Florida Department of Corrections Visitation Guide – FDOC VISITATION
I want to start with a real story. A family drove six hours from South Florida, stood outside a facility in 90-degree heat for 45 minutes, and were turned away — because one family member was wearing a shade of blue that looked too close to inmate clothing. They lost the whole day. That’s not a rare story. It happens every single weekend across Florida’s 143 correctional facilities.
This guide exists to make sure that doesn’t happen to you. Every rule below comes directly from FDC Procedure 601.714 and the official FDOC Visiting Information page. Read it once before you go. It saves heartbreak.
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The Most Important Thing to Understand
Florida treats visitation as a privilege, not a right. The warden of each facility has authority to suspend visitation at any time — for a single inmate, a wing, or the entire facility — without advance notice. Always call the facility the morning before you drive.
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Getting Approved — The Paperwork
This phase takes 30–90 days. Start immediately.
Step 1: Getting Form DC6-111A (Request for Visiting Privileges)
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You cannot download or request this form yourself
The inmate must ask their Classification Officer for Form DC6-111A and then mail it to you at their own expense. You cannot get it from the FDOC website, county clerk, or any other source. Any website offering to sell you this form is a scam.
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Tell the inmate to request the form immediately
During your next phone call or JPay message, ask them to go to their Classification Officer and request Form DC6-111A — the “Request for Visiting Privileges” — to be mailed to your address. The form is available in English and Spanish.
💡If the inmate was recently transferred from county jail to state prison and is still at a Reception Center, wait until they are permanently assigned before starting this process. Reception Center transfers are frequent — the form has to go to the Classification Department at their permanent facility.
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Complete the form in black ink — leave no field blank
Every single field must be filled out. Where something doesn’t apply, write “N/A.” Do not leave any line empty — incomplete forms are rejected without notification.
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Disclose ALL criminal history — this is critical
The form asks for your criminal background. List everything — even a traffic infraction that required a court appearance 20 years ago. Even if the charge was dismissed. Even if it was expunged in another state.
🚨FDOC runs a full background check on every applicant. If they find anything you didn’t disclose — anything at all — you will be denied for “falsifying information,” not for the underlying offense. A prior criminal record alone does not automatically mean rejection. But omitting it does.
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Anyone aged 12 or older needs their own form
Every person 12 years and older who plans to attend the visit must complete and submit their own separate DC6-111A. Children under 12 do not need a form but must be accompanied by an approved adult (their parent or legal guardian who is also on the approved list).
💡Bringing a minor aged 17 or under: They must present both a birth certificate AND a school ID at the gate. Their parent or legal guardian must also be an approved visitor on the same inmate’s list.
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Mail the completed form to the Classification Department at the inmate’s facility
Do NOT send it to FDOC headquarters in Tallahassee. It must go to the Classification Department at the specific facility where the inmate is currently housed. Find the facility’s mailing address at fdc.myflorida.com/facilities.
Step 2: The Waiting Period and Approval
⏱ Application Timeline
Processing Time
30–90 days (background check required for every applicant)
How You’re Notified
You are NOT sent a letter. The inmate is notified and must tell you.
Can I Email to Check?
No. Classification departments rarely answer visitor status questions by phone or email. Wait for the inmate to confirm.
Can I Visit Immediately?
No. Never visit until the inmate confirms you are approved. You will be turned away.
One Visitor List at a Time
You can only be on one inmate’s approved visitor list at a time. To switch, you must be removed from the current list first.
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What to do while waiting
Set up your ConnectNetwork phone account and JPay account now — both require the inmate’s DC Number and take a day or two to activate. Having these ready means you can communicate immediately while the visitation application processes.
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The Schedule — When to Go
Timing errors are the second most common reason families get turned away
🗓 Standard FDOC Visitation Schedule
Visiting Days
Saturday, Sunday, and State-Recognized Holidays
Visiting Hours
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Registration Window
8:15 AM – 10:30 AM — Registration closes at 10:30 AM sharp. Late arrivals are not admitted.
