TRANSPORTATION WORKER IDENTIFICATION 

CREDENTIAL PROGRAM: SMALL ENTITY GUIDE FOR 

APPLICANTS 

PUBLICATION DATE: SEPTEMBER 14, 2007 
This Page Intentionally Left Blank 

ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD...............................................................................................................................................1

WHY TSA AND USCG WROTE THIS GUIDE ..............................................................................................1

USERS’ RIGHT TO REPRODUCE THIS GUIDE...............................................................................................1

WHERE TO GET THIS GUIDE ELECTRONICALLY.........................................................................................1

TERMS USED IN THIS GUIDE...............................................................................................................1

ABOUT THIS GUIDE................................................................................................................................2

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE TO LEARN ABOUT THE TWIC PROGRAM...........................................................2

THIS GUIDE DOES NOT REPLACE THE RULES ............................................................................................2

RESPONSIBLE AGENCIES.....................................................................................................................3

WHAT TSA DOES......................................................................................................................................3

WHAT USCG DOES...................................................................................................................................3

WHERE TO GO FOR INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE .............................................................3

YOUR EMPLOYER’S OBLIGATIONS ............................................................................................................3

IF YOUR EMPLOYER IS NOT A VESSEL OR MARITIME FACILITY OWNER OR OPERATOR.............................4

IF YOU ARE SELF-EMPLOYED ....................................................................................................................4

THE TWIC RULES .....................................................................................................................................4

TWIC ENROLLMENT CENTERS..................................................................................................................4

NVIC AND RELATED GUIDES....................................................................................................................5

WHAT THE TWIC PROGRAM MEANS TO YOU ..............................................................................7

WHAT A TWIC IS AND WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE ...........................................................................................7

OTHER PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION ..........................................................................................................7

SUBMITTING YOUR TWIC TO INSPECTION ...............................................................................................8

WHAT THE USCG DOES DURING AN INSPECTION.....................................................................................8

ABOUT SECURE AREAS AND ESCORTING......................................................................................8

SECURE AND RESTRICTED AREAS .............................................................................................................8

ESCORTING ...............................................................................................................................................8

PUBLIC, PASSENGER, AND EMPLOYEE ACCESS AREAS..............................................................................9

TWIC BASICS............................................................................................................................................9

CAN I GET A TWIC? ...............................................................................................................................10

OWNER/OPERATOR RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY TO CONTROL ACCESS ........................................12

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO HOLD A TWIC? .....................................................................................................12

WHAT CAN DISQUALIFY ME FROM GETTING A TWIC?...........................................................................13

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HOW TO APPLY FOR A TWIC............................................................................................................15

STEP 1: PRE-ENROLLMENT.....................................................................................................................15

STEP 2: ENROLLMENT AND WHAT HAPPENS AT AN ENROLLMENT CENTER...........................................16

STEP 3: PAY FEES...................................................................................................................................16

STEP 4: SECURITY THREAT ASSESSMENT AND COMPARABLE THREAT ASSESSMENT ..........................17

STEP 5: HOW TO PICK UP YOUR TWIC AND GET IT ACTIVATED ..............................................................19

WAIVERS .................................................................................................................................................19

APPLYING FOR A WAIVER .......................................................................................................................19

TSA’S WAIVER DECISION .......................................................................................................................20

APPEALS ..................................................................................................................................................20

APPEALING AN INITIAL DETERMINATION OF THREAT ASSESSMENT (IDTA) ........................................20

REVIEW BY ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE AND TSA FINAL DECISION MAKER ...................................21

ONCE TSA ISSUES A TWIC .................................................................................................................23

WHEN YOUR TWIC WILL EXPIRE ...........................................................................................................23

IF YOU BECOME INELIGIBLE FOR THE TWIC ..........................................................................................23

RENEWING YOUR TWIC.........................................................................................................................24

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR TWIC FAILS OR IS LOST, DAMAGED, OR STOLEN ................................................24

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FORGET YOUR PIN ................................................................................................25

REVOKING A TWIC ..............................................................................................................................25

IMMEDIATE REVOCATION .......................................................................................................................25

TWIC AND PRIVACY ............................................................................................................................26

HOW WE PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION.................................................................................................26

WHO GETS TO SEE YOUR INFORMATION? ...............................................................................................26

TWIC AND FRAUD.................................................................................................................................27

CONCLUSION .........................................................................................................................................27

APPENDICES...........................................................................................................................................28

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LIST OF TABLES 

Table 1: Information and Assistance Aids..................................................................................... 6

Table 2: Who May Hold a TWIC ................................................................................................ 12

Table 3: Permanent Disqualifying Criminal Offenses................................................................. 13 

Table 4: Interim Disqualifying Offenses ..................................................................................... 14 

Table 5: Applicants and Fees through September 30, 2007 ........................................................ 17 

APPENDICES 

APPENDIX I: Checklist of Information You Must Give TSA to Apply for a TWIC................. 29 

APPENDIX II: Checklist of Information You May Volunteer to Give TSA.............................. 30 

APPENDIX III: Checklist of Statements You Must Sign to Apply for a TWIC ........................ 31 

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vi
Foreword 

WHY TSA AND USCG WROTE THIS 

GUIDE 

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the 

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 

wrote this guide to inform you about how the 

Transportation Worker Identification Credential 

(TWIC) rules apply to you and to help you 

comply with the program requirements. This 

guide tells you whether you need a TWIC, how 

to get one, and your responsibilities as a TWIC 

holder. 

USERS’ RIGHT TO REPRODUCE THIS 

GUIDE 

This guide is in the public domain. That means 

you may copy this guide without asking anyone. 

Please reference where you got the information. 

Cite this guide as: Transportation Worker 

Identification Credential Program: Small Entity 

Guide for Applicants. 

WHERE TO GET THIS GUIDE 

ELECTRONICALLY 

You can find an electronic copy of this guide at 

three different websites. You can save an 

electronic copy for your files or you can print this 

guide. The three websites are: 

• The Docket Management Facility’s 

website at http://dms.dot.gov in the 

TSA’s and the USCG’s dockets 

numbered TSA-2006-24191 and Coast 

Guard-2006-24196. 

• The USCG’s Homeport website under 

the Maritime Security/TWIC heading at 

http://homeport.uscg.mil. 

• The TSA’s website at 

http://www.tsa.gov/twic. 

Terms Used in This Guide

CFR Code of Federal Regulations.

COTP Captain of the Port. 

CSO Company Security Officer.

DHS Department of Homeland Security.

DNST Determination of No Security Threat. 

Facility A facility subject to 33 CFR part 105. 

FDTA Final Determination of Threat 

Assessment. 

FMSC Federal Maritime Security 

Coordinator. 

FSO Facility Security Officer. 

FSP A USCG approved Facility Security 

Plan. 

ID A means of identification, such as a 

document containing official 

information. The TWIC is a form of 

ID. 

IDTA Initial Determination of Threat 

Assessment. 

IR Immediate Revocation. 

Maritime 

Facility A facility subject to 33 CFR part 105 

or an OCS facility subject to 33 CFR 

part 106. 

MTSA Maritime Transportation Security Act 

of 2002. 

NTSB National Transportation Safety Board.

NVIC Navigation and Vessel Inspection 

Circular. 

1
OCS 

Facility An outer continental shelf facility 

subject to 33 CFR part 106. 

Operator Operator of a vessel or maritime 

facility. 

Owner Owner of a vessel or maritime 

facility. 

PIN Personal Identification Number. 

SAFE Port Act Security and Accountability for 

Every Port Act of 2006. 

Secretary Secretary of DHS. 

STA Security Threat Assessment.

TSA Transportation Security 

Administration. 

TSI Transportation Security Incident. 

TWIC Transportation Worker 

Identification Credential. 

TWIC 

Program The procedures and systems to check 

and validate transportation worker 

access control measures. 

USCG United States Coast Guard.

Vessel A vessel subject to 33 CFR part 104. 

VSO Vessel Security Officer. 

VSP A USCG approved Vessel Security 

Plan. 

We, us USCG and TSA. 

WID Withdrawal of the Initial 

Determination. 

You, your The reader (usually a TWIC holder or 

applicant). 

About This Guide 

This guide applies to you if you are a person 

who is applying for a TWIC, a person who holds 

a TWIC, or a person who is renewing a TWIC. 

This guide also has general information about 

the TWIC rules. 

(There is another guide for owners and 

operators. It provides information on how 

owners and operators must comply with the 

TWIC rules. The title of that guide is 

Transportation Worker Identification Credential 

Program: Small Entity Guide for Owners and 

Operators). 

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE TO LEARN 

ABOUT THE TWIC PROGRAM 

Our TWIC rules are in the Code of Federal 

Regulations (CFR) in titles 33, 46, and 49. This 

Small Entity Guide for Applicants takes 

important information in the rules that may affect 

you and puts it in one place. We hope it helps 

you understand the requirements of the TWIC 

Program. You can use the section above titled 

Terms Used in This Guide as a reference to 

understand words and abbreviations we use. 

We put the guide in the order we think you are 

most likely to need the information. Use the 

headings in the table of contents to find where to 

look in this guide for information you want to 

know. Read the whole guide to understand the 

TWIC rules better. 

Use the tables and text boxes to find things we 

want to highlight about the rules. Some tables 

explain important rule language to make it easier 

to understand. Use the websites and call 

centers tables to find out where you can get help 

or find more information. 

THIS GUIDE DOES NOT REPLACE THE 

RULES 

This Small Entity Guide for Applicants is not a 

substitute for the rules nor is it itself a rule. It is 

not intended to nor does it impose legally 

binding requirements. You must comply with 

the rules, and we hope this guide will help you 

understand the requirements in the statutes and 

regulations that apply to you. You may use an 

alternate approach to those found here if the 

approach satisfies the applicable regulations. 

Check our websites for changes in the TWIC 

program or in how we will enforce the rules. 

2
Responsible Agencies 

TSA and USCG published the TWIC rules 

together. We are both responsible for informing 

you about the program and we have many aids 

to help you comply. We describe these aids in 

the part of this guide titled, Where to Go for 

Information and Assistance. It starts on page 3. 

WHAT TSA DOES 

TSA enrolls TWIC applicants, performs the 

security threat assessments, issues and revokes 

TWICs, and renews TWICs. We have the 

following responsibilities. 

• Set up enrollment centers (staff and 

facilities). 

• Publish notices in the Federal Register

telling applicants where and when to 

enroll. 

• Enroll applicants and issue TWICs. 

• Conduct the Security Threat 

Assessment (STA) processes. 

• Handle waivers and appeals. 

• Use appropriate data to check on TWIC 

holders during the life of their TWICs. 

• Work with local authorities, owners and 

operators, and USCG in cases of 

imminent security threats. 

WHAT USCG DOES 

USCG enforces the TWIC program as an 

access control measure. We incorporate 

compliance with the TWIC program into current 

inspection policies. We have the following 

responsibilities. 

• Give guidance and assist industry to 

implement the TWIC program. 

• Make annual compliance inspections. 

• Spot-check vessels and maritime 

facilities to ensure they have working 

TWIC programs, check fingerprints, and 

match biometrics on TWICs. 

