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America the Beautiful National Park Pass

Expires may 31, 2025.

America the Beautiful National Park Pass is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.

Park Pass Information

Please note  that the Park Pass  is  not  available for immediate download or printing . A physical pass will be issued through the mail. Electronic scanned images of your pass are never valid for use.

• You will receive an annual America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass, valid for 1 year from the month of purchase.
• Each Annual Pass admits pass owner and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per-vehicle fee areas; and pass owner + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, where per-person fees are charged. (Children under 16 are always admitted free).
• The pass will be shipped without a name on it. The pass is valid once signed by the pass owner or recipient if it's a gift. Passes only allow the signature of one pass owner.
• The pass includes entrance fees to all parks for one personal vehicle, including rentals and RV's/motorhomes. Pass covers one motorcycle and it's operator & passenger.

Made in USA.

For Seniors, Military, or those with a Permanent Disability

For information on other passes for  seniors , military , or those with a permanent disability please click here .

Delivery in 2-5 Days

We make every effort to ensure orders are fulfilled and ready for shipment within 2-3 business days. No orders are shipped on Saturday & Sunday. Unless noted on a product's page, orders will ship in the order they were received. We will notify you via email as soon as your order is ready for shipment.  Digital Products (Guides and Gift Cards)  are available for immediate download or will be emailed to you.

Standard delivery times:

• U.S. orders: 2-5 business days.
• Orders to Canada: 5-9 business days. 
• Other international orders: 10-15 business days. 

FedEx Standard Overnight:

• Orders are delivered in 1 business day after fulfillment.
• Orders placed Monday - Friday after 12pm Eastern Time will likely ship the following business day.

Orders that are shipped and tracked with USPS:  USPS does not make any guarantees on shipping times. Read our  shipping policy  for full details.

National Parks List

• Pass is honored at over 2,000 sites managed by the Forest Service, National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

View our  list of parks  for a more complete list of where the pass is accepted.

Start Your Journey Today

Step 1: Order Your Park Pass

Our easy ordering process bring you one step closer to nature.

Step 2: We Ship It Fast

In just 2-5 days, your pass to adventure is in your hands. Get ready for the journey ahead.

Step 3: Enjoy Unlimited Nature

Dive into a year of nature with your pass. Over 2,000 sites await your footprints.

Freedom to Explore

Imagine a world where every day offers a new adventure, a new horizon to chase. With the U.S. Park Pass, that world is yours. From the towering peaks of Yosemite to the deep valleys of the Grand Canyon, freedom to explore is in your hands. No boundaries, no limits—just you, your loved ones, and the open road. This is your ticket to create stories and memories that last a lifetime, all at incredible value.

Explore more, Spend Less

Perfect for those who plan multiple park visits, the pass quickly outweighs the cost of individual entries. Enjoy the freedom to roam, discover, and connect with nature, all while keeping your spending in check. It's your invitation to adventure widely and wisely.

What Other Explorers Say

It’s beyond easy to renew my America the Beautiful Pass each and every year! We use it more and more with each passing year, so it’s only becoming a better and better deal for us too! Forests, Parks, Battlefields - this pass is great to have for any family of explorers!

Tennessee, United States

Love the efficiency of order the national park pass, and am always excited to share about our experiences exploring the stunning destinations in our country.

Ohio, United States

This is the perfect gift for my minimalist aunts who value nature experiences over material items. I will be getting it for them on an annual basis.

Iowa, United States

Customer Reviews

America the Beautiful National Park Pass - Expires December 31, 2024

Used it to travel to 7 parks last year

It was a gift.

Great price and fast shipping. Going to just a few parks would pay for itself. Comes with a passholder for your vehicle that is sometimes recommended depending on the park you go to. Would highly recommend.

The whole process from ordering and timely receiving was flawless.

Frequently Asked Questions

Shipping questions, how long will it take to receive my order, can i download and print my park pass, park pass questions, how many people can enter with one pass.

This answer varies and it can be determined once you know how the sites you are visiting charges their entrance fees. Children under 16 are always admitted free. 

For sites/parks that charge PER VEHICLE - up to 15 people can enter the park if they are all riding in a non-commercial vehicle and the pass holder is in the vehicle.

For sites/parks that charge PER PERSON - up to 4 adults can enter the park with one annual park pass which includes the pass holder.

List of Parks:  https://usparkpass.com/list-of-national-parks/

Non-Commercial Vehicle: Passenger car, van, pick-up truck, converted school bus, recreational vehicle, vehicles with trailers, etc., used to enter a Federal recreation site for non-commercial purposes.

When does an Annual Pass expire and when to renew?

Whether you buy the pass for yourself or as a gift, the Annual Pass is valid for 12 months from the month of purchase, expiring on the last day of that month. 

For example, if you purchase the Annual Pass on any date in August 2024, then your pass will be valid until August 31, 2025. When you receive your pass, you will see a hole has been punched in the card on August and notice the expiration year to the right says 2025; this means the pass is valid until the last day of August 2025.  

Where can I purchase Senior, Access, Military, Veteran or 4th Graders Passes?

Unfortunately, we do not issue Senior, Access, Military, Veteran, or 4th Grade Passes as they require additional verification steps by the USGS. If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident age 62 or older, have a permanent disability, are a current U.S. Military member, Gold Star Family member, veteran or are a student in the 4th grade, you may qualify for other passes. For more information contact your local participating Federal recreation site or visit the webpage  https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes.

Can I use a confirmation receipt or my credit card statement/receipt to enter a park?

No. There is no digital version of the pass available, it’s a physical card that you must present when entering the National Parks. Likewise, photocopies of your physical pass saved on an electronic device WILL NOT be accepted.  

Can international visitors purchase a pass?

International visitors can purchase the pass without restrictions and the pass can be shipped to locations outside the U.S. prior to your trip.

Can I purchase a pass as a gift & how does it work?

Yes, annual passes can be given as a gift. Our website makes it really easy for you to give the gift of an Annual Pass to someone special. You can gift a physical pass easily in one of two ways.

• At checkout use the mailing address of your recipient. 
• If you expect to see your loved one in person, you can order the pass as normal and give it to your loved one directly. 

Passes are issued unassigned, so a name won't be printed on the pass itself. Instead, passes are claimed once an individual signs on the back of the card.

Another option is to purchase your recipient a  digital gift card  that can be redeemed at any point. Digital gift cards have no expiration date. They make a great gift for someone who is planning to travel later in the year, or who already has a pass. To learn more about our digital gift card click  here

Please note  our website does not sell Senior Passes. Senior Passes require additional verification steps by the United States Geological Survey. Therefore, we do not offer Senior Passes as a gift option.

Can lost or stolen passes be replaced?

Unfortunately, due to privacy and logistical considerations, all passes cannot be replaced if lost or stolen; a new pass must be purchased.

You won't be able to use a purchase confirmation or receipt to enter a park. The physical pass needs to be presented when entering a park. 

Where can I get a Senior Lifetime Pass?

Our website does not sell Senior Passes. Senior Passes require additional verification steps by the United States Geological Survey.

Both annual and lifetime passes need to be purchased directly through the USGS. Click the link below to find the information and documentation you will need to apply for a Senior Pass, including the application:

https://store.usgs.gov/recreational-passes

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How to Buy a US National Park Entrance Pass

With over 300 million people visiting US National Parks each year, the national park entrance passes are a popular purchase. On this site, we have put together a number of national park itineraries (including Yellowstone/Grand Teton, Acadia , and Zion National Parks ). There are numerous national park entrance passes available at varying price points. Because of this, it’s important to understand the options available so that you don’t overpay. The following guide reviews the “America the Beautiful” series of national park pass options to analyze which (if any) may be appropriate for different visitors.

Post Contents

Paid National Park Entrance Passes

Standard annual pass.

The most common “America the Beautiful” interagency pass is the Annual Pass. This pass can be purchased by any US citizen age 16-61 or any international visitor. Like all passes in the “America the Beautiful” series, it provides entrance to parks run by the following agencies: US National Park Service, US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureaus of Reclamation, and US Army Corps of Engineers.

At a price of $80, the annual pass provides purchasers access to the covered parks for a year. The year is measured as starting on the date of purchase and concludes the last day of the month that is 12 months after purchase. Therefore, if you purchase the pass on July 5th of 2023, the pass will be valid until July 31st of 2024.

The pass admits the pass holder and anyone else in their personal car when admission is charged per vehicle. The pass is valid for the pass holder and up to three additional adults (age 16+) when charged per person.

Senior Annual Pass

The next pass for consideration is the “America the Beautiful” Senior Annual Pass. This pass is very similar to the above Standard Annual Pass. However, this pass is available to those age 62 and above. The pass also comes at a discounted rate of $20 per year. The Senior Annual Pass has the same admission policy as the Standard Annual Pass.

Senior Lifetime Pass

Another pass available to seniors (age 62+) is the Senior Lifetime Pass. This pass is the same price as the Standard Annual Pass ($80), but it is valid for the lifetime of the holder. It has the same entry allowances (one vehicle or up to 4 adults) as all of the other passes. The main difference is that this pass doesn’t expire and is usable for the lifetime of the holder.

If you regularly visit national parks, this pass is for you. Alternately, if you think you will go to national parks in at least four different calendar years, you will come out ahead by purchasing a lifetime pass as opposed to multiple annual passes for each year of travel. This is likely one of the best values. It’s particularly a good value to provide admittance to younger members of the travel group. Younger travelers would otherwise pay $80 for an annual pass.

Free National Park Entrance Passes

The next group of passes to review are the free “America the Beautiful” passes. They are offered to various groups. If you are eligible for one of the free passes, make sure you take advantage of it.

Military Lifetime Pass

The Military Lifetime Pass is a free lifetime pass provided as a benefit to military veterans. The Military Lifetime Pass is also extended in appreciation to Gold Star family members. This pass has similar benefits for admission as all the above passes. To obtain the veteran’s version of this pass, a Department of Defense ID card, a Veterans Health ID card, a Veterans ID card, or a veterans designation on a state-issued driver’s license is required. This is available to anyone who served in the U.S. Armed Forces including National Guard and Reserves. The Military Lifetime Pass is also available to members of Gold Star Families. Gold Star Families are close relations to a member of the US Armed Forces who lost their life in the line of duty.

Military Annual Pass

Another military related pass is the Military Annual Pass. This 1-year pass provides the same admission privileges as all the other passes. These passes are available to current members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Space Force, and National Guard. The pass is also available to military academy cadets, active reservists, and dependents of current US military members.

Access Pass

The next free pass is the Access Pass. This free pass is available to those who have a documented permanent disability. This pass is valid for the lifetime of the holder. It provides the same access allowance as all the other passes above.

4th Grade Pass

Another free pass designed specifically for students is the 4th Grade Pass. As the name would imply, this pass is available to 4th grade students or the home-school equivalent. The pass is valid for the length of the 4th grade school year through the following summer (September to August) no matter when in the year it is obtained. Therefore, if you obtain the pass in September, it will be good for close to a year. However, if you get the pass in May, it will only be good for about 3 months. In order to obtain the pass, fourth graders need to have a voucher from the Every Kid Outdoors website completed.

Since 4th graders are always free when they come to a park, this pass really allows admission for the rest of the family (including the adults). Like all other passes, the admission policy with the pass is the pass owner and up to 3 adults or any people in a non-commercial vehicle.

Volunteer Pass

The final pass that is offered by the park service is a Volunteer Pass. Like the above free passes, there isn’t a fee to obtain this pass. However, it’s not truly free. This pass is offered to those between the ages of 16 and 62, who volunteer for at least 250 hours on federal recreation lands. The 250 hours don’t have to be all accrued in one calendar year, so volunteers can bank these over several years and redeem for a pass when they are above 250 hours.

However, all hours banked reset to zero when redeemed for a pass, and another 250 hours will have to be accrued to receive a pass in another calendar year. If you enjoy volunteering on federal land, this can be a great way to earn a park pass out of the service. However, if you are just volunteering to get entrance to the parks for a year, this seems like a poor investment of time since an annual pass can be bought for $80.

For those with the Volunteer Pass, it provides the same one vehicle or the pass holder + 3 adult admittance policy as all other “America the Beautiful” passes.

