Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Table of Contents
- What is TWIC™?
- What is the enrollment process?
- What documents do I need to enroll?
- What documentation is an applicant required to bring to the enrollment center if he/she is a U.S. citizen, but was not born in the United States?
- How much does a TWIC cost?
- What are the methods of payment?
- What is the pre-paid debit card for the TWIC Program?
- What happens if my TWIC card is lost, stolen or damaged?
- What is the deployment schedule?
- Where can I enroll?
- Where can I get more information on mobile enrollment?
- What is pre-enrollment?
- Are appointments required for enrollment?
- How can I make an appointment for enrollment?
- How long does enrollment take?
- How will the cards be issued?
- How long does it take to receive a TWIC?
- How can I check the status of my card and schedule a pick-up?
- What if I enroll for my TWIC card in an Enrollment Center in one region of the country, but need to activate (pick up) my TWIC card at a different Enrollment Center location due to a move or my employment requires me to be in another region?
- Where can I get a copy of communication materials that I can print out and distribute at my port?
- Where can I get additional information on TWIC?
- What is the contact number for the TWIC Help Desk?
What is TWIC™?
What is the enrollment process?A Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC™) is a biometric credential that ensures only vetted workers are eligible to enter a secure area of a Maritime Transportation Security Act-regulated port or vessel unescorted.
What documents do I need to enroll?The enrollment process consists of the following components: optional pre-enrollment, in-person enrollment, security threat assessment and notification of the results, and issuance of the TWIC to the applicant. Applicants may pre-enroll online to enter all of the biographic information required for the threat assessment and make an appointment at the enrollment center to complete the process (although appointments are not required). Then applicants must visit the enrollment center where they will pay the enrollment fee, complete a TWIC Application Disclosure Form, provide biographic information and a complete set of fingerprints, and sit for a digital photograph. The applicant must bring identity verification documents to enrollment and in the case of aliens, immigration documents that verify their immigration status, so that the documents can be scanned into the electronic enrollment record.
What documentation is an applicant required to bring to the enrollment center if he/she is a U.S. citizen, but was not born in the United States?All applicants are required to bring appropriate documentation to the enrollment center in order to verify their identity (click here for a list of approved documents). Applicants can provide any one document from list A or two documents from List B, one of which must be a government-issued photo ID. A good example of appropriate documentation from List B is a state-issued driver’s license and a social security card.
How much does a TWIC cost?Applicants should bring one of the following documents:
Note: If the Certificate of Birth Abroad, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or an expired U.S. Passport are presented, additional documents will be required to verify identity; see list of acceptable identity documents. If a current (unexpired) U.S. Passport is presented, it is the only identity verification document required.
- Department of State - Certificate of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350);
- Department of State - Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240); or
- U.S. Passport.
What are the methods of payment?The fee for a TWIC card will be $132.50 and the credential is valid for five years. Those who hold a valid MMD issued after February 3, 2003, MML issued after January 13, 2006, HME issued after May 31, 2005, or a FAST card, may pay a reduced fee of $105.25. Those applicants choosing to pay the reduced fee must present an MML, MMD, HME, or FAST card at the time of enrollment. If the reduced fee is paid, the TWIC expiration date will be 5 years from the date of the supporting MML, MMD, HME, or FAST card.
What is the pre-paid debit card for the TWIC Program?Payment must be made with money order, certified/cashier's check, corporate check, or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). Checks should be made payable to Lockheed Martin. Two additional payment options are available for companies to pay for their employees: company purchased pre-paid debit cards or bulk payments. For companies choosing to use the pre-paid option, additional information can be found at http://www.twiccard.com. For additional information on bulk payments please click here for Lockheed Martin’s policy document. In all cases, payment will be made at the enrollment center at the beginning of the enrollment process.
What happens if my TWIC card is lost, stolen or damaged?This method of payment is a prepaid Visa® card and is intended for employers who wish to purchase TWICs for their employees. They may be purchased in bulk and are redeemable at any TWIC enrollment center. The website for additional information or purchasing them is at http://www.twiccard.com.
What is the deployment schedule?We have the capability to process lost/stolen or damaged cards with a Visa or Master Card credit card over the phone via the TWIC Help Desk at 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942). Lost/stolen/damaged replacement cards are $60.00. If you report your card lost/stolen or damaged to the Help Desk, they will initiate the replacement and email you a payment receipt with the payment confirmation number immediately upon confirmation. If you do not have access to email, it is recommended that you still go to your nearest Enrollment Center to report your card lost/stolen and purchase your replacement card in order to secure your receipt.
