OAK Guest Pass Program

The OAK Guest Pass Program allows the non-traveling public to visit OAK and enjoy the amenities on the post-security side of the passenger terminal. Obtaining an OAK Guest Pass allows our visitors to spend more time with their friends and family or shop and dine at the Airport.

Step 1: Apply Online

You can apply the day of your visit or up to seven days in advance. If you cannot select a date or start time on the online form, that means the visitor slots have reached capacity for that day or time.  Provide your date of birth, gender, and full legal name exactly as it appears on your TSA-approved photo ID (e.g., passport or driver’s license). You’ll receive a confirmation email verifying that your request has been received!

REAL ID: If you plan to use your state-issued ID or license, make sure it is REAL ID-compliant. If you’re unsure whether your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.

Apply Now!

Step 2: Get TSA Approval

Your request will be reviewed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

  • If you’re applying in advance: You’ll receive an email with your approval status after midnight on the day of your visit.
  • If you’re applying for same day entrance: You’ll receive an email with your approval status within approximately 15 minutes.

Step 3: Show your OAK Visitor Pass

If approved for entry, you’ll receive your OAK Guest Pass attached to your approval notification email. When entering the TSA Checkpoint, make sure to open the OAK Guest Pass attachment to provide to the TSA, along with your TSA-approved photo ID. Make sure to advise the TSA Officer that you have an OAK Guest Pass when presenting your photo ID.

Program and Security Information

  • Only electronic OAK Guest Passes (attached to the approval e-mail or added to the digital wallet on your phone) are accepted at the TSA checkpoint. Printed passes are not accepted.
  • OAK guests are subject to the same security regulations as passengers boarding an airplane and must comply with TSA’s screening procedures, including not bringing items prohibited by TSA and complying with the 3-1-1 Liquids Rules.
  • OAK Guest Pass availability may be limited, granted on a first-come, first-served basis, with all access subject to TSA approval.
  • The OAK Guest Pass is not a permanent program. In response to exigent circumstances or operational needs, the Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to cancel the program, cancel approved OAK Guest Passes, or modify program rules at any time without prior notice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the OAK Guest Pass Program?

This program allows the general public who are not flying that day to visit OAK and enjoy the amenities on the post-security side of the passenger terminal. The OAK Guest Pass program is intended to allow visitors to spend time with their friends and family or shop and dine at the airport.

Non-ticketed passengers may request to enter the post-security side of a passenger terminal.

Step 1: Apply Online

You can apply the day of your visit or up to seven days in advance. OAK Guest Pass availability may be limited. If you cannot select a specific date or time using the online form, visitor availability has reached capacity.   Provide your date of birth, gender, and full legal name exactly as it appears on your TSA-approved photo ID (e.g., passport or REAL ID driver’s license). You’ll receive a confirmation email verifying that your request has been received!

Step 2: Get TSA Approval

Your request will be reviewed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

If you’re applying in advance: You’ll receive an email with your approval status after midnight on the day of your approved visit.

If you’re applying for same day entrance: You’ll receive an email with your status within approximately 15 minutes. 

Step 3: Show your OAK Guest Pass

If approved for entry, you’ll receive your OAK Guest Pass attached to your approval notification email. When entering the TSA Checkpoint, make sure to open the OAK Guest Pass attachment to provide to the TSA, along with your TSA-approved photo ID. Make sure to advise the TSA Officer that you have an OAK Guest Pass when presenting your photo ID.  

Program and Security Information:

  • Only electronic OAK Guest Passes (attached to the approval e-mail or added to the digital wallet on your phone) are accepted at the TSA checkpoint.  Printed passes are not accepted.
  • You will be subject to the same security regulations as passengers boarding an airplane and must comply with TSA’s screening procedures, including not bringing items prohibited by TSA and complying with the 3-1-1 Liquids Rules.
  • OAK Guest Passes may be limited, subject to TSA approval, and are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • In response to exigent circumstances or operational needs, the Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel the program, cancel approved OAK Guest Passes, or modify program rules at any time without prior notice.
  • The OAK Guest Pass is non-transferrable and valid only on the date of issuance, the approved start time, and through the operational hours of the approved passenger terminal.