How to Purchase

The “America the Beautiful” passes can be purchased online through the website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) or they can be purchased at a majority of the federal recreation sites, including national parks. My recommendations for purchases are as follows:

• When purchasing a lifetime pass, I suggest using the USGS website which is very easy to navigate. The lifetime pass can be purchased anytime that you are eligible. Buying the pass ahead of your trip is my recommendation because there isn’t an expiration timeline based on when you purchased the lifetime pass. Additionally, buying the pass ahead of time gets one thing out of the way while your traveling.
• When purchasing an annual pass, check to see if the federal land that you are visiting sells the passes on site. If they do, then I would wait to purchase the pass until you arrive. This ensures that you have the maximum validity period for the pass. If your destination doesn’t sell passes onsite, look to see if there are other sites nearby that will sell them. If not, wait until close to your departure date to order the pass online. Obviously leave enough time for shipping.

Do You Need to Buy One of These Passes?

The final question you should ask is do you need to buy one of these passes. Obviously, if you are eligible for one of the free options, these are a no-brainer. Save yourself some money on those park entrance fees which often run about $35 per vehicle. Depending on the number of people in your group, the savings can be significant.

Likewise, if you are eligible for the Senior Lifetime Pass, it’s not difficult to get your money back on that purchase. The pass will have paid for itself on the third visit to a national park. Since it’s valid for the owner’s lifetime, I would purchase one unless you don’t like national parks.

The Standard Annual Pass is a less obvious good buy. To come out ahead, a group would need to visit at least three parks in a year. I am sure there are groups who will meet this number. For those groups, buy the annual pass. However, I will venture that most groups won’t visit three parks in a year. One or two park visits is more common. Therefore, it will most likely make sense for these groups to skip purchasing an annual pass and just pay for entrance at the gate of the park.

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• Local transport
• Travel passes and concessions
• Managing the England national concessionary travel scheme
• Department for Transport

Guidance for travel concession authorities on the England national concessionary travel scheme

Published 21 December 2010

Applies to England

© Crown copyright 2010

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-travel-concession-authorities-on-the-england-national-concessionary-travel-scheme/guidance-for-travel-concession-authorities-on-the-england-national-concessionary-travel-scheme

December 2010

Introduction

1/ A mandatory bus concession for older and disabled people has been in place since 2001. The scheme has gradually been extended since its introduction and since April 2008 has provided free off-peak local bus travel to eligible older and disabled people anywhere in England.

2/ The scheme is enshrined in primary legislation through the ‘ Greater London authority act 1999 ’ and the ‘ Transport act 2000 (as modified by the ‘ Concessionary bus travel act 2007 ).

3/ Concessionary travel is administered locally by travel concession authorities (TCAs). Until 31 March 2011 the following local authorities are classed as TCAs: Shire District Councils, Unitary Authorities, Passenger Transport Executives and London Boroughs. Following a consultation in 2009, an order under section 9 of the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 was approved by Parliament in March 2010, which shifts responsibility for administering concessionary travel schemes from lower tier local authorities to upper tier local authorities. Consequently from 1 April 2011 the following authorities will be TCAs: County Councils, Unitary Authorities, Passenger Transport Executives and London Boroughs.

4/ In addition to the mandatory bus concession TCAs are also able to make use of powers provided by the ‘Greater London authority act 1999’ and the ‘ Transport act 1985 ’ to offer discretionary concessionary travel schemes.

5/ This guidance note is designed to assist TCAs in administering the England national concessionary travel scheme ( ENCTS ). Section 1 of the guidance provides details of the key information that all TCAs need to know about in administering the ENCTS and provides links to other guidance documents issued by the Department for Transport ( DfT ) in relation to the scheme. Section 2 focuses on the shift in responsibility for administering the scheme from lower tier local authorities to upper tier local authorities and provides advice on how to handle a number of specific transitional issues.

6/ This guidance applies only to England. Concessionary travel is a devolved policy area, and legislation and assessment of eligibility with regard to concessionary travel in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for the appropriate devolved administration.

Administration of the England national concessionary travel scheme

Eligibility, eligible people, older people.

1.1 There are 2 broad categories of people eligible for a statutory concession: men and women who have attained the state pension age for women and eligible disabled people (where no age limits apply).

1.2 Previously the eligible age for concessionary travel was 60 years of age. However, since 6 April 2010, the age of eligibility for concessionary travel in England has been tied to the pensionable age for women. So, as the pensionable age for women gradually increases from 60 to 65 so too will the age of eligibility for concessionary travel increase for both men and women.

1.3 The age of eligibility for concessionary travel is therefore:

• for women = pensionable age
• for men = pensionable age of a woman born on the same day

1.4 It was announced in the Spending Review 2010 that the government plans to speed up the alignment of the pension age so that the pensionable age for women will now reach 65 by 2018 instead of 2020 as previously planned. Furthermore the pensionable age for both men and women will now rise to 66 by 2020. The age of eligibility for concessionary travel will increase in line with these and any other future changes to the pensionable age for women.

1.5 DfT has published guidance on the change in the age of eligibility for concessionary travel .

Disabled people

1.6 There are 7 categories of disabled people who are entitled to the statutory minimum concession and these are set out in section 146 of the Transport Act 2000 and section 240(5) of the Greater London authority act (in relation to London).

1.7 An eligible disabled person is someone who:

• is blind or partially sighted
• is profoundly or severely deaf
• is without speech
• has a disability, or has suffered an injury, which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on his or her ability to walk
• does not have arms or has long-term loss of the use of both arms
• has a learning disability, that is, a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning
• would, if he or she applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, have his/her application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol

1.8 DfT has produced guidance to local authorities on assessing eligibility of disabled people (PDF, 75.6KB)

Eligible services

1.9 The ENCTS applies on eligible local bus services as defined by the ‘ Travel concessions (eligible services) order 2002 as amended by the ‘ Travel concessions (eligible services) (amendment) order 2009 ’.

1.10 The 2009 amendment order explicitly excludes the following types of services from the mandatory concession, these are:

• services on which the majority of seats can be reserved in advance of travel (such as coaches)
• services that are intended to run for a period of less than 6 consecutive weeks
• services operated primarily for the purposes of tourism or because of the historical interest of the vehicle
• bus substitution (rail replacement) services
• services where the fare charged by the operator has a special amenity element

1.11 The changes introduced by the 2009 amendment order explicitly exclude certain types of service that are outside of the spirit of the mandatory national concession, thus reducing the potential for any confusion over whether a service is eligible. Local authorities remain able to offer concessionary travel on any service affected by the changes on a discretionary basis.

1.12 Further information about the changes introduced by the 2009 amendment order is available.

Geographical coverage

1.13 The ‘Concessionary bus travel act 2007’ entitles eligible people who are resident in England to travel on any eligible service within England.

1.14 TCAs are required by law to reimburse bus operators for carrying concessionary passengers. In respect of the mandatory concession, TCAs must reimburse bus operators for all concessionary journeys starting within their boundaries, regardless of where the concessionary passholder making the journey is resident.

1.15 TCAs that border Wales or Scotland can use their existing powers to offer travel across the border on a discretionary basis based on their assessment of local need and their overall financial priorities. Given the change in administrative responsibilities in England, any previously agreed cross-border discretionary concessionary travel schemes with lower-tier local authorities in England will need to be re-agreed between the relevant upper tier local authority in England and the relevant Welsh or Scottish authority. When making cross-border arrangements, TCAs should also be mindful of the differing ages of eligibility. that now exist in the different countries.

1.16 The national bus concession in England is available at any time on a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday, and from 9.30am to 11pm on any other day. TCAs are able to offer concessionary travel outside these hours on a discretionary basis.

1.17 The concessionary travel arrangements for older and disabled people in London are different from those in the rest of England. The statutory minimum concession in London is set out in the GLA act 1999 . In London, the statutory minimum hours at which the travel concession must be provided are at any time at weekends and bank holidays and from midnight to 4.30am and the period from 9.30am to midnight on any other day.

1.18 The ‘Concessionary bus travel act 2007’ specifies that TCAs must issue a travel concession permit to an eligible person whose sole or principal residence is in the authority’s area.

1.19 Concessionary travel legislation makes no reference to nationality but to “residents”. Foreign nationals living in England who have met the residency requirements of the ‘Concessionary bus travel act 2007’ would be eligible. A foreign national visitor on a short stay visa or visiting England for business or holiday is not a resident.

1.20 The concession in England is not available to those whose principal residence is overseas (or in Wales, Scotland, Ireland or Northern Ireland), whether or not the person holds a British passport.

1.21 Eligible persons who reside in more than one residence in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland should apply for a travel concession permit only with the TCA that they reside in most of the time.

1.22 Good practice would indicate that a signed declaration from an applicant is one way to assist fair application of the ‘sole or principle residence criteria’. If you are a TCA that does not currently collect such a declaration, you may wish to consider including it in future application forms.

ENCTS passes

1.23 The travel concession permit for the ENCTS is to be issued free of charge. The legislation does not require the applicant to be fully indemnified for the cost of providing his/her photograph - nor for any signed medical certification, or any postage on his or her application.

1.24 Bus operators must grant the statutory minimum concession to eligible persons. The purpose of imposing on the authority a duty to issue ENCTS passes is to enable concessionaires to provide evidence to bus operators of their entitlement.

1.25 There is no provision in the legislation about safe keeping and it is the department’s view (which it is stressed is only a view) that it is the ENCTS pass holder’s responsibility to look after that evidence. This suggests that the obligation to issue an ENCTS pass free of charge would be limited to the first pass only. However, if a person applies for a replacement it is doubtful whether the authority would have the right to refuse to issue one without good reason or to charge more than a sum representing roughly the cost of producing it.

1.26 It is DfT ’s view that nothing in the legislation would prevent an authority from refusing to issue a replacement ENCTS pass to a person whom it had good reason to believe is engaged in fraud. As a matter of good practice in preventing fraud, the department strongly recommends that any pass issued in replacement for one which has been lost or stolen should generally be issued using the same photograph as the original pass. Each TCA is strongly encouraged to maintain a database of persons to whom ENCTS passes have been issued, including a digitised photograph of each recipient.

1.27 The use of the ENCTS pass is subject to the conditions of carriage of the individual Operator on whose vehicle the journey is being made.

Specification

1.28 When the ENCTS was introduced in 2008 a new England-wide ENCTS pass design was introduced so that bus drivers throughout England could recognise at a glance that an ENCTS pass holder was eligible for free travel.

1.29 The ‘ Concessionary bus travel (permits)(England) regulations 2008 ’ set out the specification of the England-wide ENCTS passes. TCAs are responsible for producing passes that comply with the standard design as specified in the regulations for their concessionaires.

1.30 The regulations set out the position and format of the standard elements of the ENCTS pass - the holder’s photograph, their name, the expiry date, the hologram, the unique identifying number, the ITSO logo, the rose logo, and the ribbon background. They also require ENCTS passes to be ITSO smartcards. This means that, where bus companies have installed ITSO smart readers on their buses, the passes will be read electronically. Where buses don’t have ITSO readers, the passes will simply be shown to the driver.

1.31 The ENCTS pass features an expiry date which must be no more than 5 years from the date of issue. Whilst the maximum life of a pass is 5 years from the date of issue, there is no recommended minimum life.

1.32 The ENCTS pass has a hologram, which acts as a security feature and a deterrent to fraud and counterfeiting. The hologram is supplied by the DfT to ensure that every hologram is identical. The hologram comprises the rose logo and ribbon design as follows:

ENCTS pass image

1.33 There are 2 different ENCTS pass designs, depending on whether the holder is eligible as a disabled person or as an older person. A blue strip down the right hand side shows that the pass has been issued to an older person; an orange strip shows that the pass has been issued to someone with an eligible disability.

1.34 The top right hand corner of the ENCTS pass is for local customisation. It must feature, as a minimum, either the logo or the name of the issuing TCA (or both) so that bus drivers can recognise who has issued the pass.

1.35 TCAs are free to add other additional symbols, logos or words if they wish. For example, as TCAs are able to offer additional benefits above the statutory minimum concession to their residents, they may wish to use this area to identify whether an ENCTS pass holder is eligible for any additional local benefits (e.g. companion travel or travel before 9.30am).

Data collection

1.36 The department suggests that the following minimum data should be collected and stored for each ENCTS pass holder:

• name of pass holder
• address of pass holder
• an expiry date for the pass
• a photograph
• entitlement type (age or disability related)
• a unique reference number
• ITSO shell reference number (ISRN)

1.37 Authorities might also want to consider, subject to their own legal advice, collecting the national insurance number of the pass holder in order to assist future national fraud initiative ( NFI ) exercises that are carried out by the Audit Commission . The NFI is a matching exercise in comparing all of the concessionary travel data in the UK with the national death register in an attempt to find members of the public who are participating in fraud. The Audit Commission does not require additional work to be carried out to collect this information; however authorities may decide locally to collect it in order to further improve the quality of NFI matches. There is however no statutory requirement for an applicant of an ENCTS pass to divulge their national insurance number to a TCA .