• Review Vessel Security Plans (VSPs) 

and Facility Security Plans (FSPs). In 

the future, we will include review to 

make sure the TWIC is part of an overall 

security program. 

• Work with local groups to make sure 

people know when to comply, where to 

enroll, and how to get any other useful 

information. 

• Work with vessel and maritime facility 

inspection teams and industry staff to 

make permanent security 

improvements. 

• In some cases, respond to reports of 

invalid or false TWICs. 

Where to Go for Information and Assistance 

If your employer is an owner or operator, that 

employer must tell you certain things about the 

TWIC program. Also, there are USCG and TSA 

resources like websites and call centers to help 

people apply for a TWIC. They will help answer 

your questions related to eligibility, enrollment, 

or compliance. USCG and TSA staff operate 

some of these resources. Government-hired 

contractors operate others. 

Things your employer must tell 

you: 

• Where there are secure areas. 

• If you need unescorted access.

• About any public, employee, or 

passenger access areas. 

• When we will start to enforce the 

TWIC rules in your area. 

• When and where you can apply

for a TWIC.

YOUR EMPLOYER’S OBLIGATIONS 

To help you apply for a TWIC, your employer 

must tell you if you must get a TWIC, how to 

apply for it, and the deadline for your application. 

We want owners or operators to do this because 

they authorize unescorted access at their 

facilities and vessels. 

Your employer 

or the facility or 

vessel owner or 

operator should 

provide 

advance notice 

for you to apply 

and get your 

TWIC when

you need it. 

3
Your employer might notify you in some of the 

following ways. 

• Signs posted in common areas. 

• Company newsletters. 

• Announcements by company officials. 

• Company website. 

• Inserts in wage and salary statements or 

other payroll documents. 

We hope employers will tell other workers about 

the program even if these workers are not 

employees. For example, you may be a 

contractor or a trucker who must have 

unescorted access to a secure area. Check 

common areas, newsletters, and the company’s 

website for news about the TWIC program. 

IF YOUR EMPLOYER IS NOT A VESSEL 

OR MARITIME FACILITY OWNER OR 

OPERATOR 

If you do not work directly for a vessel or 

maritime facility owner or operator, you may still 

need a TWIC. Ask your employer if your job 

requires you to get a TWIC. 

IF YOU ARE SELF-EMPLOYED 

If you are self-employed, but regularly work at a 

facility or vessel, you may need a TWIC. Ask 

the owner or operator if you need a TWIC to do 

your job. The vessel or maritime facility Vessel 

Security Officer (VSO), Company Security 

Officer (CSO), or Facility Security Officer (FSO) 

also should be able to tell you if you need a 

TWIC. 

THE TWIC RULES 

The first time we publish any rule, that rule must 

go in the Federal government’s “daily 

newspaper” for agencies – the Federal Register. 

At the beginning of the rule – in a section called 

the preamble – we explain to readers why we 

wrote the rule. We also explain how we 

addressed comments on the proposed rule. The 

preamble is a good place to find information 

about our intent and about the rules. 

We published the TWIC program rules in the 

Federal Register on January 25, 2007 (72 FR 

3491). The rules are titled, Transportation 

Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) 

Implementation in the Maritime Sector; 

Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a 

Commercial Driver’s License. They changed the 

following CFR parts. 

• 33 CFR parts 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 

and 125. 

• 46 CFR parts 10, 12, and 15. 

• 49 CFR parts 1515, 1540, 1570, and 

1572. 

You can get the Federal Register rules and 

preamble, and any related corrections 

documents, from the following sources. 

• The USCG’s Homeport website under 

the Maritime Security/TWIC heading at 

http://homeport.uscg.mil. 

• Government Printing Office website at 

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. 

• The Federal Register website at 

http://www.archives.gov/federal-register. 

Many libraries around the country agree to keep 

the Federal Register, and you can find the 

Federal Register in any such depository library. 

You also may find the rules and related 

documents in dockets TSA-2006-24191 and 

Coast Guard-2006-24196. Except for Federal 

holidays, you may inspect and copy materials in 

the docket in person between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, at the 

following address. 

Docket Management Facility 

U. S. Department of Transportation 

1200 New Jersey Ave., S.W. 

Washington, D.C. 20590 

You may see the docket on the internet, 24 

hours a day, 365 days a year, at 

http://dms.dot.gov. 

TWIC ENROLLMENT CENTERS 

To get a TWIC, you must enroll in the program 

in person at a TSA enrollment center. TSA 

contractors will set up and operate enrollment 

centers and issue TWICs under the TWIC rules. 

We will start in one port and then open in other 

ports as time goes on. We will provide the 

biggest enrollment capacity until September 25, 

2008, when everyone will need a TWIC. Our 

goal is to have at least one enrollment center in 

each of about 130 ports across the country. 

4
Some of these centers may not be permanent. 

Some will reduce staff after the compliance date 

in a COTP zone. So you should apply for your 

TWIC at the peak enrollment time in your local 

area. That time is when you will have the best 

chance for quick service. 

You will need a TWIC for unescorted access to 

a facility or OCS facility based on the 

compliance date in that COTP zone. Although 

vessel owners and operators need not have a 

TWIC program in place until September 25, 

2008, some owners and operators may require 

you to have a TWIC before then. 

Where You May Apply for Enrollment 

You may apply at any enrollment center. But 

you must pick up your TWIC at the same 

enrollment center where you applied. We want 

to make the enrollment process as easy as we 

can for you and for owners and operators. We 

will use both fixed and mobile enrollment 

centers. A fixed enrollment center stays open 

for a long term and any worker may use it. At 

the request of a large employer, we may open a 

short-term mobile enrollment center for the 

convenience of its employees. (If you apply at a 

mobile enrollment center, you may have to pick 

up your TWIC at the nearest fixed enrollment 

center. You will be informed of its location.) A 

TSA contractor identifies the best enrollment 

sites based on location and other factors, such 

as convenience and available parking. We work 

closely with the maritime industry to tell you as 

soon as we can where and when enrollment 

begins in your area. 

After the compliance date in a COTP zone, we 

will reduce the number of centers and staff. We 

will keep centers near the hubs of port facility 

and vessel activity. We will keep enough 

enrollment centers open in order to handle the 

following activities. 

• New TWIC applicants. 

• Replacements for lost, stolen, or 

damaged TWICs. 

• TWIC renewals. 

You can find our schedule for opening 

enrollment centers at www.tsa.gov/twic. Check 

often because the schedule may change. 

NVIC AND RELATED GUIDES 

USCG uses Navigation and Vessel Inspection 

Circulars (NVICs) as a way to explain how it will 

enforce some of its rules and programs. A NVIC 

is not a rule. However, it is a tool for helping you 

obey safety and security rules and programs 

and helping us to be consistent. In Table 1, we 

say where you can find NVICs and other aids. 

The following NVIC may help you understand 

and obey the TWIC program rules. 

NVIC No. 03-07 – Guidance for the 

Implementation of the Transportation 

Worker Identification Credential Program in 

the Maritime Sector.

5
Table 1: Information and Assistance Aids 

Source Who staffs it Who it can help How it can help 

Toll-free TWIC Call Center 

(1-866-DHS-TWIC or 1-866-

347-8942) 

TSA 

Contractor 

Transportation 

workers, facility and 

vessel owners and 

operators, and others 

who require assistance 

Round-the-clock help with 

enrollment; lost, stolen, or 

damaged cards; scheduling 

enrollment appointments, locating 

the closest enrollment facility to an 

applicant; guiding applicants 

through the web-based preenrollment process 

TSA Enrollment Centers TSA 

Contractors 

Transportation workers 

and TWIC holders 

TWIC enrollment, issuance, and 

renewal; lost, damaged, or stolen 

cards; TWIC replacements; PIN 

resets; scheduling appointments; 

pre-enrollments (if available) 

www.tsa.gov/twic TSA Transportation 

workers, facility and 

vessel owners and 

operators, and others 

who require assistance 

Frequently asked questions; links 

to other program websites; TWIC 

reference documents (e.g., rules) 

www.twicprogram.tsa.dhs.gov TSA 

Contractor 

Transportation 

workers, facility and 

vessel owners and 

operators, and others 

who require assistance 

Enrollment Center locations and 

directions; Pre-enroll for a TWIC 

and schedule an enrollment 

appointment; Listing of required 

documentation to bring to 

enrollment center; Frequently 

asked questions (FAQs) 

USCG Help Desk 

(1-866-MTSA-AID or 1-866-

687-2243) 

USCG Transportation 

workers; facility, 

vessel, and company 

security officers; 

facility and vessel 

owners and operators; 

the general public 

Implementation and compliance 

questions regarding use of TWIC 

at MTSA regulated vessels and 

facilities. Enrollment and issuance 

questions will be forwarded to the 

contractor-maintained call center. 

COTPs USCG Facility, vessel, and 

company security 

officers; facility and 

vessel owners and 

operators 

Implementation and compliance 

questions regarding use of TWIC 

at MTSA regulated vessels and 

facilities within their COTP zone. 

http://homeport.uscg.mil, 

(USCG’s portal for sharing 

information with the public 

and security officers) 

USCG Transportation 

workers; facility and 

vessel security officers; 

facility and vessel 

owners and operators; 

the general public 

TWIC FAQs, general information, 

news and events, and outreach 

resources; portal for entering new 

hire’s personal data and employer 

contact information 

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/gm/nvic/index00.htmUSCG Facility and vessel 

security officers; 

facility and vessel 

owners and operators 

NVIC No. 03-07, Guide for the 

Implementation of the TWIC 

Program in the Maritime Sector

and related guidance 

6
What the TWIC Program Means to You 

If you are an owner or operator, a TWIC 

applicant, or TWIC holder, U.S. law says you 

must comply with Federal rules. Under the 

Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) 

and Security and Accountability for Every 

(SAFE) Port Act, the Secretary must establish 

rules to prevent an unauthorized person from 

getting into a secure area of a vessel or facility 

that has a security plan. We based the TWIC 

rules on these two laws. The laws require using 

a standard, biometric ID (also known as a 

“credential”), for access control to secure areas 

of vessels and facilities. We call that ID the 

“Transportation Worker Identification Credential” 

or “TWIC.” To get a TWIC, you must pass a 

Security Threat Assessment (STA). That 

assessment helps us decide if you pose a risk to 

transportation. 

You must have a TWIC if you are a merchant 

mariner or anyone who needs unescorted 

access to a secure area at a vessel or maritime 

facility. If you are a merchant mariner, by 

September 25, 2008, you must have a TWIC. 

(Read the part of this guide titled, Who Must Get 

a TWIC to find out what you need before then. It 

starts on page 10.) 

Must-have Traits for Your Other 

ID 

• Be laminated or otherwise secure 

against tampering.

• Contain your first and last name

and middle initial (if you have

one). 

• Have a photo of your face that 

shows how you currently look. 

• Have the name of the issuing 

authority. 

USCG sets the schedule for when you must 

have a TWIC. You get a TWIC by applying or 

“enrolling” at a TSA TWIC enrollment center. 

You must give the enrollment center certain 

information and documents. Then, TSA 

performs the investigation called an STA. If all 

goes well, you will have a TWIC, which makes 

you eligible for unescorted access to secure 

areas of a vessel or maritime facility. (Read the 

part of this guide titled, How to Apply for a 

TWIC. It starts on page 15.) 

