Starting June 30, 2018, if you are traveling from an international last-point-of-departure to the U.S., powder-based substances in carry-on baggage greater than 350mL or 12 oz. may require additional screening at the central checkpoint. Powder-like substances over 12 oz. or 350mL in carry-on that cannot be resolved at the central checkpoint will not be allowed onto the cabin of the aircraft and will be disposed of.  

For your convenience, place powders in your checked bag.

The measures have already been implemented at U.S. airports nationwide to identify and prevent potentially dangerous items from being brought aboard the aircraft. There are no changes to what is allowed in carry-on baggage at U.S. airport checkpoints.

TSA does not prohibit photographing, videotaping or filming at security checkpoints, as long as the screening process is not interfered with or sensitive information is not revealed.

Interference with screening includes but is not limited to holding a recording device up to the face of a TSA officer so that the officer is unable to see or move, refusing to assume the proper stance during screening, blocking the movement of others through the checkpoint or refusing to submit a recording device for screening.

Additionally, you may not film or take pictures of equipment monitors that are shielded from public view.

Please remove your pet from the carrying case and place the case through the X-ray machine. You should maintain control of your pet with a leash and remember to remove the leash when carrying your pet through the metal detector. Animal carriers will undergo a visual and/or physical inspection.

Contact the airline to determine your airline's policy on traveling with pets before arriving at the airport.

You are encouraged to contact your airline as times may vary depending on the airport and date of travel. In general, please allow time for parking/shuttle transportation, airline check-in, obtaining a boarding pass and going through the security screening process, which includes screening of your carry-on bag.

You may check how busy the airport is likely to be on your specific day and time of travel based on historical data by downloading the MyTSA app.

In the event you arrive at the airport without proper ID, because it is lost or at home, you may still be allowed to fly. By providing additional information, TSA has other ways to confirm your identity, like using publicly available databases, so you can reach your flight.

If your identity cannot be verified, you will not be allowed to enter the screening checkpoint.

Persons wearing head coverings, loose fitting or bulky garments may undergo additional security screening, which may include a pat-down. A pat-down will be conducted by a TSA officer of the same gender. If an alarm cannot be resolved through a pat-down, you may ask to remove the head covering in a private screening area.

Religious knives, swords and other objects are not permitted through the security checkpoint and must be packed in checked baggage.

Inform the TSA officer if you have religious, cultural or ceremonial items that require special handling.

Certain metal body piercings may cause the machines to alarm and a pat-down may be required. If additional screening is required, you may be asked to remove your body piercing in private as an alternative to the pat-down.

Transgender persons will be screened as he or she presents at the security checkpoint. The advanced imaging technology used to screen passengers has software that looks at the anatomy of men and women differently. If there is an alarm, TSA officers are trained to clear the alarm, not the individual. This process ensures every individual is screened effectively according to procedures prior to entering the secured area of an airport. You may request private screening or to speak with a supervisor at any time during the screening process

Please contact our Office of Civil Rights and Liberties for more information.

Learn more about the screening process and travel tips for transgender passengers.

Size dimensions of carry-on baggage allowed in the cabin of the aircraft vary by airline. Contact your airline to ensure what can fit in the overhead bin or under the seat in front of you.

Musical instruments must undergo screening when transported as carry-on or in checked baggage. Musical instruments transported as carry-on require a physical inspection at the security checkpoint. Inform the TSA officer if your instrument requires special care and handling. You may pack brass instruments in your checked or carry-on baggage.

Check with your airline prior to your flight to ensure your instrument meets the aircraft size requirements.

TSA officers will consult parents or the traveling guardian about the best way to relieve any concerns during the screening of a child and to resolve any alarms during screening. TSA has modified screening procedures for children 12 and under that reduce the likelihood of pat-down screening. Read about the screening process if you are traveling with children.

For travelers 13 years and older, TSA’s standard screening procedures apply.

You will be asked to remove all items from your pockets (including non-metallic items) and walk into the imaging portal. Once inside, you are required to stand in position and remain still for a few seconds while the technology creates an image in real time. You will then exit the opposite side of the portal and collect your belongings. The entire process takes a matter of seconds.

Millimeter wave imaging technology uses harmless electromagnetic waves to detect potential threats, which are highlighted on a generic outline of a person appearing on a monitor attached to the unit. If there isn’t an alarm, an “OK” appears on the screen with no outline.

Advanced imaging technology is safe and meets national health and safety standards. In fact, the energy emitted by millimeter wave technology is 1000 times less than the international limits and guidelines.

Generally, passengers undergoing screening will have the opportunity to decline AIT screening in favor of physical screening. However, some passengers will be required to undergo AIT screening if their boarding pass indicates that they have been selected for enhanced screening, in accordance with TSA regulations, prior to their arrival at the security checkpoint. This will occur in a very limited number of circumstances. The vast majority of passengers will not be affected.

Advanced imaging technology safely screens passengers without physical contact for both metallic and non-metallic threats, including weapons and explosives, which may be concealed under a passenger’s clothing.

TSA has implemented strict measures to protect passenger privacy, which is ensured through the anonymity of the image. Automated target recognition software detects any metallic and non-metallic threats concealed under clothing by displaying a generic outline of a person on a monitor attached to the advanced imaging technology unit highlighting any areas that may require additional screening. The generic outline of a person will be identical for all passengers. If there isn’t an alarm, an “OK” appears on the screen with no outline.

A nebulizer, CPAP, BiPAP and APAP must be removed from its carrying case and undergo X-ray screening. Facemasks and tubing may remain in the case. You may provide a clear plastic bag to place the device through the X-ray.

All passenger items must undergo security screening. It is recommended that medication be clearly labeled to facilitate the screening process.

You may bring medically necessary liquids, medications and creams in excess of 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in your carry-on bag. Remove them from your carry-on bag to be screened separately from the rest of your belongings.

You and your service dog/animal will be screened by a walk-through metal detector. You may walk through together or you may lead the animal through separately on a leash. You will undergo a pat-down if you are not screened by the walk-through metal detector.

If the metal detector alarms, you and your service dog/animal will undergo additional screening, including a pat-down.

You can be screened without having to empty or expose the ostomy pouch during advanced imaging technology, metal detector and pat-down screening. Please inform a TSA officer that you have an ostomy pouch before you enter the screening area. The ostomy pouch is subject to additional screening and may require you to conduct a self pat-down of the pouch outside of your clothing, followed by a test of your hands for any trace of explosives. You may also undergo a standard pat-down of areas that will not include the ostomy pouch.

TSA Cares is a helpline that provides travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances additional assistance during the security screening process.

Contact us 72 hours prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. You may call (855) 787-2227 or email TSA Cares.

Advanced imaging technology can facilitate your screening and reduces the likelihood of a pat-down. Inform the TSA officer that you have an artificial knee, hip, other metal implant or a pacemaker, defibrillator or other internal medical device. You should not be screened by a walk-through metal detector if you have an internal medical device such as a pacemaker. Consult with your physician prior to flying.

If you choose to not be screened through the advanced imaging technology or you alarm the walk-through metal detector, you will undergo a pat-down screening.

Money from the sale of all lost and found items goes to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and into a general fund used to pay towards the U.S. national debt.

You may file a claim if you are injured or your property is lost or damaged during the screening process. Screening at certain airports is performed by private companies and not TSA.

To retrieve the item, you must be able to describe the item, when it was lost, the color of the item, or any information identifying the item, to ensure it is reunited with its rightful owner. 

Contact lost and found to locate items left at the security checkpoint. For items left elsewhere in the airport, please contact the airport authority.

TSA estimates that approximately 90,000 to 100,000 items are left behind at checkpoints each month. 

Provide as much detail as possible including receipts, appraisals and flight information to avoid delays. Contact your airline for lost or missing baggage.

Please allow up to six months to fully investigate your claim. Claims that require investigation by law enforcement require additional processing time.

