How the TDCJ Visitors List Works — who can be added, how often it can change, and why it matters for calls & deposits
Trying to help someone in TDCJ with visits, phone calls, or commissary money? The official Visitors List is central to all of it. The catch: it's limited to 10 names and can only be changed at set intervals—so planning ahead matters.
The TDCJ Visitors List is exactly what it sounds like: the approved names of people an inmate wants to see during visiting hours. There's a hard cap of 10 names. Because slots are limited, who gets added - and when - affects more than just visits. It can shape how easily you stay connected and provide support.
For institutional inmates, you can't add or remove names whenever you want. TDCJ allows a Visitors List change only once every six months. That means the list can stay locked for a long stretch. If you're trying to get added - or need to swap someone out - that timeline could mean the difference between visiting soon and waiting months.
For people in state jail, an intermediate sanction facility (ISF), or a substance abuse felony punishment (SAFP) program, the window is shorter - but still limited. TDCJ allows changes only once every 60 days. That's more frequent than six months, but don't assume a name can be added right before a trip or swapped out immediately.
Note: This schedule is a TDCJ-wide rule, but unit-level details and exceptions can vary. If timing is urgent, call the unit directly to confirm what applies to your situation.
Being approved isn't just about getting through the door for a visit. Since September 1, 2020, TDCJ restricts who can deposit money into an inmate's account: only senders on the approved Visitor List or the Inmate Telephone List. If you want to help with commissary or basic needs, being on the right list is the deciding factor.
Phone contact has its own gatekeeping step. Before you can receive calls from a TDCJ inmate, you need to register your phone number at texasprisonphone.com - and you'll need the inmate's TDCJ ID number to complete registration. If calls aren't coming through, this step is usually the culprit.
Practical takeaway: If you're not on the approved Visitor List or Inmate Telephone List, you won't be able to deposit money. And if your number isn't registered, you won't receive calls.
If Not on List
- ✓ Ask the inmate whether you’re already on the official Visitors List (remember: it tops out at 10 names).
- ✓ If you’re trying to be added or swapped in, find out what change window applies - once every six months for institutional inmates, or once every 60 days for state jail/ISF/SAFP.
- ✓ Contact the unit to verify what’s currently on file and what the next allowed change date looks like, so you can plan around the limited change schedule.
Not on the list and timing matters? Call the unit directly. Ask about the next Visitors List change under TDCJ's schedule - six months for institutional inmates, 60 days for state jail/ISF/SAFP. Units may route these questions to specific staff (a family contact role or shift leadership), so be ready to explain you're confirming list status and change timing, not debating the rules.
Think of the Visitors List as a limited resource, not a casual sign-up sheet. With only 10 names allowed and changes restricted to set windows (once every six months for institutional inmates, once every 60 days for state jail/ISF/SAFP), families often have to prioritize who truly needs access. Since deposits are restricted to people on the approved Visitor List or Inmate Telephone List, your choice of who gets a slot can affect who's able to send money when it counts. On the phone side, make sure whoever expects to receive calls registers at texasprisonphone.com using the inmate's TDCJ ID number - otherwise calls won't go through.
Tip: Don't wait until the week you need to send money or start taking calls. List changes are limited by set windows, so coordinate who needs to be on the approved lists as early as possible.
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