

Clear is not free — it costs $189 per year as of now, though pricing varies by region and promotional offers. The service works at major U.S. airports and some sports venues and concert halls. It does not replace TSA PreCheck (which handles the actual security screening faster) — many people use both together.

Key Takeaways

  • Clear registration starts online at the Clear website, where you provide your name, date of birth, email, and payment information.
  • You must visit a Clear kiosk at a participating airport within 30 days of online registration to scan your fingerprints or face and complete the setup.
  • Clear works only at airports and venues where Clear lanes exist — check the airport list on their website before you sign up.
  • Clear speeds up the identity-check step only; you still go through standard TSA screening unless you also have TSA PreCheck.

Step-by-Step Online Registration

Go to the Clear website and click the sign-up button. You will enter your first and last name, date of birth, email address, and phone number. Clear will ask for your state of residence and whether you want to add family members to the account (spouses and children under 18 can be added at the same time for an additional fee per person).

Next, you provide payment information — Clear accepts credit and debit cards. Review the terms of service and confirm your registration. Clear will send a confirmation email with your membership number and instructions for the in-airport biometric step. Save this email or screenshot your membership number; you will need it at the kiosk.

At this point, your account exists but is not yet active. You have 30 days to complete the biometric scan at an airport. If you do not visit a kiosk within 30 days, your registration expires and you will need to start over.

Completing Your Biometric Scan at the Airport

Find a Clear kiosk at your airport — they are usually located near the security checkpoint entrance, often in a separate lane marked "Clear." Bring a valid government ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID). Approach the kiosk and enter your membership number or the email address you used to register.

The kiosk will ask you to either scan your fingerprints or take a facial scan. For fingerprints, you place your index and middle fingers on the scanner twice. For facial recognition, you look at the camera and follow any on-screen instructions. The scan takes about 30 seconds. The kiosk will confirm that your biometric data has been recorded and your membership is now active.

You can use Clear when ready after this scan. On your next trip through that airport, walk to the Clear lane, scan your fingerprint or face again at the entrance, and proceed directly to TSA screening. Different airports may have slightly different kiosk layouts, but the process is the same at all participating locations.

Which Airports and Venues Have Clear

Clear operates at major U.S. airports including Atlanta (ATL), Los Angeles (LAX), New York (JFK, LaGuardia, Newark), Chicago (ORD), Dallas (DFW), Denver (DEN), San Francisco (SFO), Miami (MIA), and Boston (BOS). The full list changes occasionally as Clear expands, so check their website for the current list of participating airports before you register.

Clear also works at some sports venues (including stadiums for NFL, NBA, and NHL teams) and concert venues, though airport use is the primary reason most people sign up. If you travel through an airport where Clear is not available, your membership does not work there — you will go through standard security lines.

Combining Clear with TSA PreCheck

Clear and TSA PreCheck serve different purposes and work together. Clear skips the identity-verification line; TSA PreCheck speeds up the actual security screening (you keep shoes and belt on, laptops stay in bags, liquids stay in carry-on). Many frequent travelers use both.

TSA PreCheck costs $78 to $85 for five years and requires an in-person appointment at a TSA enrollment center. If you have TSA PreCheck, Clear will recognize it and route you to the faster screening lane after you clear the identity check. If you have only Clear, you still go through standard TSA screening — you just skip the document-check line first.

What Happens If You Lose Access or Need to Cancel

If you forget your membership number, you can look it up on the Clear website by signing into your account with your email and password. If you forget your password, use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page.

To cancel your membership, log into your Clear account online and select the cancellation option. Clear will stop charging you at the next renewal date. If you cancel mid-year, you do not receive a refund for unused time. If your membership expires and you want to use Clear again, you will need to register and complete a new biometric scan.

Common Issues During Registration and Setup

The most common problem is waiting too long to visit the airport kiosk. Your 30-day window starts when you complete online registration, so plan your first trip through a Clear airport within that timeframe. If the window closes, you must register again and pay the full membership fee.

At the kiosk, biometric scans occasionally fail if the lighting is poor, your fingers are wet, or the camera angle is off. The kiosk will tell you to try again. If a scan fails multiple times, ask a Clear staff member at the airport — they can help troubleshoot or manually verify your identity to set up your account.

Some people register at one airport but then try to use Clear at a different airport before their biometric scan is recorded in the system. Your membership is not active until the kiosk scan is complete, so you must finish the in-airport step before traveling through a different airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need TSA PreCheck to use Clear?

No. Clear works independently — it skips the identity-check line, and you then go through standard TSA screening. TSA PreCheck speeds up the screening itself. You can use either one alone, but many travelers use both for the fastest possible airport experience.

Can I register for Clear on my phone?

Yes, the online registration happens on the Clear website and works on any device. However, the biometric scan at the airport kiosk requires you to be physically present at the airport — you cannot do that remotely.

What if the Clear kiosk is broken when I visit the airport?

Ask a Clear staff member or TSA agent where the nearest working kiosk is located. If no kiosk is working at that airport, you can complete your biometric scan at a different participating airport within your 30-day window. You still have the full 30 days from your online registration date.

Can I add my spouse or children to my Clear account?

Yes, during online registration you can add family members and pay an additional fee per person. Each family member will need to complete their own biometric scan at an airport kiosk to set up their membership.

What if I travel internationally — does Clear work outside the U.S.?

Clear works only at U.S. airports and venues. It does not work at international airports or in other countries. For international travel, you would use TSA PreCheck (if departing from a U.S. airport) or the security procedures of the country you are visiting.