All claims are investigated thoroughly and the final decision to approve a claim rests with TSA. If your claim is approved, you will receive a letter and form to complete regarding settlement agreement and/or payment methods. You can check the status of your claim at any time.

TSA works with the airport to reunite passengers with all lost or unclaimed personal property, including personal identification items such as drivers’ licenses and passports, left behind at a checkpoint. If the ID is not claimed within 30 days, it is destroyed.    

All weapons detected in carry-on bags are turned over to local law enforcement authorities.

TSA makes every effort to reunite passengers with items left behind at the airport checkpoint. Lost and found items retained by TSA for a minimum of thirty (30) days, and if not claimed, are either destroyed, turned over to a state agency for surplus property, or sold by TSA as excess property. The state may dispose of the items through sales, destruction, donations or charities. The state keeps any money from sales, not TSA. At a number of locations, lost and found items are turned over to the airport at the end of each day.

Unclaimed electronics will have its memory removed and destroyed (e.g. laptop hard drive) or be destroyed completely (e.g. items with non-removable memory) to protect personal data after the 30-day holding period.

To reduce the likelihood of an alarm that results in pat-down screening, remember to remove all items from your pockets before you go through screening. You should avoid wearing clothes, shoes and jewelry with a high metal content.

At any time during the screening process, you may request private screening and have  a witness of your choice present. The screening is conducted by a TSA officer of the same gender. The officer will explain the pat-down process before and during the screening. Since pat-down screening is conducted to determine whether prohibited items are concealed under clothing, sufficient pressure must be applied in order to ensure detection. You should inform the officer if you have a medical condition or any areas that are painful when touched.

Pat-down screening is used to resolve alarms; provide an alternate to metal detectors and imaging technology; and as an unpredictable security measure.

TSA officers will work with parents to resolve any alarms at the checkpoint. TSA has modified screening procedures for children 12 and under that reduce the likelihood of pat-down screening.

There are no provisions for returning prohibited items removed from checked baggage. Passengers should contact their airline with further questions about possible hazardous materials.

Formula, breast milk and juice in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do need to not fit within a quart-sized bag. These items should be separated from other liquids, gels and aerosols limited to 3.4 ounces.

Ice packs, freezer packs, frozen gel packs and other accessories required to cool formula, breast milk and juice are allowed in your carry-on. If these accessories are partially frozen or slushy, they are subject to the same screening as described above. You may also bring gel or liquid-filled teethers, canned, jarred and processed baby food in carry-on baggage. These items may be subject to additional screening.

Yes, you may pack food in your carry-on or checked bag, but remember all food must undergo x-ray screening. Foods that are liquids, gels, or aerosols must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule. TSA officers make the final decision on whether certain items are permitted into the secured areas of the airport.

If hazardous materials are found in a passenger’s checked baggage, those items are brought to the attention of the airline with which the passenger is booked.  Once the airline determines whether the item is permitted or prohibited, TSA officers accept the airline’s determination.

Each passenger may carry liquids, gels and aerosols in travel-size containers that are 3.4 ounces or100 milliliters. Each passenger is limited to one quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols. Common travel items that must comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule include toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, mouthwash and lotion.

All questions about current TSA PreCheck® Enrollment or Renewals can be directed to Customer Service at 855-347-8371 weekdays between 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. ET. For questions regarding additional enrollment providers, please contact the TSA Contact Center at TSA-ContactCenter@tsa.dhs.gov, at 866-289-9673, or complete a Request for Information here.

It takes five minutes to submit an online application and schedule a ten minute in-person appointment that includes a background check and fingerprinting at an enrollment center.

Before you apply, we recommend that you review the various DHS trusted traveler programs, such as the TSA PreCheck® Application Program, Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements and determine the best program for you.

The existing TSA PreCheck® enrollment process will not change immediately. Anyone enrolling in TSA PreCheck® can apply online in 5 minutes and schedule a 10 minute in-person appointment at any of the current 400+ enrollment centers. Once additional enrollment providers are operational, individuals may enroll with any provider.

The TSA PreCheck® enrollment process is currently facilitated by an enrollment provider contracted by TSA. The enrollment provider collects TSA PreCheck® enrollment information from applicants and submits this data to TSA and the FBI. Enrollments are managed by the enrollment provider and overseen by TSA.

TSA expects that enrollment providers will begin enrolling applicants in late 2020. Enrollment providers must develop a TSA PreCheck® enrollment system, determine enrollment locations, and hire and train staff. In addition, TSA will conduct a thorough cybersecurity review of each enrollment provider’s system to ensure it meets the latest cybersecurity requirements before being allowed access to applicant data.

Currently, TSA PreCheck® enrollment is conducted by IdentoGO by Idemia Identity & Security USA, LLC. Starting in late 2020, Alclear, LLC and Telos Identity Management Solutions, LLC will also conduct TSA PreCheck® enrollments. When these enrollment providers are operational, members of the public can learn more by visiting TSA.gov/precheck.

The TSA Modernization Act, part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, required the TSA to enter into an agreement with at least two private sector entities to increase the methods and capabilities available for the public to enroll in the popular TSA PreCheck program. TSA expects that additional enrollment providers will foster innovative enrollment methods, improve competition, and provide more convenience to applicants by expanding the TSA PreCheck® enrollment network.

At present, the price of TSA PreCheck® remains $85. Once operational, each enrollment provider will be allowed to set its own prices for TSA PreCheck®. The fee provided to TSA to conduct vetting, adjudication, and program support will be consistent across all enrollment providers.

For all current members, TSA PreCheck® will continue to be valid for 5 years.  New enrollment providers may choose to offer enrollment periods of less than 5 years for new applicants or when individuals renew.  This will be determined on a provider by provider basis.

To be eligible to participate in TSA PreCheck®, foreign citizens must meet specific citizenship/residency requirements. Before you apply, we recommend that you review the various DHS trusted traveler programs such as the TSA PreCheck® Application Program, Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements and determine the best program for you.

Yes. The name submitted on your airline reservation must be an exact match to the name you provided on your application. If you use a frequent flyer account or online travel profile, ensure that your name is properly saved.

While TSA does not offer any assistance with application fee costs, several credit card companies and loyalty programs do.

Find a TSA PreCheck® enrollment center by entering a postal code, city, or airport code in the 'search' box.

Find an enrollment center for Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI by first selecting the state where you wish to visit an enrollment center. 

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.

It takes five minutes to submit an online application and schedule an in-person appointment that includes a background check and fingerprinting at an enrollment center.

Before you apply, we recommend that you review the various DHS trusted traveler programs, such as the TSA PreCheck® Application Program, Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements and determine the best program for you.

The name on your application must be an exact match to the name on the identification and proof of citizenship/immigration documents you provide at enrollment. The name provided must be the name used when making your airline travel reservations.

The application fee covers an in-depth background check, fingerprinting, identity verification, and other administrative costs of the program.

Participating airlines print a TSA PreCheck® indicator directly on your boarding pass if you are eligible for TSA PreCheck® on that flight. In addition to the indicator, TSA PreCheck® eligibility is embedded in the barcode of the boarding pass. Once the boarding pass is scanned at the checkpoint, the TSA officer may refer you to the TSA PreCheck® lane. If you do not have a valid boarding pass with TSA PreCheck® embedded in the barcode, you cannot access the TSA PreCheck® lane.

There is no age restriction to apply for TSA PreCheck®. However, family members ages 12 and under traveling with an eligible parent or guardian with a TSA PreCheck® indicator on their boarding pass can participate in expedited screening.

If you are a member of the TSA PreCheck® Application Program, you may call (855) 347-8371 weekdays, between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET, to make changes to your name, address, or other information contained in your records. You may also submit your inquiry online. You will be provided information regarding documentation needed to process the change.

If you are a member of Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, please submit an email or visit the Trusted Traveler Program website.

You may pay the $85 TSA PreCheck® Application Program fee with a credit card, debit card, money order, company check, or certified/cashier’s check. 