1.38 More information on the NFI is available.

1.39 The department also recommends that the TCA ’s arrangement with the general registrar is such that they have access to deaths information to maintain their ENCTS passes database. This information could also be complimented by the NFI and/or DWP ’s optional Tell Us Once initiative , which is still in the pilot stages, with national roll-out due in March 2011.

1.40 The National Fraud Authority (part of the Attorney General’s Office ) is currently looking at ways of enhancing access to deaths data for local authorities and councils for the purpose of fraud prevention.

1.41 All TCAs should satisfy themselves that all data on individuals is collected and further processed in accordance with the requirements of the ‘ Data protection act 1998 ’ and that they have the requisite powers to request, keep and share any information.

1.42 DfT has published guidance for TCAs on ENCTS pass issuing requirements .

Discretionary arrangements

1.43 In addition to the mandatory bus concession, TCAs are also able to offer discretionary concessionary travel schemes, i.e. schemes which go beyond the statutory minimum in one or more respects. This does not necessarily require a separate scheme to be created; a scheme which offers benefits which include but are more generous than the statutory minimum will at the same time fulfil any obligation to ensure that the statutory minimum is provided.

1.44 The proposed arrangements for discretionary concessionary travel schemes should be published by the TCA at least 28 days before the scheme commences (additional time may need to be allowed if a Participation Notice is likely to be required). It should be clear to operators from the published details what concessions they will be required to offer and the timing and amount of reimbursement that they can expect to receive to cover their revenue forgone and any additional costs incurred.

1.45 TCAs have the flexibility to offer local enhancements just to their residents in the area covered by their scheme, and its vicinity (as now). If they wish (and at their own cost) they may offer discretionary benefits within the area of their scheme to all eligible persons from England on the production of their ENCTS pass.

1.46 Enhancements could include, for example:

• free travel before 9.30am
• a 50% (or other) discount before 9.30am
• free travel for any person travelling as the companion of a disabled person
• free, or reduced-rate, travel on other modes of transport

1.47 Enhanced benefits can be given to all residents who are eligible for the national concession, or to subgroups (such as blind people). They can be given within a scheme area or sub-scheme area and, at the authority’s discretion, on crossboundary journeys, and journeys in the vicinity of the scheme area.

1.48 Authorities can only give an ENCTS pass to people who meet the criteria set out in the legislation for the statutory minimum concession. They can offer local benefits to people who do not qualify for an ENCTS pass but these local benefits should be offered through a pass that uses a design that is clearly different from the ENCTS pass.

1.49 The department recommends that local authorities seek their own legal advice when creating, withdrawing or amending such polices. With reference to the Local Government Ombudsman report of 24th September 2009, we recommend that local authorities should also be mindful of the impact that any changes to the concessions on offer may have on their residents and other stakeholders and keep them appropriately informed during the process. Authorities should also ensure that they comply with their own disability equality schemes.

1.50 The government ombudsman report of 24th September 2009 found a number of TCAs guilty of ‘maladministration causing injustice’ when they removed some of the discretionary elements of their concessionary travel schemes.

1.51 The full report is available .

Schemes offered as an alternative to the statutory minimum concession

1.52 A TCA may provide an alternative scheme under s.93 of the 1985 Act whereby a person eligible for the statutory minimum concession may agree with the authority concerned to give up that entitlement for a period and to accept instead an alternative concession offered by that authority, such as travel tokens. The person concerned can opt for the alternative even if it would generally be of lower value than the statutory minimum bus concession.

1.53 In cases where authorities envisage offering a scheme (such as a token scheme) as an alternative to the statutory minimum, rather than in addition to it, they will need to ensure that the information provided about the alternative scheme makes clear to those participating in it that they do so on the basis that they have accepted it as an alternative to their rights to the statutory minimum (the national bus concession) and not as an addition to those rights.

1.54 It should be noted that authorities are not under an obligation to offer an alternative scheme; nor are their residents able to require them to offer it. It should also be noted that even where a TCA does offer an alternative to the national bus concession to their own residents, they are still obliged to reimburse bus operators for all concessionaires using the ENCTS pass (including nonresidents) for journeys starting in their area.

1.55 Central government provides funding to TCAs for the ENCTS . From April 2011, all central government funding for the concessionary travel scheme will be provided through formula grant, which is administered by the Department for Communities and Local Government ( DCLG ). Formula grant is a non-ringfenced, unhypothecated block grant which gives local authorities the freedom and flexibility they want in their use of funding.

1.56 This approach supersedes the funding mechanism where the government provided funding for concessionary travel through two channels: formula grant from DCLG and special grant from DfT . Special grant funding has been rolled into formula grant so that funding now comes from one source.

1.57 From July 2010 to October 2010, DCLG held a consultation on the distribution of formula grant from April 2011 onwards. Given the changes in administrative responsibility for concessionary travel from April 2011, the consultation included proposals for how to remove concessionary travel from the formula grant received by lower tier local authorities and then how to transfer it to the formula grant received by upper tier local authorities.

1.58 Details about the chosen options for taking forward the financial implications of the concessionary travel administrative changes and about future local authority funding allocations are available on the DCLG website .

Reimbursement

1.59 TCAs are required by law to reimburse bus operators for carrying concessionary passengers, on the principle that the operators are “no better off and no worse off” by taking part in concessionary travel schemes. The aim is not to subsidise bus operators, but to pay for any increased costs that they have incurred.

1.60 Reimbursement of bus operators is divided into two elements: revenue forgone and net additional costs. Revenue forgone is the reimbursement of fares that operators would have received from concessionary journeys that would have been made in the absence of a scheme. The average fare forgone is generally not the same as the quoted commercial cash fare but should be calculated as an average of all ticket types that would have been available to concessionaires in the absence of the scheme.

1.61 The proportion of observed concessionary journeys that are made purely because of the concession are referred to as ‘generated journeys’. The only extra funding requirement associated with generated journeys should be the net additional costs that bus operators incur from these additional journeys. These are namely wear and tear on buses and possible costs from changes in service frequency or density. In very exceptional cases, net additional costs will include the costs to operators of buying an extra vehicle to cater for generated journeys.

1.62 Calculating concessionary travel reimbursement is predicated on determining what would have happened in the absence of the concessionary scheme and requires TCAs to estimate the following components of reimbursement:

• the fares that operators would have offered and concessionary travellers
• paid in the absence of the concession
• the proportion of total observed concessionary journeys that would have been made in the absence of the concession
• any net additional costs that operators have incurred as a result of the concession

1.63 DfT provides guidance to local authorities and bus operators on how to calculate appropriate reimbursement. The latest version of this guidance is available.

1.64 In the event of a disagreement between an operator and TCA as to the reimbursement arrangements offered by the TCA , there is a mechanism provided under sections 98(2) and 99(2) of the 1985 Act and section 150(3) of the 2000 Act, by which the operator can apply to the Secretary of State for Transport for cancellation, variation or modification of the arrangements.

1.65 The right of an operator to apply to the Secretary of State for modification of the proposed reimbursement arrangements offered by a TCA is an important safeguard. This application process is often referred to as the ‘appeal process’.

1.66 Applications should only be submitted after proper consideration and after attempts to reach a resolution at the local level have been exhausted. The time limit for making an appeal is 56 days from the commencement or variation of a scheme.

1.67 The Secretary of State appoints independent decision makers to determine the applications on his behalf, in line with the provisions of section 100(5) of the 1985 Act and section 150(6)(b) of the 2000 Act.

1.68 DfT has produced guidance on the appeals process .

Communications

1.69 TCAs are responsible for ensuring that people who are eligible to claim concessionary travel are able to do so.

1.70 TCAs should inform eligible people of:

• what they are entitled to
• how they can obtain a ENCTS pass
• how they can check their eligibility
• what services they can use their pass on
• how they can obtain further information

Sharing best practice

1.71 The concessionary travel online community ( CTOC ) is a forum for those involved in delivering concessionary travel (including local authorities and bus operators) to share best practice, ideas and practical tips. You can sign up at http://www.communities.idea.gov.uk/c/844620/home.do

Further Information

1.72 If you cannot find the information you need within this guidance or on the DfT website, the concessionary travel team can be contacted at the following email address: [email protected] .

Change in administrative responsibility - transitional issues

Note: The following guidance notes on transitional issues reflect the views of the Department for Transport. It is ultimately up to the courts to determine whether authorities comply with the requirements of the law and therefore we would also advise authorities to take their own legal advice.

ENCTS Pass Issues

Itso and isl, definition of terms.

2.1 ITSO specification is the UK technical specification for interoperable smart ticketing. Concessionary Bus Travel (Permits)(England) Regulations 2008 (SI No 417, 2008) requires that all ENCTS passes must be issued in compliance with ITSO.

2.2 ITSO Limited is an organisation that supports, facilitates and enables the delivery of smart, integrated and interoperable ticketing across Great Britain.

2.3 ITSO services limited ( ISL ) is a separate company that has been set up by DfT and ITSO which provides certain services for “non-smart” English TCAs.

2.4 Host operator or processing system ( HOPS ) is the element of the back office system defined within the ITSO Specification to cover message handling, ITSO shell and product accounting and asset management functions.

2.5 TCAs that are “smart” retain an ITSO Licence and mange their own ITSO smart ticketing infrastructure. TCAs which are “non-smart” remain under contract with ISL .

Transitional Issues

2.6 New “non-smart” TCAs should contact ISL to sign new contracts (known as an ‘annex A agreement’), in order to supersede existing contracts held by their constituent Districts no longer responsible for concessionary travel from 1 April 2011. Authorities who no longer retain TCA responsibilities after 31 March 2011 will be required to notify ISL of their intention to terminate the existing contract.

2.7 See the ISL Guidance Note (Re-organisation of Concessionary Travel Administration) for more information at http://www.itsoservices.org.uk/page167/Documents-And-Links

Card production contracts

2.8 Districts and the corresponding County are encouraged to talk with each other to discuss the contracts with suppliers that already exist so that the upper-tier authority can make informed decisions about contracts going forward.

2.9 Any lower-tier authority that no longer intends to produce ENCTS passes from 1 April 2011 should terminate or transfer their contract with their supplier in accordance with the terms of their agreement.

2.10 Any upper-tier authority who intends to produce ENCTS passes from 1 April 2011 should ensure that contracts are in place with a supplier in good time to be able to carry out their concessionary travel responsibilities from this date. Authorities may wish to transfer-in an existing contract or multiple contracts or chose new suppliers. Authorities should do this within the scope of EU regulations and their own procurement rules.

OIDs and CPICCs .

2.11 An OID (operator ID) Number is issued by ITSO for unique identification of a participant within the ITSO environment. For the purposes of ENCTS , OIDs are utilised to identify concessionary travel schemes.

2.12 CPICCs (concessionary pass issuing cost centre) denote the TCA responsible for administering the scheme.

2.13 Authorities who are responsible for concessionary travel for the first time from 1 April 2011 should contact ISL (tel. 0121 634 2758, email [email protected]) as soon as possible to discuss OIDs and CPICCs compositions within their schemes.

Issuing of ENCTS passes

2.14 County councils cannot issue ENCTS passes until 1st April 2011. Passes issued by any TCA before this date are valid for travel until their expiry date. As a minimum, each ENCTS pass must show the name/logo of the issuing authority. The maximum expiry date that can be set is five years. This means that for up to 5 years, residents of the same local authority could hold travel passes that look different but offer the same discretionary concessions - some residents will hold passes issued (prior to 1st April 2011) by the district authority and some will hold passes issued (after 1st April 2011) by the county council. TCAs should notify bus operators of the different pass designs in issue in their area and therefore which passes are valid for the different discretionary concessions that may be on offer.

2.15 If, from 1st April 2011, county councils are removing discretionary concessions that used to be offered previously by the districts then they should write to individual pass holders if they hold passes which contain logos/symbols that may lead the holder to believe they are still entitled to certain discretionary concessions. For example, ENCTS passes with C+ symbols on them to denote the presence of a discretionary companion scheme.

Discretionary concessions

Use of well-being powers by district councils wishing to continue to provide discretionary travel concessions from April 2011.

