TWIC®

No. The TWIC® card is the property of TSA.

Exception: an employer must retrieve a TWIC® card from an alien when their work visa expires and return it to TSA. Law enforcement, TSA or U.S. Coast Guard personnel may also confiscate a TWIC if used in conjunction with a crime.

U.S. Coast Guard policy allows workers who meet certain requirements to continue to have access to a regulated facility while waiting for their replacement card.  One of the conditions is to have a receipt showing that you ordered a replacement card.  Please contact the U.S. Coast Guard for further details on their policy.

You may make an appointment online through the Universal Enrollment Services website or by calling (855) 347-8371 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. If pre-enrollment is available, you may make an appointment online during the pre-enrollment process.

Request a TWIC® replacement card or card transfer online or call 855-347-8371 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. If paying by company check or with a money order, you must visit an application center and have the card ordered.

To ensure your privacy is protected, your data is encrypted, stored and transmitted securely using methods that protect the information from unauthorized retrieval or use.

Follow the same steps as a new applicant to renew your TWIC® card.

The fee for TWIC® is $125.25, and the credential is valid for five years. If you hold a valid Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) or a Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card, you may pay a reduced fee of $105.25. If you choose to pay the reduced fee, you must present your HME or FAST card at the time of enrollment. If you pay the reduced fee, your TWIC® card expiration date will be five years from the issuance date of the supporting FAST card or the expiration date of your current, unexpired HME.

Your first name, middle initial, and last name will be displayed on your TWIC® card. Prefixes and suffixes are not displayed.

No. If you find your card after ordering a replacement, then you should destroy the old card or return it directly to TSA to the address on the back of the card.

• Protect your card by keeping it in the hard plastic case provided with your TWIC.
• Do not place or hang in direct sunlight (for example, do not place on dashboard, visor, or hang from rear view mirror of automobile).
• Do not flex, bend, or punch a hole in the card.
• Do not carry the TWIC in your wallet, as it is subject to bending.
• Do not laminate or apply any tape or labels to the TWIC.
• Do not punch a hole in the card to wear it on a string; use the card holder.
• Do not place the card near a magnet or in a strong magnetic field.Industrial magnets (e.g. scrap yards, container lifters, etc.) may damage a TWIC if it is in close proximity to the magnetic source.

TSA’s goal is to provide you with a response within 30-45 days of receiving the information you provided at enrollment. This may take longer if there was difficulty capturing your fingerprints during enrollment. You can check your status online at any time.

TWIC® applicants who request their TWIC® card by mail will receive a phone or email notification that the card has been mailed. After notification, it should arrive at the address provided during enrollment or at an enrollment center within 10 days. If it is not received within the ten days, applicants have 60 days to report non-receipt of the card by visiting the Universal Enrollment Services website or calling (855) 347-8371 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Failure to report non-receipt of the card within 60 days will result in a $60 fee to replace the lost card.

You must report the disqualifying condition to TSA and surrender your TWIC to TSA by mailing the card to the address on the back.

If TSA finds potentially disqualifying information, TSA will send you a letter with instructions on how to proceed.

The legal interpretation of the phrase “field of transportation” as it relates to fees covering the cost of vetting services can be found on the Federal Register as Docket ID TSA-2016-0001.

Foreign nationals who perform maritime services in the United States and require access to secure areas of facilities and vessels can apply for this type of B-1 visa, specifically designed for the TWIC program. These individuals are required to meet the eligibility requirements set forth by the Department of State for a B-1 visa (‘Temporary Visitor for Business’) and are required to provide an official letter from their employer stating that a TWIC is required to perform the individual’s job in the maritime industry.

This letter must be provided to the relevant U.S. Embassy or Consulate as part of the individual’s visa application. The employer letter must contain details such as the type of work performed by the individual, the location and duration of the work, as well as employer contact information is required if additional information or follow up is necessary.

Your full name, expiration date, digital photo and two fingerprints.

Information about TWIC® readers can be found on the U.S. Coast Guard Homeport website.

According to fee statute (6 U.S.C. 469(a)), the field of transportation includes any individual, activity, entity, facility, owner or operator that is subject to regulation by TSA, the Department of Transportation or the U.S. Coast Guard. This also includes individuals applying for trusted traveler programs, such as TSA PreCheck®.

Yes. You can obtain a replacement for a $60.00 fee. Please visit the Universal Enrollment Services website or call (855) 347-8371 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, or visit an enrollment center to request a replacement TWIC® card.

No. The TWIC® card is property of the federal government.