Global Entry applicants are required to pay the $100, one-time fee online by credit card, debit card or through an electronic bank transfer. If you are applying to a different trusted traveler program, such as NEXUS or SENTRI, you may submit an email or visit the Trusted Traveler Program website.

Find what documents you will be required to bring when applying for TSA PreCheck®.

Individuals who apply directly through the TSA PreCheck® Application Program will receive written notification within two to three weeks after the in-person appointment.  Many individuals are approved several days after completing the in-person appointment, so you are encouraged to check your status online.

If you applied to Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, please review your online account for instructions on scheduling an interview at an enrollment center and further instructions or contact CBP by submitting an email or visiting the Trusted Traveler Program website.

TSA may submit a request for the FBI to conduct an alternate verification process. This alternate process may require an additional two to four weeks of processing time.

If you applied for Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, you may submit an email or visit the Trusted Traveler Program website.

The TSA PreCheck® application program membership is only open to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals and lawful permanent residents. Applicants may be ineligible due to incomplete or false application information, violations of transportation security regulations, or disqualifying criminal offenses and factors.

This information is used for the background check conducted by TSA.

No. A TSA PreCheck® indicator will be printed on your boarding pass and embedded in the barcode if you are eligible for TSA PreCheck® on your flight. When TSA scans your boarding pass at the security checkpoint, you may be referred to a TSA PreCheck® lane. We do not issue cards or credentials to access the TSA PreCheck® lane.

Although members of Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI may be issued a card when approved for the program, you cannot use these cards to access the TSA PreCheck® lane. A TSA PreCheck® indicator will be printed on the boarding pass and embedded in the barcode if you are eligible for TSA PreCheck® for your flight.

No. To receive TSA PreCheck®, you must include your known traveler number in the appropriate field of your airline reservation, and the TSA PreCheck® indicator must be visible on your boarding pass and embedded in the barcode. You will not be eligible to access the TSA PreCheck® lane by presenting a trusted traveler card, TSA approval letter, or other documentation.

Yes. TSA PreCheck® is available when you depart from a U.S. airport to a foreign country, and for domestic, connecting flights after you return to the United States. If you travel to foreign countries even once a year, consider enrolling in Global Entry instead of TSA PreCheck®. With Global Entry you’ll receive expedited customs processing when entering the United States, plus you’ll receive TSA PreCheck® when flying from U.S. airports.

Participating airlines print a TSA PreCheck® indicator (such as TSAPRECHK, TSA PRE, or TSA PreCheck®) on boarding passes to help you recognize when you are eligible for TSA PreCheck® on your flight.

Children ages 12 and younger may use the TSA PreCheck® lane when traveling with a parent or guardian who has the indicator on their boarding pass. Travelers 13 and older who do not have a TSA PreCheck® boarding pass must go through standard security lanes or apply. Before applying, TSA recommends reviewing the various DHS trusted traveler programs, such as the TSA PreCheck® Application Program, Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI, to determine the best program for your family.

No, TSA uses unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, throughout the airport. All travelers will be screened, and no individual is guaranteed expedited screening.

Travelers are vetted for TSA PreCheck® every time they fly. TSA and airlines do not limit printing of the TSA PreCheck® indicator to participating airports.

Check the TSA PreCheck® airports and airlines map for a current list of participating airlines.

Passengers must be traveling on an airline that has entered into a partnership with TSA. Under this partnership, TSA works with the airline to establish system and checkpoint requirements and determine operation of TSA PreCheck® lanes at airports.

If you have questions or concerns about your Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI membership, you may submit an email or visit the Trusted Traveler Program website.

Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI are programs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These programs offer travel benefits to pre-screened members. If you join Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, use your membership number as a “known traveler number” in airline reservations to receive TSA PreCheck®.

If you are a member of a trusted traveler program such as Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, log on to the Trusted Traveler Program website to obtain your PASSID, which is your KTN.

Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI are programs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These programs offer travel benefits to pre-screened members. If you join Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, use your membership number as a “known traveler number” in airline reservations to receive TSA PreCheck®.

The CBP PASSID is assigned to you upon approval for membership in Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI. This nine-digit number usually begins with 15, 98 or 99 serves as your known traveler number, and can be found on the back of your NEXUS, SENTRI, or Global Entry card or by logging on to the Trusted Traveler Program website.

Your trusted traveler card will not grant you access to TSA PreCheck® lanes. The TSA PreCheck® indicator must be printed and embedded in the barcode of your boarding pass in order to receive expedited screening benefits. 

Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI are programs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These programs offer travel benefits to pre-screened members. If you join Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, use your membership number as a “known traveler number” in airline reservations to receive TSA PreCheck®.

TSA PreCheck® provides expedited security screening benefits for flights departing from U.S. Airports. Global Entry provides the TSA PreCheck® benefit plus expedited US customs screening for international air travelers when entering the United States. TSA PreCheck® costs $85 and Global Entry costs $100 for a five year membership. Travelers interested in Global Entry must apply through the Trusted Traveler Program website.

Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI are programs of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These programs offer travel benefits to pre-screened members. If you join Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, use your membership number as a “known traveler number” in airline reservations to receive TSA PreCheck®.

To find the best program for you, use the Department of Homeland Security's interactive Trusted Traveler tool.

Ask your airline(s) to update your profile information and/or saved Secure Flight data. By updating your airline profile, you still have to notify your airline to make sure your KTN/Secure Flight data is in each reservation correctly, with the same information used when applying for one of the trusted traveler programs. Some airlines may need proof of your full name to make changes to your frequent flyer profile. Please contact your airline directly for more information. Updating your frequent flyer profile will not automatically update any previous reservations.

Contact your airline by phone or online to add your KTN to any existing reservations or reservations made before you received your KTN. The airline also can confirm that your first/middle/last name are in the correct Secure Flight fields. The KTN will be submitted along with Secure Flight passenger data to TSA. Remember to enter your full name, date of birth and KTN exactly as you provided during enrollment.

Once you have been assigned a KTN, you must include this number in the ‘known traveler number’ field of each reservation you make with a participating airline. The KTN also can be added when booking reservations online via a participating airline website, by phone with an airline reservation agent or with the travel management company making reservations. Save your KTN to any frequent flyer profiles, employer booking systems or online travel websites that you use.

We recommend calling your airline after making a reservation through a third-party website, such as Expedia and Orbitz, and/or travel agent to ensure your known traveler number, name and date of birth correctly transmitted from their system. On occasion, third-party systems may not properly transmit passenger data. Confirming that your information was received by the airline is the best way to ensure you receive proper consideration for TSA PreCheck® on your next flight.

If you are a member of the TSA PreCheck® Application Program, look up your KTN online.

If you are a member of another trusted traveler program, such as Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, log on to the Trusted Traveler Program website to obtain your PASSID, which is your KTN.

You may use any active KTN that you have been assigned. However, please verify that the airline has the first/middle/last name and correct date of birth that is associated with that KTN. Your individual reservation must include your KTN. Travelers can check with the airlines to verify their KTN is listed in their reservation. An incorrect name or date of birth on your reservation will prevent you from receiving proper consideration for TSA PreCheck®.

The cost is the same as initial enrollment: $85 for 5 years, which is $17 per year.

The approval process takes approximately 2-3 weeks, although many applicants receive their approval in a few days and may check their application status online. TSA will notify members with eligibility results.

You may renew your membership up to six months before the expiration date to ensure you continue to see the TSA PreCheck® indicator on your boarding pass when traveling within or from the U.S.

TSA will send a renewal notification to members who have a valid email and/or phone number on record.

You may check your membership status online. You can find your KTN expiration date under the field marked “TSA PreCheck® Expiration Date”

You may also contact customer service at 855-347-8371 weekdays between 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. ET to request your KTN expiration date.

No, you will not receive TSA PreCheck® on your boarding pass if your KTN has expired. You must renew before expiration to continue receiving TSA PreCheck® on your boarding pass.