2.16 The well-being powers are contained in section 2 of the Local Government act 2000-

“2 Promotion of well-being

(1) Every local authority are to have power to do anything which they consider is likely to achieve any one or more of the following objects:

(a) the promotion or improvement of the economic well-being of their area

(b) the promotion or improvement of the social well-being of their area

(c) the promotion or improvement of the environmental well-being of their area

(2) The power under subsection (1) may be exercised in relation to or for the benefit of:

(a) the whole or any part of a local authority’s area, or

(b) all or any persons resident or present in a local authority’s area.

(3) In determining whether or how to exercise the power under subsection (1), a local authority [in England] must have regard to their strategy under section 4.

(4) The power under subsection (1) includes power for a local authority to:

(a) incur expenditure

(b) give financial assistance to any person

(c) enter into arrangements or agreements with any person

(d) co-operate with, or facilitate or co-ordinate the activities of, any person

(e) exercise on behalf of any person any functions of that person

(f) provide staff, goods, services or accommodation to any person.

(5) The power under subsection (1) includes a power for a local authority to do anything in relation to, or for the benefit of, any person or area situated outside their area if they consider that it is likely to achieve any one or more of the objects in that subsection.

(6) Nothing in subsection (4) or (5) affects the generality of the power under subsection (1).”

2.17 Section 3 of the LG Act 2000 places limits on the well-being powers. For example, the power under section 2(1) does not enable a local authority to do anything which they are unable to do by virtue of any prohibition, restriction or limitation on their powers which is contained in any enactment (whenever passed or made). So applying this principle to concessionary travel, from April 2011 a district council may not use its well-being powers to reverse the effect of the ‘Concessionary bus travel act 2007 (variation of reimbursement and other administrative arrangements) order 2010’ which changes the responsibility for administration of concessionary travel schemes under the ‘Transport act 2000’ and the ‘Transport act 1985’. Therefore any future discretionary schemes by district councils would not count as schemes under the ‘Transport act 1985’ and the provisions under that act would not apply.

2.18 The well-being powers do appear however to be sufficient to allow a district council to establish a separate scheme offering travel concessions. Such a scheme would have certain important legal differences. For example, criminal sanctions would not apply in the event of failures of a bus service operator to provide a concession and the Secretary of State would not be obliged to resolve a dispute between the district council and a bus service operator regarding the proposed reimbursement arrangements. However, the district council could still enforce agreements with bus service operators as a contract in the county court.

Ability of county councils to offer district level concessions.

2.19 Although responsibility for discretionary enhancements is changing, it is not the intention of the change in responsibility to impact on the additional entitlements offered. County councils will be able to take into account the differing needs of their individual residents in determining which discretionary concessions to offer.

2.20 The order which shifts responsibility for administering concessionary travel (both the statutory scheme and discretionary enhancements) from lower tier local authorities to upper tier local authorities does not preclude:

• upper tier authorities from maintaining or introducing district or local level discretions, for example where there are differing needs within differing parts of a county boundary
• district councils from providing funding to county councils to administer discretionary concessions on their behalf
• district councils from considering discretionary travel schemes using the “well-being powers” contained in the ‘Local government act 2000’, subject to advice from their own legal advisors

Ability to offer alternative concessions to the ENCTS pass

2.21 Section 145A(9) of the ‘Transport act 2000’ allows TCAs to enter into an agreement with an entitled concessionaire under which the person surrenders the right to their ENCTS pass for a period in return for travel concessions under a scheme (such as travel tokens or a railcard) under section 93 of the ‘Transport act 1985’.

2.22 It is important to note that Section 145A(9) of the ‘Transport act 2000’ would not apply to a scheme established by a district council under the well-being powers.

2.23 This means that lower tier authorities would no longer be able to finance the issue of, for example, travel tokens for use on taxi journeys by agreeing with older or disabled people that they waive their right to an ENCTS pass. Such an arrangement would need to be established by the upper tier authority.

2.24 District councils wishing to make use of their well-being powers to provide travel tokens may therefore wish to consider restricting the eligible categories of people to which they offer such tokens to ensure that they benefit those most in need. Alternatively district councils could provide funding to their county council to administer a travel token scheme on their behalf. In this circumstance the county council could make use of Section 145A(9) of the Transport Act 2000 to offer the tokens as a substitute for the ENCTS pass. The county council could then take any savings in ENCTS pass costs into account when agreeing the funding arrangement for the token scheme with the district council.

TUPE Implications

2.25 TCAs may need to consider the implications of transfer of undertakings protection of employment ( TUPE ) in the transfer of responsibility for concessionary travel from lower to upper-tier authorities.

2.26 Regulation 3(5) of the domestic ‘ TUPE regulations 2006 ’ says:

(5) An administrative reorganisation of public administrative authorities or the transfer of administrative functions between public administrative authorities is not a relevant transfer.

2.27 We recommend that TCAs take their own legal advice if they have any queries over potential TUPE implications from the transfer of responsibility.

Data handling

2.28 The transfer of concessionary travel data from lower tier local authorities (e.g. districts) to upper tier local authorities (e.g. counties) is necessary to meet the requirements of the ‘Concessionary bus travel act 2007 (variation of reimbursement and other administrative arrangements) order 2010’. The transfer should therefore be compliant with the Data Protection Act ( DPA ), but authorities will want to bear in mind the following.

2.29 Fair processing - DfT sought advice from the Information Commissioner’s Office ( ICO ) on what steps they think local authorities should take to inform individuals that their personal data is being transferred from lower tier authorities to upper tier authorities. The ICO ’s view is that best practice in this case would be for authorities to write to individual ENCTS pass holders to notify them of the change of arrangements – though they added that as the purpose of the processing is not changing, and the data is only moving from one local authority to another, it should be sufficient to place notices in the local press and on websites, as well as covering it in the next communication to ENCTS pass holders. It will be for individual local authorities to decide which approach to take. Further guidance in this area can be found in the ICO privacy notice code of practice .

2.30 Data security - It is important to ensure that the transfer of the data meets appropriate security standards. The ICO framework code of practice for sharing personal information provides guidance on this.

2.31 Data accuracy - exporting authorities will want to make sure that their data is accurate and up to date before transferring it to the new authority. The transfer should not be made earlier than is necessary to ensure a smooth transition in the administrative arrangements. The data protection officer for your local authority should be able to provide further advice on any of these points.

Question and answers

Q: Is transfer of historic reimbursement data / patronage data/ pass holder data allowed under the Data Protection Act ( DPA )?

A: In our view, yes. In terms of the first principle of the DPA , the disclosure is “necessary for the exercise of any functions conferred on any person by or under any enactment”.

Q: Do district councils have to transfer data to counties under the new legislation?

A: There is no reason for them not to. If they do not, they will not be able to continue processing the data themselves because they will have no legal basis for doing so.

Q: What if the district council is reluctant to hand over data before legal responsibility is transferred to the county council?

A: We don’t believe there is anything in the Data Protection Act that would preclude the transfer of the data a reasonable period of time in advance of the law coming into effect, if it was done to ensure a smooth transition. Authorities should bear in mind however that if the data is transferred too far in advance, it is more likely to be out of date by the time they need to start using it. That could mean a further transfer would be necessary to bring the data up to date.

Q: Should either party to the transfer write to the individuals whose data is being transferred to inform them of the change?

A: The ICO ’s view is that best practice in this case would be for authorities to write to individual ENCTS pass holders to notify them of the change of arrangements. Though they did add that as the purpose of the processing is not changing, and the data is only moving from one local authority to another, it should be sufficient to place notices in the local press and on websites, as well as covering it in the next communication to ENCTS pass holders. It will be for individual local authorities to decide which approach to take.

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How to Buy and Use the National Park Pass for Seniors

• General Info

How to Get a Senior Pass

How to use the senior pass, where to use the senior pass, replacing a senior pass.

• Additional Benefits

If you're a U.S. citizen or permanent resident age 62 years or older who likes to travel, you'll want to buy a Senior Pass. The Senior Pass allows free access and discounts at National Parks and other federal recreation sites. The official name of the Senior Pass is America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. This pass replaced the Golden Age Passport.  

General Information About the Senior Pass

The Senior Pass is a card available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents aged 62 years and older. It provides access to recreation areas managed by six federal agencies, including National Parks . It also provides the pass owner a discount on some amenity fees, such as camping.

As of August 2017, the cost of a lifetime Senior Pass is $80. An annual pass is $20. A yearly pass can be traded for a lifetime pass if four annual passes were purchased in four consecutive years. Annual passes cover two people. Yearly passes do not cover expanded amenity fees (e.g., camping).

If you have one of the older Golden Age Passports, know that they are still valid for a lifetime and are equivalent to the new Senior Pass. Plastic Golden Age Passports are good for a lifetime. However, if you want the new Senior Pass, you may purchase one with proof of identification (e.g., driver's license, birth certificate, or similar government-issued document). Paper Golden Age Passports will be exchanged free for the new Senior Passes with proof of identification (e.g., driver's license, birth certificate, or similar government-issued document).

To be eligible for a pass, you must have turned 62 and be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. A Senior Pass can be obtained in person from a participating federal recreation site or office. Passes can also be purchased by mail or online at these participating agencies. Additional fees may apply.

• Bureau of Land Management
• Bureau of Reclamation  
• Fish and Wildlife Service  
• National Park Service
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• USDA Forest Service

Purchase a pass online by uploading documentation issued by an authorized U.S. agency that proves U.S. citizenship or permanent residence and your birthdate. Acceptable documentation is a driver's license, passport, green card, U.S. birth certificate, or state-issued identification card.

Purchase a pass by mail and include photocopies of documentation showing your citizenship, permanent residence, and birthdate.

If your pass doesn't arrive before your trip, purchase a pass when you arrive at the recreation site. After your pass comes, return it for a refund. Do not sign it before returning it.

Senior Passes are not transferable even between spouses.

The Senior Pass admits pass owners and passengers on bicycles or in a non-commercial vehicle at per-vehicle fee areas, and the pass owner plus three adults, not to exceed four adults, where per-person fees are charged. Children younger than 16 years are always free. Only the vehicle with the pass owner is covered. A second vehicle is subject to an entrance fee or must have (or buy) a second pass. This applies even if you are traveling together on two motorcycles.

The Senior Pass may also provide the pass owner a discount on some expanded amenity fees such as camping, swimming, boat launching, guided tours, transportation systems, and special-use permit fees. Discounts do not apply at onsite bookstores or gift shops.

Photo identification will be requested to verify pass ownership.

The Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers honor the Senior Pass at sites where entrance or standard amenity fees are charged.

In addition, the Tennessee Valley Authority may honor the Senior Pass. Visitors are always encouraged to contact the site they plan to visit and inquire about pass acceptance before visiting.

The Senior Pass is not replaceable if lost or stolen. You can either buy another Senior Pass with proper documentation or pay the applicable entrance or standard amenity fee(s).

A damaged Senior Pass can be replaced for free at a recreation site as long as identification is provided to validate ownership and a portion of the pass is identifiable. You can also get a replacement card by mail by returning the damaged pass. Replacement by mail requires a processing fee.

Additional Benefits of the Senior Pass

At many sites, the lifetime Senior Pass provides the pass owner a discount on expanded amenity fees (e.g., camping, swimming, boat launching, guided tours). Annual passes do not cover these amenities. Inquire at the places you plan to visit.

The pass program is managed by six federal agencies that operate under different regulations and have different fees. Therefore, the discount program for the Senior Pass is not handled the same way on all federal recreation lands. The best advice is always to inquire locally.

In general, discounts are honored as follows:

• Individual campsites : The discount only applies to the fee for the campsite physically occupied by the pass owner, not to any additional campsites occupied by the pass owner's party members.
• Campsites with utility hookups : There is no discount if utility fees are charged separately. The discount may apply if the utility fee is combined (seamless) with the campsite fee.
• Group campsites and facilities (including, but not limited to, group facilities, picnic areas, or pavilions): There is no discount for group campsites and other group facilities that charge a flat fee. If the group campsite has a per-person fee rate, only the pass owner receives a discount; others using the site pay the full cost.
• Guided tours : The pass offers discounts on some guided tours. Only the pass owner receives a discount if one is provided.
• Transportation systems : Inquire locally.
• Concessionaire fees : Inquire locally.
• Special use permit fees : Inquire locally.

Since the pass program is managed by six federal agencies that operate under different regulations and charge different types of fees, it can be confusing to sort out prices and terminology and to distinguish between a "federally managed facility/activity" versus a "concession-managed facility/activity." Your best bet is to inquire locally regarding your fee and pass-acceptance-related questions.

