Twic Card Cost: Average Fees Explained

The Transportation Worker Identification Credential, or TWIC, is a tamper-resistant federal card for people who need unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels and other maritime facilities regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act. Longshore workers, truck drivers who enter port terminals, mariners and some facility employees are the most common holders.

The fee is not set by your employer or by a local office. TSA publishes it, and it covers the security threat assessment, which includes a background check, and the production of the card. The table below lists each current fee, and the sections after it explain which one applies to you.

A first-time applicant pays the standard fee of $124 for a five-year card. This is the number most people mean when they ask how much a TWIC card costs. You pay it once, at enrollment, and it is not refunded if you are later found ineligible, so read the eligibility rules on the TSA site before you pay.

Some applicants qualify for a reduced rate of $93. TSA offers the lower fee to people who already hold another comparable security credential that required a recent background check. Because the qualifying credentials are defined by TSA and can change, confirm your eligibility on the official TWIC page before you book an appointment.

Renewing an existing card in person costs $124, the same as a new standard application. Renewing online costs $116, a smaller fee for people who can complete the process without returning to an enrollment center. Not every holder can renew online, so check the renewal options tied to your account before assuming the lower fee.

Start the renewal well before your card expires. The credential is checked at the gate, and an expired card can mean you lose access to the facility until a new one arrives. Processing times vary, and TSA states current estimates on its site rather than a fixed guarantee.

If your card is lost, stolen or damaged, a replacement costs $60. A replacement is not a new background check, so the fee is lower than a full application. Report a lost or stolen card as soon as you notice, because the card gives access to secure facilities.

A replacement generally keeps the expiration date of the card it replaces rather than starting a fresh term. If your card is close to expiring, ask yourself whether a renewal makes more sense than paying for a replacement and then renewing soon after.

The TSA fee is the main cost, but a few smaller items can add to the total:

• Travel to an enrollment center: Enrollment is in person for new applicants, so factor in fuel, parking and time away from work.
• Required documents: You need acceptable identity and citizenship or immigration documents. Replacing a missing birth certificate or passport can cost more than the card itself.
• Time off: some workers lose a shift to attend the appointment.
• Employer reimbursement: Many employers and unions cover the fee, or reimburse it after you are hired. Ask before you pay.

Applying follows the same general steps for most people. Pre-enroll online with TSA's enrollment provider, choose an enrollment center and appointment time, then bring your documents to be fingerprinted and photographed and to pay the fee. After the security threat assessment is complete, TSA notifies you when the card is ready for pickup or delivery. The official source for the current process and fee schedule is the TSA TWIC page.