No matter what, you must also have permission 

from the owner or operator for unescorted

access. We talk about these things on page 12

in the part of this guide titled, Owner/Operator

Responsibility and Authority to Control Access. 

If you do not have a TWIC, to enter a secure 

area, you must have owner or operator

permission and someone who does have a 

TWIC must escort you. See the part of this 

guide titled, About Secure Areas and Escorting. 

It starts on page 8. 

WHAT A TWIC IS AND WHAT IT LOOKS 

LIKE 

Your TWIC is a standard, biometric ID. It 

contains a numeric code. The code is 

associated with your fingerprint pattern 

embedded in an electronic chip to link the card 

to you. The TWIC also has your photograph 

and special features on the surface to make it 

easy to tell if someone tampered with it. It has 

security features embedded in the card to 

protect your personal information. Security staff 

can tell if a TWIC is damaged or missing special 

features. These features make the TWIC hard 

to copy or change. 

OTHER PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION 

If you do not 

have a TWIC

you will not be 

eligible for 

unescorted 

access to

secure areas 

and you must 

show security 

staff another ID 

to enter, under 

escort, a secure area at a vessel or facility. 

Your ID must come from a government 

authority, your employer, union, or trade

association. There are some people who do not 

need to have a TWIC for unescorted access to a 

secure area. To find out who these people are, 

read the part of this guide titled, TWIC Basics. It 

starts on page 9. 

7
SUBMITTING YOUR TWIC FOR 

INSPECTION 

If you have a TWIC, 

you must let 

authorized people 

inspect it when 

asked. These include 

Federal, State, and 

local authorities. You 

must also let the 

owner or operator’s 

security staff inspect 

the TWIC to control 

access. 

Positive verification of the 

TWIC means: 

• Comparing your face to the 

photo on the TWIC. 

• Checking that the TWIC has 

not expired. 

• Examining the TWIC to make 

sure it is real and no one 

changed it.

People with the Authority 

to Inspect Your TWIC 

• TSA 

• USCG 

• DHS 

• National Transportation 

Safety Board 

• Federal, State, or local 

law enforcement officers. 

• Owner or operator

• Owner or operator’s

security staff 

What You Must Do 

You must allow USCG to put your TWIC in a 

biometric card reader and provide your personal 

identification number (PIN) and your fingerprint. 

If you are unescorted in a secure area, you must 

have your TWIC in your possession or near 

enough to get it within 10 minutes. 

When you go to a vessel or facility, you may 

also have to consent to screening or inspection

for entrance into the secure area. If you do not 

submit to screening or inspection, you may not 

be able to board a vessel or OCS facility or enter 

a facility. An owner or operator’s security staff 

also may ask you to use another ID. You still 

must have the TWIC in your possession in case 

someone with authority wants to inspect it. 

What an Owner/Operator Must Do 

Before you get unescorted access to a secure 

area, an owner or operator must positively verify 

your TWIC. Usually, this happens at an access 

control point to a secure area. The owner or 

operator will usually use the TWIC as a visual ID 

badge. However, an owner or operator may

also ask you for a fingerprint any time before 

giving you unescorted access to a secure area. 

The fingerprint shows that you match the identity 

on your TWIC. 

WHAT THE USCG DOES DURING AN

INSPECTION 

During an inspection or spot check, USCG may 

use handheld biometric card readers to check 

the TWIC. We use the card reader and your 

PIN to match your fingerprint to the fingerprint 

code on the TWIC. (To find out how you get a 

PIN, read the part of this guide titled, Step 2: 

Enrollment and What Happens at the Enrollment 

Center. It starts on page 16.) We also make 

sure the TWIC is real and that TSA has not 

revoked it. 

About Secure Areas and Escorting 

Controlling access 

to secure areas is

the core of the 

TWIC program. 

One way to control 

access is to keep 

you out if you do 

not have the right 

ID. Another way is 

through following 

the rules for escorting in these areas. 

SECURE AND RESTRICTED AREAS 

A secure area is an area that has security 

measures in place for access control. The 

owner or operator must tell you what the secure 

areas are where you work. For a facility, the 

secure area is generally any place inside the 

outer-most access gate. For a vessel or OCS 

facility, the secure area is generally the whole 

vessel or OCS facility. 

A restricted area is a part of a secure area that

needs more limited access and higher security. 

Under MTSA rules, an owner or operator must

designate certain areas as restricted. For 

example, storage areas for cargo are restricted 

under our rules. An owner or operator must 

mark any restricted area clearly. Being in a 

secure or restricted area without authorization is 

a breach of security and against the law. 

ESCORTING 

Suppose you do not have a TWIC and the 

owner or operator gives you access to a secure 

area. In that case, you must have a TWIC 

holder as an escort. The vessel or facility owner 

or operator must authorize the escort to be in a 

secure area. For you, “escorting” could be 

having a person with a TWIC stay with you the 

entire time you are in the secure area. 

“Escorting” also could be monitoring you while 

8
you are in the secure area as long as you do not 

enter a restricted area. 

However, if you are in a restricted area, the only 

right way you can be escorted is with a TWIC 

holder. That TWIC holder must be near you and 

be able to see you all the time you are in the 

restricted area. The owner or operator must 

ensure that you are properly escorted at all 

times. 

Escorting a Newly Hired Employee 

If you are a newly hired employee under our 

rules, escorting may be different. Read the part 

of this guide titled, While You Are Waiting for 

Your TWIC; Newly Hired Employees. It starts 

on page 17. 

PUBLIC, PASSENGER, AND EMPLOYEE 

ACCESS AREAS 

A public, passenger, or employee access area 

may be designated on the vessel or facility. 

These areas are not part of the secure area and 

are never in a restricted area. The rules do not 

require people to have a TWIC to be in these 

access areas. However, the owner or operator 

has the authority to tell you if you are allowed in 

a passenger, public, or employee access area. 

Public Access Areas 

What if you work at a facility only in areas open 

to the public? Do you need a TWIC for access 

to those areas? If this area is part of a facility 

that serves ferries or passenger vessels carrying 

more than 150 passengers other than cruise 

ships, the owner or operator may designate it as 

a public access area in the Facility Security Plan 

(FSP). A public access area lets people walk 

through a facility to a vessel. You do not need a 

TWIC to be in a public access area unless you 

are an individual performing security duties as 

your primary function. 

Passenger Access Areas 

What if you work on a passenger vessel or ferry 

only in areas open to passengers? Do you need 

a TWIC for access in all spaces? An 

owner/operator may designate any area open to 

passengers on these kinds of vessels as a 

passenger access area. Some examples of this 

kind of area are vessel dining rooms, seating 

areas, parking decks, public restrooms, and 

bars. So if you are an employee such as a 

musician, wait staffer, or casino worker, and you 

do not have a TWIC, you may never enter an 

area, without an escort, where you need a 

TWIC. You do not need a TWIC to be in a 

passenger access area.

Employee Access Areas 

What if you work on a passenger vessel or ferry 

only in areas that support passenger access 

area activities? These employee access areas

include vessel galleys, storage areas, dressing 

rooms, and food service areas. As an 

employee, you may go into these areas. You do 

not need a TWIC to be in an employee access 

area. A cruise ship may not designate 

employee access areas. 

A Word about Cruise Ships 

An owner or operator may not designate an 

employee access area on a U.S.-flagged cruise 

ship. Long cruise ship voyages mean more 

contact with passengers and more time to 

access vessel spaces. In turn, this contact and 

access mean that there is a greater chance for 

individuals to create a Transportation Security 

Incident (TSI). If you are a cruise ship 

employee, you must have a TWIC for 

unescorted access to every area other than a 

passenger access area.

TWIC Basics 

Through the TWIC program, we want to make 

sure that you get a TWIC only if you need one 

and have passed our STA. 

This part of the guide will help you understand if 

you meet our standards for getting a TWIC. You 

will learn how to apply in the part of this guide 

titled, How to Apply for a TWIC. It starts on 

page 15. 

9
This part of the guide also will tell you about the 

following topics. 

• When you must have your TWIC. 

• The role an owner or operator has in 

deciding who needs unescorted access 

to a secure area. 

• Owner or operator responsibility for 

controlling access. 

CAN I GET A TWIC? 

Some people must get a TWIC, and some 

people can apply if they want to. All of these 

people must meet our standards to qualify. But 

not just anybody who meets our standards can 

get a TWIC. Either we say you must have a 

TWIC or your employer requires that you have it 

for unescorted access to a secure area. Then, 

there are some State and local authorities who 

we permit to get a TWIC if they believe they 

need one. In this part of TWIC Basics, we 

explain who is eligible to get a TWIC. 

Who Must Get a TWIC 

U.S. Credentialed Merchant 

Mariner holds a USCG-issued –

• Merchant mariner’s license 

• Merchant mariner’s document 

• Certificate of registry. 

We said what “secure area” means in, What the 

TWIC Program Means to You. We also talked 

about what “escorting” means. Now, we will tell 

you how you fit 

into this picture. 

You must have a 

TWIC if you are a 

credentialed U.S. 

merchant mariner 

or a person who requires unescorted access to 

any secure area of a vessel or facility covered 

by the TWIC program rules. Additionally, you 

must have a TWIC if you are the CSO, FSO, 

VSO, or any other person with security duties as 

your primary duty. 

To be in a secure area without an 

escort – 

• You must have a TWIC and, 

• The owner or operator must give 

you authority to be in that secure 

area without an escort. 

Merchant Mariners

Before September 25, 2008, here 

are documents you can use 

instead of a TWIC. 

• Merchant Mariner Document 

(MMD) 

• Merchant Mariner License and 

a picture I.D. 

• Certificate of Registry and a 

picture I.D. 

If you are a contractor or trucker, you may need 

a TWIC if you must have unescorted access to a 

secure area. 

Even if our rules 

specify that you 

must have a 

TWIC, remember 

that owners and 

operators decide 

who may enter a secure area. So having a 

TWIC is not a right to unescorted access. The 

owner or operator must give you permission to 

be in a secure area without an escort. (Ask your 

employer or the security officer where you work 

if your vessel or facility comes under the TWIC 

program.) 

When You Must Get a TWIC 

If you work at a facility, we will tell you at least 

90 days before we require a TWIC for 

unescorted access in your COTP zone. Your 

compliance date will follow the peak enrollment 

period – the period when you have the best 

chance for quick service at an enrollment center. 

If you work at a vessel, you will need to have a 

TWIC for unescorted access by September 25, 

2008. The vessel owner or operator may 

however, require you to get a TWIC at an earlier 

date. 

When we begin enrollment in a COTP zone, we 

will make sure we have convenient places for 

you to apply so you have an adequate 

opportunity to get your TWIC. We will also tell 

you when we are beginning enrollment in your 

area. Remember that when you apply early, it 

speeds up the process. Check with the security 

people at vessels and facilities where you work 

so that you do not miss the enrollment or 

compliance dates. 

On the date we designate for compliance in your 

COTP zone, you must have a valid TWIC to get 

unescorted access to a secure area of a facility 

within your COTP zone. 

