Domestic Visitors:
- All visitors must be pre-registered in the Visitor System.
- All Visitors and guests to the NIST campus must have the following items available before entering the Visitor's Center: Photo I.D. (federally approved State issued driver's license, Federal ID, or original passport) and Vehicle Registration Card.
- Holders of active Department of Commerce agency badges and credentials will be allowed business hour access to the Gaithersburg and Boulder facilities with those badges, and are not required to register as visitors.
NOTE: Effective July 21, 2014, under the REAL ID Act of 2005, agencies, including NIST, can only accept a state-issued driver's license or identification card from states that are REAL ID compliant or have an extension. See the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) site for the current compliance list.
NIST currently accepts other forms of federally issued identification in lieu of a state-issued driver's license, such as a valid passport, passport card, DOD's Common Access Card (CAC), Veterans ID, Federal Agency HSPD-12 IDs, Military Dependents ID, Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC), and TSA Trusted Traveler ID.
In addition, The Police Services Group will mirror procedures in use by the DOC Office of Security and Department of Homeland Security/Federal Protective Services. Visitors with state licenses not in compliance with the REAL ID requirements may be admitted to campus provided the sponsoring NIST employee meets the visitor at the Visitor 's Center on arrival and provides escort while the visitor is on site.
Foreign Nationals:
- Only NIST employees may sponsor or host a foreign national visitor or guest.
- Foreign nationals visiting a NIST location for three (3) days or less, or attending a conference of five (5) days or less must be pre-registered in the Visitor System at least two (2) days in advance.
- Foreign nationals who will be visiting NIST for more than three (3) days must be pre-registered in the Associates System at least 30 calendar days prior to the arrival. Sponsor must complete citizenship information during the registration to ensure the form will automatically be routed to the appropriate offices.
- Foreign nationals must present a valid passport (original only) or alien registration card (green card) upon arrival.