This program allows access to the post-security side of the passenger terminals to non-traveling visitors 7 days a week. Entrance is not permitted before the approved start time. 

Be sure to allow enough time to get through the security lines. You may exit and re-enter the passenger terminal at any time during your registered day and program operating hours. However, if you depart the post-security area, you’re required to re-enter through the TSA Security Checkpoint, so please plan accordingly. Visitors re-entering the passenger terminal may be delayed at the TSA Checkpoint due to the priority of screening ticketed passengers.

Operating times vary, and not all shops, restaurants or amenities may be open during your visit.

No, this is prohibited. The OAK Guest Pass Program is specifically for non-traveling individuals – no exceptions.  Ticketed passengers obtaining an OAK Guest pass the same day as their scheduled OAK flight is a violation of TSA’s 49 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) § 1540.105(a)(2) – Security Responsibilities of Employees and other Persons, which states the following:  “(a) No person may: . . . (2) Enter, or be present within, a secured area, AOA, SIDA, or sterile area without complying with the systems, measures, or procedures being applied to control access to, or the presence or movement in, such areas.”

Any non-expired photo identification accepted by TSA may be used to register for an OAK Guest Pass, including driver’s licenses from other states, and U.S. and international passports. A state-issued driver’s license is the most common form of accepted identification.  If you plan to use your state-issued ID or license, make sure it is REAL ID-compliant. If you’re unsure whether your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state department of motor vehicles.

At the TSA Checkpoint, your photo ID is used to confirm your identity and approved OAK Guest Pass authorization. While within the passenger terminal, visitors must present their OAK Guest Pass and photo ID upon request from either the TSA or Airport Officials.

OAK Guest Pass users are subject to the same TSA security regulations as ticketed passengers.

  • TSA Prohibited Items applies to OAK Guest Pass holders. Attempting to bring any of these prohibited items with you may lead to confiscation, denial of access, TSA civil penalties, and/or arrest.
  • No hand-carried luggage is allowed. Visitors are limited to (1) personal item (e.g., laptop bag or purse) and must comply with the same TSA screening and inspection procedures as ticketed passengers.

Subject to availability, you may apply online for the same day and up to seven days in advance.

Apply Now!

If you’re unable to select a specific date up to seven days before your visit, it means the program availability for that day has already been met.  We hope that you will come for a visit on a different day.  Just complete a new application up to seven days before your visit.

Apply Now!

Yes, minors are eligible to participate. Regardless of age, every person participating in the OAK Guest Pass program must complete a separate online registration and bring their own OAK Guest Pass.

  • Visitors under the age of 18 who have a TSA-approved photo ID must complete registration online and bring the same photo ID used for registration.
  • Parents or guardians of minors without a photo ID must complete the online registration.
  • Every adult visitor must bring their own OAK Guest Pass along with the OAK Guest Passes for any minors they are supervising.
  • Minors under the age of 18 must remain under escort at all times by an approved OAK Guest Pass adult participant.
  • One adult OAK Guest Pass participant can accompany up to five minor participants.

Every non-traveling visitor must complete the online registration form and be approved for entrance, regardless of age. Minors without valid photo IDs must apply and be accompanied by an adult who has also been approved for OAK Guest Pass entry.

At this time, the OAK Guest Pass cannot be used with either of these special access programs.

  • OAK Guest Pass is not an expedited entry program or eligible for expedited lane use.
  • OAK Guest Pass is only authorized for general security line entry.

Should a companion who is traveling be eligible for CLEAR® or TSA Pre✓® and use the respective TSA expedited lane, you remain ineligible and must use the general security line. To ensure a conflict free experience, please plan appropriately with this temporary separation in mind.

