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security.nih.gov

Your central source for NIH security information,
provided by the Office of Research Services

Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted. The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov. Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

Approved Forms of Identification

​All adult non-U.S. person visitors (individuals without U.S. citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident status) must complete the VisitNIH pre-registration process and receive approval prior to visiting NIH. Upon visiting NIH, non-U.S. person visitors should bring the same form of ID used when completing the pre-registration process.

Non-U.S. Person Visitor ID Requirements
Approved forms of ID required for VisitNIH pre-registration:*

  • Passport or Passport Card
  • United States Visa (as applicable)

*Non-U.S. persons must upload a passport and visa (as applicable) during the pre-registration process. Individuals should bring the same form of ID used when completing the pre-registration process.
For additional information about authorized IDs for identity validation, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Acceptable Documents webpage.
 
U.S. Person Visitor ID Requirements
NIH accepts valid, non-expired government-issued photo identification that are compliant with the REAL ID Act. NIH does not currently accept Mobile IDs (mDLs) nor does NIH accept photocopies of valid IDs.

Approved forms of ID for U.S. person visitors required to enter NIH facilities (as of May 7, 2025):

  • REAL ID Driver's License or State Identification Card or Enhanced Driver's License
  • Passport or Passport Card
  • HSPD-12 PIV or CAC Card
  • Permanent Resident Card
  • Federally Recognized, Tribal-Issued Photo ID
  • Other Less Common Documents (e.g. Merchant Mariner Credential)

 
Age Requirements
Visitors 18 years and older must provide a valid current form of government-issued identification to obtain a visitor ID. Visitors under the age of 18 do not need to provide identification and must be accompanied by an adult in accordance with the NIH Accompanied Child Visitor Policy.


REAL ID Act of 2005

The REAL ID Act of 2005 establishes minimum security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards and prohibits federal agencies, such as NIH, from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards that do not meet these standards.

Under the REAL ID ACT, NIH may only accept state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards that meet the standards required by the ACT to access our facilities. Enhanced Driver's Licenses (EDL) issued by Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington are considered acceptable alternatives to REAL ID-compliant cards and will also be accepted for official REAL ID purposes. Most EDLs do not contain the star marking and this is acceptable. The EDLs do however state they are enhanced driver's licenses and have an American flag either overlapping the picture or at the bottom right-hand corner.


Enforcement

REAL ID enforcement has been delayed until May 7, 2025.* Please visit Homeland Security's Real ID Act page for more information.


*Extension does not apply to commercial vehicle operators.

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