Yes. You must update your name prior to renewing your TSA PreCheck® membership by calling customer service at 855-347-8371 weekdays between 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. ET.

Name changes may take up to three months to complete and processing time varies by individual.

Most members may renew their TSA PreCheck® membership online up to six months before the expiration date. In order to renew, you will need to enter your name, date of birth, and KTN. Some members may be directed to renew in person at an enrollment center.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who successfully complete a background check that examines criminal history, lawful presence, and any association with terrorism. Additionally, TSA may determine that an applicant is not eligible based on analyses of records related to violations of transportation security regulatory requirements. These include security-related offenses at an airport, onboard an aircraft, at a maritime port, in connection with air cargo, and other regulatory violations.

TSA is capturing a photograph to verify an individual’s identity at TSA checkpoints equipped with facial recognition technology. A photo will be captured only for those renewing in person or for first-time enrollees. Those renewing online will not be required to provide a photo at this time.

Some individuals may need to renew in person, for example, if the fingerprints provided during their initial enrollment were deemed low quality at time of enrollment, or if they have changed their name and have not gone through TSA’s data update process. Members will need to visit an enrollment center to complete the renewal process.

Walk-in renewals are also accepted. The customer service agent will confirm that the membership is eligible for renewal, upload identity verification documents, make any necessary updates to the individual’s biographic information, and process payment.

Yes. TSA will send a renewal notification to members who have a valid email and/or phone number on record. You may call customer service at 855-347-8371 weekdays between 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. ET to update your email address or phone number.

Yes. Members can keep the same KTN during the renewal process as long as they renew within one year of expiration. After one year, the individual will need to apply as a new applicant and will receive a new KTN if approved.

Yes. If you commit certain violations of federal security regulations, such as interference with security operations, access control violations, providing false or fraudulent documents, making a bomb threat, or bringing a firearm, explosive, or other prohibited item to an airport or onboard an aircraft, you are denied expedited screening for a period of time. The duration of disqualification from participation in TSA PreCheck® is related to the seriousness of the violation and/or a repeated history of regulatory violations.

If you have questions concerning your TSA PreCheck® status, call the TSA Contact Center at (866) 289-9673 or email us. If you received a notice of violation, please contact your case agent.

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

If you applied for Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, you may submit an email or visit the Trusted Traveler Program website.

At this time, only members of the U.S. Armed Forces and DoD federal civilians are eligible for TSA PreCheck® through the existing partnership between DoD and TSA. Eligible DoD federal civilians must opt-in via milConnect. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces are not required to opt-in.

Yes. When the commercial travel offices asks you to verify your Secure Flight personal information (full name, birthdate, gender), provide your DoD ID number as the known traveler number. The office is not required to ask travelers for their known traveler number, but will enter it in the reservation if the traveler volunteers the information.

Yes. To participate, include your DoD ID number in the known traveler number field when making reservations through an airline or travel website. Travelers may also save their DoD ID/KTN in their frequent flyer program profile.

No. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces do not need to be in uniform or on official travel to participate in TSA PreCheck®.

No. All members of the U.S. Armed Forces must include their DoD ID number in the known traveler number field when making flight reservations and a TSA PreCheck® indicator must be visible on your boarding pass. The airlines will print a TSA PreCheck® indicator (such as TSAPRECHK, TSA PRE, or TSA PreCheck®) on boarding passes to help you recognize when you are eligible for TSA PreCheck® on your flight.

You cannot access the TSA Pre✓® lane by presenting your CAC or other documentation.

DoD federal civilian employees must opt-in to TSA PreCheck® by visiting the milConnect website. After selecting the “My Profile” and the “CIV” menu tab when logged into the website, users will be guided through the opt-in process for TSA PreCheck®. Civilian employees need to opt-in only once. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces do not need to opt-in.

Enter the DoD ID number from the back of your common access card into the “known traveler number” field of your flight reservations or when updating your Defense Travel System profile for official travel.

No. Only travelers who have a valid boarding pass with the TSA PreCheck® indicator printed on the boarding pass and embedded in the barcode will have access to the TSA PreCheck® lanes.

No. The application fee covers the cost of the background check and cannot be waived.

The level of assistance you receive may vary by airport. If you have any concerns when you arrive at the checkpoint, you may ask to speak with a supervisor or a passenger support specialist for assistance.

TSA Cares is a helpline that provides travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances additional assistance during the security screening process.

Contact us 72 hours prior to traveling with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. You may call (855) 787-2227 or email TSA Cares.

This question determines mental capacity relating to criminal cases closed as “not guilty by reason of insanity.”

You may request advanced imaging technology screening if you are not able to undergo or opt-out of metal detector screening. Learn about the special procedures for persons with disabilities or medical conditions.

As a TSA PreCheck®-eligible traveler, you are allowed to leave on your shoes, belt, and light jackets, unless instructed otherwise by a TSA officer. TSA PreCheck®-eligible travelers are also allowed to keep their laptops and 3-1-1 compliant liquids in their carry-on luggage. Your screening process is determined by your ability to stand and walk. If you can stand and walk without the support of a person or device, you may be screened using advanced imaging technology or walk-through metal detector. If you can neither stand nor walk, TSA officer will swab your hands using explosive trace detection technology while you remain seated.

A TSA officer will physically inspect your wheelchair or scooter, including the seat cushions and any non-removable pouches or packs. If the wheelchair or scooter has any removable pouches or bags, you will need to remove them for x-ray screening.

Contact (855) 347-8371 to determine what accommodations can be made.

If you are applying for Global Entry, NEXUS, or SENTRI, you may submit an email or visit the Trusted Traveler Program website.

Federal law and operational considerations restrict the return of prohibited items that are left at the security checkpoint.

The choice to hire an attorney is solely your decision. You are afforded the options of requesting an Informal Conference or a Formal Hearing (see related questions below), with or without legal representation.

All disputes or mitigating information specific to an individual case must be submitted to the Special Enforcement Program Office in writing. The preferred way to contact us is by email, at NOV.APO@dhs.gov. If you are unable to contact us by email, you can send your correspondence, in writing, to:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Special Enforcement Program Office (TSA-801)
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA 20598-6801

Please include your full name, TSA case number and case agent’s name (found in the Notice of Violation), and your contact information (i.e., telephone numbers, mailing address, and email address).

The TSA interpretive rule found in the Federal Register (Vol. 68, No. 31) provides guidance to the public on the types of property TSA considers to be weapons, explosives, and incendiaries prohibited in airport sterile areas and in the cabins of aircraft under the TSA regulations. The interpretation also provides guidance on the types of items permitted in sterile areas, the cabins of passenger aircraft, and in passengers’ checked baggage. You may view the TSA interpretive rule in its entirety.

TSA’s civil penalty amounts are based on published Sanction Guidance. Proposed penalty amounts are generally set at the low end of each violation category range. In some cases, however, penalties may be higher based on aggravating circumstances present in the case (e.g. repeat violations). You read the TSA Sanction Guidance Table in its entirety. If you believe that you cannot afford the proposed amount, you may select Option 3 in the Options Sheet and follow the instructions provided.

Individuals who commit certain violations of Federal security regulations, such as interference with security operations, access control violations, providing false or fraudulent documents, making a bomb threat, or bring a firearm, explosive, or other prohibited items to an airport or on board an aircraft are be denied expedited screening for a period of time. The duration of disqualification for expedited screening will depend upon the seriousness of the offense and/or a repeated history of regulatory violations.

The notice of violation process and the TSA PreCheck® disqualification process are separate processes and are handled by different offices. Individuals with questions concerning their TSA PreCheck® status should contact the TSA Contact Center at (866) 289-9673. Individuals with questions concerning their notice should contact their case agent in the Special Enforcement Program Office. Your case agent will not be able to assist you with questions concerning your TSA PreCheck® status, and the TCC will not be able to help you with questions concerning your notice of violation. Learn more aboutTSA PreCheck®.

