Getting Started

The Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-264) mandates Federal Government cardholders to use the contractor-issued travel charge card for official government travel expenses and to receive cash advances unless:

1. A vendor does not accept the travel charge card;
2. The Administrator of GSA has granted an exemption (see FTR Section 301-70.704); or
3. Your agency head or his/her designee has granted an exemption.

Government travel charge cards are VISA or MasterCard branded and can be used at any location that accepts VISA or MasterCard credit cards, including internationally.  The GSA SmartPay travel charge card may be used only for authorized official travel and authorized travel related expenses. Official travel expenses are transportation, lodging, meals, and incidentals. The travel charge card may not be used for personal expenses at any time or must not be used by any other person.

When you return from your trip, you must submit a claim for reimbursement of the allowed expenses incurred while on travel. You will either use the reimbursed amount to pay the travel charge card bill or it may be sent directly to the card-issuing bank if your agency has split disbursement in place.

To get started with a GSA SmartPay Travel Card, you must:

1. Apply for a government travel charge card.
2. Read and become familiar with your agency’s travel policy and procedures.
3. Find out what receipts you will need to keep to be reimbursed.
4. Become familiar with Federal travel policy:
   • Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) - for civilian employees (41 CFR., Chapters 301-304)
   • Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) - for DoD civilian employees
   • Foreign Affairs Manual, Volume 6, Chapter 100 (6 FAM 100) - for members of the Foreign Service, U.S. Department of State