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General Information
General Information
Department employees expecting to travel more than two times in a fiscal year to carry out their official duties must apply for and use the charge card. Use of the Travel Card is beneficial to both you and to the Department of State. As soon as you receive your Travel Card you will be able use the card to cover your authorized travel related costs while still in training. Please review the Travel Cards PowerPoint for an overview of the program and how to appropriately use your Travel Card for expenses.
Travel Advances and Personal Credit Card Fees
Travel Advances and Personal Credit Card Fees
Travelers should have and use their government-authorized individually billed travel charge card for authorized Temporary Duty (TDY) and Permanent Change of Station (PCS) expenses and to obtain cash instead of requesting a travel advance. Per 4 FAM 463.2, all U.S. citizen direct hires who are expected to conduct temporary duty (TDY) or permanent change of station (PCS) travel more than two times in a fiscal year to carry out their official duties must apply for and use the Government-issued travel charge card. To apply for the Travel Card, see the instructions below. Questions can be directed to TravelCH@state.gov
Generally, travelers are notified of PCS assignments well in advance of travel and, therefore, are not authorized to receive a travel advance in lieu of receiving the card.
Expedited Cards and Advances
Expedited Cards and Advances
Travelers can obtain a travel card on an expedited basis (within 2-4 business days) by first emailing the Travel Card Program (TCP) Office (TravelCH@state.gov) prior to applying to say they need it expedited. Then travelers can complete the online application.
In the rare cases when an advance is necessary, the maximum amount allowed is limited to 80% of the eligible period of per diem up to a maximum of 45 days of lodging and M&IE (meals and incidentals).
Applicability
Applicability
To receive your travel card you must first take the mandatory General Services Administration (GSA) SmartPay Travel Card Training and also complete the online application.
Because the online training is produced by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) and is used government wide, it is general in nature. There are some variances in how the State Department handles the Travel Card administration and we will further highlight these for you in the Orientation course materials.
Applying for your Travel Card
Applying for your Travel Card
You will complete your application online (see instructions here as well in the documents section below) and indicate the NFATC/LWT/OR (National Foreign Affairs Training Center /Leadership and Workforce Training /Orientation Division) invitation passcode 2900162 when filling out your application.
Please provide an address to which you would like your travel card to be mailed. You will NOT be able to pick up your travel card at NFATC.
You will have ATM access with your card, and you will be able to establish your PIN over the phone.
The issuing bank is Citi.
If you encounter any issues, please contact Citi Customer Service: 1-800-790-7206. For technical support select option "1".
IMPORTANT: If you were a State Department employee prior to joining the Foreign Service and were issued a Travel Card you do not need to apply for a new card. To have your card transferred from your old office please send an email to TravelCH@state.gov and advise them of your full name, the name of your previous office, and that you are now a member of a Foreign Service Orientation class.
If you had a Travel Card issued to you while employed by another agency, you must close that account in order to receive the Travel Card issued by the State Department. Citi does not allow cards from other agency platforms to be transferred to DoS, you will need to apply for a DoS travel card. The only exception under which you can maintain two cards is if you have a Travel Card issued to you for your service in the military reserves or the National Guard. If applicable you should email TravelCH@state.gov to advise them that you are in the military reserves or the National Guard prior to applying for the State Department Travel Card. If you do not complete this step your State Department Travel Card application will not be approved.
Helpful Documents and More Information
Helpful Documents and More Information
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