How to Schedule a White House Tour

The National Park Service does not schedule White House tours or provide tickets to enter the White House.

Public tour requests must be submitted through your Member of Congress. These self-guided tours are generally available Friday and Saturday (excluding federal holidays or unless otherwise noted). Tours are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Requests can be submitted up to three months in advance and no less than 21 days in advance. You are encouraged to submit your request as early as possible as a limited number of spaces are available. The White House tour is free of charge. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.

If you wish to visit the White House and are a citizen of a foreign country, please contact your embassy in Washington, DC, for assistance in submitting your request.

On the Day of Your Tour

Forms of Identification

All guests 18 years of age or older are required to present a valid, government-issued photo identification (detailed below). All foreign nationals must present their passport. All other forms of foreign identification will not be accepted.

All information submitted (e.g. name, date of birth, city, etc.) must exactly match the government-issued photo ID you present when arriving at the White House.

The following forms of photo ID are acceptable for presentation to United States Secret Service upon entry to the White House complex:

• Valid government-issued United States identification card (e.g. drivers license, military ID, etc.)
• Valid United States or other official government-issued passports

NO other forms of identification will be accepted; photocopies, expired IDs, or other transmissions of these documents are NOT valid.

Prohibited Items

• Video cameras, cameras with detachable lenses, tablets, iPads, tripods, monopods, & cameras sticks
• Bags of any kind (handbags, purses, book bags, backpacks, diaper bags, camera bags)
• Strollers
• Food, liquids, aerosols, tobacco, products, personal grooming items (e.g. makeup, lotion, etc)
• Guns, ammunition, fireworks, electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices, toy weapons, or knives or any kind

There are NO storage facilities available at the White House complex or the White House Visitor Center. Individuals who arrive with prohibited items will be turned away.

Permitted Items

• Compact cameras (still photography only, no video recording or streaming, lenses must be less than 3 inches long)

• Umbrellas without metal tips
• Wallets
• Cell phones (talking or texting is not permitted, still photography is allowed, please silence your phone)
• All items needed for medical purposes will be permitted (e.g. wheelchairs, electronic scooters, glucose tablets, EpiPens, medication, etc)

Mobility-Impaired / Wheelchairs

Hearing-Impaired & Visually Impaired

Restrooms

The nearest restrooms to the White House are located in the White House Visitor Center. Restrooms and public telephones are not available in the White House.

Current Information

All visitors should call the 24-hour Visitors Office information line at 202-456-7041 to determine if any last minute changes have been made in the tour schedule.