If you are one of about 205,000 credentialed 

U.S. merchant mariners who must get a TWIC, 

enrolling may be hard for you because you 

move from place to place. So you may apply for 

a TWIC at any time once enrollment starts. You 

may apply at any enrollment center, but you 

must pick up your TWIC at the same enrollment 

center. If the owner 

or operator 

authorizes it, you 

may have 

unescorted access 

to secure areas 

until September 25, 

2008 – even 

without a TWIC. In 

fact, during that 

time, you may be 

an escort under the TWIC program if the owner 

or operator authorizes it. You must use one of 

the alternate identity documents we spell out in 

the rules. (See the box headed Merchant 

10
Mariners.) However, we encourage merchant 

mariners to apply early for their TWICs. 

If you are a long-haul trucker, your work also 

may take you to secure areas in more than one 

COTP zone. You must have a TWIC for 

unescorted access to a secure area in any 

COTP zone where compliance has begun. This 

is true even when you come from a COTP zone 

where the compliance date has not been 

reached and are going to a COTP zone where 

compliance has begun. 

If you are a newly hired employee, there are 

special rules for access to a secure area. You 

come under these special rules between the 

time you apply for a TWIC and the time you get 

your TWIC from TSA if compliance has begun at 

your place of employment. Read the part of this 

guide titled, While You Are Waiting for Your 

TWIC; Newly Hired Employees. It starts on 

page 17. 

People Encouraged to Obtain a TWIC 

What if you are a person who is in a secure area 

often as part of your work? It would probably be 

best for you and the owner or operator where 

you work if you had a TWIC. We expect 

individuals like you to get a TWIC instead of 

being under escort over a long period of time. 

So if your work means you need regular access 

to a secure area, we expect you to get a TWIC. 

Here are some of the kinds of workers in this 

group. 

• Vessel crew (other than U.S. 

credentialed merchant mariners). 

• Longshoremen. 

• Drayage truck drivers who often handle 

cargo near a vessel. 

• Facility employees working in a secure 

area. 

Federal Officials; State and Local Law 

Enforcement Officials; and State and Local 

Emergency Responders 

Some people do not need to have a TWIC for 

unescorted access to a secure area. 

Federal officials 

If you are a Federal official, you must present an 

agency-issued, HSPD-12 compliant card for 

unescorted access to a secure area. (Through a 

directive from the President, Federal employees, 

contractors and affiliates must undergo a 

standard identity verification process and hold a 

specific personal identification card – the HSPD12 compliant card.) If your agency has not 

issued this kind of identity document, you may 

use your agency’s official credential for 

unescorted access to secure areas until you get 

an HSPD-12 compliant card. 

State or local law enforcement officials 

If you are a State or local law enforcement 

officer, you probably had some type of 

background check before you began your job. 

State and local law enforcement officials may 

have unescorted access to secure areas without 

a TWIC if you are in the secure areas on official 

business. Still, we encourage you to get a TWIC 

if you need access to any secure area as a 

regular part of your duties. 

State or local emergency responder 

If you are a State or local emergency responder, 

you may have unescorted access to a secure 

area during an emergency. We know that not all 

emergency responders are State or local 

officials. Still, in an emergency, a responder 

may need unescorted access even to a secure 

area. If you are an emergency responder who is 

not a State or local official, we encourage you to 

get a TWIC. We also encourage State or local 

emergency responders to get a TWIC if access 

to a secure area is a regular part of your duties. 

Note that if you are in one of the groups we just 

talked about, you must use your unescorted 

access authority only for official duties. Also, 

you must follow the owner’s or operator’s 

approved security plan. 

Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) 

Members 

To be an AMSC member, you do not need a 

TWIC. But in order to have access to sensitive 

security information (as determined by the 

COTP) you must pass one of three security 

checks. One of those could be passing an STA 

to get a TWIC. The second could be passing a 

comparable STA. The third could be passing a 

name-based check conducted by TSA. We will 

accept any one of these three. TSA will do a 

name-based check at no cost to you. But if you 

need unescorted access to a secure area, you 

must get a TWIC and pay the associated fees. 

Talk to your Federal Maritime Security 

Coordinator (this is usually the COTP) if you 

11
need to have TSA conduct a name-based check 

for you. 

OWNER/OPERATOR RESPONSIBILITY 

AND AUTHORITY TO CONTROL 

ACCESS 

The owner or operator must control access to 

the vessel or maritime facility. So when you 

come to an access control point, you must show 

your TWIC to the security staff. Also, you must 

show your TWIC to the authorities we list in 

Submitting Your TWIC to Inspection if they ask 

for it. Remember that an owner or operator 

decides who needs unescorted access to a 

secure area. So even if you have a TWIC, the 

owner or operator can make you have an 

escort. Having a TWIC does not give you a right 

to unescorted access. 

Our rules let an owner or operator use an 

access control system it already has. That 

means you could be using a vessel or facility 

access card to get unescorted access to a 

secure area. Still, you must have a TWIC. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO HOLD A TWIC? 

You can hold a TWIC if you are a U.S. national. 

If you are not a U.S. national, you can hold a 

TWIC if you are in one of the groups identified in 

our rules. Figuring out if you are in one of these 

groups sometimes means looking at U.S. laws. 

Table 2 shows who may hold a TWIC and some 

of the laws that apply. If you are not a U.S. 

national or a Permanent Resident Card (Green 

Card) holder, you may need to have someone 

help you decide if you can hold a TWIC. 

Table 2: Who May Hold a TWIC 

General 

National of the United States 

U.S. lawful permanent resident 

Refugee admitted under 8 U.S.C. 1157 

Alien granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. 1157

Alien in a valid M-1 nonimmigrant status who is enrolled in the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy or a comparable 

State maritime academy 

Lawful Nonimmigrant Status 

Admitted under the Compact of Free Association between the U.S. and the Federated States of Micronesia, the U.S. 

and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the U.S. and Palau

Unrestricted authorization to work in the U.S., unless you are an alien whose status is one of the following: S-5, S6, K-1, K-2

Alien with one of these restricted authorizations to work in the U.S.: C-1/D Crewman Visa; H-1B Special 

Occupations; H-1B1 Free Trade Agreement; E-1 Treaty Trader; E-3 Australian in Specialty Occupation; L-1 

Intracompany Executive Transfer; O-1 Extraordinary Ability; TN North American Free Trade Agreement 

A complete list of lawful nonimmigrant statuses may be obtained from the TSA website www.tsa.gov/twic or by 

calling the TWIC Call Center at 1-866-DHS-TWIC. 

CDL Holder 

Licensed in Canada or Mexico and admitted to the U.S. under 8 CFR 214.2(b)(4)(i)(E) to conduct business in the 

U.S. 

12
WHAT CAN DISQUALIFY ME FROM 

GETTING A TWIC? 

Your status may make you ineligible to get a 

TWIC unless you get a waiver. Some status 

conditions can prevent you from getting a TWIC 

at all. 

One status we look at is your criminal records 

status. We call a disqualifying criminal offense 

“permanent” or “interim” to indicate how far back 

we will look at your criminal history in making a 

decision on a TWIC. Some offenses are 

disqualifying no matter how long ago they 

occurred (permanent disqualifying offenses) and 

some are disqualifying if the conviction occurred 

within the previous 7 years, or release from 

incarceration occurred within the previous 5 

years (interim disqualifying offenses). 

If you have certain permanent disqualifying 

criminal offenses, you may be unable to get a 

TWIC at all. If you have other criminal offenses, 

a certain mental incapacity status, or a certain 

immigration status, you may be unable to qualify 

for a TWIC through the regular process. You 

would have to apply for a waiver. 

If the STA process leads us to decide that you 

are a security threat, we will not issue you a 

TWIC. 

Permanent Disqualifying Criminal Offenses 

If you have a permanent disqualifying offense in 

your record, you should only apply for a TWIC if 

you plan to apply for a waiver. If you have one 

of the first 4 permanent offenses listed in Table 

3, you cannot get a waiver. (Read the part of 

this guide titled, Applying for a Waiver. It starts 

on page 19.) Were you ever convicted of a 

felony or found not guilty because you were 

insane? If you were, you should check to see if 

it was a permanent disqualifying criminal 

offense. You may need to have someone help 

you decide if you have a disqualifying offense in 

your record. Table 3 shows these offenses. 

Table 3: Permanent Disqualifying Criminal Offenses 

1 Espionage or conspiracy to commit espionage. 

2 Sedition or conspiracy to commit sedition. 

3 Treason or conspiracy to commit treason. 

4 A federal crime of terrorism as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2332b(g), or comparable State law, or conspiracy to 

commit such crime. 

5 A crime involving a transportation security incident. 

6 Improper transportation of a hazardous material under 49 U.S.C.5124, or a State law that is comparable. 

7 

Unlawful possession, use, sale, distribution, manufacture, purchase, receipt, transfer, shipment, 

transport, import, export, storing, or dealing in an explosive or explosive device. An explosive or 

explosive device is an explosive or explosive material defined in 18 U.S.C. 232(5), 841(c) through 

841(f), and 844(j); and a destructive device, as defined in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(4) and 26 U.S.C. 5845(f). 

But more things than these could be an explosive or explosive material. 

8 Murder. 

9 

Threatening, or maliciously conveying false information knowing it to be false, about delivering, 

placing, or detonating an explosive or other lethal device in or against a place of public use, a State or 

government facility, a public transportation system, or an infrastructure facility. 

10 

Violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), 18 U.S.C. 1961, et seq, or a 

comparable State law, where one of the predicate acts found by a jury or admitted by the defendant is 

one of the crimes listed in this Table. 

11 Attempt to commit the crimes in 1 through 4. 

12 Conspiracy or attempt to commit the crimes in 5 through 10. 

13
Interim Disqualifying Criminal Offenses 

If you have an interim disqualifying offense in 

your record, you may apply for a TWIC if the 

conviction occurred more than 7 years ago, your

release from incarceration occurred more than 5 

years ago, or you plan to apply for a waiver. 

(Read the part of this guide titled, Applying for a 

Waiver. It starts on page 19.) To figure out if 

you have this kind of offense, start by asking 

yourself the same question as you did for the 

permanent offenses. Then, check your 

conviction or prison dates. Look at Table 4. 

Were you convicted or found not guilty of one of 

the crimes in that table because you were 

insane? Did that happen in the 7 years before 

you would apply for the TWIC? Did you get out 

of prison for one of the crimes in that table in the 

5 years before you would apply for a TWIC? 

You may need help to understand if you have 

this kind of offense in your record. 

Table 4: Interim Disqualifying Offenses 

1 Unlawful possession, use, sale, manufacture, purchase, distribution, receipt, transfer, shipping, 

transporting, delivery, import, export of, or dealing in a firearm or other weapon. A firearm or other 

weapon can be one defined in 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(3) or 26 U.S.C. 5 845(a), or an item on the U.S. 

Munitions Import List at 27 CFR 447.21. But more things than these could be a firearm or other 

weapon. 

2 Extortion. 

3 Dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation, including identity fraud and money laundering where the money 

laundering relates to a crime that is a permanent or interim disqualifying offense. For TWIC, passing a 

bad check or welfare fraud is not dishonesty, fraud, or misrepresentation. 