Recommended Arrival
7:45 AM at the parking lot — allows time to stand in line before registration opens at 8:15 AM.
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The 10:30 AM Cutoff is Absolute
If you arrive at the registration desk at 10:31 AM, you will be turned away. No exceptions. No “I was stuck in traffic.” No “we drove 4 hours.” Registration closes at 10:30 AM and guards have zero flexibility on this. Arrive at the parking lot by 7:45 AM to give yourself enough time.
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Florida Has Two Time Zones — This Matters
Most of Florida is on Eastern Time (ET). However, facilities in the Panhandle — including Santa Rosa CI, Okaloosa CI, and others in the western panhandle — operate on Central Time (CT), which is one hour behind. If you are driving from Eastern Florida to a Panhandle facility, you gain an hour. Confirm the time zone of the specific facility before you drive.
FDOC Visitation Holidays — When You Can Visit
Yes, Florida state prisons allow visitation on most major holidays. The standard holidays are:
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day (July 4)
Labor Day
Veterans’ Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
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Always call the facility directly the week before a holiday visit
Individual wardens can cancel or modify holiday visitation based on staffing levels or security concerns. A quick call to the facility eliminates the risk of a wasted trip. Find facility phone numbers at fdc.myflorida.com/facilities.
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The Dress Code — The #1 Reason People Get Turned Away
Guards have zero tolerance. When in doubt, choose different clothes.
This section of FDC Procedure 601.714 is extremely specific and enforced without negotiation. The guard at the gate does not make exceptions for people who drove far or didn’t know the rules. Dress conservatively and you’ll pass. Dress casually and you risk the drive home.
✅ Wear This — Safe Choices
Bottoms: Loose-fitting jeans, slacks, or khakis. No holes, no fraying, no distressing.
Tops: Collared shirts (polo, button-up), or loose-fitting T-shirts with sleeves.
Shoes: Closed-toe sneakers or loafers with full backs and socks. Safest choice.
Undergarments: Must be worn at all times.
Sports bra: Strongly recommended for women — no underwire means a faster metal detector pass and avoids secondary screening.
Colors: White, grey, black, brown, pastels, or mixed patterns. Any color except solid blue, solid orange, solid tan/khaki, or camouflage.
❌ Do NOT Wear These — Automatic Rejection
Spandex / Lycra: No leggings, jeggings, yoga pants, or anything skin-tight.
Inmate colors: All-blue or all-orange outfits resemble inmate uniforms.
Camouflage: Any pattern. Strictly prohibited.
Revealing tops: No halter tops, tube tops, tank tops, spaghetti straps, or visible cleavage.
Short bottoms: Shorts or skirts shorter than 3 inches above the knee.
See-through fabric: Any sheer, mesh, or transparent material.
Flip-flops / sandals: Open-toed shoes or mules without backs.
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The Simple Dress Code Test: The Night Before
Lay out your entire outfit the night before. Ask yourself: Is any part tight? Is any skin showing between the waist and knee? Is any color solid blue, orange, or tan? Does anything resemble military clothing? If any answer is yes, change the item. This takes 2 minutes and eliminates any chance of rejection.
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What You Can Bring Inside the Visitation Park
The list is short. Everything else stays in your car.
You are entering a secure facility. The list of what is permitted inside is intentionally minimal. Everything not on this list must be locked in your vehicle before you approach the entry point.
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Valid Photo IDOne government-issued photo ID: Driver’s License, State ID card, or Passport. No expired IDs.
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Single Car KeyOne key or key fob only. Do not bring your full keychain — leave all other keys in the car.
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Cash — Max $50Up to $50.00 per visitor. Small bills ($1, $5) and silver coins only. For vending machines — you cannot hand cash to the inmate.
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Baby Items (if applicable)Up to 3 clear plastic bottles, 1 clear bag with diapers and wipes, 1 clear pacifier. All items must be in clear packaging.
