The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has updated the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), incorporating additional security features in a new design.
The program was launched in 2007 for workers who need access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime facilities and vessels. The TSA conducts a background check to determine a person’s eligibility, then issues the TWIC. The agency discontinued the original card design on July 10.
Like their predecessors, the new NexGen credentials will be valid for five years. Facilities or vessels that require a TWIC for access will accept and recognize both the original and new designs. The new cards are compatible with qualified TWIC readers.
The updated TWIC aims to deter counterfeiting and reduce fraudulent use of the credential by incorporating more security components, according to the TSA. The new cards contain additional authentication features, there are new images on the front, and the color of the credential changes from different viewpoints. The expiration date also is more prominently displayed.
The price for a TWIC remains $125.25 for first-time applicants and for renewals, and $60 for a replacement card.
