Embarking on a journey should be exciting, not bogged down by confusing procedures. TSA PreCheck® offers a streamlined airport security experience, getting you through checkpoints faster and with less hassle. To ensure your application process is as smooth as your future travels, understanding the required documentation is key to a Clear Travel Program. This guide breaks down exactly what you need to present to verify your identity and citizenship when applying for TSA PreCheck®.
List A Documents: Your Single Proof of Eligibility
For the most straightforward route, List A provides a selection of documents where presenting just one will satisfy both identity and citizenship requirements. These are robust forms of identification trusted by TSA.
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Unexpired U.S. Passport (Book or Card): A U.S. passport in any form is definitive proof of both your identity and U.S. citizenship. Ensure it is valid for hassle-free processing.
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Unexpired Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC): This card, specifically for tribal members, also serves as proof of both identity and U.S. citizenship.
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Unexpired Free and Secure Trade (FAST) Card: If your FAST card explicitly indicates U.S. citizenship, it qualifies as a List A document. Check your card to confirm this designation.
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Unexpired U.S. Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL) or Enhanced Identification Card (EID): Offered by certain states, EDLs and EIDs are marked to denote U.S. citizenship and are accepted as single-document proof.
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Permanent Resident Card (I-551) “Green Card”: This card is your official documentation as a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) in the U.S., verifying your status for TSA PreCheck®.
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Unexpired Foreign Passport AND Immigrant Visa with I-551 Annotation: For new permanent residents, a foreign passport accompanied by an immigrant visa containing the “Upon Endorsement Serves as Temporary I-551 Evidencing Permanent Residence of 1 Year” annotation is acceptable. This combination proves your temporary LPR status while awaiting your Green Card.
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Unexpired Re-entry Permit (I-327): This permit is another document confirming your Lawful Permanent Resident status, suitable for TSA PreCheck® enrollment.
It’s crucial to present an original or certified copy of any document from List A. Photocopies or notarized copies are not accepted. This requirement ensures the authenticity and validity of your documents, maintaining the integrity of the clear travel program that TSA PreCheck® aims to provide.
List B Documents: Combining for Proof
If you do not possess a document from List A, List B allows you to present two documents to meet the requirements. This list is divided into two categories: one for Valid Photo ID and another for Valid Proof of Citizenship. You must provide one document from each category, and ensure the names on both documents match.
Valid Photo ID Options:
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Unexpired Driver’s License: Issued by a U.S. state or outlying possession. Even a temporary license can be used if presented with the expired driver’s license it replaced (together constituting one document).
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Unexpired Photo ID Card: Issued by the Federal government, a U.S. state, or outlying possession. These must bear an official seal or logo, such as a state university ID. Note that permits (like gun permits) are not valid.
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Unexpired U.S. Military ID Card: Active duty, retired, and dependent military ID cards are all accepted forms of photo identification.
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Native American Tribal Document with Photo: Official tribal documents that include a photograph are valid for identity verification.
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Unexpired DHS/TSA Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC): A TWIC card, issued by TSA, is an acceptable photo ID.
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Unexpired Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC): This credential also serves as valid photo identification for TSA PreCheck® enrollment.
Valid Proof of Citizenship Options:
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U.S. Birth Certificate: This is a primary document for proving U.S. citizenship. However, TSA has specific requirements for birth certificates, detailed further below.
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U.S. Certificate of Citizenship (N-560 or N-561): Issued to individuals who derive or acquire citizenship.
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U.S. Certificate of Naturalization (N-550 or N-570): Proof of becoming a U.S. citizen through naturalization.
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U.S. Citizen Identification Card (I-179 or I-197): Cards issued to U.S. citizens.
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Consular Report of Birth Abroad (FS-240): For U.S. citizens born abroad to U.S. citizen parents.
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Certification of Report of Birth Abroad (DS-1350 or FS-545): Another form of certification for births abroad to U.S. citizens.
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Expired U.S. Passport (within 12 months of expiration): While an expired passport cannot be used as a List A document, a U.S. passport that has expired within the last year can serve as proof of citizenship when presented with a valid photo ID from List B. An expired passport alone is not sufficient; it must be paired with another List B document.
Understanding Birth Certificate Requirements
When using a birth certificate as proof of citizenship (List B), it’s essential to understand TSA’s specific requirements to ensure a clear travel program application process. TSA will only accept certain types of birth records:
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Long-form U.S. State/Territory-Issued Certified/Sealed Birth Certificate: This is the most common and widely accepted form.
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U.S. State/Territory-Issued Certified/Sealed Birth Abstract: Must meet the requirements of a birth certificate, containing necessary details. Birth Registration/Certificate of Birth Registration records are NOT acceptable.
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Birth Certification Card: Must meet birth certificate or abstract requirements. Birth Registration or Notification cards are NOT acceptable.
Key elements required on acceptable birth records:
- Issued by the city, county, or state of birth.
- Applicant’s full name, date of birth, and place of birth.
- Parent(s) full names (first and last name; middle name not required; “Unknown” or blank/asterisk fields are acceptable).
- Signature of the city, county, or state official or registrar.
- Date filed with registrar’s office.
- Seal of issuing authority (may be printed or embossed).
Unacceptable U.S. Birth Documents:
- Illegible or damaged documents.
- Private hospital-issued documents.
- Documents titled “Registration” or “Notification”.
- Foreign birth documents (unless State Department records of birth abroad).
- State-issued documents indicating foreign birth.
- Puerto Rican Birth Certificates issued before July 1, 2010.
- “No Record Certification of Birth” documents.
- Notarized copies or digital identity documents.
Expired Passports: Navigating the Rules
Expired U.S. passports have specific rules within TSA PreCheck® documentation:
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Expired passports CANNOT be used as List A documents.
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Expired passports (within 12 months of expiration) CAN be used as proof of citizenship in List B, but must be presented alongside another valid photo ID from List B.
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An expired passport alone is never sufficient for TSA PreCheck® documentation.
Certified Copies: Ensuring Document Validity
For both List A and List B documents, when a certified copy is required, it must adhere to specific standards. A certified copy must be issued by a:
- Federal authority
- State authority
- Tribal authority
- County authority
- Municipal authority
- Outlying possession
The issuing authority must bear an official seal. Short form or abstract birth certificates and notarized copies are not acceptable. These requirements are in place to guarantee the authenticity of the documents presented for your clear travel program enrollment.
By understanding these detailed documentation requirements, you can confidently prepare for your TSA PreCheck® application. Having the correct documents readily available will contribute to a smoother, faster enrollment process, setting you on the path to a more efficient and less stressful airport experience. This preparation is the first step towards a truly clear travel program, allowing you to focus on the excitement of your journey ahead.