Yes, you are eligible to receive an OAK Guest Pass when not on official business.

Prohibited

  • You are not eligible if you’ve forgotten or lost your badge, still employed at the Airport but let your badge expire or your badge was subject to suspension or revocation.
  • During your visit, you’re prohibited from using your badge to access areas of the Airport not otherwise open to the general public. 
  • If you violate these terms, you may be subject to administrative fines, suspension, and/or revocation of your Airport badge.

Sterile Area Worker Prohibition: Individuals working in the Sterile Area are prohibited from using the OAK Guest Pass Program during work hours. All individuals working in the Sterile Area, to include new Airport and tenant employees, must hold an Airport-issued security badge.

Other Individuals Conducting Business at OAK: Individuals otherwise authorized to conduct business at the Airport — with OAK’s specific knowledge and permission and not subject to TSA or Airport badging requirements — are eligible for an OAK Guest Pass. You’ll be asked for additional contact information when registering. 

OAK wheelchair attendants and wheelchairs may be assigned to ticketed passengers. At OAK, we strive to make your experience as easy, safe, and comfortable as possible and welcome participants using a personal wheelchair or other mobility aid.

All visitors should carefully read the TSA Privacy Act Statement below before requesting an OAK Guest Pass.  For non-traveling visitors to receive an OAK Guest Pass to access the passenger terminal, all visitors, including minors (under 18 years of age) entering with an adult visitor, are required to provide personal information used to obtain TSA authorization.  

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires us to collect information from you for purposes of watch list screening, under the authority of 49 U.S.C. section 114, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Providing this information is voluntary; however, if it is not provided, you will be denied an OAK Guest Pass.   

TSA may share information you provide with law enforcement or intelligence agencies or others under its published system of records notice. For more on TSA Privacy policies, or to view the system of records notice and the privacy impact assessment, please see TSA’s web site at www.tsa.gov.

  • If applying in advance, you will receive an email with your approval status after midnight on the day of your visit. If approved for entry, you’ll receive your OAK Guest Pass attached to your approval notification email.
  • If applying for same day entrance, you will receive an email with your approval status within approximately 15 minutes. If approved for entry, you’ll receive your OAK Guest Pass attached to your approval notification email.
  • If you are approved, bring your digital OAK Guest Pass included in the approval email and your TSA-approved photo ID to the passenger terminal at the approved start time.

You can meet passengers arriving from international destinations outside security in the meet/greet area adjacent to the Terminal 1 security checkpoint; you do not need to request an OAK Guest Pass. The area where arriving international passengers must clear U.S. Customs is secure and only accessible to arriving international travelers. The OAK Guest Pass program does not apply to the International Arrivals Building. If OAK is the first U.S. point of entry for a passenger, they will need to clear U.S. Customs here. If they are connecting to another U.S. city, you can see them to the gate of their departing flight using an OAK Guest Pass.

Yes, the OAK Guest Pass allows exit and re-entry only on the day of your approved visit. However, you must re-enter through the TSA screening checkpoint. If you return on a different day, you will have to complete another request for entry through the online registration. Visitors re-entering the passenger terminal may be delayed at the TSA Checkpoint due to the prioritization of ticketed passengers.

Yes, absolutely!

No, arrangements for picking up an unaccompanied minor from a flight should be coordinated directly with the respective airline.

Those who are preparing to travel and may have special circumstances, considerations or general questions about airport screening can get live assistance by tweeting questions and comments to @AskTSA or via Facebook Messenger, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. EDT and weekends/holidays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EDT. You can also call the TSA Contact Center at 866-289-9673.  TSA also offers TSA Cares, a helpline for travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances. You may submit a request for assistance by calling TSA Cares at 855-787-2227, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and weekends/holidays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. TSA Cares is open 365 days a year. Passengers may also use the TSA Cares form available on the TSA website which can be found at www.tsa.gov/travel/passenger-support.