The Senior Pass does not cover discounts in on-site bookstores or gift stores. The Senior Pass is valid only at participating federal recreation sites.

Obtaining National Park Passes

State Park Entrance Passes

National Parks Disability Access Pass

How to Plan a National Park Trip As a Person With a Disability

How to Find Senior Discounts for Budget Travel

Camping in Florida's State Parks

A Guide to National Parks for Visitors With Disabilities

Acadia National Park: The Complete Guide

VAT Rates in Iceland and Refund Information

Yellowstone National Park: The Complete Guide

Discounted Days At Chicago Museums

Tijuana, Mexico Visitor's Guide

Getting Around Detroit: Guide to Public Transportation

These National Parks Are Requiring Reservations in 2022

Cunningham Falls State Park: The Complete Guide

Getting Around Lexington, Kentucky: Guide to Public Transportation

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Benefits and Entitlements

If you're 60 or over or you have a disability, you might be eligible for public transport concessions – from discounts on your rail journeys to a free bus pass.

What transport concessions are available?

Can i get a free bus pass, can i get a discount on train travel, can i get a london freedom pass, what if i have difficulty using public transport, what if i'm unable to use public transport, more travel concessions questions.

There are several national public transport concessions available to older and disabled people. Some entitle you to discounts on your fares, while others allow you to travel for free.

Eligibility for these concessions depends on whether you have a disability or your age. 

Depending on your age and your circumstances, you might be able to get one of the following free bus passes, which allow you to travel free on local buses:

• an older person's bus pass
• a disabled person's bus pass

What age do I have to be to get an older person's bus pass?

You can get an older person's bus pass when you reach State Pension age, which is currently 66 for both women and men.

Apply for your older person's bus pass on GOV.UK

If you're 60 or over and live in London, then you can get free travel on buses, trains and other modes of transport in and around London with a 60+ London Oyster photocard.

Apply for your 60+ London Oyster photocard on the TFL website

How can I get a disabled person's bus pass?

There's no central provider of the disabled person's bus pass – to find out if you're eligible and how to apply, you need to get in touch with your local council.

Find your local council and apply for a disabled person's bus pass on GOV.UK

Are there any other discounts if I'm an older person or I'm disabled?

It's a good idea to contact individual transport operators to see if they offer discounts.

For instance, National Express offers Coachcards. These are discount cards for older or disabled customers. You buy them for a set fee of £15.00 and they get you a third off the cost of your travel across the year.

Find out more and order a Coachcard on the National Express website

Depending on your age and circumstances, you might be entitled to one of the below railcards:

• a Senior Railcard
• a Disabled Person's Railcard

Both railcards are discount cards. You buy them for a set fee to last either 1 or 3 years and they get you a third off the cost of your train travel.

Can I get a Senior Railcard?

The Senior Railcard is available for anyone aged 60 or over to buy.

You can apply on the Senior Railcard website using a valid passport or UK driving licence as ID. Or, you can apply in person at most staffed railway stations.

Find out more about the Senior Railcard and apply online

Can I get a Disabled Person's Railcard?

The Disabled Person's Railcard is available to you if you meet one of the following criteria:

• you're registered as deaf or use a hearing aid
• you're registered as having a visual impairment
• you have epilepsy
• you receive a disability-related benefit, such as  Personal Independence Payment
• you receive War or Service Disablement pension
• you receive Attendance Allowance
• you receive Severe Disablement Allowance
• you receive War Pensioner's mobility supplement

Find out more about the Disabled Person's Railcard and apply online

Freedom Passes give London residents free travel in the city – including National Rail services, the Underground, buses, river services and trams – and free local bus journeys nationally.

If you live in London, you can apply for a Freedom Pass if one of the following applies to you:

• you've reached State Pension age
• you have a disability.

Find out more about Freedom Passes and apply on the London Councils website

National Rail has an interactive tool called Stations Made Easy, designed to help people find their way around stations and find more accessible routes, avoiding potential difficulties like stairs. This may be helpful if you have difficulty using public transport because of your health. 

Find out more and use the tool on the National Rail website

If you're disabled, you can't use public transport, or you don't have access to a car, you might also be able to use a community transport scheme – such as a social car, dial-a-ride, or taxicard scheme.

Shopmobility schemes help people shop in town centres by lending out wheelchairs and scooters. Some local councils also offer concessions on local public transport.

To find out what's available in your area, you can contact your local council or your local Age UK.

Find your local council on GOV.UK

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No, you can't use a free bus pass on National Express buses. To get senior concessions on National Express you need to buy a senior coachcard, which costs £15 a year.

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Yes, your bus pass will give you free travel on buses across England, including London. However, there may be specific rules about when you can travel for free, so check your local council's free bus pass guidance before travelling.

Find your local council's older person's bus pass guidance on GOV.UK

Want more information?

Apply for an older person's bus pass on GOV.UK

Apply for a disabled person's bus pass on GOV.UK

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Last updated: Apr 09 2024

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Places to get interagency passes.

Check Before You Go

This list is not comprehensive and may include errors. Some federal recreation sites are only open part-time, may change what passes are issued, or be out of passes. Please contact the site(s) prior to traveling to obtain the most current hours of operation and information on availability of all passes.

Last updated: May 10, 2024

Nationwide tolling simplified

Is a toll interoperability solution with seamless access to U.S. Toll roads.

Nationwide travel simplified

NationalPass is a toll interoperability solution with seamless access to U.S. roadways without managing multiple transponders or toll accounts.

NationalPass allows the traveler to avoid costly rental car toll fees. Travelers are considered local customers of all roadways that accept NationalPass providing the lowest available toll rate.

Travel at highway speeds with NationalPass and avoid cash lane delays.

Convenience

Single portable transponder with timely statements for all toll transactions.

Toll Interoperability by 2016

H.R.4348 - MAP-21

In 2012, Congress passed the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) to ease the burden of tolled interstate travel by providing motorists the convenience of a single toll tag and account.

NationalPass multi-protocol tag will meet the federal deadline requiring that all U.S. electronic toll collection systems be interoperable by October 1, 2016.

Uses agency's existing infrastructure. Leverages agency's existing business rules. No additional cost to agencies.

Pricing Plan

$12.50 per account + $3.50 per transponder

$35.00 per new transponder

$250.00 for first transponder + $100.00 for each additional transponder

The U.S. Park Pass

The America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is your ticket to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country. A pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day use fees for a driver and all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to four adults at sites that charge per person). Children age 15 or under are admitted free.

For Your Whole Family

Each Annual Pass admits pass owner/s and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per-vehicle fee areas; and pass owner + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, where per-person fees are charged. (Children under 16 are always admitted free).

Drive through the breathtaking parks

The pass includes entrance fees to all National Parks & Federal Recreational Lands for one personal vehicle, including rentals and RV's/motorhomes. Both pass owners traveling together on separate motorcycles are also covered.

Valid for 12 months

One Year, One Pass, Thousands of Opportunities. Passes ship without names on them. Share pass ownership with family or friends; each pass can be signed by two main pass owners.

Entry to 2,000 Federal Recreation Sites

More value with every park you visit. Whether you drive, walk, or take public transportation your pass provides entry to thousands of National Parks and other federally managed lands.

Entrance Fees Add Up

Save big with u.s. park pass when visiting multiple parks.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

Edward Miller, OH

We had a great experience with the Park Pass and visited the  breathtaking Yosemite National Park on our trip.

Peter Grün, Berlin

Wonderful and seamless experience that my family and I would highly recommend.

Vihaan Barsar, Dubai

America has very impressive parks and the pass helped us to visit many sights with our friends and family. Thank you.

Father's Day Promotion! Buy a Park Pass and receive 10% off  any  additional products.

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Swiss Travel Pass

Exploring Switzerland has never been easier! For foreign guests, the all-in-one ticket Swiss Travel Pass is the key to Switzerland’s public transport network.

All Swiss Travel Passes

This single ticket enables visitors to explore Switzerland from end to end by train, bus and boat on 3, 4, 6, 8 or 15 consecutive days. With the Swiss Travel Pass Youth, young people up to their 25th birthday travelling through Switzerland benefit from a 30% discount off the regular Swiss Travel Pass ticket fare.

• Unlimited travel by train, bus and boat.  View area of validity
• Unlimited travel on premium panoramic trains (seat reservation fees and/or surcharges apply).
• Unlimited use of public transport in more than 90 towns and cities.
• Free admission to more than  500 museums .
• Mountain excursions included:  Rigi ,  Stanserhorn  and  Stoos
• Up to 50% discount on many other mountain excursions.
• Up to 30% discount on SBB RailAway offers. Available at all ticket counters within Switzerland.
• Children from their 6th up to their 16th birthday accompanied by at least one parent (holding a Swiss Travel System ticket) travel free of charge with the complimentary  Swiss Family Card .
• Children under 6 years of age who are accompanied by a holder of a valid Swiss Travel System ticket travel free of charge.
• The Swiss Travel Pass is available as e-ticket.

Information

• A seat reservation and/or supplement is required to travel on some trains/buses/boats such as Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Gotthard Panorama Express and Palm Express.
• Swiss Travel System tickets are available to persons with residence outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein
• In Switzerland, fares apply in Swiss Francs as detailed in the chart (in case of cash payment in EUR, USD or GBP: current exchange rates apply)

General provisions and legal information

Price – adult.

Consecutive travel days

Price – Youth

Valid for young travellers up to their 25th birthday (30% discount)

Swiss Family Card

With the Swiss Family Card , children from their 6th up to their 16th birthday travel free of charge.

On request, a Swiss Family Card is provided free of charge, entitling children from their 6th up to their 16th birthday to travel free if accompanied by at least one paying parent.

Bonus Benefits with the Swiss Travel Pass

Regional passes, sales outlet swiss travel system.

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What to Know Before Booking a National Park Trip This Summer

Additional routes in popular parks now require reservations, the annual pass gets a big change, Juneteenth is now a new free entrance day and more changes for 2024.

By Lauren Matison

In 2023, the seashores, lakeshores, battlefields, historic sites, monuments and more that make up the National Park Service had 325.5 million visits , an increase of 4 percent from the year before.

The National Park Service director, Charles F. Sams III, praised the surge of interest in “learning our shared American story throughout the hidden gems of the National Parks System.”

Expecting an even greater turnout in 2024, the Park Service and Recreation.gov , the booking platform for federal land reservations, have implemented new measures to streamline the park experience, manage overcrowding and safeguard the environment.

More parks are requiring reservations

To better avoid congested trails, packed parking lots and overflowing trash cans, additional parks are joining Rocky Mountain , Arches and Glacier National Parks this year in requiring day-use permits, timed entries and other reservations for travelers who wish to visit, particularly during peak hours, holidays and the parks’ high seasons. Yosemite National Park is reinstating a timed-entry system it instituted in 2020, but paused in 2022.

Many park enthusiasts expressed mixed feelings about the reservation policies, with some lamenting a lack of first-come, first-served campsites while others find comfort in knowing they have a confirmed booking. As nearly 75 percent of visitors each year descend on national parks from May to October (and often on weekends), park officials stand by the system.

“In some parks, the level of demand is exceeding the capacity for which infrastructure was designed or is outpacing the National Park Service’s ability to sustainably support visitation,” said Kathy Kupper, a public affairs specialist for the service. “This trend is resulting in the need to explore new strategies to protect natural and cultural resources and provide opportunities for safe and meaningful visitor experiences.”

It can be confusing.

New to implementing timed-entry reservations for vehicles is Mount Rainier National Park , in Washington, for its popular Paradise and Sunrise Corridors during certain times in the summer season. Reservations cost $2, are valid for one day and must be purchased along with the park ticket, but do not apply for visitors with wilderness permits or camping or lodge reservations. Similar vehicle reservations are now required for certain periods for viewing the sunrise at Haleakalā National Park in Maui, Hawaii , and driving the Cadillac Summit Road in Maine’s Acadia National Park .

Visitors wishing to hike Old Rag Mountain in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park must obtain a day-use ticket between March 1 and Nov. 30, and in Zion National Park, in Utah, hikers wishing to visit Angels Landing , the dramatic 1,488-foot-tall rock formation, also need to purchase a permit. Fees range from $1 to $6, in addition to the parks’ entrance fees.

As each destination is managed differently, check the park’s webpage for the type of reservation required. Although most bookings can be made through Recreation.gov, some sites, such as Muir Woods National Monument, use a different system.

