TWIC® FAQs

No. The TWIC card is the property of TSA.

Exception: an employer must retrieve a TWIC card from an applicant 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.

Yes, TSA is committed to promoting the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people, including LGBTQIA+. Individuals who apply for TWIC, including persons utilizing a non-binary and gender non-conforming identity document, may self-select Male, Female, or Another Gender as their gender when applying for TWIC.

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

You may make an appointment online through the TSA Enrollment 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.

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 you ordered a replacement card. Please contact the U.S. Coast Guard for further details on their policy.

TSA, pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, Title 5, United States Code, Section 552a, is not permitted to disclose information about someone other than to the applicant without that applicant’s written consent.

If you seek to support a person applying for one of TSA’s vetting programs, please have them complete the DHS Form 590- Authorization to Release Information to Another Person. Fax the signed form to (540) 710-2763.

Individuals with an active TWIC may call (855) 347-8371 weekdays, between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET, to request a gender data update with the TWIC Program. Please note, updating your gender will not impact your TWIC status.

TWIC card holders may renew their TWIC card online up to one year prior to the expiration date printed on their card and up to one year after their card expires. After one year, you will be considered a new enrollee, subject to the standard in-person enrollment process. To be eligible for online renewal, you must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident.

If you have changed your name since enrollment, you must contact the TSA Help Center at 855-DHS-UES1 (855-347-8371) to update your name before renewing online. If you are not eligible for online renewal, you can follow the same steps as a new applicant to renew your TWIC card in person at an enrollment center.

To report a card lost or missing, please contact 1-855-347-8371 weekdays 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET or by replacing your card online.

TSA’s goal is to provide you with a response within 60 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. After an application is approved, you will receive a phone or email notification.

After notification, your TWIC card should arrive at the address provided during enrollment or at an enrollment center within 10 days. If it is not received within the 10-day period, applicants have 60 days to report non-receipt of the card by visiting the TSA Enrollment 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.

A TWIC card is valid for five years from the date it is issued to an applicant.

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.

Many TWIC cardholders meet the criteria for the TSA PreCheck Application Program and may be eligible for expedited screening. In addition to having a valid TWIC card, the TWIC holder must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or U.S. national
• Be approved for a TWIC outside TSA’s waiver process
• Not be under investigation as a result of TSA’s recurrent vetting

In order to participate TWIC cardholders should take the CIN on the back of their TWIC card and enter it in the known traveler number field of airline reservations made with a participating airline or in airline profiles. Visit TSA PreCheck for TWIC for more information.

• 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 car).
• 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.

You can select gender on your TWIC application that is most appropriate for you - Male, Female, or Another Gender. The gender on your identification document does not have to match the gender you select on your TWIC application. Medical certification or a physician's letter is not required when enrolling with a gender that does not match the gender on your identification documents.

You must report the disqualifying condition to TSA and surrender your TWIC to TSA by mailing the card to the address on the back or by returning it to an enrollment center.

If TSA finds potentially disqualifying information, TSA will send you a letter with instructions on how to proceed. Review each potential disqualifying offense on the letter to determine if it is accurate as shown. As part of your redress, you may request an Appeal, a Waiver, or both.

TSA considers the following five criteria when determining whether to grant a waiver for a disqualifying criminal offense, as applicable:

• Circumstances of the disqualifying act or offense,
• Restitution made by the applicant,
• Any federal or state mitigation remedies (such as certificates showing completion of court-ordered substance abuse or other treatment programs),
• Court records or official medical release documents indicating the applicant no longer lacks mental capacity, and
• Any other factors that indicate the applicant does not pose a security threat, including evidence of rehabilitation.

You will have 60 days from receipt of the letter to submit your response to TSA or request additional time to respond. You may also contact 1-855-347-8371 weekdays 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET for assistance.

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 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 if additional information or follow up is necessary.

Your full name, expiration date, digital photo and two fingerprints will be stored on your TWIC card. 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.

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 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.