International Services for NIH Staff

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.

Our Office is Temporarily Moving!

Effective January 17, 2023, the Fogarty International Center (FIC) Visa Passport Office (VPO) will be temporarily relocated to Building 31, Room 3B41 due to renovations.

Time in temporary location

Currently, the renovation is scheduled for approximately six months. We will communicate as needed and when the renovation is complete as we prepare to move the Office back to its permanent location.

Important dates and information

On Friday, January 13, 2023, the VPO staff will physically relocate to the temporary location. Please recommend to your IC staff who have a visa or passport-related case that needs to be managed to submit their packages to the VPO before or after Friday, January 13, 2023. The VPO staff will not be available to receive or process cases because they will be physically relocating and their systems will be down.

Where to find the FIC VPO Staff

Starting on January 17, 2023:
FIC Visa/Passport Office
Building 31, Room 3B41
31 Center Dr. MSC 2220
Bethesda, MD 20892-2220
301-827-5555

Office hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 12 noon

We look forward to continuing our partnership with the NIH community during our temporary relocation.

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

Travel Less than 30 Continuous or 90 Cumulative Days in a 12-month Period
Each person traveling abroad for less than 30 days on behalf of the NIH (regardless of your affiliation) must participate in a travel security briefing.
Continuous Travel 30 Days or More
Those persons who perform extended foreign travel or overseas assignment for a period of 30 days or more must complete mandatory in-person personal security training prior to travel.
NIH Counter Threat Trainings for Foreign Travel
Travel to any foreign country requires high threat security training to meet State Department requirements.

Travel Planning Resources

Chart of Visa and Training Requirements by country or territory
Completing Notification of Foreign Travel in the NIH travel system
CDC Health Information for International Travel (Yellow Book), the trusted travel medicine reference for health professionals and travelers
US State Department COVID-19 country specific information
NIH COVID-19 travel safety guidance

Updated January 5, 2023