4 Bribery. 

5 Smuggling. 

6 Immigration violations. 

7 Distributing a controlled substance, possessing it with intent to distribute, or importing it. 

8 Arson. 

9 Kidnapping or hostage taking. 

10 Rape or aggravated sexual abuse. 

11 Assault with intent to kill. 

12 Robbery. 

13 Fraudulent entry into a seaport as described in 18 U.S.C. 1036, or a comparable State law. 

14 Violating RICO, 18 U.S.C. 1961, et seq., or a comparable State law. Do not count a RICO violation that 

is a permanent disqualifying offense. 

15 Conspiracy or attempt to commit any of the crimes in Table 4. 

You may not have a disqualifying criminal 

offense in your record, but you may be wanted 

or under indictment for one of those offenses. If 

one of these things applies to you, you would 

not be eligible to receive a TWIC. 

Immigration Status 

You may have an immigration status that does 

not allow you to get a TWIC. Look back at Table 

2. Are you in one of the groups who can hold a 

TWIC? If you are not, you should not apply for a 

TWIC unless you are an alien in Temporary 

Protected Status and plan to apply for a waiver. 

(Read the part of this guide titled, Applying for a 

Waiver. It starts on page 19.) Also, you may 

have an immigration status that allows you to 

get a TWIC, but something could change. For 

example, your status could expire. In a case like 

that, you must give your TWIC to your employer. 

You should not apply for a TWIC in the first 

place if the U.S. has ordered you to leave or is 

trying to deport you under U.S. immigration 

laws. 

14
Mental Incapacity 

You may have a mental incapacity that prevents 

you from getting a TWIC. You have this 

condition if a court or other lawful authority found 

that you lack mental capacity. You are also in 

this group if a court or other lawful authority 

committed you to a mental health facility 

involuntarily. If you are in this group, you should 

not apply for a TWIC unless you are asking for a 

waiver. (Read the part of this guide titled, 

Applying for a Waiver. It starts on page 19.) 

You may need help to decide if you have mental 

incapacity. 

Security Threat 

Are you in one of these groups we talked about 

above in What Can Disqualify Me from Getting a 

TWIC? If you apply for a TWIC, we could 

decide that you pose a security threat. Note that 

you must pay the fees to enroll in TWIC even if 

we ultimately determine that you pose a threat 

and cannot have a TWIC. On the other hand, 

you may give us information that helps us 

decide to grant you a waiver. 

Even if you are not in one of the groups we just 

talked about, after we do an STA, we may 

decide that you pose or may pose a security 

threat. We could decide this after we check your 

immigration status, criminal history, and other 

information. You would not initially get a TWIC. 

If we decide that you should not get a TWIC, you 

would be able to ask for a second opinion from a 

higher DHS authority or a court if you disagree 

with our decision. We talk about that under, 

Review by Administrative Law Judge and TSA 

Final Decision Maker. It starts on page 21. 

How to Apply for a TWIC 

We call the steps you take to get a TWIC 

“enrollment.” There are five steps: preenrollment, enrollment, paying your fee, security 

threat assessment, and TWIC issuance. 

TSA or a trusted agent conducts enrollment. 

We train our trusted agents. Each one must 

pass an STA. We make sure your information 

stays private and safe. (To find out how we 

protect your information, read the part of this 

guide titled, How We Protect Your Information. 

It starts at page 26.)

What you can do when you pre-enroll 

• Give us some biographic information 

on-line. 

• Read and print the TWIC Application 

Disclosure Form you must sign at 

enrollment. 

• Find out where the best enrollment 

center is for you and when it is open. 

• Get directions to enrollment centers. 

• Make an appointment to visit an 

enrollment center. 

We expect the whole enrollment process to take 

less than a month. If the STA goes smoothly, 

the process may take less than 10 days. 

Later, we talk about waivers and appeals. If you 

need a waiver or appeal a decision, the process 

may take longer. 

You must go to an enrollment center to apply for 

your TWIC. We will have these centers all over 

the U.S. and in American Samoa, Guam, Puerto 

Rico, St. Thomas, and St. Croix. You may apply 

at any enrollment center that is convenient for 

you. But you must pick up your TWIC at the 

same enrollment center where you applied. 

Some of you may come from a COTP zone 

where enrollment has not started and go to work 

in a zone where it has. By the compliance date 

in a COTP zone, you must have a TWIC for 

unescorted access to a secure area in that zone. 

Keep track of when you need a TWIC and apply 

in plenty of time. 

STEP 1: PRE-ENROLLMENT 

Preenrollment 

is an 

optional 

step you 

may take to 

speed up 

the enrollment 

process. 

We would 

like you to 

pre-enroll, but you do not have to. You may preenroll from any computer with Internet access, 

or by calling the TWIC Help Desk. At 

www.tsa.gov/twic, you will find a secure portal to 

send us your biographic information such as 

your name, date of birth and address. Also, you 

can pre-enroll at a TWIC kiosk in many 

convenient locations, including enrollment 

centers. 

15
STEP 2: ENROLLMENT AND WHAT 

HAPPENS AT AN ENROLLMENT 

CENTER 

You must apply for your TWIC at an enrollment 

center. You do not need an appointment to visit 

a center, but it may speed up the process. At 

the center, you will do the following. 

• Review and sign the TWIC Application 

Disclosure Form (indicating if you will 

apply for a waiver at that time). 

• Give us biographic (personal) 

information. 

• Give us documents that verify your 

identity. 

• Pay enrollment fees. 

• Give us a complete set of your 

fingerprints. 

• Sit for a digital photograph. 

Appendix I of this guide is a list of information 

you must give TSA as identifying information 

when you apply for a TWIC. You must bring 

other documents to prove your identify. You can 

find out what those documents are at the TWIC 

website. We will scan your documents into an 

electronic enrollment record. 

There is some information that you do not have 

to give us. But you may volunteer to give us this 

information. Appendix II is a list of information 

you may give TSA to help process your 

application faster. 

When you apply, you must give or sign a 

number of statements. Look at Appendix III for 

statements you must give if they apply to you. 

You also must certify and date a statement that 

the information you give us is true, complete, 

and correct, to the best of your knowledge. You 

must sign a statement that you know TSA may 

tell your employer if we decide you are a 

security threat. 

Be sure to give us the best and most complete 

information you can. If you lie about any of this 

information or leave anything out, we can fine 

you, imprison you, or do both. If you give us the 

wrong information, we may deny your TWIC. 

When you reapply with the correct information, 

you will have to pay the fee again. 

If you know when you enroll that you have one 

of the permanent disqualifying criminal offenses 

listed in lines 5 through 12 in table 3 or any of 

the interim disqualifying criminal offenses listed 

in table 4, mental incapacity, or you are an alien 

in temporary protective status, apply for a 

waiver. Begin the waiver process during 

enrollment by stating that you will apply for a 

waiver on the TWIC Application Disclosure 

Form. 

Merchant mariner identity and immigration 

documents 

If you are a merchant mariner, you must give 

TSA proofs of citizenship, alien status, or both 

when you enroll for a TWIC. USCG requires 

these documents under 46 CFR Chapter I, 

Subchapter B. TSA will scan the merchant 

mariner identity documents into the electronic 

record and give that record to USCG. USCG 

will use the electronic record when you apply for 

or renew one of the following. 

• Merchant mariner’s license. 

• Merchant mariner’s document. 

• Certificate of registry. 

• Standards of Training Certification and 

Watch Keeping (STCW) endorsement. 

• Merchant mariner credentials. 

Because you give TSA this information when 

you enroll for a TWIC, you may find later that 

you do not have to submit this information again 

at a USCG Regional Examination Center. 

STEP 3: PAY FEES 

You must pay fees to cover the whole cost of 

processing your application. You will pay the 

fees at enrollment. You can pay the fees with a 

cashier’s check, money order, or credit card. 

You may not use cash or a personal check. We 

will process your TWIC application only after you 

pay your fee. 

(If you had a comparable threat assessment, 

you can pay a reduced fee. But if your 

comparable threat assessment expires soon, it 

may make sense to pay for a new one. Read 

Step 4 in this part of the guide.) 

TSA may adjust the TWIC fee for inflation. We 

will do this every year on or after October 1, 

2007. We will put an announcement in the 

16
Federal Register and at www.tsa.gov/twic. 

Table 5 shows what applicants pay right now. 

Merchant Mariners who do not need 

an STA 

• You hold a Merchant Mariner 

Document (MMD) issued after 

February 3, 2003. 

• You hold a Merchant Marine 

License issued after January 13, 

2006. 

Table 5: Applicants and Fees through 

September 30, 2007 

Applicant’s Category Fee 

Individuals requiring a security 

threat assessment 

$132.50 

Individuals not requiring a 

security threat assessment (i.e., 

Hazardous Materials endorsement 

issued after 5/31/2005, FAST 

card, or MMD issued after 

2/3/2003 or Merchant Mariner 

license issued after 1/13/2006) 

$105.25 

Card replacement fee (lost, stolen, 

or damaged). 

$60 

Remember that you pay us to process your 

application. So even if we deny your TWIC 

application, we do not return the fees. 

STEP 4: SECURITY THREAT 

ASSESSMENT AND COMPARABLE 

THREAT ASSESSMENT 

When you sign the TWIC Application Disclosure 

Form that is part of the enrollment process, you 

give us permission to check your identity and 

conduct an STA. For the STA, we will do the 

following. 

• Fingerprint-based criminal history 

records check. 

• Intelligence-related check to see if you 

have any ties to terrorism. 

• Immigration status check. 

Maybe you had something we call a 

“comparable threat assessment.” That means 

some government authority did a check on you 

that is very similar to our STA. If you have one 

of the following documents, you had a 

comparable threat assessment. 

• Hazardous materials endorsement. 

• Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card. 

• Merchant mariner’s document (MMD) 

issued after February 3, 2003. 

• Merchant mariner’s license issued after 

January 13, 2006. 

Instead of doing a new STA, we can use your 

comparable threat assessment to issue a TWIC. 

You can pay a reduced fee, however your TWIC 

will expire the same date as the STA which has 

already been conducted. In some cases it might 

make more sense to pay the full fee to receive a 

5-year TWIC. If you choose to pay for a STA, 

you must complete the enrollment process and 

give us your fingerprints. 

If you are a 

merchant 

mariner, you 

may hold a 

document 

that means 

you do not 

need an STA 

or need to 

pay for one. But you must submit all the 

information for an STA when you enroll for a 

TWIC. 

Who Does the STA and What They Check For 

TSA conducts the STA. We send your 

fingerprints to the FBI, and the FBI returns any 

criminal records associated with the fingerprints. 

We review any FBI records to determine if you 

have one of the disqualifying crimes listed in the 

rule. 

To conduct the intelligence check, we search 

U.S. and international government databases. 

We check your immigration status through 

immigration databases to see that you meet the 

standards in the rule. We check to see if you 

have a valid alien registration number and I-94 

Arrival-Departure Form number. If you provided 

us with a social security number, we may also 

check to see that it is valid. 

TSA reviews the STA results and decides if you 

may get a TWIC. 