During the enrollment process, TWIC® applicants are required to acknowledge their understanding that when they receive or pick up a new/replacement TWIC®, or when their TWIC® card expires, they are responsible for turning in their previous TWIC®. On receipt of the new TWIC® NexGen card, please send the previous and/or expired TWIC® to the TSA address on the back of the card or return the card to an enrollment center.

Yes. Even if you currently possess a TWIC® card, you must complete the in-person enrollment process at an enrollment center. You will be required to provide the necessary identity/immigration documentation and submit fingerprints during your in-person enrollment.

We recommend that you schedule an appointment. If appointments are not immediately available at the enrollment center of your choice, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at one of the alternate enrollment centers in the area. Appointments are encouraged to save you time but are not required as most enrollment centers will accept walk-ins for TWIC® applicants.

To expedite the application process, you may complete an optional online pre-enrollment. Please visit the Universal Enrollment Services website or call (855) 347-8371 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET for more information.

No. You must continue to complete the in-person enrollment process at an enrollment center. You will be required to provide the necessary identity/immigration documentation and submit fingerprints during your in-person enrollment. We recommend that you schedule an appointment. Visit the Universal Enrollment Services website or call (855) 347-8371 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET for more information.

No. The current TWIC® design will remain valid until the expiration date listed on the card. Both the current and new TWIC® NexGen cards will be accepted.

Dependent on potential disqualifying factors or delivery issues, most new TWIC® cards will arrive within 7-10 business days after enrollment. If the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver your card to the address you provided, it will not be forwarded and the card will be returned to TSA. Please make sure you maintain an updated address with Universal Enrollment Services.

Applicants may check the status of their enrollments at the Universal Enrollment Services website or by calling (855) 347-8371 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Please note, when checking your status online you will be required to enter the same contact information (phone or email) provided during enrollment.

No. TSA will not accept an expired TWIC® to board a plane. Please plan to apply for and receive a new TWIC® prior to the printed expiration date.

No. The current TWIC® cards will remain valid until the expiration date printed on the card. TWIC® card holders are not required to request a new or replacement TWIC® card until the card expires.

Note: Eligible TWIC® card holders may apply for a TWIC® and extend the validity of their TSA Security Threat Assessment at any point during its 5-year validity. TSA encourages TWIC® card holders to apply for a new TWIC® card at least 30 days prior to expiration to ensure timely delivery and/or pick-up of the new TWIC® card.

The new TWIC® card design incorporates enhanced security features, including tactile printing, holographic laminate, and an Integrated Circuit Chip with the card holder’s name and photograph, card expiration date, and two biometric fingerprint templates. Additionally, the TWIC® NexGen card design will include a color-coded expiration date to promote secure validation of TWIC® by inspectors and facility or vessel owners and operators.

It’s important to plan ahead to ensure you complete the TWIC® application with enough time to receive a TWIC® card through the mail or via an enrollment center. Most applicants without disqualifying factors will receive their TWIC® cards in less than 10 business days.

Due in part to potential disqualifying factors or delivery issues, TSA suggests applicants apply a minimum of 30 days in advance. TSA does not offer next day or expedited delivery at this time. Please use the Universal Enrollment Services website or call (855) 347-8371 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET for additional assistance.

TSA began issuing the new TWIC® NexGen cards on July 10, 2018, for all new and replacement TWIC® cards. In July, TSA ended production of the current TWIC® design and all cards issued by TSA will be the new, more secure card. 

TSA first issued the TWIC® card in 2007. Over the past decade, the TWIC® card’s vulnerability to potential counterfeiting efforts and fraudulent use has increased. The new TWIC® NexGen card design uses the latest technology to safeguard your identity and promote the secure use of the credential at regulated facilities or vessels.

No. There is no fee increase for the new cards.

No. You will not receive your new TWIC® card during your enrollment. All cards will be printed and mailed from a central facility to the applicant’s designated address or an enrollment center for pick-up. Generally, TWIC® applicants without disqualifying factors will receive their TWIC® in approximately 7-10 business days. Due in part to potential disqualifying factors or delivery issues, TSA suggests applicants apply a minimum of 30 days in advance.

Yes. The new card meets TSA security standards for valid identification, and a valid unexpired TWIC® can be used to board planes. TSA officers are trained to recognize the TWIC® as an acceptable form of identification.

Note: Certain airports, facilities or vessels may request additional information to verify one’s personal identity. Please see the access requirements of individual authorities, owners or operators for additional information.

Yes. TSA will continue to direct mail TWIC® cards to the card holder’s designated address. Alternatively, TWIC® applicants may request to have their TWIC® card shipped to an enrollment center for in-person pick-up.