NIH Campus

Information about NIH Campus and Security

Please note that all attendees without valid NIH/HHS identification arriving on the NIH campus must enter through the NIH Gateway Center and go through a security check. We highly recommend arriving early at the security checkpoint to allow ample time for processing.

The NIH Gateway Center is adjacent to the Medical Center Metro Station at the South Drive entrance to campus from Rockville Pike/Wisconsin Avenue (Route 355).  Visitors should be prepared to submit to a personal inspection before entering the campus.  Visitors will be required to show one (1) form of identification (a government-issued photo ID-driver’s license, passport, green card, etc.) and to state the purpose of their visit.

Real ID

The REAL ID Act prohibits Federal agencies from accepting for official purposes driver’s licenses and identification cards issued by States that do not meet the law’s standards for secure issuance and production.  While American Samoa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, New Mexico, and Washington currently do not comply and do not have an extension from DHS, NIH is currently accepting driver’s licenses from these States and Territory. This may change based on the Office of the General Council’s (OGC) interpretation of the law.

On October 13, 2015, DHS implemented Phase 3 of the Act, which applies the REAL ID Act to all Federal facilities “except those providing healthcare, federally protected benefits and participation in law enforcement functions.” The current NIH policy is to accept all driver’s licenses so that patients, invited speakers, and medical students are not turned away. The Office of Security and Emergency Response has asked OGC to determine REAL ID Act enforcement applicability for NIH.

For additional information about the Real ID Act, please visit http://www.dhs.gov/secure-drivers-licenses.

For all visitor information for NIH, please go to: http://www.nih.gov/about/visitor/.

Driving to NIH

Please note that visitor parking is limited at NIH. Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation such as the Metrorail subway system, which has a convenient stop (Medical Center) on the NIH campus.

To review information on vehicle inspection and places to park go to https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/visitor-information/campus-access-security.

DIRECTIONS TO THE PORTER BUILDING (from security via campus shuttle)

Once you pass through security, take the campus shuttle (Red Line) to the Porter Building (#35), which is the 5th stop.