In 2004, the federal Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) was passed to ramp up the security for the
Eligibility for TWIC Card Application
Jobs that may require TWIC cards include dock workers, truck drivers and contractors. Applicants who are eligible to apply are
Some permanent disqualifying criminal offenses include convictions, guilty or no-contest pleas or cases that resulted in a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity for felonies such as espionage, sedition, treason, federal terrorism and murder. Some of the interim disqualifying offenses, occurring within seven years of the application date, include fraud, bribery, smuggling, arson, immigration violations, robbery, rape and voluntary manslaughter. The Transportation and Safety Administration (TSA) may also disqualify TWIC applicants for other factors, such as denying persons who have been judged as lacking mental capacity or who have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility.
Read More: What is a TWIC Card?
TWIC Card Application Process
Applicants can complete an online application, but they still have to schedule an in-person interview at a TWIC application center. As an option, applicants can complete the application in person at their interview. By visiting TSA.gov and entering Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) in the search box, applicants can follow the prompts to apply online.
Walk-in appointments are welcome, but TSA recommends scheduling an appointment for the interview because appointments take priority over walk-ins. To make an appointment, applicants can call 855-347-8371 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET on weekdays. At the application center, applicants will be fingerprinted and photographed. Documentation is also required, such as a birth certificate, driver’s license or current
TWIC Card Locations
To find a local enrollment facility online, applicants can visit UniversalEnroll.dhs.gov and click the TWIC button or name. When the page loads, clicking the Find an
TWIC Card Fees
TWIC card applicants must pay a nonrefundable fee, which validates their card for five years. Payment methods accepted are credit card, money order, company check and certified/cashier’s check. New applicants pay $125.25 unless they qualify for the reduced rate of $105.25. New applicants are eligible for this reduced rate if they present a valid driver’s license, plus a hazardous materials endorsement or a Free and Secure Trade card.
Applicants who simply need a replacement TWIC card must pay a fee of $60. Whether a TWIC card is for a new applicant or it’s a replacement card for a current card holder, applicants can elect to have the card mailed to them or to pick it up at the application center.
References
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Introduction to MTSA - The Maritime Transportation Security Act
- Transportation Security Administration: TWIC
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Disqualifying Offenses and Other Factors
- Transportation Security Administration: Universal Enroll
- Transportation Security Administration: Enrollment Center Locator
Writer Bio
Victoria Lee Blackstone was formerly with Freddie Mac’s mortgage acquisition department, where she funded multi-million-dollar loan pools for primary lending institutions, worked on a mortgage fraud task force and wrote the convertible ARM section of the company’s policies and procedures manual. Currently, Blackstone is a professional writer with expertise in the fields of mortgage, finance, budgeting, tax and law. She is the author of more than 2,000 published works for newspapers, magazines, online publications and individual clients.