New features on Recreation.gov

In 2023, Recreation.gov reported that more than 4 million camping reservations and 2 million timed-entry reservations were booked online, and 1.5 million permits were issued. Some 2.9 million new users signed up for the site. With its expanding user base, the booking platform has added 58 reservable national park locations — including 17 campgrounds — such as Central Avenue Walk-in Sites at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Bluff Hike In Camping in South Carolina’s Congaree National Park.

Recreation.gov has also improved an alerts feature, piloted in July 2023, that can notify users through email or mobile push notifications when a sold-out campsite becomes available. After Recreation.gov notifies you of availability, you must book the campsite yourself online — and quickly, as you’ll be shown how many other people (possibly hundreds) have received the same alert.

While its customer support center and mobile app are still only available in English, Recreation.gov recently introduced a Spanish language translation option. The Park Service partners with Latino Conservation Week , which hosts nationwide hikes and events on environmental education and in-park stewardship, and will celebrate its 10th year in September.

A limit to the annual America the Beautiful pass

The 2024 America the Beautiful pass no longer allows two owners. The annual interagency pass, which costs $80 and covers the entrance fees for more than 2,000 federal recreation sites (of which roughly 100 do not charge for admission year-round), is now marked by a single signature line on the back of the card. The pass owner must show I.D. and be present with any accompanying travelers wishing to access the park with the pass. (Annual passes issued in 2023 will still be valid until their expiration date.) The pass covers all passengers in a vehicle — up to four adults, and children under 16 are admitted free — or up to four cyclists riding together. Active military or veterans and people with permanent disabilities are eligible for a free lifetime pass; 4th grade students may receive a free annual pass; and senior citizens may purchase a $20 annual pass or pay $80 for a lifetime pass.

At the parks, more accessible features, E.V. chargers and new lodging

To better protect against global warming, the Park Service is putting more than $65 million from the Inflation Reduction Act and Great American Outdoors Act into climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration.

Using $15.9 million budgeted for zero-emission vehicle deployment, charging capacity and infrastructure, the Park Service is prioritizing a reduction in carbon emissions, said Mr. Sams, by installing new electric-vehicle charging stations and running electric buses.

An interactive online locator tool created in 2023 shows E.V. charging stations throughout 27 national parks and the type of chargers available. In addition to the tool, every national park page displays alerts on road closures, parking lot capacities, construction work and other incidents.

Mr. Sams also said the Park Service is investing $1.3 billion from the Great American Outdoors Act to improve accessibility features, ranging from a new A.D.A.-compliant visitor center at Morristown National Historic Park in New Jersey to new beach wheelchairs at Sleeping Bear Dunes , Channel Islands and Virgin Islands National Parks . Each destination’s website has an accessibility tab to help visitors plan their trip, and Recreation.gov now has a search filter on its homepage to make it easier to locate accessible accommodations.

New lodging options now available across the country include the Flamingo Lodge , which opened inside Everglades National Park last fall with 24 guest rooms built from repurposed shipping containers. In March, along the southeastern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cataloochee Ranch reopened with 11 renovated cabins and a new restaurant. This spring, the Clubhouse Hotel & Suites will welcome its first guests in Rapid City, S.D., the closest major town to Badlands National Park , and opening in May in Idaho is the Yellowstone Peaks Hotel , a 30-minute-drive from Yellowstone National Park. This fall, California-bound travelers planning a visit to General Sherman, the largest known tree on Earth, might book at AutoCamp Sequoia , just outside Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park .

Also in California: Those who don’t score a highly coveted (and contentious) spot at the newly reopened High Sierra Camps in Yosemite could book Wildhaven Yosemite in Mariposa, which offers more affordable rates, hiking trails and views of the Sierra Nevadas. Reservations for its first season are available beginning May 1.

Celebrating milestones and a new free entrance day

On the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, visitors can pay tribute to African American heritage at over 100 parks , including the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument , and the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail . This year also marks 100 years since Indigenous people were recognized as United States citizens. Although many parks have Indigenous programming , Mr. Sams, who is the first Native American to serve as N.P.S. director , suggested visiting Hopewell Cultural Historical Park in Ohio and Whitman Mission Historic National Historic Site in Washington, where he recently brought his daughter.

“In order to celebrate the diversity that makes our country great, we must share the complete story of America, which includes both the successes and challenges encountered on the way to form a more perfect union,” Mr. Sams said.

Juneteenth National Independence Day is the National Park Service’s newest free entrance day . Visitors can also take advantage of free admission on April 20, the first day of National Park Week; Aug. 4, the four-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act ; Sept. 28 on National Public Lands Day ; and Nov. 11 for Veterans Day .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this article misstated the location of the Flamingo Lodge. It is inside Everglades National Park, not outside the park.

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• General Information

Moscow CityPass

The Moscow CityPass is a tourist card that gives you free entry to more than 40 top attractions in the Russian capital, including the Kremlin and Saint Basil's Cathedral.

Included attractions

The  10 most popular attractions  included with the Moscow CityPass are:

• Saint Basil's Cathedral
• Bunker-42 Museum
• Tretyakov Gallery
• Tsaritsyno Palace Museum
• Museum of the Patriotic War 1812
• State Historical Museum
• Great Wooden Palace of Tsar Alexis I in Kolomenskoye
• Moscow Sightseeing Bus Pass
• Moscow River Cruise

Moscow CityPass Prices

You can buy the Moscow CityPass for a duration of 1, 2, 3 or 5 days depending how long you're planning to spend in the city.

Is it worth it?

Entrance into these attractions is worth much more than the cost of the CityPass, yet it offers even more, for example, the Pushkin Museum , the Museum of the History of Vodka and the Museum of Contemporary History , among others, plus discounts at restaurants, shows and shops. If you're already planning to visit these sights, then it's well worth buying the CityPass to save money on tickets.

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Moscow has seen its fair share of history, from invasions to revolutions: these days it is home to a wealth of culture and is one of the most populated capitals in the world.

Russian National Ballet

Ballet is one of the most emblematic symbols of Russian culture, a dance that has infiltrated countries the world over. Watch a performance in Moscow!

Update May 10, 2024

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If you have waited over two weeks since we mailed your passport, call us at 1-877-487-2778  (or  1-888-874-7793  if you are deaf or hard of hearing).

We will help you complete a special form (known as the DS-86 form ) which is a signed statement that you didn't receive your U.S. passport.

You must complete the DS-86 form within 90 days of the date we issued your passport. After 90 days, you must reapply and pay all fees, by law.

I applied and need my passport sooner than I thought

Call us at  1-877-487-2778  (or  1-888-874-7793  if you are deaf or hard of hearing). You’ll need either your application number or your last name and date of birth.

• Get expedited service for $60. 
• Get 1-2 day delivery of your completed passport book for $19.53. One-to-two day delivery is not available for passport cards. We only send cards via First Class Mail.

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Contact us only if your mailing address changed while you are waiting for your passport.

If you want to receive your passport at an address other than your own, we will send the passport “In Care Of” someone else who lives at that address.

I have not received my supporting documents

If you have been waiting more than 8 weeks for your documents, call us at  1-877-487-2778  to report that you have not received your documents. 

If you want us to reimburse you for a lost supporting document, you must contact us within 90 days of the date which we mailed your passport. You will also need to provide a receipt to show the cost of replacing the document. 

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Check your application status online and sign up for updates via email . How our contact center can help you depends on your travel date, and if you have applied or not yet applied...

I have already applied and do not have my passport

I have not applied yet, reminders for contacting us.

• Representatives are available Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time. We close on federal holidays.
• Our primary number is 1-877-487-2778 . Se habla español.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call 1-888-874-7793 for TDD/TTY teletype services.
• Contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate if you are applying outside the United States.

Frequently Asked Questions

You cashed my check. why is my status still "not available".

Still In Transit: Your application status is "Not Available" because your application is still in transit to a passport agency or center. After you apply, your application is:

• Delivered to a mail facility. Your tracking number may say that your application has "Arrived" at the mail facility. 
• Sent from the mail facility to an intake facility where your payment is processed (check is cashed). 
• Sent by the intake facility to a passport agency or center. 

It may take up to 2 weeks from the day you apply until your application status is "In Process" at one of our passport agencies and centers. 

Problem with your Application : In some cases, it may take longer than 2 weeks if our intake facility finds a problem with your application. We will contact you if we need more information. 

Technical Issue : We may have a temporary, technical issue with our system. Please try again in several hours. 

Entering Your Last Name : If you cannot find a status update on the first try, make sure the name you enter is spelled the same as the name you provided on your passport form. If you have a hyphen in your name, try entering your name with and without the hyphen.

Why does my status say "Mailed" if I just applied?

Your status may be "Mailed" if you received a new passport in the last 180 days, and you are re-applying for a new passport. For example, you may need to use  Form DS-5504 if you need to Change or Correct Your Passport . It may take 2 weeks after the date you apply on Form DS-5504 for your status to change to "In Process." 

Why does my status say "In Process" after it was already "Approved"?

You may see this update if we discovered a problem we need to fix during our final review of your passport. We are fixing the issue and preparing to print a new passport for you. 

Will I receive my new passport and my documents back in one envelope?

You will get multiple mailings. The number of mailings depends on what document(s) you asked for.

Passport Book : You may get your new passport and citizenship documents in two mailings. You may wait 8 weeks after getting your passport before you get a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We will return the passport book using a trackable delivery service.

Passport Card : You may get your new passport card and your citizenship documents in two mailings. You may wait 8 weeks after getting your passport before you get a second mailing with your citizenship documents. We only send the passport card via First Class Mail. We do not send cards using 1-2 day delivery services.

Both a Passport Book and Card : You may get three separate mailings:

• New passport book
• New passport card
• Citizenship documents

Contacting Us : If you have been waiting more than 8 weeks for your documents, call us at  1-877-487-2778  to report that you have not received your documents. 

How do I know which location is processing my application and has my documents?

The first two digits of your nine-digit passport application locator number allow you to know which agency or center is working on your application. You can find your application locator number by checking our  Online Passport Status System . The unique digits for each of our agencies and centers are below.

Processing Times

Routine:  6-8 weeks*

Expedited: 2-3 weeks and an extra $60*

*Consider the total time it will take to get a passport when you are booking travel.  Processing times only include the time your application is at a passport agency or center.

• It may take up to 2 weeks for applications to arrive at a passport agency or center. It may take up to 2 weeks for you to receive a completed passport after we print it. 
• Processing times + mailing times = total time to get a passport

Urgent Travel:  See our Get my Passport Fast page. 

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TSA PreCheck®

Enjoy the same great tsa precheck benefits you know and love, now with new enrollment options..

Enjoy a smoother security screening process with no need to remove shoes, laptops, 3-1-1 liquids, belts or light jackets.

*TSA uses unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, throughout the airport. All travelers will be screened, and no individual is guaranteed expedited screening.

TSA PreCheck Benefits

Wait 10 Minutes or Less

About 99% of TSA PreCheck® passengers wait less than 10 minutes.

Families Welcome

Children 17 and under can join an adult with TSA PreCheck® when TSA PreCheck appears on the child’s boarding pass.  Learn more .

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More than 200 airports and 90+ airlines  provide TSA PreCheck®

How it works

To enroll in TSA PreCheck just follow these three steps or walk into any enrollment location. Be sure the enrollment provider selected has enrollment locations near you. To renew simply click here and complete your renewal online in as little as 5 minutes.

1. Apply Online

Select an enrollment provider with enrollment locations near you. Submit your TSA PreCheck application online in as little as 5 minutes.

2. Visit an Enrollment Location

Complete enrollment in 10 minutes at your chosen provider which includes fingerprinting, document and photo capture, and payment.

3. Get Your TSA PreCheck Number

Once approved, get your Known Traveler Number (KTN), add it to your airline reservations and start saving time in screening.

New TSA PreCheck Enrollment Options

TSA has selected the following partners to help enroll travelers in TSA PreCheck. Applicants can pick any enrollment provider based on cost, locations , and additional benefits. Get started below.

Costs for enrollment vary by provider which results in pricing variation.

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Enroll in TSA PreCheck® with Telos and look for upcoming travel deals.

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• Renew online for $70
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WATCH VIDEOS

Senate passes FAA reauthorization bill in effort to improve safety, invest in infrastructure

The bill would authorize more than $105B in funding for the FAA as well as $738M for NTSB for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted on Thursday to pass a major federal aviation bill ahead of a key Friday deadline.

The bipartisan Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill would renew authority for the agency for the next five years and aims to improve aviation safety, enhance protections for passengers and airline workers and invest in airport and air travel infrastructure nationwide.

The House will next need to pass the legislation.