The quickest way to contact the Special Enforcement Program Office is to email to NOV.APO@tsa.dhs.gov and include your full name, TSA case number and case agent’s name (found in the Notice of Violation), and your telephone number. 

You may also contact the Special Enforcement Program Office at (571) 227-3994. Be prepared to leave a message providing your name, phone number, the case number and correct spelling of the individual who is listed on the notice of violation, and your case agent’s name. Your message will be directed to your case agent for a return call. It is TSA's goal to return all calls within 72 hours; however, in the event of a delay, the date of your message will be taken into consideration.

You may submit your payment electronically through www.pay.gov, a secure website administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Select “DHS/TSA” on the “Find an Agency” page to access TSA civil penalty payments. Your TSA case number will begin with the number "2" and will consist of 11 characters.

You may also mail your payment with the payment page provided in your notice of violation to:

Transportation Security Administration
P.O. Box 530262
Atlanta, GA 30353-0262

If you are paying my check or money order, please make your payment payable to: Transportation Security Administration and write your case number and name on the check or money orders.

TSA is unable to advise passengers/individuals at the time of the incident whether or not they will be assessed a civil penalty. When an incident occurs, the screening personnel forward the information to the TSA regulatory department to determine if a violation of the Transportation Security Regulations occurred. Once the investigation has concluded and it is determined that a violation did occur, the individual is notified by a notice of violation.

A Notice of Violation is a civil matter, not criminal. The civil penalty associated with your Notice of Violation is a monetary penalty for a regulatory violation. Any criminal charges you may incur are separate from your civil matter with TSA and are handled by local or state courts. Your case with TSA does not dictate or eliminate your local or state charges and vice versa.

You may respond to the Notice of Volation by choosing one of the five options listed in the options sheet that is attached to your notice. Instructions for submitting your response are contained in the options sheet.

All communications with TSA in regard to a specific Notice of Violation must be made in writing with an appropriate options sheet selection by emailing NOV.APO@dhs.gov. Please include your full name, TSA case number and case agent’s name (found in the Notice of Violation), and your contact information (i.e., telephone numbers, mailing address, and email address) in your email. 

You may also respond by mail to:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Special Enforcement Program Office (TSA-801)
601 South 12th Street
Arlington, VA 20598-6801

Your response is due within 30 days of your receipt of the NOV.

Learn more by reviewing the regulation.

Learn more by reviewing the regulation.

You must wait until your hearing is scheduled. This task is not completed by the Special Enforcement Program Office, so please be patient and wait for your case to be called for the formal hearing.

The informal conference is a meeting with a TSA official to discuss your case. It allows you to present information that you would like the TSA to consider before making a final decision. If you request an Informal Conference, a TSA official will be assigned to your case and will contact you to schedule and hold the Informal Conference. Further action is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the facts and circumstances of each case.

If you fail to respond to the notice of violation within 30 days of receipt, TSA will issue you a final notice. If you fail to respond to the final notice within 15 days of receipt, TSA will then assess against you the full civil penalty amount proposed in your NOV, and may refer this matter to the U.S. Department of the Treasury or to the U.S. Department of Justice for collection of this debt owed to the U.S. government.

A notice of violation is a notification by TSA of the initiation of a civil penalty action against an individual for an alleged violation of a security requirement outlined in the Transportation Security Regulations.

The notice of violation was sent to you because you are alleged to have violated a security requirement when you were at an airport.

This option is a settlement offer by the TSA in an effort to resolve this matter fairly and quickly.

Projects previously funded for facility modification by the Electronic Baggage Screening Program through either another transaction agreement or memorandum of agreement are not eligible for additional funds.

Should projects previously funded by TSA require additional funds, the project sponsor should submit a request including a detailed cost estimate. TSA will not reimburse for anything outside of the existing scope or for cost incurred before it is executed. The project sponsor must contact the appropriate point of contact.

TSA will not provide funding for a checked baggage inspection system project that does not have an authorized funding agreement in place.

Airports may submit applications for more than one project; however, a separate application for each individually designed and constructed project is required for the following reasons:

• To ensure a unique request identification number is included in each application in order to track the status of the project.
• To avoid confusion regarding additional information requirements for a specific project.
• To resolve design review comments for specific projects.
• To allow for resolution of issues regarding one project without jeopardizing any other projects.

The TSA Funding of Checked Baggage Inspection System Project Costs Policy Memo contains additional information regarding allowable and allocable costs, up to the not-to-exceed value of each project, covered by design and facility modification applications.  

Costs identified as allowable and allocable will be part of the project funding negotiations between TSA and the airport depending on the option selected from those included in the submitted alternatives analysis. The airport’s ability to fund future increases in annual operations and maintenance costs related to the operation of an in-line system is essential to the overall analysis of project viability. TSA recommends airports perform a thorough analysis of the costs associated with the implementation of an in-line system to identify potential increases in operational cost.

If the application package is deemed incomplete, the airport executive point of contact will be contacted via email and the missing information will be requested. The airport will then have the opportunity to submit the missing information in order for it to be included with the application.

Interested project sponsors must submit a completed application to the federal security director or designated representative. The current version of the design application or facility modification application must be used.

Prior to submission, the security director will submit a request via the equipment request interface, receiving a request identification number from the requirements management advisory group – this number must be included on the application. For submission, please email your application.

TSA reviews the application and contacts the airport executive point of contact if any information is missing. After review, a technical interchange meeting is held. If determined an in-line system is not suitable for a given screening zone, the airport will be notified the application will not be considered for funding.

Applications will be reviewed only after all requested documents and plans have been received. Applications failing to include all the required documentation are incomplete and may not be considered in the current funding cycle. Upon receipt, a funding application is:

• Reviewed for compliance against submission information requirements.
• If incomplete or non-conforming, email identifying the missing information is sent to the airport executive point of contact.
• If project is outside the scope of the Electronic Baggage Screening Program, email communication is sent to the airport executive point of contact.
• Some projects require design review for compliance. As part of the process, TSA coordinates between airport and airport’s baggage handling system designer to review and resolve any comments or outstanding issues.
• Upon completion of the review process, TSA sends notification of current status to the airport.

Electronic submissions are preferred, please email your submission.  If the airport encounters transmission problems due to file size limitations, please send two copies of the documents, with scalable drawings, on a CD via express mailing service to the following address:

EBSP RPC Point of Contact
Mail Stop TSA TSIF - #32
Transportation Security Administration
3701 West Post Office Road
Washington, D.C. 20528-6032

Documents should be provided in the file formats specified.

The Planning Guidelines and Design Standards outline the supporting documentation requirements for in-line and mini in-line system. The required deliverables for mini in-line and in-line systems can be found in the figure entitled “Deliverables Checklist for In-line CBIS.” The “Contents” section includes all figure titles in the document for easy reference. It is imperative that the airport complies with submission of all required and applicable documents in the checklist to prevent unnecessary delays during the design review process. Read the design standards for Checked Baggage Inspection Systems.  

In addition, when submitting the Facility Modification OTA application, all supporting National Environmental Policy Act documents must be attached. Additional information can be found in the application guidance for the facility modification.

TSA funds new in-line projects based on its funding prioritization criteria. A project sponsor can proactively apply for design and construction funding related to building a new in-line checked baggage inspection system, a checked baggage resolution area upgrade, or an efficiency project for an existing inspection system. Only projects using qualified product list equipment are eligible for funding.

Non-eligible projects include any request not related to a new in-line baggage screening system including, but not limited to:

• Stand-alone baggage screening systems.
• Equipment decommission and/or removal.
• Equipment relocation.
• Ancillary and/or safety equipment.
• Reimbursement of electronic detection projects that are already completed.
• Equipment recapitalization.

The Design OTA application should be completed if the project sponsor is requesting funding for the design of an eligible checked baggage inspection system. The project sponsor must be prepared to provide its cost share for the design phase. Cost share and other financial information requirements are provided in the application guidance.

