What to Know About the "VisitNIH" Pre-Registration Online Visitor Portal
NIH debuted a new visitor pre-registration process on Jan. 30 for Bethesda Main Campus visitors. All non-U.S. person visitors must now be invited by an NIH host or requestor and must pre-register via the new VisitNIH online pre-registration portal.
The change is the result of a Health and Human Services (HHS) national security policy requirement for HHS facilities first published in 2011 and updated in 2022.
NIH staff are encouraged to initiate pre-registration requests and invite non-U.S. person visitors 30 days in advance.
"This 30-day lead time allows for proper review and permits us to communicate with visitors on any discrepancies in advance of their visit," Colleen A. McGowan, MHA, director of the NIH Office of Research Services, said. "U.S. person visitors are also encouraged to pre-register to avoid wait times at the gate."
As of April 28, non-U.S. person visitors will also require an escort while inside NIH facilities. Non-U.S. person patients and caregivers visiting the NIH Clinical Center, Children's Inn, and Safra Lodge are not required to be escorted while inside or transitioning between those locations. However, they must be escorted to and from those locations when arriving and leaving NIH.
Additional Pre-Registration Details
Non-U.S. visitors must be sponsored by an NIH host who is a U.S. person. Hosts must initiate the pre-registration process using the VisitNIH portal after completing a 20-minute online training on the HHS Learning Management System.
A U.S. person is someone who has U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent resident status, such as a green card.
Clinical Center patients and clinical trial participants and up to two caregivers who need to visit the hospital frequently can complete the VisitNIH pre-registration once for a duration of up to six months. The visit request in the portal must reflect the full six-month period.
Clinical Center patients, clinical trial participants and other visitors who already have NIH badges do need not complete VisitNIH pre-registration until their current badges expire.
Applicability to Other NIH Facilities
The new visitor requirements also apply to NIH facilities at 5601 Fishers Lane, the Biomedical Research Center at Baltimore Bayview, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, the NIH Animal Center and Shady Grove facilities and will eventually expand to all NIH locations.
"As we begin this new implementation phase, your feedback will be essential," McGowan said. Visitors should contact their NIH hosts if they have any questions.
For more information, see
- FAQs for Staff (NIH staff only)
- FAQs for Visitors