[Updated: 13 August 2026]
A TSA-approved lock lets airport security open and re-close your bag without cutting it off. They're legally required for the US and Canada, and increasingly recommended elsewhere — including Thailand from October 2026.
Upon receiving the luggage you've just bought, you realised that the lock has a keyhole but the key is nowhere to be found!
1. Where is the key for the TSA lock?
If the number lock looks similar to any lock in the picture below, with a red diamond logo, it is a TSA (Travel Sentry® Approved) lock. There is NO key to the lock, as the master key is held ONLY by the immigration custom officers, for them to check the luggage contents without cutting off or breaking open the number lock (Source: Wikipedia). Based on our experience, the customs officer will leave a note in the luggage whenever they open any passenger's luggage for inspection.
It is a safety regulation imposed by United States and Canada for all inbound/outbound/transit passengers to have their luggage locked either by TSA lock or TSA padlock. So, for the sake of keeping your luggage lock intact, get a luggage from us equipped with TSA lock (or you may use your own TSA padlock too).
Different types of TSA locks
2. Which countries require TSA locks?
For now, only visitors to U.S. and Canada are legally required to use TSA locks.
However, more countries are now strongly recommending them even without a legal mandate. From 16 October 2026, Thailand's Civil Aviation Authority (CAAT) will allow airport security to open checked bags flagged during X-ray screening — without the owner present — if prohibited or dangerous items are suspected. CAAT is advising travellers heading to/from Thailand to use a TSA-approved lock, so officers can open and reclose the bag without cutting it off. Similar practices are already standard in Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and much of Europe and the Middle East. (Source: Bangkok Post)
Heading to Thailand, the US, or anywhere else that now inspects checked bags this way? Browse our TSA-lock-equipped luggage
U.S. advisory: https://www.tsa.gov/travel/travel-tips#
Canada advisory: https://www.catsa-acsta.gc.ca/en/locked-baggage
3. How do I reset / change the passcode for TSA Locks?
The default passcode to unlock is '0-0-0'.
a) With the number combination in the unlocked position, locate a small round button at the side of the lock. Using the sharp tip of a pen, push the round button in (it should remain depressed).
b) Next, turn the number dials to your desired combination.
c) Then push the unlock latch all the way in and the small round button will pop out with a 'click' sound. The new passcode for the TSA Lock is now set!
You may also wish to follow the steps in this YouTube video below to change the password for the TSA Lock:
4. How about Safe Skies TSA locks?
It is an equal substitute for the TSA (red diamond logo) lock, and carries a red torch logo. It also does not have a key. Both TSA and Safe Skies locks are accepted at U.S. and Canadian customs.
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Examples of a Safe Skies lock
Get one of our luggage series equipped with TSA-approved/Safe Skies locks before your next trip — wherever it takes you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a TSA lock if I'm not flying to the US?
It's not legally required outside the US and Canada, but it's recommended for Thailand (from October 2026) and increasingly common practice in Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and parts of Europe.
What happens if I use a regular padlock instead of a TSA lock?
If security needs to inspect your bag, a non-TSA lock will simply be cut off — there's no compensation for the damage. A TSA-approved lock avoids this because officers can open and reclose it with a master key or tool.
What's the default passcode on a new TSA lock?
0-0-0. Reset it to your own combination before your first trip using the steps above.
Is a Safe Skies lock the same as a TSA lock?
Functionally yes — both let airport security open your bag without a key, and both are accepted at US and Canadian customs.
How is a TSA lock different from a regular padlock or cable tie?
A TSA lock has a dual-opening mechanism: your own combination for everyday use, plus a separate keyway only security officers can access with a master key. A regular padlock or cable tie has no such override, so it gets cut if security needs inside.
