We assist with numerous military/civilian needs such as:

• *Short-term guest access (Sponsorship for official visits requires a CC-directed trusted agent)

• *DBIDS or long-term access (Sponsorship for official visits requires a CC-directed trusted agent)

• Access to protection level areas (will require Security Manager approval)

• Virtual out-processing

• Hardship Passes (Requires First Sergeant/CC signature)

• BX/Commissary Access (Requires signed letter from the 316th Force Support Squadron)

  *Short/Long term briefings will only be conducted by appointment on Tuesday and Pathfinder Security Managers/Commanders on Thursday from 0900-1200. Contact the VCC at 301-981-0232 to schedule 577 briefing.*

All visitor requests must be submitted via e-mail 72 hours prior to the arrival of guests. Foreign visitor requests must be submitted 30 days prior to their arrival. All e-mail requests must be sent to the Visitor Control Center organizational e-mail, 316SSPTS.Visitor.Center@us.af.mil, with the following subject line: Unofficial/Official Requests (S: Date of Arrival). All e-mail requests must be submitted from a government email. These requests are not able to be processed when sent from commercial emails such as Gmail, Yahoo, etc. Once the request has been received, the VCC will only reach out if there is a problem with the request. If you have not been contacted by the VCC within 24 hours of the arrival of your guests, the individuals have been cleared to be on base. Please note, if a visit is less than five days, the request will be as stated above. If the visit is longer than five days guest must report to VCC during operational hours to receive a base pass. Please note the VCC organizational e-mail is only monitored Monday-Saturday.

JBA is a closed installation and proper identification is required to gain access.  Proper identification includes but is not limited to:

- DOD Common Access Cards
- Military Retiree ID cards
- Military Dependent ID cards
- State/Federal Law Enforcement (ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS)
- Sponsored Guest (i.e. DBIDS card holders)
- Contact Visitor Center Staff for other exceptions

As of May 7, 2025, all visitors to Joint Base Andrews will need a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or other acceptable identification for base access. This Department of Homeland Security mandate applies to all U.S. military installations and stems from the REAL ID Act of 2005, which enhances security standards for identification.

This requirement does not apply to individuals with:

• Department of Defense-issued ID cards (military, dependent, CAC, PIV)

Visitors without a REAL ID-compliant license must present an alternative form of ID such as:

• U.S. Passport or Passport Card
• Veteran’s Health Identification Card (VHIC)

To prepare:

• Check your driver's license for the gold or black circle and/or star symbol indicating REAL ID compliance. If non-compliant, obtain a REAL ID or ensure you have an alternative form of ID.
• Inform any visitors you may sponsor about this requirement.

For further information:

• REAL ID information: www.dhs.gov/real-id
• State-specific REAL ID requirements: www.dhs.gov/real-id-enforcement-brief

For Veterans and Caregivers (VHIC):

Upon the first visit to the installation, all Veterans and Caregivers must stop at the Visitor Control Center during hours of operation. Veterans and Caregivers may enroll for recurring access, which would allow them to proceed to the gate for entry upon subsequent visits without having to stop again at the Visitor Control Center.

As with all other individuals seeking access to DoD installations, all eligible Veterans and Caregivers must pass a basic on-the-spot background check prior to enrolling, and an automated check each time they enter the installation. Veterans and Caregivers with felony convictions, felony arrest warrants, or other types of derogatory information related to criminal history or terrorism will not be permitted entry. 

Note: Depending on the type DoD installation base disqualifiers may differ.

For further information please click here. 

Due to the suspension of the Trusted Traveler program, all escort authority for installation access to JBA is also suspended, indefinitely. Unofficial visitors must request an Unofficial Visitor Base Pass from the VCC.

Requesting access through email by filling out the 316th SSPTS Unofficial Base Access Request: Request Form

Due to the high volume of base access request, the VCC recommends requesting base access through Email at least 3 days (72 hours) prior to the planned visit. Once approved or denied a conformation email will be sent to the sponsor with directions, if the pass is for 5 days or less the guest will be placed on the BAL where they will show the submitted Drivers License, ID card or passport to the gate entry controller. If the pass is longer than 5 days guest will report to the VCC and receive a hardcopy base pass from our office, please ensure your guest is REAL ID compliant.

If the sponsor does not have a .mil email address, they will still need to utilize the current in-person sponsor procedures. Questions regarding base access can be addressed to the JBA VCC at 301-981-0232. Requesting access does not guarantee the approval for your guest, they will still have to pass all vetting protocols.

Please proofread and update to your discretion and route for changes to the VCC website. Attached is the website link.

https://www.jba.af.mil/Resources/Visitor-Control-Center/

All same day unofficial (i.e. personal) JBA guests who are not in possession of an authorized base access credential, issued a Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) pass, or on the official Base Access List (BAL) must process through to the VCC for identity proofing, background vetting (Fitness), and pass issuance with their sponsor or meet their sponsor at the Main Gate during after-hours access requests.

For official visitors, or visitors accessing the installation for an official purpose (government contractors, non-DoD guests of an organization, etc.), they must contact the host organization's designated official base access sponsor.

All unofficial, aka personal, foreign visitors wishing to access Joint Base Andrews must undergo additional background checks and processing before being issued a visitor's pass. This includes all non-U.S. citizens who hold a foreign passport and are not a U.S. permanent resident or do not have DoD identification that would otherwise grant them base access.

The processing and additional background checks can take up to 30 additional days to complete, receive approval, and the visitor to be issued a pass.  Passes can be issued for up to one month (30 days). Sponsors should submit the visitor's information to 316sspts.visitor.center@us.af.mil at least 30 days prior to the planned date of the visit.  Please provide the visitor's: full name, date of birth, country of origin, passport and Visa number (if applicable), country identification number/Social Security number equivalent, and a landscape picture of all passport data pages with the passport holder's photo and a picture of any visas.

To receive a DBIDS card you will need the following:

• Sponsorship Paperwork (Long-term request letter signed and given by a 577 Sponsor)

• Valid Driver's License compliant w/ REAL ID ACT, Passport, or Valid State ID

• Current Vehicle Registration w/ Expiration Date

• Current Vehicle Insurance w/ Expiration Date

• Current lease agreement (Housing residents only)

* JBA does not accept other installation issued DBIDS cards for base access. 
 

** Non US Citizens will have to show Proof of Resident Alien Card/ Employment Authorization Card and Social Security Card in addition to the documents listed above.**