The facility modification application should be completed to request funding for construction of an eligible inspection system. As part of an application, the project sponsor must be prepared to provide its required cost share for the entire construction project.

Project sponsors are strongly encouraged to coordinate with local and headquarters TSA entities via project coordinators as early as possible when inspection system projects are being considered and conceptually planned.

The applicable version of the Planning Guidelines and Design Standards will be identified in the design application or facility modification.

Projects that have received an evaluated unfunded letter will be considered during the next funding cycle.

Additional information and data may be required or requested in order to meet the current funding process requirements. A request for this information will be sent to the airport executive point of contact identified on the initial application.

If project application details change, please email your updates.  TSA will send a communication quarterly to solicit updates.

TSA cannot process a request for “all records” on an individual or for “all communications” between TSA and a third party. You should include a date limitation, a particular topic, and if asking for correspondence, the relevant parties’ names and offices or airports, if known. You can contact the TSA FOIA Branch for assistance in writing a FOIA request. This will ensure we understand which materials you are seeking and help us respond to your request quickly.

Given the variety of programs at TSA and the multiple ways you might have a connection with TSA, we require this additional information about records you are seeking. As TSA operates at over 450 airports and screens on average more than 1.9 million passengers a day, it would be unduly burdensome to conduct a search at over 450 airports and TSA program offices using limited information. Please narrow or otherwise clarify your request by providing specific criteria regarding the records that you are seeking (e.g., time period, airport or other association with TSA, including employment) so that TSA can conduct a reasonable search.

You may request records about a third party, but such records may be protected by the Privacy Act and/or FOIA. You will receive greater access to records about a third party by submitting a notarized authorization signed by that individual; a declaration by that individual authorizing disclosure of the records; or proof that the individual is deceased (e.g., a copy of a death certificate or an obituary).

If you wish to submit a request for records about another individual on behalf of that individual, you must provide a statement from the subject or an Affirmation Declaration form verifying his or her identity and documenting their agreement that their records may be released to you. If we do not receive this authorization, access to the records will be limited.

You can submit FOIA and Privacy Act requests electronically via the DHS-TSA FOIA PA Request Form.

You may also submit requests directly to TSA by U.S. mail or email, using the contact information and instructions on the TSA FOIA Requests page. Verbal requests are not accepted.

Current TSA employees should access their records through the electronic OPF from a government computer. Access from non-government computers will be denied. Please work with your local management to request access to a government computer for your eOPF request.

In addition, you may request assistance from your facility’s Human Resource/Administrative Office. For additional information, please visit the Office of Personnel Management website.

Former federal civilian employees (the person of record) may obtain copies of most civilian and personnel medical records on file at the National Personnel Records Center, including copies of the Standard Form 50 (Personnel Action) via written request. Different release procedures apply for archival civilian personnel records. Please note, OPFs are retired to the center within 120 days after separation from federal employment. If less than 120 days have elapsed since separation, write to the last employing federal office.

Federal law 5 USC 552a(b) requires that all requests for personnel records and information be submitted in writing. Each request must be signed in cursive and dated within the last year. Please identify the documents or information needed and explain the purpose of your request.

Certain basic information needed to locate civilian personnel records includes the full name used during federal employment, date of birth, Social Security Number, name and location of employing federal agency, and beginning and ending dates of federal service.

Written requests must be signed and dated. Mail or fax to:

National Personnel Records Center, Annex
1411 Boulder Boulevard
Valmeyer, IL 62295

Fax: 618-935-3014

Current or former federal civilian employees seeking worker’s compensation file records may receive a more complete set of records by directly contacting the Department of Labor.

TSA processes requests on a first-come, first-served basis according to two tracks: simple and complex. The first response you receive is TSA’s acknowledgement of your request submission. TSA typically acknowledges requests within 10 days of receipt. The acknowledgment letter provides tracking numbers and informs a requester about whether additional information will be needed to process the request. The letter also provides instructions for checking the status of the request.

If you have not received an acknowledgement from TSA regarding your request within 10 days, you may contact us at 866-364-2872 or email at foia@tsa.dhs.gov to ensure we received your request. Most Internet providers impose a 25-megabyte limit on files sent through email servers. If your request includes attachments that exceed that limit, it may have been blocked.

How long it takes to receive materials from TSA depends on several factors. Our processing time will be determined by the nature of your request, including complexity, scope, and other factors. Requests are deemed complex for reasons that include, but are not limited to, those that require search within multiple offices or airport(s), consultation with multiple DHS components or other agencies, or review of voluminous records from multiple locations. Additionally, the size of TSA’s backlog can affect processing times.

TSA is diligently working through a backlog to more efficiently process all requests.  

When you request records about yourself, TSA must verify your identity to ensure that your personal information is released only to you. You can meet this requirement by emailing or mailing the Affirmation Declaration form to TSA.

You may request any information that constitutes an existing TSA record in any format, including an electronic format. Examples of records that may be requested include documents, photographs, videos, sound recordings, drawings, computerized records, electronic mail, and agency policies and procedures.

TSA will conduct a search for records already in existence at the time of the request. Please note the FOIA does not require an agency to create new records, answer questions posed by requesters, complete questionnaires, or attempt to interpret a request that does not identify specific records.

If you request video recordings from airports, please note that the TSA is not the primary custodian of those records. TSA is unlikely to have airport videos unless we obtained them as a result of an alleged checkpoint incident or security breach. Therefore, we recommend that you request video recordings from the local airport authority. Also, be aware that airport authorities generally delete recordings after 30 days.

You may appeal FOIA actions including, but not limited to: denial of records, a no-records response, or agency redactions. Appeals must be in writing and sent to foia@tsa.dhs.gov or to:

Civil Rights & Liberties, Ombudsman and Traveler Engagement
601 South 12th Street
West Building, W3-110S
Arlington, VA  20598-6033

Submit your appeal within 90 days from the date of the response letter. Please include the TSA-assigned FOIA request number, the reasons for your appeal, and mark your envelope “FOIA Appeal.” This information is also included in your final TSA FOIA response letter.

In order for TSA to provide you with exactly what you need, please include in your request details that will help us conduct a robust but targeted search. These details include date, title or name, author, recipient, names of offices, agencies and organizations, subject matter of the record, case number, file designation, and reference number. For requests regarding airport checkpoint experiences, include the name/location of airport, date and time of travel, checkpoint lane and any other details. For more information, please visit the FOIA requests page.

If a request does not provide sufficient descriptive information, we may not be able to identify the records sought. We may ask you for additional information (e.g., specific subject matter, topic, personnel, etc.) if we are unable to process your request. If we cannot contact you or you do not respond within 30 calendar days to our requests for clarification, we will close your request.

The FOIA request form also requires the following information:

1. Your full name (for a Privacy Act Request), address, telephone number, and, if available, email.
2. Indication of whether the request is a FOIA and/or a Privacy Act request (if known).
3. Specific information about the records sought as described above.
4. Delivery information for the responsive records, e.g., electronically or via mail.
5. A statement regarding your willingness to pay applicable fees, including any limitations.

Sensitive Security Information is information that, if publicly released, would be detrimental to transportation security, as defined by 49 CFR Part 1520. Sensitive Security Information is exempt from disclosure under the FOIA.

There is no fee to make a FOIA request. However, TSA may charge a fee for search, duplication, or review of records depending on the category of the requester.  

Search fees will be charged for all requests except those made by academic institutions, noncommercial scientific institutions, or members of the press.

Review fees will be charged for all commercial use requests. You will be advised if the fees total more than $25. You may also seek a fee waiver in accordance with the DHS FOIA regulations.

Any type of record may be requested. Typically, incident reports at airports, complaints lodged against TSA, weapons surrendered at airports, contracts, and employment application results are requested. When making a request, please provide TSA with information on where the records may be held.

