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The TWIC card program is administered by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). It’s a federal identification credential that allows workers in the transportation industry to access secure areas, such as high-security maritime facilities, vessels, warehouses and more. A TWIC card can also allow workers unsupervised access to certain areas.
A TWIC card is usually necessary for employees or professions within the transportation industry. These employees or professions may include:
Truck drivers: Truck drivers accessing secure ports or facilities or transporting high-security cargo
Coast Guard employees: First responders, security personnel and others usually require a TWIC card
Maritime security employees: Any personnel that need to attend to secure areas or cargo
Employees traveling internationally: Employees that cross into international waters or countries or regularly fly to international areas
Application fees vary depending on the applicant. As of 2022, the fees are:
New applicant: $125.25
New applicant reduced rate (with hazardous materials endorsement or a Free and Secure Trade card): $105.25
Replacement card: $60
This fee is nonrefundable and can be paid in-person at a TWIC application center. Fees are payable by credit card, money order, company check or certified or cashier’s check. We DO NOT ACCEPT CASH Once you submit payment and your application is approved, your TWIC card is valid for the next five years.
If you pay the reduced rate with a hazardous materials endorsement or a Free and Secure Trade card, your TWIC card will be valid five years from the document’s issue date rather than your TWIC application date.
Individuals are eligible to apply for a TWIC card if they meet any of the following conditions:
U.S. citizen
Lawful permanent resident
Naturalized citizen
Non-immigrant alien, asylee or refugee in lawful status
Requirements
Individuals applying for a TWIC card must satisfy certain requirements. They must:
Be fingerprinted at a TWIC application center
Take a facial photo at a TWIC application center
Please bring at least one of the documents in List A.
If you do not have a document from List A, please see List B documents.
*****Dont have your Birth certificate? (We offer in house Electronic Birth Certificate Certifications for a minimal State Fee)**
Bring at least two documents from the list below. if you do not have a document from List A. The documents must include:
1.) a valid photo ID and
2.) a document that meets citizenship requirements. (e.g. one document from each column below)
Checking eligibility and requirements beforehand can help make the application process smoother and faster. Employees should ensure that they possess all the required documentation.
Your business may benefit from employees carrying TWIC cards, especially if you plan to contract your services to high-security clients. Benefits may include:
Increased job opportunities with higher security clearance
Establishing that your employees are trustworthy and reliable
Higher compensation when your company qualifies for higher security jobs
Even if individuals meet the above eligibility criteria, they may still be disqualified. Disqualification may happen if applicants provide incomplete or false application information, or if they have disqualifying criminal offenses on their record. These disqualifying offenses may include terrorist activity, extensive foreign or domestic criminal convictions or activities involving espionage or treason. TSA also performs background checks on applicants, collecting data from databases like Interpol and the terror watch list.
If applicants have been convicted of a lesser criminal offense, they may still be eligible under certain conditions. Lesser crimes, such as bribery, smuggling, immigration violations and assault, will disqualify the applicant if conviction occurred within seven years of the date of application or if the applicant was released from incarceration within five years of the application date. Disqualification for felons may be waived if applicants provide adequate documentation denoting positive and trustworthy behavior. Applicants with active warrants will be disqualified until the warrant is released or the indictment dismissed.