While You Are Waiting for Your TWIC: Newly 

Hired Employees 

We know you want to start work at a new job as 

soon as possible. If you are a new hire under 

the TWIC rules, special rules let you have 

access to a secure area for 30 days while you 

wait to get your TWIC when your employer is 

required to comply with the TWIC program 

17
regulations. As usual, an owner or operator 

controls access to a vessel or facility. But with 

the new hire part of the TWIC rules, the owner 

or operator can put you to work sooner. 

You must do your part to be a new hire under 

the TWIC rules. You must do the following. 

• Apply for a TWIC and pay all the fees. 

• State in writing that you are not applying 

for a waiver. 

• Have another ID that has all the traits 

we require. Look at the part of this 

guide titled Other Personal Identification

for a description of other IDs we will 

accept. It starts at page 7. 

We send an IDTA or an IDTA-IR if we 

decide you meet one of the following. 

• You have a disqualifying criminal 

offense. 

• You have the wrong immigration 

status to qualify for a TWIC. 

• You lack “mental capacity.” 

• You are a security threat based on 

other information we found about you.

We will work with the owner or operator to verify 

your new hire status. That means running a 

name-based check on you. The owner, 

operator, or security officer gives us information 

about you through a secure on-line system we 

call Homeport. We must get your full name, 

date of birth, and date of TWIC enrollment. 

If you gave us your SSN when you applied, let 

the security officer where you work know. 

Having your SSN may make the name-based 

check go faster. Tell the security officer to give 

us your information exactly the way you entered 

it when you applied. For instance, if you gave 

us the name Dorothy at the enrollment center, 

entering your name as Dot will mean we cannot 

do the name-based check. If we get the right 

information, we typically complete a namebased check in 3 days or less. 

Once you clear this check, the owner or operator 

will let you know the access control security 

measures you must follow. 

You can use this new hire authority for 30 

consecutive days starting with the date you 

enrolled, once we give you permission. If TSA 

does not act on your application by the end of 

that time, USCG may give you another 30 days 

to use this authority. But remember that the 

owner or operator controls access – not TSA or 

USCG. 

What We Decide and How We Tell You 

We will notify you by mail of our decision about 

your TWIC. 

Determination of no security threat (DNST). 

If you pass the STA, TSA will make a DNST. If 

you are a merchant mariner, we will also send it 

to USCG. We notify the card production staff to 

make you a TWIC. When your TWIC is ready, 

we notify you by phone or e-mail to pick it up at 

the enrollment center. (Read the part of this 

guide titled, Step 2: How to Pick Up Your TWIC 

and Get It Activated. It starts at page 19.) 

Initial determination of threat assessment 

(IDTA). 

If you do not 

pass our 

STA, we will 

not initially 

give you a 

TWIC. You 

may receive 

a TWIC after 

following the 

required 

process. We will mail you an IDTA. In the 

IDTA, we will tell you the following. 

• That we think that you pose a security 

threat. 

• That we will not give you a TWIC at that 

time. 

• Why we think you are a security threat. 

• How to request materials that led to our 

IDTA. 

• How to appeal our decision. (Read the 

parts of this guide titled, Waivers and 

Appeals. See pages 19 and 20.) 

• How to get more time to appeal our 

decision or to ask for a waiver. 

• Who can get a waiver and how to apply. 

(Read the parts of this guide titled, 

Waivers and Appeals. See pages 19 

and 20.) 

• That our decision becomes a Final 

Determination of Security Threat 

Assessment unless you appeal or ask 

for more time within 60 days. 

Initial determination of threat assessment 

and immediate revocation (IDTA-IR). 

When you are renewing your TWIC, if you do 

not pass the STA and we decide you are an 

immediate security threat, we mail you an 

18
IDTA-IR. That means we think you pose an 

immediate security threat and we will not renew 

your TWIC. If you have a TWIC, we will revoke 

it. Most of the information we will give you is the 

same as for the IDTA. We also will tell you the 

following things. 

• You may not have unescorted access to 

a secure area. 

• You may appeal our decision within 60 

days of receiving the IDTA-IR. 

• That our decision becomes a Final 

Determination of Threat Assessment 

unless you appeal within 60 days. 

STEP 5: HOW TO PICK UP YOUR TWIC 

AND GET IT ACTIVATED 

When you apply, you tell us how you want us to 

contact you when your TWIC is ready. You may 

choose contact by phone or e-mail. When we 

contact you, we will tell you if you must take 

more steps to get your TWIC. Pick up your 

TWIC at the same place where you applied for 

it. 

What to Bring to the Enrollment Center 

You must bring certain identity documents so we 

can verify who you are. Not just any documents 

will do. Some documents we will accept are a 

U.S. passport, an MMD, or a driver’s license 

plus another ID. You can also find that list at 

www.tsa.gov/twic. 

Be sure to bring the current version of your 

documents. 

What Happens at the Enrollment Center 

We will activate your TWIC at the enrollment 

center. But before we do that, the following 

things will happen. 

First, we compare the picture and the name on 

the TWIC to you and your identity documents. 

Second, we check to see that your fingerprint 

matches the one on the TWIC. Finally, you 

choose a PIN to store on the TWIC. (Later, 

USCG will use the PIN with a TWIC reader to 

check your identity and make sure that no one 

else uses your TWIC. Remember your PIN, and 

do not share it with anyone.) 

Once we activate your TWIC, you can use it as 

an access control tool. 

Waivers 

APPLYING FOR A WAIVER

Suppose one of the following things applies to 

you. 

• You have a disqualifying criminal 

offense under the TWIC rules. 

• You meet our description of mental 

incapacity. 

• You are an alien under temporary 

protected status. 

If one of these describes you, you most likely do 

not meet our STA standards for getting a TWIC. 

(Read the part of this guide titled, What Can 

Disqualify Me From Getting a TWIC? It starts on 

page 13) If you would like to get a TWIC, but fall 

into one of these categories, you may apply for 

a waiver and TSA will consider whether you can 

receive a TWIC even if one of the categories 

applies to you. Applying for a waiver helps us 

figure out whether you pose a security threat. 

Not everyone can apply for a waiver. Look at 

Table 3 on page 13. Do you have one of the 

first four disqualifying offenses in that table? If 

you do, you are not eligible for a waiver. 

If you believe you are eligible to apply for a 

waiver, after looking at Table 3, you must 

request it in writing. If you know you do not 

meet the STA standards and would like to apply 

for a waiver, you should indicate this on the 

TWIC Application Disclosure Form during the 

enrollment process. You may not know that you 

need a waiver until we deny you a TWIC. If that 

happens, apply for a waiver when you get the 

IDTA. 

Applying for a waiver is simple. The process is 

informal. We take handwritten requests. You 

can apply for a waiver even if you do not know 

legal terms and processes yourself, and so you 

can apply without hiring a lawyer. Also, you can 

get more information on the waiver process from 

the TSA website www.tsa.gov/twic. 

19
When you apply for a waiver, you are saying 

that even though you do not meet the STA 

standards, you believe you do not pose a 

security threat. You must tell us why you 

believe you are not a security threat. It is very 

important that you include any documents and 

information that can assist us in determining that 

you are not a threat, such as: 

• The circumstances of your conviction for 

a disqualifying felony. 

• If you made restitution. 

• If you completed Federal or State 

mitigation remedies, such as probation 

or community service. 

• How long you have been out of prison. 

• If you have a job and your work history. 

• Your personal history. (That is, 

identifying if you have a family, 

volunteer, or belong to a group that 

supports you.) 

• References from responsible people 

who know you and can tell us that you 

are responsible and have a good 

character. (Examples are your 

employer, probation officer, parole 

officer, or clergyman.) 

• Court records or official medical release 

documents that say you no longer have 

a problem with mental incapacity. 

• Anything else that indicates you are not 

a security threat and we should give you 

a TWIC. 

What if you ask for a waiver because you no 

longer have a mental incapacity? Must you 

prove that the underlying condition is gone? Not 

necessarily. For example, if you completed 

rehabilitation for drug or alcohol abuse, you may 

still have a technical addiction, but TSA may 

determine that you do not pose a security threat. 

TSA’S WAIVER DECISION 

TSA will tell you in writing if we grant or deny 

your waiver request within approximately 60 

days of receipt of your request. If you are a 

merchant mariner and we grant your waiver 

request, we will notify USCG of our decision. 

When your TWIC is ready, we notify you by 

phone or e-mail to pick it up at the enrollment 

center. (Follow the same steps found in the part 

of this guide titled, Step 5: How to Pick Up Your 

TWIC and Get It Activated. It starts at page 19.) 

If we deny your waiver request, you may ask a 

higher authority to review the decision. (Read 

the next part of this guide titled, Review by 

Administrative Law Judge and TSA Final 

Decision Maker. It starts at page 21.) 

Appeals 

APPEALING AN INITIAL 

DETERMINATION OF THREAT 

ASSESSMENT (IDTA)

The Appeal Process 

If you have received an IDTA and you believe 

that you do meet the STA standards, you may 

appeal the IDTA. For example, you may think 

we based our decision on incorrect court 

records. 

You can begin the appeal process in three 

different ways. After receiving the IDTA, you 

may: 

1. Submit a written request to TSA for the 

materials on which the IDTA was based; 

2. Submit a written reply to TSA; or 

3. Request an extension of time. 

You have 60 days after receiving the IDTA to 

begin the appeal process. If you do not start the 

appeal process within those 60 days, your IDTA 

will become a FDTA. TSA cannot issue a TWIC 

to anyone who has a FDTA. If you are a 

merchant mariner, we will notify USCG of the 

FDTA. 

20
Request for materials 

You may request copies of the materials that we 

used to make our determination. These 

materials may assist you in deciding whether 

you need to make a correction to your records. 

To obtain copies of the materials, you must send 

TSA a written request, within 60 days of 

receiving your IDTA. Within 60 days of receiving 

your request, we will give you copies of 

materials that we are permitted to release under 

law. We cannot release classified or other 

protected information. 

If you believe your record contains incorrect or 

incomplete information, and you would like to 

correct it, you must contact the organization that 

is responsible for creating or maintaining that 

record and request that it be changed or 

completed. For instance, if a court record 

indicates that you were convicted of a 

disqualifying offense, but fails to state that the 

conviction was reversed on appeal, you would 

ask the court to add that information to the 

record. You must then give us the changed 

record or a certified copy of the information from 

the organization. We will then determine if you 

meet the STA standards. 

Reply 

You may also begin the appeal process by 

sending a written reply to the IDTA to TSA. You 

must do this within 60 days of receiving the 

IDTA, or, if you requested materials, you must 

send the reply within 60 days of our response to 

your request for materials. When you write your 

reply, you must include the reason why you 

disagree with our determination and any records 

that support your claim. 

When looking at your reply, we will only consider 

material that relates to whether you actually 

meet the STA standards. We may ask for 

additional information from you if we believe 

such information is necessary to make a Final 

Determination. 

Extension of time 

You can start an appeal by requesting an 

extension of time for more time to prepare. The 

IDTA will include the address you should use 

when sending the request. Your request must be 

in writing, and we must receive it within a 

reasonable time before the actual due date. If 

you need to request an extension after the due 

date has passed, you need to send a written 

request that explains why you did not file within 

the time limits. We may grant you an extension 

of the time limits if you show good cause. 