The bill would authorize more than $105 billion in funding for the FAA as well as $738 million for the National Transportation Safety Board for fiscal years 2024 through 2028.

Among a wide range of provisions, the legislation seeks to address the nation's shortage of air traffic controllers with directives aimed at expanding hiring, includes strengthened consumer protections for refunds for flight cancellations and delays, and would implement technology to reduce the risk of runway collisions.

Although there is broad bipartisan support for the legislation, the package touched off a contentious debate over some of its provisions.

One flashpoint centered around flights at Reagan National Airport just outside of Washington, DC - with a group of Washington area Senate Democrats who oppose adding more longer-distance flights in and out pressing for an amendment vote to strip it out of the package. Ultimately, however, there were no votes on amendments.

Some lawmakers argue that adding flights will give consumers more choices and bring down prices, while others say it would increase congestion and delays at the airport.

The House voted on Wednesday to pass a one-week extension for federal aviation programs, a stopgap move intended to head off a looming end-of-week deadline. Congress is up against a Friday deadline to reauthorize FAA authorities. This will move that deadline to next Friday, May 17. The Senate passed that weeklong extension via unanimous consent on Thursday night, giving the House until next week to send the package to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.

(The-CNN-Wire & 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.)

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Visitors pass by the iconic St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.

Everything to Know About Moscow

Every corner of Moscow will draw you in and provide a stimulating travel experience.

From its inception, Moscow was never intended to be a modest city with a cozy atmosphere. Instead, expect to arrive to an ever-expanding sprawling beast whose pulse continuously feeds off of new surges of activity and creativity. The metropolis is filled with a non-stop buzz and vibrancy while allowing just enough space for serene spaces to catch your breath after an action-packed day in the Russian capital.

Visit December or January to soak up the festive atmosphere of the New Year's and Orthodox Christmas celebrations and experience the magic of wintery Russia. If you find braving the frigid temperatures a bit too daunting, book a ticket for late spring and early autumn to see the country cloaked in the hues of verdant green or luminous russet.

Attend the Victory Day in May, the most impressive military event celebrating the end of World War II. A theatrical parade and aerial demonstrations of military equipment and aircrafts culminate with spectacular fireworks atop Moscow's Red Square. Gourmands will appreciate food festival Taste of Moscow held in July when the city's top restaurants hold masterclasses and tasting sessions, while visiting musicophiles should not miss Afisha Picnic in August, one of the oldest and best-known music festivals in Russia.

What to Eat

The question is not what to eat in Moscow, but how much to eat. Sample staples like borsch (red beetroot soup), pelmeni (dumplings), and golubtsy (the local take on pigs in a blanket), or take a deeper dive into traditional Russian cuisine with dishes like moose lips. The 19th century Eliseevsky food emporium offers mind-blowing slew of delicacies, on top of its splendid interior, while Georgian restaurants are an absolute must to savor such stars of the legendary Caucasian menu as the cheese-filled pie khachapuri and meat dumplings khinkali.

Souvenir to Take Home

Perhaps the most iconic souvenir to take home is matryoshka, or Russian nesting dolls that come in a variety of elaborate designs and motifs. For something more meaningful, pick a hand-painted Palekh and Fedoskino lacquer box or a hand-knitted Orenburg shawl that is as thin as a cobweb, yet incredibly warm. The best spot to buy these and many other items is the city's largest flea market Vernisaj in Izmailovo, a cultural complex modeled after Old Russia.

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Sustainable Travel Tip

Escape Moscow's infamous traffic jams by taking advantage of its sophisticated metro system. Besides being an environmentally (and pocket) friendly transit option, metros in Moscow feature extravagant interiors adorned with sculptures, mosaics, and chandeliers fit for palaces. You can even take a guided tour to learn about the unique themes and stories behind each station.

Instagram-Worthy View

Visit Sparrow Hills, one of the highest points in Moscow, just before sunset to enjoy a panoramic view of the city's remarkable and diverse architectural marvels—keep an eye out for the Seven Sisters, seven Stalinist-era skyscrapers—engulfed in a golden glow. The bird's eye view of the city will make you truly appreciate the grandness of Russia's capital and leave a lasting impression.

For Hungry Minds

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Get ready for your next iconic adventure like a pro with these tips

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Chinese leader Xi visits the French Pyrenees in a personal gesture by Macron

During his visit to the Pyrenees in France, Chinese President Xi Jinping enjoyed watching folklore dances and traditional music before lunch at a mountain restaurant on Tuesday. France’s president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan enjoy a drink in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

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Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, right, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, left, pose in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chinese President Xi Jinping enjoys a drink in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and his wife Peng Liyuan watch folklore dancers, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees moutains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

China’s President Xi Jinping’s wife Peng Liyuan, right, and French President Emmanuel Macron’s wife Brigitte Macron pose in front of the clock as they visit the Orsay Museum, Monday, May 6, 2024 in Paris. China’s President Xi Jinping is in France for a two-day state visit that is expected to focus both on trade disputes and diplomatic efforts to convince Beijing to use its influence to move Russia toward ending the war in Ukraine. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, sings in a restaurant after a lunch in a restaurant with Chinese President Xi Jinping, second left, his wife Peng Liyuan, and Brigitte Macron, right, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, second left, and his wife Peng Liyuan, third left, French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and his wife Brigitte Macron listen to singers in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, watches French President Emmanuel Macron in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron, left, drinks coffee in a restaurant with Chinese President Xi Jinping, his wife Peng Liyuan, and Brigitte Macron Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chinese President Xi Jinping drinks coffee in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, right, with French President Emmanuel Macron enjoy a moment in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, second right, and his wife Peng Liyuan, right, French President Emmanuel Macron, holding a Tour de Francecycling race jersey and his wife Brigitte Macron, left, discuss in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, and his wife Peng Liyuan, second left, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, left, pose in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and his wife Peng Liyuan watch folklore dancers, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, Chinese President Xi Jinping, center left, and his wife Peng Liyuan, fourth left, pose with folklore dancers, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, right, enjoy a drink with French President Emmanuel Macron in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, second right, his wife Peng Liyuan and French rPresident Emmanuel Macron share a moment in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping enjoy a drink in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan, right, enjoy a drink with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron, left, in a restaurant, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tourmalet pass, in the Pyrenees mountains. French president is hosting China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees for private meetings, after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron review the troops before Xi Jinping’s departure, Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at the Tarbes airport, southwestern France. French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard, Pool)

TOURMALET PASS, France (AP) — France’s president hosted China’s leader at a remote mountain pass in the Pyrenees on Tuesday for private meetings after a high-stakes state visit in Paris dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine .

French President Emmanuel Macron made a point of inviting Chinese President Xi Jinping to the Tourmalet Pass near the Spanish border, where Macron spent time as a child visiting his grandmother. It is meant to be a reciprocal gesture after Xi took Macron last year to the residence of the governor of Guangdong province, where the Chinese president’s father once lived.

Snow coated nearby slopes after new snowfall overnight, and security was tightened around the area. The winding roads up to the pass were blocked by authorities Tuesday for dozens of kilometers.

Foggy weather, falling snow and brisk winds obscured the view of the dramatic Tourmalet Pass. Macron and Xi — together with their wives, Brigitte Macron and Peng Liyuan — visited a mountain restaurant. Before lunch, protected from the elements by umbrellas, they watched a traditional folk dance performance on the terrace. The leaders could be seen eating ham and blueberry pie, among other local specialties.

Macron presented Xi with a yellow Tour de France jersey — with the Tourmalet Pass one of the most famous climbs of the race — a woolen blanket made in the Pyrenees and a bottle of Armagnac, French broadcaster BFMTV said.

The mountain meetings come after a grandiose state visit by Xi on Monday that included a ceremonial welcome at the monument housing Napoleon’s tomb and a state dinner at the Elysee Palace with celebrities and magnates.

Xi left France from the Pyrenees on Tuesday evening by plane, in a departure ceremony that included military fanfare.

The Elysee said Tuesday it welcomed the dialogue between Macron and Xi, which was “friendly but also very frank,” according to BFMTV. The broadcaster also noted that Macron had brought up the issue of human rights with the Chinese president, including “a few individual cases”.

Xi is on a trip to Europe aimed at reinvigorating relations at a time of global tensions. He heads next to Serbia and Hungary .

The last day of his visit to France came as authorities were searching the European Parliament office of a prominent German far-right lawmaker in Brussels on Tuesday, Germany’s top prosecutor’s office said.

Maximilian Krah , the Alternative for Germany party’s top candidate in the upcoming European Parliament election, has been under scrutiny after an assistant of his was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China.

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Tornadoes tear through the southeastern U.S. as storms leave 3 dead

The Associated Press

Greenville, Ohio, resident Brenda Pollitt wipes the tears from her eyes as she removes papers from her bedroom on Wednesday. Pollitt and her children were home at the time of the strong storm that hit Tuesday evening. She and her family ran downstairs and were all safe. Marshall Gorby/AP hide caption

Greenville, Ohio, resident Brenda Pollitt wipes the tears from her eyes as she removes papers from her bedroom on Wednesday. Pollitt and her children were home at the time of the strong storm that hit Tuesday evening. She and her family ran downstairs and were all safe.

COLUMBIA, Tenn. — Forecasters warned a wave of dangerous storms in the U.S. could march through parts of the South early Thursday, after storms a day earlier spawned damaging tornadoes and massive hail, leaving two dead in Tennessee and one dead in North Carolina.

The storms continue an outbreak of torrential rain and tornadoes that has cut across the country this week, from the Plains to the Midwest and now the southeastern U.S. At least four people have died in storms since Monday.

Amid Wednesday's storms, the National Weather Service continued issuing tornado warnings that stretch past midnight in North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and Kentucky. Parts of Arkansas and Mississippi were also under a tornado watch through the pre-dawn hours.

Why it feels like tornadoes are becoming more common, according to an expert

One storm that rumbled across northeastern Tennessee on Wednesday brought high winds that knocked down power lines and trees. Bob Brooks, the sheriff in Claiborne County about an hour north of Knoxville, said a 22-year-old man was in a car when he was fatally struck by one of the trees.

A second person was killed in the city of Columbia in Maury County, where the National Weather Service said a likely tornado had touched down. Columbia is just south of Nashville.

Homes were damaged and people injured, according to Lynn Thompson, assistant director of Maury County 911. Thompson told The Associated Press that he could not provide any further details: "We're getting overloaded right now."

Rita Thompson, a spokesperson for Maury Regional Health, said the hospital had received five patients, including the person who died. Another was in serious condition and three had injuries that were not life-threatening, she said.

The storms also prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to issue a temporary ground stop at Nashville International Airport and the National Weather Service to issue a tornado emergency — its highest alert level — for other nearby areas south of the state's capital, including Chapel Hill and Eagleville.

Utility workers survey storm damage along Cothran Road on Wednesday in Columbia, Tenn. George Walker IV/AP hide caption

Utility workers survey storm damage along Cothran Road on Wednesday in Columbia, Tenn.

Meanwhile, torrential rain and thunderstorms led to water rescues northeast of Nashville.

"Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order," the National Weather Service warned when it issued a flash flood emergency.

In North Carolina, a state of emergency was declared Wednesday night for Gaston County, west of Charlotte, following a large storm that toppled power lines and severed trees, including one that landed on a car. One person in the car was killed and another was taken to a hospital, officials said.

The storms rolled into the region Wednesday after parts of the central United States were battered Monday by heavy rain, strong winds, hail and tornadoes, including a deadly twister that ripped through an Oklahoma town and killed one person. Then, on Tuesday, the Midwest took the brunt of the bad weather.

The National Weather Service said tornadoes touched down in parts of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana on Tuesday.

In Michigan, tornadoes swirled through the southwestern part of the state, in and around Kalamazoo County, according to the National Weather Service. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declared a state of emergency for four counties.

Kalamazoo County's Portage area was hard hit as a FedEx facility was ripped apart, leaving about 50 people temporarily trapped inside because of downed power lines.

Storm damaged mobile homes are surrounded by debris at Pavilion Estates mobile home park just east of Kalamazoo, Mich., on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Neil Blake/AP hide caption

Storm damaged mobile homes are surrounded by debris at Pavilion Estates mobile home park just east of Kalamazoo, Mich., on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

Travis Wycoff ventured out Tuesday night after seeing on radar that a tornado had touched down in the Portage area, and he said he helped an elderly couple out of their partially collapsed home and freed a service dog from another home.

"There were a lot of people running through the streets trying to find people and their pets," Wycoff said. "It was just a lot of chaos."