Whether you report your card at an Enrollment Center or via the Help Desk, please ensure that you are given a receipt for payment (in person or via email) as well as a ticket number, which is a record of your transaction. Please note that your replacement card will be shipped to the enrollment center where you initially enrolled. You should allow up to two weeks to receive an automated notification about the availability of the new card. If you need your card to go to another location once the new card is available, please call the TWIC Help Desk at, 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942) and request a card transfer.
Once you have reported your card as lost or stolen, you may have 7 days of unescorted access to a facility, at the facility’s discretion, if you meet all of the below requirements:Additionally, U.S. Coast Guard Policy Advisory Council (PAC) 03-09 guidance allows the owner/operator of a facility or vessel to authorize an additional 30 days of unescorted access if your replacement TWIC is not received within 7 days. This authority remains in effect until July 15, 2009. For any questions about PAC 03-09, please contact your local Coast Guard contact, or visit http://homeport.uscg.mil/twic.
- The facility’s security staff knows that you had a valid TWIC;
- You have previously been given unescorted access;
- You have reported your card as lost or stolen to TSA (which occurs when you receive your ticket number when ordering your replacement card).
Where can I enroll?Click here to view the latest TWIC deployment schedule, which provides monthly or quarterly time frames. As the start of the enrollment period for each grouping of ports nears, specific enrollment start dates and addresses will be posted, so stay tuned.
Where can I get more information on mobile enrollment?The current listing of enrollment locations is available on this website, under the Schedule tab.
What is pre-enrollment?Click here to view a document that provides background information, requirements, and contact information for requesting and hosting a mobile enrollment facility.
Are appointments required for enrollment?The pre-enrollment process allows applicants to provide much of the biographic information required for enrollment; to select an enrollment center where they wish to complete enrollment; and to make an appointment to complete enrollment at the enrollment center of their choosing. Applicants are encouraged, but not required, to pre-enroll. Pre-enrollment is available by clicking here.
How can I make an appointment for enrollment?No. Appointments are encouraged to save applicants' time but are not required and walk-ins are welcome.
How long does enrollment take?To make an appointment for TWIC enrollment, an applicant must first pre-enroll. If pre-enrolling on the website, an applicant may use his/her address to search for nearby enrollment centers and set an appointment time for the location of his/her choice. If pre-enrolling via the Help Desk (1-866-DHS-TWIC), an operator will help the applicant set an appointment time at the enrollment center of his/her choice.
How will the cards be issued?The enrollment process for a pre-enrolled applicant is expected to take approximately 10 minutes. The enrollment process for an individual who chose not to pre-enroll is expected to take approximately 15 minutes.
How long does it take to receive a TWIC?The applicant will be notified by email or phone, as specified during enrollment, when his/her credential is available at the enrollment center. The applicant must return to the same enrollment center to pick up his/her TWIC.
How can I check the status of my card and schedule a pick-up?Currently, there is typically three to four week turnaround from enrollment until card activation. Eligibility issues or insufficient information may increase the turnaround time.
What if I enroll for my TWIC card in an Enrollment Center in one region of the country, but need to activate (pick up) my TWIC card at a different Enrollment Center location due to a move or my employment requires me to be in another region?Click here to check the status of your card and schedule a pick-up.
Where can I get a copy of communication materials that I can print out and distribute at my port?We now have the ability to transfer a TWIC card from one Enrollment Center location to a different Enrollment Center due to extenuating circumstances, such as, job transfers, seasonal work, residential move, et cetera. If you need your card transferred to a different Enrollment Center location, please call the TWIC Help Desk at, 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942) or email the Help Desk at, TWIC.Helpdesk@gcrm.com and request a card transfer. Your card should arrive at the requested Enrollment Center within 3-4 weeks.
Where can I get additional information on TWIC?There are informative communications materials available for download on this website. For general TWIC information, click on the “Other Resources” tab to download flyers in both English and Spanish. For port-specific materials, click on the appropriate port under the “Schedule” tab. We encourage you to download these materials and disseminate them widely within your port community. Feel free to use them for newsletters, web uploads, pamphlets, and flyers. All documents are 8˝” x 11” PDF files.
What is the contact number for the TWIC Help Desk?The TSA website for the TWIC program provides additional information on the program, supporting policies and regulation (information on waivers and appeals), etc. Additionally, the Coast Guard’s website contains information on U.S. Coast Guard policies and contains specific documents, such as the Coast Guard Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) and small entity guides for TWIC applicants and owners/operators.
The TWIC Help Desk can be reached at 1-866-DHS-TWIC (or 1-866-347-8942) and is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 a.m. EST.