TSA’s Decision on Your Appeal 

TSA will make an initial determination within 60 

days after we receive your reply. In some cases, 

however, we may need more time to make a 

final determination. If the Assistant Administrator 

of TSA determines that you still do not meet the 

STA standards, TSA will send you a FDTA. If 

you are a merchant mariner, we will also send a 

copy of the FTDA to USCG. The FDTA will 

include an explanation of why we have decided 

that, despite the information you provided in 

your appeal, we believe the decision to give you 

an IDTA is correct. 

If, after your appeal, TSA determines that you do 

not pose a security threat, we will send you a 

Withdrawal of Initial Determination and will 

arrange for your TWIC to be issued. (To find out 

what to do next, read the part of this guide 

entitled, Step 5: How to Pick Up Your TWIC and 

Get it Activated beginning on page 19.) 

REVIEW BY ADMINISTRATIVE LAW 

JUDGE AND TSA FINAL DECISION 

MAKER 

Review by Administrative Law Judge 

You are eligible to seek review by an 

administrative law judge (ALJ) if you fit into one 

of the following categories: 

1. TSA denied your request for a waiver; or 

2. TSA determined you do not meet the 

STA requirements based on other 

factors, such as ties to terrorism, and 

you received a FDTA. 

If you want to request an ALJ review, you must 

do so within 30 days of receiving the FDTA. 

Listed below are the materials you must include 

in your request. TSA will include the address 

you should use when sending the request in the 

FDTA. 

1. If you are seeking ALJ review after a 

waiver denial, you must provide: 

• A copy of your request for a 

waiver; 

21
• All of the materials you used to 

support your request; and 

• A copy of the decision that we 

issued denying your waiver request. 

In addition, you may also include a request to 

have an in-person hearing in front of the ALJ. 

Do not include any additional information that 

was not included in your initial waiver request. If 

you have new information, you will need to file a 

new request for a waiver. 

2. If you are seeking ALJ review after 

receiving a FDTA based on other 

factors, you must include: 

• A copy of the IDTA TSA sent you; 

• A copy of the FDTA TSA sent you; 

and 

• All of the materials that you included 

with your appeal; 

In addition, you may include a request to have 

an in-person hearing in front of the ALJ. Do not 

include any additional information that was not 

included with your appeal. If you have new 

information, you need to file a new appeal. 

Extension of time 

If you need an extension of the time limits for the 

ALJ review, an ALJ may grant the extension if 

you can show good cause. If you need to 

request an extension of time, you must do it in 

writing, and the ALJ must receive it within a 

reasonable time before the due date you are 

wishing to extend. The ALJ will provide the 

address to use when sending this request. If you 

need to request an extension after the due date 

has passed, you must send a written request 

that describes why you were unable to file within 

the time limits. 

What Will the ALJ Do? 

The ALJ will receive the information and 

evidence that you presented to us when you 

requested a waiver or appealed your IDTA. If 

you requested an in-person hearing, the ALJ will 

then consider whether your request should be 

granted. 

If the ALJ decides to hold a hearing, it will begin 

within 60 days of receiving your request for a 

hearing. If you request it, we will provide you 

with an unclassified summary of any classified 

information on which your denial of waiver or 

FDTA was based. We cannot give you or your 

attorney (if you have one), any classified 

information or other protected information. The 

ALJ will have a security clearance and may look 

at the classified information and use it to make a 

decision. 

The hearing may be at TSA’s Headquarters 

Building, or if you show good cause, the ALJ 

may choose a different location. If you do not 

come to the hearing, the ALJ may issue a 

default judgment, which means the decision will 

automatically be made against you. During the 

hearing, the ALJ may allow you to use oral 

testimony and different types of evidence. You 

(or your attorney) may also be allowed to crossexamine witnesses. Your oral testimony can 

only be based on the information that you gave 

in your request for a waiver or in your appeal. 

After a certified transcript of the hearing and all 

of the documents and materials have been 

placed in the record of the ALJ proceeding, the 

record is closed. After the record has been 

closed, the ALJ will then issue an unclassified 

decision to you within 30 days. You may appeal 

the decision of the ALJ to the TSA Final 

Decision Maker. 

 If you do not appeal the ALJ decision: 

In the case of a review of a waiver denial, TSA 

will either issue a Final Order denying a waiver 

or a Final Order granting a waiver. If a waiver is 

granted, a DNST will be sent to the USCG. In 

the case of a review of an appeal, TSA will 

either issue a Final Order of Threat Assessment 

or a Withdrawal of the Final Determination of 

Threat Assessment. 

Review by TSA Final Decision Maker 

If you want to request a review of the ALJ’s 

decision by the TSA Final Decision Maker, you 

must make the request in writing no later than 

30 days after the ALJ’s decision. The ALJ’s 

decision will explain where you should mail the 

request. The ALJ will give the TSA Final 

Decision Maker a certified transcript of the 

hearing and all of the unclassified documents 

that were placed in the record. TSA will also 

provide any classified materials that were 

submitted. 

The TSA Final Decision Maker will make a 

decision no later than 60 days after receiving 

your request for review. If we provided you with 

22
a written response to your request, the final 

decision will be made within 30 days of that 

response. You will be given official notice of the 

decision. If the Final Decision Maker upholds 

the ALJ decision against you, you will receive a 

Final Order Denying a Waiver or a Final Order of 

 Threat Assessment. If the Final Decision Maker 

decides that the ALJ decision was wrong, you 

will receive a waiver and a Determination of No 

Security Threat or a Withdrawal of the Final 

Determination. The decision of the TSA Final 

Decision Maker is a final agency order. 

Once TSA Issues a TWIC 

If you do everything right the first time, we 

should have your TWIC ready quickly. We 

talked about what will happen when you come to 

the enrollment center in the part of this guide 

titled, Step 5: How to Pick Up Your TWIC and 

Get It Activated. It starts on page 19. Now, you 

have your TWIC. What must you keep in mind? 

WHEN YOUR TWIC WILL EXPIRE 

As a rule, your TWIC and your STA expire 5 

years after the date TSA issues the TWIC. You 

will find that date printed on your TWIC. But in 

the following cases, your TWIC expires on a 

different schedule. 

• If you had a comparable threat 

assessment, your TWIC expires 5 years 

from the issue date of the document 

associated with the comparable threat 

assessment. 

• If you are an alien in lawful 

nonimmigrant status who has restricted 

authority to work in the U.S., your TWIC 

expires when your status does or when 

you stop working for your employer. 

The date on the TWIC may not reflect 

this. 

• We may issue you a TWIC for less than 

5 years, to match the date on your visa. 

IF YOU BECOME INELIGIBLE FOR THE 

TWIC 

As a TWIC holder, you are always responsible 

for telling us if some change makes you 

ineligible to hold a TWIC under our rules. If one 

of the following happens, you must tell us about 

it as soon as possible. 

• A civilian or military authority convicts 

you of a felony in Table 3 or Table 4. 

• A civilian or military authority finds you 

not guilty of a felony in Table 3 or Table 

4 because you were insane. 

• A court or other lawful authority finds 

that you lack mental capacity. 

• A court or other lawful authority 

commits you to a mental health facility 

against your will. 

If You Must Give Up Your TWIC 

Your TWIC belongs to TSA – not to you. If you 

have a TWIC and you no longer meet the STA 

standards, you must return the TWIC. Under 

the TWIC rules, we call this surrender. Here are 

the ways you can surrender your TWIC. 

• Giving it to your employer. 

• Turning it over to the USCG COTP. 

• Turning it in at an enrollment center. 

• Mailing it to TSA at: 

TSA-19 

Attn: TWIC 

601 S. 12th Street 

Arlington, VA 22202 

Look at the part of this guide titled, If You 

Become Ineligible for the TWIC. It comes just 

before this part. If any condition in that list 

describes you, you must surrender your TWIC 

within 24 hours. 

Also, you must surrender your TWIC within 24 

hours if one of the following happens. 

• You renounce or lose your U.S. 

citizenship. 

• You lose your status as a lawful 

permanent resident. 

• You violate your immigration status. 

23
• The U.S. has ordered you to leave or is 

trying to make you leave under U.S. 

immigration laws. 

If you are an alien in lawful nonimmigrant status, 

you must surrender the TWIC to your employer 

when your status ends or when you stop 

working for your employer. Your employer must 

notify TSA within 5 business days, so make sure 

you surrender the TWIC in time for us to get 

notice. Your employer will give your TWIC to 

TSA. 

What Happens if You do Not Surrender Your 

TWIC 

If the TWIC rules say you must surrender your 

TWIC and you do not, we may take away your 

TWIC immediately. TSA does this by putting 

your card on a hotlist. We give your card a 

number that no other card has. When we put 

that number on the hotlist, security staff at 

access control points may keep you out of any 

secure area unless you have an escort under 

our rules. (If your card is on the hotlist, an 

owner or operator may decide to take away 

authority for you to be anywhere on a vessel or 

at a facility.) 

If you do not surrender your TWIC when the 

rules say you must, we can also give you a civil 

penalty. That means you must pay us money 

for not following the rules. This penalty is not a 

criminal penalty. 

RENEWING YOUR TWIC 

To renew your TWIC, follow the same steps as 

when you first applied. (Read the part of this 

guide titled, How to Apply for a TWIC. It starts 

on page 15.) 

You may apply to renew your TWIC before the 

5-year term is up. We will not notify you when 

your TWIC will expire. (Read the part of this 

guide titled, When Your TWIC Will Expire. It 

starts on page 23.) 

Give yourself plenty of time to renew your TWIC. 

If you are a merchant mariner, start the process 

about 6 months (180 days) before your TWIC 

expires. You may need the extra time for USCG 

to process your merchant mariner qualifications 

and you must have your TWIC for your 

merchant mariner qualification to be completed. 

If you are not a merchant mariner, apply at least 

30 days before your TWIC expires to make sure 

you have the new TWIC when you need it. 

Your new TWIC is good for 5 years, unless you 

apply for a TWIC under the conditions of special 

cases described in the section When Your TWIC 

Will Expire, which starts on page 23. When you 

get it, we will put the old one on the hotlist. No 

one can use it for access to a secure area. 

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR TWIC FAILS OR 

IS LOST, DAMAGED, OR STOLEN

Your TWIC may fail. You might lose your TWIC, 

or someone might steal it. Your TWIC could be 

damaged. If one of these things happens, you 

must contact the TWIC Call Center immediately. 

You can find the call center number in Table 1. 

We will add your old TWIC number to the hotlist. 

Be prepared to pick the enrollment center where 

you will pick up your replacement TWIC. 

While You Are Waiting for a Replacement 

While you wait to get a replacement TWIC, an 

owner or operator may give you unescorted 

access to secure areas for 7 consecutive 

calendar days. That 7 days starts on the day 

you contact the TWIC Call Center to get your 

replacement. 

You must make the call reporting your TWIC as 

lost, damaged, or stolen before you can use this 

type of access. The owner, operator, or security 

officer must have no reason to be suspicious 

about your claim. Also, one of them must verify 

that you had unescorted access to a secure 

area before you made your claim. 

You must show another ID like the ones we 

describe in the part of this guide titled, Other 

Personal Identification. It starts on page 7. 

