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Passport and Visa Information for NIH Staff
The Fogarty International Center (FIC) processes applications only for official and diplomatic passports and visas for NIH employees.
Fogarty/NIH Passports and Visas Office
FIC Visa/Passport Office
Building 31, Room B2C05
31 Center Dr. MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
301-827-5555
- Business hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Office hours for in person walk-in visa or passport service and other appointments: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Drop Box is available every day 24/7
- Passports may be picked up during walk-in office hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. No appointment is required.
- If you are applying for an official passport and/or visa, you will be notified by your FIC specialist when it’s complete.
- Official passports can be picked up as early as three weeks prior to the scheduled travel dates.
- Remote workers and other staff unable to come to office may include a return FedEx airbill with their passport/visa application or may email a PDF copy of the return airbill to their FIC specialist. Consult with your travel planner or administrative officer for assistance with obtaining an airbill.
- Several ICs with off-campus sites have courier services. Check with your travel planner or administrative officer for assistance.
- Applications may be submitted, and official passports may be returned, to an FIC specialist during walk-in hours on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am to 12pm. No appointment is required.
- An in-door drop slot is available 24/7 for application submissions and passport returns.
- The address for express mail or postal mail delivery is:
FIC Visa/Passport Office
Building 31, Room B2C05
31 Center Dr. MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
301-827-5555 - Official passports should be returned to the FIC Visa/Passport Office within 2 weeks of completion of travel.
Notification of Foreign Travel for NIH Staff
Notification for Foreign Travel (NFT) is part of foreign travel authorization in the NIH CGE Travel System. This mandatory step in all foreign travel must be completed before the trip can be officially approved. Notification of Foreign Travel for NIH Staff
Training for Persons Traveling Abroad
- NIH Security Awareness Briefing
- NIH DOS Trainings for Foreign Travel
Travel to any foreign country requires completion of U.S. Department of State (DOS) training in advance of going abroad on official travel. The training required depends on the duration of time overseas in within a 12-month period.
Travel Planning Resources
- Chart of Visa and Training Requirements by country or territory
- Completing Notification of Foreign Travel in the NIH travel system
- NIH Travel Policy Handbook
- CDC Health Information for International Travel (Yellow Book) , the trusted travel medicine reference for health professionals and travelers
Fogarty/NIH Passports and Visas Office
Location
Building 31, Room B2C05
NIH Campus
Bethesda, MD
Hours of Operation
- Business hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Office hours for in person walk-in visa or passport service and other appointments: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Drop Box is available every day 24/7
Contact
- Fogarty Specialists email and phone
- Main phone: 301-827-5555
Announcements
Plan ahead and apply early!
- NEW! Beginning 1/1/2026, eFACT has replaced CTAT and is now available in the HHS Learning Management System (LMS). Visit eFACT to register and launch the LMS course. Current CTAT certificates remain valid until expiration. For more information, see DOS Trainings for Foreign Travel .
- Beginning 1/8/2025, Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) required for travel to or transit through the UK.
- Submission timelines
- Application tips
- Contact Fogarty for requirements
Related Information
- Foreign Scientists Visiting NIH: Immigration-related services for NIH visiting foreign scientists from NIH Division of International Services