All citizens and non-citizens, private individuals, academic institutions, public interest groups, corporations, associations, non-profit groups, and state, local, and foreign governments can submit FOIA requests.

DHS regulations at 6 CFR Part 5 permit administrative closure for requests that are not reasonably described or not in compliance with published agency FOIA procedures. If TSA determines that your request is insufficient, we will notify you and work with you to reformulate your request. If you continue to have difficulties, you may opt for additional assistance from the Office of Government Information Services.

Section 1978 of the TSA Modernization Act passed in October 2018 allows states to issue an HME on a state-issued CDL to a driver who holds a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC®). This provision allows states to utilize the existing TWIC® to verify the completion of the TSA security threat assessment. TSA has approved an exemption from certain portions of the current regulations. This exemption relieves states from requiring an additional HME application from individuals, and relieves individuals from having to submit certain information and fees to receive a state issued HME if they hold a valid TWIC®. Per the approved exemption memo, the state must verify the validity of the TWIC® using methods prescribed by TSA prior to issuing the HME. The expiration date of any HME issued through this process will not extend past the expiration date of the relevant TWIC®. Check with your state for more details.

No. Applicants who apply for a TWIC do not have to pay the full price for the TWIC STA if they apply successful clearance results from their most recent HME STA, and as a result, the fee for the TWIC is reduced by $22.75. All TWIC applicants must pay the fees that cover the other components of the TWIC program, including enrollment and card issuance. Applicants are always offered the option to apply for a full-fee TWIC STA if they determine it is more cost effective to do so.

This rule applies only to drivers who hold a CDL issued by a state of the U.S. Generally, this would not include drivers from Canada and Mexico. There is a separate rule that addresses Canadian drivers hauling explosives into the U.S. Eventually, all drivers will have to meet threat assessment and eligibility standards that are comparable to the standards that now apply to Hazmat drivers in the U.S.

If you have completed a security threat assessment and you are transferring your HME to a new state, you may not have to go through a new threat assessment for the transfer, provided your new state can issue you an HME that expires within five years of your last assessment.

Generally, you must renew your HME every five years, although some states may require more frequent reviews based on shorter license cycles. You will be required to submit new fingerprints at the time of renewal of the endorsement. Per state requirements, you may be required to satisfactorily complete written competency tests as a prerequisite to the issuance of a new, renewed, or transferred HME.

Please contact the Vital Records department in the state you were born.

The HME will be issued with the same expiration date as the individual’s TWIC STA. Therefore, individuals should consider the expiration date of their current TWIC STA to determine if it is cost effective to apply for a comparable HME STA.

You are eligible to pay a reduced fee if you hold a TWIC security threat assessment at least one year remaining before expiration in the following states:

(Arizona, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming)

In addition, you are eligible to pay a reduced fee if you hold a TWIC security threat assessment at least four years remaining before expiration in the following states:

(Alabama, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Vermont)

Applicants in all States above, except Virginia, can confirm their eligibility online with TSA during the HME STA application process here. The State of Virginia will confirm the eligibility of applicants online with TSA.

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.

If cleared, you will receive notification by untracked first-class mail. Your letter of clearance is for informational purposes only and should not be required for proof of clearance from an employer or state. TSA sends official notification to your state of license only, and your state reflects your clearance result when it issues you a CDL with HME. Please check with your state as to what it may require you to do once you receive notification from TSA.

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.

The rule is 49 CFR 1572. On May 5, 2003, TSA published the rule to secure the transportation of hazardous materials (hazmat), including explosives, by requiring threat assessments for all individuals who apply for, renew, or transfer a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) on their commercial driver’s license (CDL). On January 25, 2007, TSA modified this rule to include additional disqualifiers and appeal mechanisms.

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®.

The MyTSA app is available in the iTunes and Google Play app stores and can be downloaded to your personal electronic devices.

Tap the search icon at the top right of the screen and type in the name of the airport. Tap the star next to the airport name to add it to your list of favorites.

To arrange your favorite airports, tap the Edit button at the top left of the My Airports screen. You can then drag and drop the airports into the order you prefer. Please note, if you have location services on, the closest airport to you will always be listed first.

You may report wait times under ‘Checkpoint Wait Time’ on the ‘My Airports’ screen. You must be within a half-mile radius of the airport to report wait times.

Wait times are kept for two hours from the time they are reported. If no one has reported within that time frame, wait times will not appear.

Wait times are based on crowdsourced data provided by passengers and we cannot ensure their accuracy. Prepare for your trip by checking the histogram, which is based on historical data and can estimate how busy your airport is likely to be on your selected day and time of travel.

For assistance with the app, please email your inquiry.

Air carriers must continue to fulfill the record keeping and reporting requirements as provided in 49 CFR § 1510.17.

If a passenger purchased air transportation from a public charter operator, which means paying the charter operator in full for air transportation, at any time prior to December 19, 2014, the public charter operator must collect the September 11 Security Fee in place prior to December 19, 2014. Conversely, if the passenger purchased public charter air transportation on or after December 19, 2014, the public charter operator must collect the revised September 11Security Fee.

The direct or foreign air carrier operating the public charter flight must then collect the September 11 Security Fee from the public charter operator and remit the security fees to TSA the earlier of:

• The time the direct or foreign air carrier received funds from the public charter escrow account; or
• The date the direct or foreign air carrier operated the flight.

Note that the direct and foreign air carrier remittance date to TSA has no effect on the amount of the fee that should be collected from the passenger. The remittance amount is based on when the passenger purchased public charter air transportation from the public charter operator. 

In the case of prepaid air transportation, if the passenger fully prepaid air transportation prior to December 19, 2014, and the carrier issued a ticket against the prepaid amount on or after December 19, 2014, the carrier must collect the September 11 Security Fee in effect prior to December 19, 2014, for that ticket because TSA considers the air transportation to have been purchased prior to December 19, 2014.

The imposition and collection of the September 11 Security Fee will remain at $5.60 per one-way trip on air transportation sold on or after 12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time December 19, 2014, except that the fee imposed per round trip shall not exceed $11.20.

See the chart below for further itinerary examples that detail imposition of the fee prior from July 21, 2014 to December 18, 2014 and on and after December 19, 2014.

Example 1: Air transportation from Washington to Chicago to Los Angeles with a stopover only in Los Angeles that returns via the same route purchased before December 19, 2014, is charged a $11.20 fee for two one-way trips. If the passenger changed the itinerary to Washington to Los Angeles with only a stopover in Los Angeles and returns via the same route and the ticket is re-priced on or after December 19, 2014, the carrier must continue to charge the September 11 Security Fee of $11.20 for one round trip. 

Example 2: Air transportation from Washington to Chicago to Los Angeles purchased before December 19, 2014, is charged a $5.60 fee. If the passenger changed the itinerary to Washington to Los Angeles with a stopover in Los Angeles and returns via the same route and the ticket is re-priced on or after December 19, 2014, the carrier must charge the revised September 11 Security Fee of $11.20. 

Example 3: Air transportation from Washington to Chicago to Los Angeles purchased before December 19, 2014, is charged a $5.60 fee. If the air carrier changed the itinerary to Washington to Los Angeles on or after December 19, 2014, neither the carrier nor the passenger is liable for a revised September 11 Security Fee. The fee remains $5.60.

If a direct or foreign air carrier does not properly collect the fee from the passenger, the direct or foreign air carrier is still solely liable to TSA for the fee.

If a passenger purchased a ticket before December 19, 2014, and changed the original itinerary and the ticket changed in price December 19, 2014, the carrier must treat the itinerary change as a new purchase and charge the revised September 11 Security Fee.

If however, a passenger purchased a ticket before December 19, 2014, and changed the amenities of that ticket on or after December 19, 2014, the carrier must not treat the transaction as a new purchase of air transportation and continue to collect the fee as in effect prior to December 19, 2014. Amenities include seating changes, meals or other items not related to air transportation.