The $50 Cash Rule — Why Exact Change Matters
Vending machines in the visitation park only accept cash. The machines do not make change for large bills. Break your cash into $1 and $5 bills before you arrive. Also: some facilities have a lower cash limit than $50 — call ahead to confirm the limit at the specific facility.
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Step-by-Step Arrival and Entry Procedure
What happens from the moment you park to when you sit down
1
Arrive at the parking lot by 7:45 AM
Even though registration opens at 8:15 AM, facilities get busy quickly. Arriving by 7:45 AM puts you in the early queue. Arriving after 10:00 AM risks the 10:30 AM cutoff — especially at larger facilities where lines move slowly.
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Secure your vehicle — hide your phone completely
Lock everything in your car. Put your phone in the glove box, center console, or under a seat — out of plain sight. Do not leave it visible on the seat. Take only your ID, one key, and your cash.
⚠If you are found to have a phone on your person inside the facility — even in your pocket — you will be immediately removed and could lose your visiting privileges permanently.
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Walk to the Visitor Check-In building — join the queue
Follow signage to the Visitor Check-In or Visitor Processing area. Stand in line. When called forward, present your government-issued photo ID.
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Pass through security screening
You will go through a metal detector and may be subject to a pat-down search. Staff may also use handheld wand scanners. Women with underwire bras will typically be subject to additional screening — wear a sports bra to avoid this.
💡Staff can conduct searches using drug detection technology at any time. If you consumed drugs before your visit — even legal marijuana — you risk a positive reading and immediate denial of entry.
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Enter the visitation park — you’ll be assigned a seat
Once cleared, a guard escorts you into the visitation area. You will be assigned a specific seat or table. Do not choose your own spot.
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Wait for the inmate — understand the physical contact rules
The inmate will be brought out shortly after you are seated. Here are the physical contact rules during the visit:
A brief hug and kiss at the start of the visit — permitted
A brief hug and kiss at the end of the visit — permitted
Holding hands across the table — usually permitted
Sitting beside each other — not permitted (you must sit across from each other)
Prolonged kissing or embracing at any time — not permitted
Passing any item directly to the inmate — strictly prohibited
🚨Any violation of contact rules can result in the visit being immediately terminated and visiting privileges suspended. Guards are watching at all times.
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Using the vending machines
Vending machines are in the visitation area. You use your own cash to buy food and drinks — for yourself and the inmate. The inmate cannot handle money. You buy the item and bring it to them.
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Common Questions — Answered Directly
The most searched FDOC visitation questions with straight answers
No. The Florida Department of Corrections does not have an online portal for visitation applications. There is no digital version of Form DC6-111A. The process requires the physical paper form, mailed by the inmate to you, completed by hand in black ink, and returned by US Mail to the Classification Department. Any website claiming to let you “apply online for a fee” is a scam.
No. Visitation approvals are not handled by email and Classification departments rarely respond to status inquiries by phone either. The only way to know your status is through the inmate. They are notified by the Classification Officer when your application is approved or denied — they must tell you. Do not go to the facility until the inmate confirms you are on the approved list.
A prior criminal record does not automatically disqualify you. FDOC uses Form DC6-111D (the Visitor Screening Matrix) to evaluate each case individually. They consider the nature of the offense, how recent it was, and your relationship to the inmate. What will automatically disqualify you is failing to disclose a prior record. Always list everything and let FDOC decide — they often approve visitors with old or minor records.
Yes. FDOC allows visitation on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. If the holiday falls on a weekday, visitation typically opens that day. Always call the specific facility the week before to confirm, as individual wardens can cancel visitation for staffing or security reasons without advance public notice.
If privileges were suspended, the inmate can submit a written request for reinstatement to the Classification Officer. For suspensions longer than 6 months, a new Form DC6-111A must be submitted. For indefinite suspensions, reinstatement cannot be requested until 2 years after the suspension was imposed. The warden makes the final decision. If the denial was in error, the inmate can also submit an appeal through the FDOC grievance process.