If you cannot present the TWIC for any other 

reason, the owner or operator must keep you 

out of any secure area unless you have an 

escort under the TWIC rules. 

Picking Up Your Replacement TWIC 

We will call or e-mail you when your TWIC is 

ready. When you pick up your replacement 

TWIC, you must show us documents to verify 

who you are. You can find the most up-to-date 

list at www.tsa.gov/twic. You must pay the 

TWIC replacement fee. Your replacement TWIC 

expires on the same day as your original TWIC. 

24
Pick up your replacement TWIC as soon as it is 

ready. If you are a merchant mariner overseas, 

we will keep the TWIC at the enrollment center 

until you return to the U.S. Visit the enrollment 

center as soon as possible to pick up your 

TWIC. 

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FORGET YOUR 

PIN 

If you forget your PIN, security personnel will 

give you 10 tries to get it right. After 10 tries, 

your TWIC will be locked and you will need to 

reset your PIN. If you need a new PIN because 

you have forgotten yours or it will not work, you 

can contact the TWIC Call Center. Read the 

part of this guide titled, Where to Go for 

Information and Assistance. It starts on page 3. 

Revoking a TWIC 

As long as you have a TWIC, we will do STAs 

from time to time to make sure you still qualify. 

If we find out that you no longer should have 

your TWIC, we will revoke it. Revoking your 

TWIC means we put your TWIC number on the 

hotlist. The TWIC is no longer good. Also, if we 

revoke your TWIC, a USCG or other authorized 

official may take it from you. We may revoke 

your TWIC for any of the following reasons. 

• We find out you no longer qualify for it. 

• You surrender your TWIC because you 

are no longer eligible for it. 

• You report your TWIC missing or 

damaged. 

• You renew your TWIC. (We revoke the 

old one.) 

• We find you pose a threat to 

transportation security or the U.S. 

• We find you made a false claim about 

your TWIC or you changed it in some 

way. 

Never try using a revoked TWIC to get 

unescorted access to a secure area. To do that 

is a security breach and against the law. You 

may end up paying a penalty. 

IMMEDIATE REVOCATION

We may revoke your TWIC immediately if an 

STA shows that you pose a threat to 

transportation security or to the U.S. We will tell 

you about our decision in an IDTA-IR. We may 

tell your employer and other law enforcement 

agencies, if it is appropriate. 

If TSA or another law enforcement agency finds 

out that you pose an imminent security threat to 

a maritime facility or vessel, TSA may give 

enough information to your employer and 

Federal, State, or local law enforcement or 

intelligence agencies to reduce the risk of injury 

or damage. Usually, we will not tell your 

employer why we denied your TWIC application. 

No matter what our reason for revoking your 

TWIC, you may wish to appeal our decision if 

you think we are wrong about you. (Read the 

part of this guide titled, Appeals. It starts on 

page 20.) 

25
TWIC and Privacy 

We know that the TWIC contains your sensitive 

personal information. We protect the 

information, as the Privacy Act requires us to do. 

We collect your personal information for an STA 

or for deciding if you had a comparable STA 

under the TWIC rules. When you apply for a 

TWIC, you agree to give us personal information 

for the STA and TWIC. 

HOW WE PROTECT YOUR 

INFORMATION 

We have TSA staff or trusted agents at the 

enrollment centers to put your personal 

information into an electronic format. These 

people work with you at an enrollment center 

workstation. We design these workstations so 

that only you and the staff person can see your 

information. 

When you say we have the correct information 

in the workstation computer, we send your 

whole record over a secure internet connection 

to the secure TSA data system. This system 

has all your information. This includes your 

scanned ID and immigration records and 

information we collect from our checks. We 

store your fingerprint information in another 

secure system. After your data goes from the 

workstation to our secure system, the 

workstation automatically erases your 

information. 

We code the information in your electronic file so 

that only people with the right authority can use 

it. We store all the enrollment information in 

secure locations and send it only over secure 

internet connections. We do not maintain paper 

copies of your information. 

We make your TWIC at a Federally managed 

production facility. The only personal 

information visible on your TWIC is your name 

and your picture. We code other information on 

the TWIC to make sure no one can misuse it. 

TSA’s hotlist has the unique number for each 

TWIC we revoke. There is no personal 

information on the hotlist. 

We do not use your actual fingerprints on the 

TWIC. Instead, we use a numeric code that is 

associated with your fingerprint pattern. No one 

can use our fingerprint code to make a picture of 

your fingerprint. 

After we make the TWIC at the production 

facility, the facility’s data system automatically 

deletes your information. We send your TWIC 

for pick up at the center where you enrolled. At 

the enrollment center, you enter the PIN you 

want; and we activate the TWIC. Until we 

activate the TWIC, neither you nor anyone else 

can use your TWIC. 

If you have access as a new hire, the security 

officer where you work will put your information 

into Homeport. The only information we will give 

the security officer is whether you passed the 

name-based check. 

As you can see, your TWIC is a secure 

document. 

WHO GETS TO SEE YOUR 

INFORMATION?

After you enroll, we send your information to the 

FBI and different parts of DHS. They use the 

information to check for terrorist threats, criminal 

history, and immigration status. We may share 

your records with any of the following 

authorities. 

• FBI. 

• TSA’s Office of Transportation Threat 

Assessment and Credentialing (TTAC). 

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

(CBP). 

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services (USCIS). 

• Immigration and Customs Enforcement 

(ICE). 

• USCG. 

• DHS employees and contractors who 

need to know to perform their duties. 

• Terrorist Screening Center (TSC). 

• Federal, State, and local law 

enforcement or intelligence agencies. 

If you want to know more about our privacy 

policy, read our Privacy Impact Assessment for 

26
the Transportation Worker Identification 

Credential Program (December 29, 2006). You 

can find it at www.tsa.gov/twic. To get 

information we have about you and can release, 

send TSA a written Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA)/Privacy Act (PA) request. 

There are three ways to send a FOIA/PA 

request. 

• By mail to TSA, Freedom of Information 

Act Office, TSA-20, 11th Floor, East 

Tower, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, 

Virginia 22202-4220. 

• By fax to 703-227-1406. 

• By email to www.FOIA.TSA@dhs.gov. 

TWIC and Fraud 

Every owner or operator must have disciplinary 

measures to prevent fraud and abuse. Ask the 

security officer where you work about these 

measures. Be aware of your responsibility not 

to commit fraud or abuse. Do not lie on your 

TWIC application. Do not lie about anything 

involving your TWIC. The following is a list of 

things you must never do, try to do, or get 

someone else to do. 

• Change a TWIC. 

• Use someone else’s TWIC or STA. 

• Make a TWIC or use a fake TWIC. 

• Get around access control measures. 

Conclusion

We think the TWIC program strikes a balance 

between these three goals. 

• Enhancing security through using a 

secure, common ID to manage 

individual access to secure areas of the 

transportation system. 

• Facilitating commerce through an 

identity management system that 

maintains, or improves worker access to 

transportation facilities. 

• Protecting Privacy by collecting as little 

personal data as necessary, putting that 

data on a secure ID, and preventing 

unauthorized disclosure. 

We hope this guide helps you understand this 

important program and how to comply with it. 

27
Appendices

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APPENDIX I: Checklist of Information You Must Give TSA to Apply for a TWIC

Your full, legal name. 

Any name or names you have used before. 

Current mailing address. 

Former mailing address. 

Current residential address, if it is different from your current mailing address. 

The way to notify you when you may pick up your TWIC. Give us your e-mail address, if you 

have one. If you would like us to notify you by telephone, give us your telephone number. 

Date of birth. 

Gender. 

Height, weight, hair color, and eye color. 

City, State, and country of birth. 

If you are a naturalized U.S. citizen, your date of 

naturalization. 

If you are in the U.S. on a visa, the type of visa, the visa 

number, the date it expires, and the country of citizenship. 

Immigration status 

If you are a commercial driver licensed in Canada, either your 

FAST card or a Canadian passport. 

If you are not a U.S. national or citizen, your alien registration number, the number assigned 

to you on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Arrival-Departure Record (Form I-94), or 

both. 

Why you need a TWIC.1 

If your current employer requires a TWIC, the employer’s name, telephone number, and 

address. If your employer is the U.S. military, the branch of service.2

If your current employer does not require that you have a TWIC, if you have more than one 

employer, or if you are self-employed, the primary vessel or port location where you need 

unescorted access.3 

If you are a credentialed merchant mariner or applying to become a credentialed merchant 

mariner, proof of citizenship and your merchant mariner document or license. 

1 To decide if you are eligible, we need your job title. Also, we need you to describe the place where you most 

likely will need a TWIC for unescorted access to a secure area. That means you will describe the primary facility, 

vessel, or maritime port location. Describing the primary location where you think you will need the TWIC will not 

limit your access to other vessels and maritime facilities. 

2 Giving us this information will not limit your access to other vessels and maritime facilities. 

3 Giving us this information will not limit your access to other vessels and maritime facilities.

.

29
APPENDIX II: Checklist of Information You May Volunteer to Give TSA 

Social Security Number (SSN). Failing to give TSA your SSN may delay or prevent us from 

doing your security threat assessment (STA). 

Passport information, including your passport number, city of issuance, and date it 

expires. If you are a U.S. citizen born abroad, giving TSA this information may speed up the 

application process. 

Department of State Consular Report of Birth Abroad. If you are a U.S. citizen born 

abroad, giving TSA this information may speed up the application process. 

Existing TSA threat assessment. If you already passed a TSA STA, giving us information on 

the program you had it for and the date we completed it may speed up the application process. 

Federal security clearance, including the date and the name of the agency for which you 

got the clearance. If you had a Federal security clearance, giving us this information may 

speed up the application process.

30
APPENDIX III: Checklist of Statements You Must Sign to Apply for a TWIC1

That you were not convicted or found not guilty due to insanity of an interim disqualifying 

offense in the 7 years before your application; or you are applying for a waiver. 

That you were not released from jail for committing an interim disqualifying criminal offense in 

the 5 years before your application; or you are applying for a waiver. 

That you are not wanted or under indictment for either a permanent or interim disqualifying 

offense; or you are applying for a waiver. 

That you were not convicted or found not guilty due to insanity of a permanent disqualifying 

offense; or you are applying for a waiver for a waiver-eligible permanent disqualifying offense. 

That you have not been adjudicated as lacking in mental capacity or committed to a mental 

health facility involuntarily; or you are applying for a waiver. 

That you meet the immigration status requirements in Table 2 of this guide, Who May Hold a 

TWIC.

If you have or have not served in the military. (If you have, tell us which branch, the date of 

your discharge, and the type of discharge.) 

If you get a TWIC, that you know you must tell us if you are ever convicted or found not guilty 

due to insanity of a disqualifying criminal offense, adjudicated as lacking mental capacity, or 

involuntarily committed to a mental health facility. 

That as part of your employment duties, you must have or expect to need unescorted access 

to a secure area of a maritime facility or vessel for which we require a TWIC. 

That you are a credentialed merchant mariner or applying to be a credentialed merchant 

mariner. 

1 You must also sign these and other statements that apply to you if you are a commercial driver licensed in Canada 

or Mexico and transporting hazardous materials. 

31