TSA modified the definition of “stopover” to make a distinction not only between domestic and foreign travel, but to recognize that non-continental U.S. air transportation (outside the contiguous 48 states) is more like foreign air transportation than continental air transportation. Stopover means a break in travel of more than:

• four hours (4) for continental interstate and intrastate air transportation
• twelve hours (12) for non-continental interstate and intrastate air transportation as well as foreign air transportation.

Under 49 CFR § 1510.13(a), direct and foreign air carriers must remit all September 11 Security Fees imposed each calendar month to TSA by the last calendar day of the month following the imposition of the fee. Therefore, direct and foreign air carriers must remit any September 11 Security Fees imposed on air transportation sold during the month of December 2014, no later than January 31, 2015.

Effective December 19, 2014, TSA adjusted the fee in accordance with H.R.5462, which limits the maximum fee for round trips to $11.20.

Air carriers must continue to fulfill the record keeping and reporting requirements as provided in 49 CFR § 1510.17.

A public charter operator must collect the September 11 Security Fee in place prior to July 21, 2014, if air transportation was purchased from a public charter operator in full at any time prior to July 21, 2014. Conversely, if the passenger purchases public charter air transportation after July 21, 2014, the public charter operator must collect the revised September 11 Security Fee.

The direct or foreign air carrier operating the public charter flight must then collect the September 11 Security Fee from the public charter operator and remit the security fees to TSA the earlier of: the time the direct or foreign air carrier receives funds from the public charter escrow account; or the date the direct or foreign air carrier operates the flight.

Note that the direct and foreign air carrier remittance date to TSA has no effect on the amount of the fee that should be collected from the passenger. The remittance amount is based on when the passenger purchases public charter air transportation from the public charter operator. 

If the passenger fully prepaid air transportation prior to July 21, 2014, and the carrier issued a ticket against the prepaid amount after July 21, 2014, the carrier must collect the September 11 Security Fee in effect prior to July 21, 2014. The air transportation is considered to have been purchased prior to July 21, 2014.

The imposition and collection of the September 11 Security Fee will change from $2.50 per enplanement, with a maximum of $5.00 per one-way and maximum of $10.00 per round trip to $5.60 per one-way trip on air transportation sold on or after 12:00AM Eastern Standard Time July 21, 2014.

See the chart below for further itinerary examples that detail imposition of the fee prior to July 21st and after July 21st.

Example 1: Air transportation from Washington to Chicago to Los Angeles with a stopover only in Los Angeles and returns via the same route purchased before July 21, 2014, is charged a $10 fee.  If the passenger changed the itinerary to Washington to Los Angeles with only a stopover in Los Angeles and returned via the same route and the ticket is re-priced after July 21, 2014, the carrier must charge the revised September 11 Security Fee of $11.20.

Example 2: Air transportation from Washington to Chicago to Los Angeles purchased before July 21, 2014, is charged a $5 fee. If the passenger changed the itinerary to Washington to Los Angeles and the ticket is re-priced after July 21, 2014, the carrier must charge the revised September 11 Security Fee of $5.60.

Example 3: Air transportation from Washington to Chicago to Los Angeles purchased before July 21, 2014, is charged a $5 fee. If the air carrier changes the itinerary to Washington to Los Angeles after July 21, 2014, due to an involuntary re-route, neither the carrier nor the passenger is liable for a revised September 11 Security Fee. The fee remains $5.00.

If a direct or foreign air carrier does not properly collect the fee form the passenger, the air direct or foreign air carrier is still solely liable to TSA for the fee.

If a passenger purchased a ticket before July 21, 2014, and the air carrier changed the original itinerary after July 21, 2014, due to an involuntary re-route, neither the passenger nor the air carrier are liable to TSA for the difference in the imposition of the revised fee.

If a passenger purchased a ticket before July 21, 2014, changed the original itinerary and the ticket was re-priced after July 21, 2014, the carrier must treat the itinerary change as a new purchase and charge the revised September 11 Security Fee.

If a passenger purchased a ticket before July 21, 2014, and changed the amenities of that ticket after July 21, 2014, the carrier must not treat the transaction as a new purchase. The carrier will continue to collect the fee as in effect prior to July 21, 2014. Amenities include seating changes, meals, or other items not related to air transportation.

TSA changed the definition of stopover to make a distinction between domestic and foreign travel, and to recognize that non-continental U.S. air transportation (outside the contiguous 48 states) is more like foreign air transportation. Stopover means a break in travel of more than: four hours for continental interstate and intrastate air transportation; twelve hours for non-continental interstate and intrastate air transportation as well as foreign air transportation.

Under 49 CFR § 1510.13(a), direct and foreign air carriers must remit all September 11 Security Fees imposed each calendar month to TSA by the last calendar day of the month following the imposition of the fee. Therefore, direct and foreign air carriers must remit any September 11 Security Fees imposed on air transportation sold during the month of October 2014, no later than November 30, 2014.

Effective, July 21 2014, TSA adjusted the fee in accordance with Public Law 113-67, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.

Yes, If the airport operator meets the qualification criteria identified by 49 U.S.C. § 44920, as amended, it may compete for the contract to provide screening services at that airport. This does not guarantee they will be awarded the contract for security screening services. The airport will be required to compete in the normal procurement process.

In 2016, TSA awarded an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity contract to multiple vendors for a period of 10 years. If an airline or any other entity with a security screening company meets the qualification criteria identified by 49 U.S.C. § 44920, and TSA determines that there is a need to add additional vendors to the current multiple award contract for the Screening Partnership Program, that company could submit a proposal in a competitive procurement process to compete for the security screening services contract.

The contract screening company is contracted by TSA to provide the security screening services. TSA monitors vendor performance according to their contract. The vendor must comply with all TSA standard operating procedures and operational directives. The airport operator has no new role or impact on the screening operations as a result of the program.

The airport operator may be part of the selection process. TSA is developing a process that allows airport operators to participate in the evaluation of proposals in accordance with chapter 21 of title 41 and all relevant statutes and regulations.

If the airport operator wishes to contract directly with a vendor to provide non-regulatory or non-certified positions, TSA will not object. Any such work would of course have to follow all standard operating procedures and other pertinent regulations. The work would also have to be coordinated through the federal security director to assure proper supervision.

The private company providing security screening services ultimately determines the number of contract screeners hired. TSA seeks to provide flexibility to the contractor to manage the operations as efficiently as possible while meeting security and customer service standards.

Private security screening companies are subject to the same security screener hiring restrictions and challenges as the federal government. Contract screener candidates receive the same security background check and must meet the same medical requirements as prospective federal security screeners. In addition, hiring and retention are affected by the airport’s local economy and all contract screeners must attend all TSA provided training to include training at the TSA Academy in Glynco, Ga.

Interested airport authorities can submit an application to their local federal security director. Follow instructions on the Screening Partnership Program.

Under the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, TSA is required to make a determination on an application within 60 days of application receipt. TSA is required to enter into a contract with a private screening company for the provision of screening at the airport no later than 120 days, as practicable, after the date of application approval.

Due to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, TSA is required to make a determination on an application within sixty (60) days of application receipt. TSA is required to enter into a contract with a private screening company for the provision of screening at the airport not later than 120 days, as practicable, after the date of application approval.

On October 5, 2018, the President signed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018, which directed the TSA administrator to approve SPP applications if the administrator determines that “the approval would not compromise security or detrimentally affect the cost-efficiency or the effectiveness of the screening of passengers or property at the airport”. This modifies existing application processing timelines and provides additional Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements related to the 49 CFR §44920 Security Partnership Program (SPP).

As stipulated by the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018, if an application is denied, TSA must inform the airport operator in writing, within sixty (60) days, and explain the findings that served as the basis for the denial. TSA must also provide the results of any cost or security analysis conducted in considering the application, and recommendations on how the airport operator can address the reasons for the denial.  The airport can reapply to participate in SPP at any time.

The program application process is open to all federally staffed airports in the United States that require security screening services.

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®.