State Dept. Refines A, G, NATO Visa Application Process
Published Date: 3/11/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of State wants to update the form used by foreign government officials and international organization employees applying for A, G, or NATO visas. They’re asking for public feedback by May 11, 2026, to make sure the form is clear and not too time-consuming. This update affects about 17,000 applicants and aims to keep the process smooth and efficient without extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.
DS-1648 Remains Required for A/G/NATO Visas
If you are an eligible foreign government official or an international organization representative or employee applying for an A, G, or NATO visa (excluding A-3, G-5, and NATO-7), you must complete Form DS-1648 to obtain or retain that visa. The Department estimates about 17,000 respondents will complete this form under OMB Control Number 1405-0100.
Time Burden: 30 Minutes Per Applicant
Each DS-1648 response is estimated to take an average of 30 minutes to complete. The Department estimates a total respondent burden of 8,500 hours for the collection.
Electronic Submission and Barcode Confirmation
Applicants must submit Form DS-1648 electronically at https://ceac.state.gov/agnato and print a confirmation page containing a barcoded record locator to include when transmitting their passport for visa issuance. This is the required submission and confirmation process described in the notice.
Certain A-3, G-5, NATO-7 Applicants Excluded
Form DS-1648 is used for A, G, or NATO visa applicants but specifically excludes applicants for A-3, G-5, and NATO-7 visas. Those excluded categories are not covered by this information collection.
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Key Dates
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