This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD. Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013.
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There is no special procedure for renewing a Transportation Worker Identification Credential, or TWIC card, versus applying for a new one. TWIC cards are good for five years, and new applicants and current holders of TWIC cards must still fill out the same online applications, make the same appointments, and bring the same documents to verify their identity. That being said, the procedures for obtaining a TWIC card are not particularly complicated. Any eligible applicant should be able to easily complete the process.
Steps
Completing the Application Process
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1Go to the application website. The Transportation Worker Identification Credential, or TWIC, is a special form of ID necessary to work in US ports, military installations, and offshore facilities. In order to get a TWIC card, you need to fill out an application. You can either fill out an application in person at an application facility or online.[1]
- Either way, you will need to go to https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic for the location of the nearest application facility or to fill out the online application.
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2Make sure you are eligible. Most people will be able to qualify for a TWIC, but there are background check requirements you will need to pass. There is a long list of disqualifying criminal offenses, but most of them are pretty unusual. The most common disqualifying crimes are smuggling, drug dealing, extortion, fraud, and racketeering. You can see the complete list at https://www.tsa.gov/disqualifying-offenses-factors.[2]Advertisement
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3Fill out the application. You can fill out the application online in about ten minutes. You’ll need to know basic personal information, exactly where you were born, your citizenship status, and why you’re applying for a TWIC. You will also need to decide what documents you will produce in order to prove your identity.[3]
- You can find the online application at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov/workflows?servicecode=111111&service=pre-enroll
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4Schedule an appointment. You can schedule an appointment at any of the application facilities to show the required documents to prove your identity.[4]
- Find a listing of application centers at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov/locator?serviceCode=111111
- It actually isn’t mandatory to schedule an appointment. You can walk-in, but those with appointments get priority, so you’ll be waiting longer.
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5Gather your documents. You’ll need to gather some documents to prove your identity to bring along to your appointment. These are all standard identification documents, so it shouldn’t take you too long to get them together.[5]
- If you have a passport, an enhanced driver’s license, or a green card, that’s all you’ll need. If you don’t, you’ll need more than one document, like a birth certificate and a driver’s license.
- You can see a complete list of acceptable documents here: https://universalenroll.dhs.gov/workflows?servicecode=11115V&service=required-docs, and you can get a list personalized just for you at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov/workflows?servicecode=111111&service=required-docs.
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6Go to your appointment and pay the fee. Show up to your appointment a little bit early and have your money ready to pay the application fee. For most applicants, the fee is going to be $128. For applicants who already have a Commercial Driver’s License with a hazmat endorsement, it will be $105.[6]
- The fee is payable by credit card, money order, certified check or a company check.
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7Pick up your card at an application center or have it mailed to you. You can choose to have the card mailed or to pick it up in person. You can check the status of your application at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov/workflows?workflow=service-status anytime you wish.[7]
- It can take up to 60 days for an application to get approved, so don’t be surprised if it takes a while.
Replacing a Lost or Damaged Card
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1Make sure you are still eligible. If you’ve plead no contest to or been found guilty of any of the disqualifying criminal offenses since you last applied for a card, you may no longer be eligible for a TWIC card. You will also be disqualified if you've been found not guilty by reason of insanity to of the disqualifying offenses. Also, if you are under indictment for any of the listed offenses, you may no longer be eligible.[8]
- See the full list of disqualifying offenses at https://www.tsa.gov/disqualifying-offenses-factors.
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2Pay the replacement card fee. The fee for a replacement card is actually substantially less than the fee for a new card—just $60—but you still have to visit the application center to pay the fee.[9]
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3Pick up your replacement card at an application center or have it mailed to your home. You can choose to have the card mailed or pick it up yourself. While you’re waiting on the new card, you can check the status of your application at https://universalenroll.dhs.gov/workflows?workflow=service-status.[10]
References
- ↑ https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic
- ↑ https://www.tsa.gov/disqualifying-offenses-factors
- ↑ https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic
- ↑ https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic
- ↑ https://www.tsa.gov/precheck/faq
- ↑ https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic
- ↑ https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic
- ↑ https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic
- ↑ https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic
About This Article
To renew a Transportation Worker Identification Credential, or TWIC card, you’ll have to fill out the same online application, make the same appointments, and bring the same documents to verify your identity as when you first applied. To fill out the application, either go online or to the application facility. As you gather your documents, you'll need to prove your identity by providing a driver's license, green card, or passport. Once you finish your paperwork, schedule an appointment to show your documents and pay the application fee. After you’re done with the application process, you can choose to have your new card mailed to you or to pick it up in person. To learn how to replace a lost or damaged TWIC card, keep reading!