In the adjacent Pavilion Township, more than a dozen homes were destroyed in a mobile home park and 16 people were injured, said Kalamazoo County Sheriff Richard Fuller.

Samantha Smith clutched a box Wednesday afternoon outside her mother's partially wrecked home in Pavilion Township. Inside the box were her grandmother's ashes. Being able to recover the most cherished of items offered Smith a rare moment of relief amid the storm's devastation. She said her parents and brother were injured during the storm but survived.

"I have thanked God probably a billion times since this happened yesterday," she said. "My kids are healthy and good. We just gotta make back up what we lost."

Tornadoes were also confirmed in Pennsylvania just outside Pittsburgh, in central Arkansas and in northern West Virginia. The West Virginia twister was at least the 11th tornado this year in the state, which sees two tornadoes in an average year.

Both the Plains and Midwest have been hammered by tornadoes this spring.

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Passport renewal can be a pain. What to know about applications, appointment wait times.

There are many reasons why someone may need a new passport . Whether it's because your last one was damaged or it was expired , you'll want to have a valid passport before you travel. And you'll need one if you have an upcoming international trip.

Applying for a passport can feel a little heavy on the bureaucracy thanks to all the documents and forms you need. And once you've applied, the wait time to get it may be longer than expected.

If you are looking to apply for or renew a passport, here is a guide on how to get one and how quickly you can expect it to come.

How to get a passport?

The process for passport application varies depending on your situation.

Learn more: Best travel insurance

According to the U.S. Department of State, you should apply in person if:

• You are applying for your first passport.
• You are applying for your child who is under 16.
• Your previous passport was issued when you were under 16.
• Your previous passport was lost, stolen or damaged.
• Your previous passport was issued over 15 years ago.

In these cases, you must fill out form DS-11 (that can be found online ) and print it to apply in person.

If none of the above apply, you may be able to get a new passport by mail. According to the State Department, you are eligible to renew by mail if:

• You have your most recent passport (and it is not damaged) and can submit it with your application.
• Your most recent passport was never reported lost or stolen.
• Your most recent passport was issued in the last 15 years.
• Your most recent passport issued when you were 16 or older.
• Your most recent passport is issued to your current name, or you can present a document – such as a marriage certificate or divorce papers – as evidence of a legal name change.
• "It was not limited to less than the normal 10 year period of validity for an adult passport due to multiple passport thefts or losses, or due to issues with passport damage or mutilation."

In these cases, fill out form DS-82 (that can be found online ).

What do you need to get a passport?

According to the USAGov, if you are applying for a passport for the first time as an adult , you must bring the following:

• Application form (form DS-11)
• Proof of citizenship (such as birth certificate) and government-issued photo ID (such as driver's license)
• Photocopies of both citizenship document and photo ID
• Passport photo

According to the USAGov, these are the documents you will need if you're renewing :

• Renewal form (form DS-82)
• Your most recent passport 

If your name has changed since your last passport, you will have to provide legal documentation to verify, such as a certified copy of your marriage certificate or a court order of name change.

How fast can I get a passport?

Expedited processing time is two to three weeks for passport applications applied on or after Dec. 18 2023, according to the State Department.

Processing time does not include mailing time. It could take up to two weeks from your application day for your passport to be "in process." 

As of May 2024, routine processing time is six to eight weeks .

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Britain to expel Russian attache in response to 'reckless and dangerous activities' by Moscow

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LONDON (AP) — Britain will expel Russia’s defense attache over spying allegations as part of several measures the government announced Wednesday to target Moscow’s intelligence gathering operations in the U.K.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said the measures were aimed at what he called the “reckless and dangerous activities of the Russian government across Europe.”

The latest round of measures will boot the attache, Maxim Elovik, a Russian colonel who the government termed an “undeclared military intelligence officer.” It will also rescind the diplomatic status of several Russian-owned properties because they are believed to have been used for intelligence purposes, and impose new restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas and visits.

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“In the coming days we should expect accusations of Russophobia, conspiracy theories and hysteria from the Russian government,” Cleverly said in Parliament. “This is not new and the British people and the British government will not fall for it, and will not be taken for fools by Putin’s bots, trolls and lackeys.”

Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry, told The Associated Press that “Russia will respond in kind.”

The U.K. has had an uneasy relationship with Russia for years, accusing its agents of targeted killings and espionage, including cyberattacks aimed at British parliamentarians and leaking and amplifying sensitive information to serve Russian interests. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Britain has also sanctioned hundreds of wealthy Russians and moved to clamp down on money laundering through London’s property and financial markets.

The government said Wednesday’s actions followed criminal cases in London alleging espionage and sabotage by people acting on behalf of Russia.

It also cited allegations that the Russian government planned to sabotage military aid for Ukraine in Germany and Poland and carried out spying in Bulgaria and Italy, along with cyber and disinformation activities, air space violations and jamming GPS signals to hamper civilian air traffic.

“Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s attempts to undermine UK and European security have become increasingly brazen,” Foreign Secretary David Cameron said. “These measures are an unequivocal message to the Russian state — their actions will not go unanswered.”

Elovik has been based in Britain since at least 2020. Russian state news agency Tass said he was summoned to the U.K.’s Defense Ministry the day Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

He has subsequently been pictured laying flowers to Soviet soldiers who died during the Second World War in both London and Manchester.

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National Politics | Senate passes bill to boost air safety, right…

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National politics | ‘good man’ or ‘danger to the community’ dueling views presented for pasadena radiologist in devil’s slide crash, national politics, national politics | senate passes bill to boost air safety, right before faa law expires, the senate also passed a one-week extension that would give the house time to pass the bill.

WASHINGTON — The Senate has passed a $105 billion bill designed to improve air safety and customer service for air travelers, a day before the law governing the Federal Aviation Administration expires.

The bipartisan bill, which comes after a series of close calls between planes at the nation’s airports, would boost the number of air traffic controllers, improve safety standards and make it easier for customers to get refunds after flights are delayed or canceled.

It passed the Senate 88-4. The legislation now goes to the House, which is out of session until next week. The Senate also passed a one-week extension that would give the House time to pass the bill while ensuring the FAA isn’t forced to furlough around 3,600 employees.

The bill stalled for several days this week after senators from Virginia and Maryland objected to a provision that would allow an additional 10 flights a day to and from the heavily trafficked Reagan Washington National Airport. Other senators have tried to add unrelated provisions, as well, seeing it as a prime chance to enact their legislative priorities.

But Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called a vote Thursday evening after it became clear that senators would not be able to agree on amendments to the bill before it expired. After the bill passed, leaders in both parties worked out how to pass an extension and ensure the law does not expire Friday. The House passed a one-week extension earlier this week.

The FAA has been under scrutiny since it approved Boeing jets that were involved in two deadly crashes in 2018 and 2019. The Senate legislation would govern FAA operations for the next five years and put several new safety standards in place.

The bill would increase the number of air traffic controllers and require the FAA to use new technology designed to prevent collisions between planes on runways. It would require new airline planes to have cockpit voice recorders capable of saving 25 hours of audio, up from the current two hours, to help investigators.

It would also try to improve customer service for flyers by requiring airlines to pay a refund to customers for flight delays — three hours for a domestic flight and six for an international one. Lawmakers tweaked the bill this week to make it even easier for customers to receive refunds, revising language that would have put most of the onus on the customer to request them. The change put the Senate bill more in line with new regulations issued by President Joe Biden’s administration last week.

In addition, the bill would prohibit airlines from charging extra for families to sit together and triple the maximum fines for airlines that violate consumer laws. And it would require the Transportation Department to create a “dashboard” so consumers can compare seat sizes on different airlines.

The FAA says that if the law expires Friday, the 3,600 employees would be furloughed without a guarantee of back pay starting at midnight. The agency would also be unable to collect daily airport fees that help pay for operations, and ongoing airport improvements would come to a halt.

No one in “safety critical” positions — like air traffic controllers — would be affected if the deadline is missed, the FAA says, and the safety of the flying public would not be at risk. Still, failure to pass the popular bipartisan bill by May 10 would be the latest setback after months of delays on the measure, and another example of Congress struggling to pass major legislation, even when it has broad support.

Opening the Senate on Thursday, Schumer urged senators to come to an agreement soon. “Absolutely nobody should want us to slip past the deadline because that would needlessly increase risks for so many travelers and so many federal workers,” he said.

Several Western lawmakers have argued for more flights at the airport, saying it is unfair to consumers that there is a restriction on long-haul flights. The provision’s chief proponent is Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, the top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, who has argued that San Antonio should have a direct flight from the airport. Cruz blocked a vote on Kaine and Warner’s amendment when Schumer tried to bring it up shortly before final passage.

Airlines are also split on the idea of additional flights at Reagan National. Delta Airlines has argued for more flights, while United Airlines, with a major operation at farther-out Dulles Airport, has lobbied against the increase.

The House last year passed its own version of the FAA legislation without additional Reagan National flights after intense, last-minute lobbying from the Virginia delegation — a bipartisan vote on an amendment to the FAA bill that saw members aligning not by party but geographic location. Lawmakers use the airport frequently as it’s the closest Washington airport to the Capitol, and Congress has long tried to have a say in which routes have service there.

“Some of our colleagues were too afraid to let the experts make the call,” Kaine and Warner said in a statement Thursday evening. “They didn’t want to show the American people that they care more about a few lawmakers’ desire for direct flights than they care about the safety and convenience of the traveling public. That is shameful and an embarrassment.”

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Hike Through a Forest to Mosca Pass at Great Sand Dunes National Park

Escape the summer heat on this shady trail overlooking the giant dunes in southeast colorado..

While the towering sand dunes are the primary draw of Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve , it’s not the only thing this beautiful corner of Colorado has to offer. The Mosca Pass Trail winds through shady forests filled with aspens, pine, fir and spruce and follows Mosca Creek. A perfect respite from hot summer days, this trail goes through the 1800s community of Montville and provides gorgeous views of the sand dunes and San Luis Valley on the return hike.

How Long is the Mosca Pass Trail?

The Mosca Pass Trail is 7.5 miles roundtrip from the trailhead, or 7.9 miles roundtrip from the Visitor Center. The trail gains 1,700 feet in elevation, making it a moderately rated hike that’s great for active families and adults.

If there’s space in the small lot at the Mosca Pass Trailhead, park there. Otherwise, you can park at the larger lot at the Visitor Center and find the path on the north end of the parking lot. The path crosses Hwy. 150 and meets up with the main trailhead just up the road.

The first quarter mile from the trailhead is the Montville Nature Trail. Pick up a booklet at the trailhead that has numbered stops to learn more about the history of this 1800s settlement. At its peak, the community was comprised of 20 houses. You’ll quickly come to a stunning viewpoint where you can see out over the San Luis Valley with the sand dunes at the foreground.

From here, the trail follows Mosca Creek and climbs steadily through a shady forest. Around two miles in, the terrain starts to open up and you’ll get views of wide-open meadows. The trail leaves the national park and continues through the Great Sand Dunes Preserve in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness . The trail ends at County Road 583. You can turn left and follow the four-wheel drive road to the true summit of the pass, or turn around here to stick to singletrack. If you turn around when you hit the county road, it will shorten your hike by 1.4 miles. Bring a picnic to enjoy before turning around and soaking in the views of the dunes and valley on your way back down.

Can you Drive Over Mosca Pass?

You cannot drive up the Mosca Pass Trail, but you can access the pass with a four-wheel drive vehicle via County Road 583. This rough route is accessed from the west side of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, near Gardner.

You can’t access Great Sand Dunes National Park by car from Mosca Pass without driving several hours south. If you want to visit both the national park and Mosca Pass, the best way to do so is by hiking.

What’s the Best Time of Year to Hike Mosca Pass?

Mosca Pass is beautiful late spring through fall, but autumn is one of the best seasons to hike it thanks to an abundance of aspens that turn a vibrant yellow in the fall. Temperatures are also cooler in the autumn months.

Summer is also a great season to hike this trail as you’ll encounter tons of wildflowers from Indian paintbrush to columbines.

What Should I Pack to Hike Mosca Pass?

It’s important to pack plenty of water for the hike up to the top of Mosca Pass. The pass sits at 9,700 feet in elevation, making hydrating especially important to ward off symptoms of altitude sickness. Plan to bring at least two liters of water per person.

Weather can change quickly in the summer months in Colorado. Pack a wind and waterproof layer in case the temperature drops suddenly, or you encounter rain.

Many people find trekking poles helpful to navigate the steep sections of this trail.

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