No. FDOC policy only allows visitors to be on one inmate’s approved visitor list at a time. If you want to be added to a different inmate’s list, you must first be removed from the current inmate’s list. This is a common issue for family members who have multiple relatives incarcerated in the Florida state system.
Generally no. When an inmate is transferred from county jail to state prison, they go to a Reception Center for 3–6 weeks of medical and psychological evaluation before being assigned to a permanent facility. Visitation is typically suspended during this period. Wait until the inmate is permanently assigned, then start the Form DC6-111A process at the permanent facility.
Some high-security facilities or disciplinary situations require non-contact visits, where a structural barrier (glass partition with a phone) prevents any physical contact. If the inmate is on non-contact status, you won’t be able to hug them, hold hands, or use the vending machines together. The inmate will know if they are on non-contact status and should tell you before you make the trip.
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Insider Tips Nobody Else Tells You
Practical things you only learn from experience
📸 No photos allowed at most facilities
You cannot take photos of the inmate or the facility interior. Some facilities allow one photo at the start of the visit taken by a guard — call ahead to confirm if photography is permitted at the specific prison.
🌡️ Florida heat is brutal — bring water
You will often wait outside in Florida heat for 30–60 minutes before entering the building. Bring a water bottle and drink it before you get to the entry point — bottles cannot be brought inside.
📞 Call the facility the morning of your visit
A quick 2-minute call to the facility on the morning of your visit confirms they aren’t on lockdown. Lockdowns happen with no public announcement. Find facility numbers at fdc.myflorida.com/facilities.
💊 Prescription medication
You cannot bring medication inside the visitation area. If you have a medical condition requiring medication during a visit (e.g., insulin, EpiPen), call the facility ahead of time — they have a process for pre-approved medical items that most families don’t know about.
🚿 Perfume and strong scents
While not explicitly banned, heavy perfume or cologne can sometimes trigger drug detection equipment. Apply lightly or not at all on visitation day to avoid any complications at the screening point.
🔔 Sign up for VINELink alerts
Register at VINELink Florida to get an automatic text if the inmate is transferred to a new facility. This saves you from showing up at the wrong location after an unannounced transfer.
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Pre-Visit Checklist — Print This Before You Go
Check every box the night before your visit
Confirmed approval: The inmate has told me I am on the approved visitor list.
Checked for lockdown: I called the facility this morning and confirmed they are open for visitation.
Verified facility time zone: I know whether the facility is on Eastern or Central Time.
Leaving by the right time: I will arrive at the parking lot by 7:45 AM.
Valid ID: I have my driver’s license, state ID, or passport — and it is not expired.
Cash is correct: I have $50 or less in small bills — no $20s, $50s, or $100s.
Outfit is approved: No spandex, no solid blue/orange, no tank tops, no shorts above 3 inches above the knee.
Sports bra (women): No underwire — this speeds up security screening significantly.
Phone is staying in the car: Phone is locked in my car, not in my pocket.
One key only: I have a single car key or fob — not my full keychain.
No gum, tobacco, medication, or candy: All prohibited items are in the car or at home.
Baby items (if applicable): All bottles, diapers, and pacifiers are in clear packaging.
Find Your Facility — Florida Prison Locations
Use this map to locate the facility you’re visiting. Always confirm the exact address and get directions before your trip — some facilities share similar names or are in rural areas with limited cell service.
📍 Florida Department of Corrections Facilities — State Map
Official Resources & Quick Links
🌐 Official FDOC Visiting Information
Current rules, emergency closures, and facility-specific updates.
📝 Disclaimer & Editorial Note: This guide is based on FDC Procedure 601.714 and official information from the Florida Department of Corrections as of March 2026. We are an independent private resource — not affiliated with FDOC or any government agency. Visitation rules are subject to change by individual wardens at any time without advance public notice. Always verify current rules directly with the facility before visiting. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
