How the TWIC Photo Is Taken at a TSA Enrollment Center

The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is a biometric card for workers who need unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels and other maritime facilities. Because it is a security credential, TSA collects your photo and fingerprints itself at an enrollment center.

You can start the application online, but the online step has no photo upload. Your facial photo is taken at the center by the enrollment agent, at the same visit as your fingerprints and document check. TSA uses that image on the card and in its records, and the USCG and TSA compliance guide for applicants says enrollment cannot continue if you refuse to have your photo taken.

That is why no photo service, including PhotoForPass, can supply a TWIC photo. A printed 2 x 2 photo will not be used, and you do not need one for the appointment.

The whole visit usually comes down to documents, fingerprints, a photo and a payment. TSA describes the process like this.

1. Start online or go straight in. You can begin with the online application, or complete everything in person at an application center.
2. Book an appointment. Schedule online or call (855) 347-8371 on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments get priority.
3. Show your documents. The agent checks your identity documents, so bring originals.
4. Give fingerprints and have your photo taken. This is the part that has to happen in person.
5. Pay the fee. TSA accepts credit cards, money orders, company checks and certified or cashier's checks. Fees are non-refundable.
6. Choose delivery. Have the card mailed to your home or pick it up at the center.

TSA recommends enrolling at least 60 days before you need a valid TWIC, because processing for some applicants can take more than 45 days. You can check your status online or by calling 1-855-347-8371.

Your TWIC photo will be on a card you show at work for 5 years, so it is worth a minute of preparation. You do not choose the background or lighting, and you usually get one quick shot.

• Wear a solid color. Medium or dark tops look better than white against a light backdrop. Skip work gear with logos if you can.
• Remove hats and sunglasses. The enrollment agent decides about glasses and head coverings, so follow their directions.
• Keep your face clear. Pull hair back from your eyes, and keep the outline of your face visible.
• Arrive with your paperwork in order. Missing documents are the most common reason people have to come back.

For more detail on colors and accessories, see our what to wear for a passport photo guide. The same tips apply to any ID photo taken at a counter.

Bring original identity documents, not photos. TSA's TWIC page gives the most common combinations, and it links to a full list of acceptable documents for other situations, such as for non-U.S. citizens.

If your U.S. passport has expired, it may not count as a current passport. Either renew it before your appointment or bring a driver's license and your birth certificate instead.

The TWIC fee covers the security threat assessment and the card, which is valid for 5 years. There is no separate charge for the photo, because TSA takes it as part of enrollment.

TSA's own pages do not all show the same amount. The main TWIC page lists the figures in the table below, while a TSA FAQ page lists $125.25 for a new enrollment. Treat the amounts as a guide and confirm the current fee on tsa.gov before you pay. The reduced rate applies to holders of a Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME) or FAST card, and a reduced-rate card may expire with that HME or FAST card rather than lasting a full 5 years.

Mariners often ask whether they need a separate photo for a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC). Under past U.S. Coast Guard policy, the Coast Guard has used the photo and fingerprints captured at TWIC enrollment instead of asking mariners for their own photos.

Procedures can change, so check the current instructions from the National Maritime Center before you apply. Either way, the photo comes from an official enrollment visit, not from a photo you print at home.

A TWIC card is not the only ID transportation workers carry, and some of the others do use your own photo. Here is how they compare.

• U.S. passport. If you want to use a passport as your TWIC document and yours has expired, renew it first. That application uses a 2 x 2 inch U.S. passport photo that you supply, or a digital file for online passport renewal.
• REAL ID. Your state DMV takes that photo in person. See our REAL ID photo guide.
• At the airport. TSA accepts a TWIC card as identification at airport security, so it can serve as your ID for domestic flights.

PhotoForPass makes U.S. passport photos from your phone, built to meet State Department requirements. A digital photo is $16.95, and a digital photo plus a 4 x 6 print sheet is $18.95, with a 14-day money-back guarantee. These photos are for passport applications, not for TWIC.