MDOC Visiting Application: Form CAJ-103, Eligibility, and Approval

To visit someone in a Michigan prison, the prisoner first adds your name to their visitor list, then you complete the MDOC visiting application (form CAJ-103) and submit it either online through MiLogin or by mail to the facility where the prisoner is housed. The Michigan Department of Corrections takes up to four weeks to run a background check and notify you of approval or denial.¹

The Prisoner Has to List You First

You cannot apply on your own. The person you want to visit has to place your name on their Visitor List (form CAJ-334) and submit it to their housing unit staff. Only people identified on that list are considered for approval, so confirm with the prisoner that the form is in before you fill anything out yourself.²

Prisoners can list unlimited immediate family members and up to ten other people. Family names can be added or dropped at any time; non-family names can only be changed once every six months. If a friend was recently removed from someone’s list, the prisoner may have to wait to add a replacement in that slot.²

One rule catches non-family visitors off guard: you can only appear on one prisoner’s approved list at a time. If you’re already approved for one prisoner and want to visit another who isn’t a family member, you’ll need to come off the first list before the second facility can approve you.³

Check That You’re Eligible Before You Apply

The MDOC will approve you only if you meet every one of the following. Missing one is enough for a denial.²

You are 18 or older, or an emancipated minor.
You are not currently under a visitor restriction from a past violation.
You have not previously been incarcerated in any jurisdiction. Immediate family members can be approved as an exception, but only with the Warden’s prior approval, and there is no set waiting period after release; the restriction otherwise applies indefinitely.
You are not currently on parole or probation for a felony. Immediate family members can get an exception with Warden approval plus written approval from the supervising field agent.
You are not a current MDOC employee or volunteer; those roles have separate visiting rules.

Children under 18 can visit only if they are the prisoner’s child, stepchild, grandchild, sibling, step-sibling, or half-sibling, and they must be accompanied by an adult immediate family member or legal guardian who is also on the approved list. A child will be kept off the list if a court order prohibits contact, if the prisoner’s parental rights for that child were terminated, or if the prisoner was convicted of child abuse, criminal sexual conduct, or other violent behavior against the child or the child’s sibling, unless the MDOC Director grants an exception. A non-incarcerated parent or legal guardian must sign Section E of the application to authorize a minor’s visit.⁴

Filling Out Form CAJ-103

The application is shorter than most people expect. You don’t need to attach supporting documents; the form itself gives the MDOC what it needs to run the background check.⁴

Section A asks for your driver’s license or state ID number, full legal name, home address, date and place of birth, any other names you’ve used (maiden names, aliases, prior married names), and the prisoner’s name and number.
Section B asks your relationship to the prisoner, whether you are or were an MDOC employee, whether you are or were incarcerated anywhere, and whether you’ve ever been restricted from visiting a prisoner.
Section C asks whether you’re currently on felony parole or probation and whether you have ever been convicted of a felony. A “yes” to either requires details: dates, locations, and the specific convictions.
Section D is your signature and date, certifying the information is true.
Section E applies only to minor applicants and needs the non-incarcerated parent or guardian’s signature.

Every question in Sections A and B must be answered, and every Section C question needs a yes or no checked. If a question doesn’t apply, write “Not Applicable” rather than leaving it blank. Incomplete forms are the single most common reason applications stall, and the fix is almost always filling in a field that was skipped.

How to Submit It

There are two submission options.¹

Online Through MiLogin

Register for a MiLogin account on the Michigan state government website and access the online visiting application from there. Once your application is processed, MiLogin emails you the decision. This is the faster path because there’s no mail transit time.

By Mail

Print the application from michigan.gov/corrections, complete it, and mail it to the facility where the prisoner is housed. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Without one, the facility will only contact you if you are denied; approvals go unconfirmed and you won’t know whether you can visit.⁴ If the visitor doesn’t have internet access, the prisoner can request that a blank application be mailed to them directly.⁵

What Happens During the Four-Week Wait

Both online and mailed applications take up to four weeks to process.¹ During that window, the MDOC checks your information against law enforcement databases to verify identity, look for outstanding warrants, confirm any felony history you disclosed, and confirm you meet every eligibility requirement. If something doesn’t match or raises a question, staff may reach out for clarification or documentation before making a final decision.

If Your Application Is Denied

Both you and the prisoner receive written notice of a denial, and the notice states the reason. Common grounds include:

An incomplete application, which is the easiest to resolve.
False information, which can carry criminal consequences beyond losing visiting privileges.
An active warrant found during the background check.
A disqualifying criminal history. A felony conviction is not an automatic bar, but the Warden can deny based on convictions involving violence, drug trafficking, or sexual offenses when they present a security concern.
Prior visiting-room violations, particularly attempts to bring contraband into a facility.
Being on felony parole or probation, unless you are an immediate family member with the required approvals.

You can ask the Warden of the facility to reconsider by submitting a written request. MDOC policy does not set a deadline, but sending it while the circumstances are still current is sensible.² Address the specific reason in the denial letter. If the issue was an incomplete form, resubmit with the missing information. If it was criminal history, explain the circumstances and the factors that support approval, such as completion of probation, years since the offense, or the family relationship. The Warden has discretion to grant exceptions, especially for immediate family, so a clear written case matters.

After You’re Approved

Bring a valid, current government-issued photo ID to every visit: driver’s license, state ID card, military ID, or passport. Expired IDs are turned away at the door. Minors without a photo ID can use a birth certificate, adoption certificate, or court order establishing paternity instead.⁵

Aside from ID and money for vending machines, assume nothing else comes inside with you. Cell phones, pagers, cameras, recording devices, tobacco, weapons, alcohol, and prescription drugs (without a physician’s written certification listing your name, dosage, and reason) are all prohibited. Individual wardens can add facility-specific rules.⁶

The MDOC also enforces a dress code and turns away visitors who don’t comply. Skirts and shorts more than three inches above the knee, form-fitting garments like leggings or yoga pants, hooded clothing, graphic content, and anything resembling prisoner or law enforcement dress are all out. Facilities sometimes have local rules on jewelry, layered clothing, or shoes, so call ahead before your first visit.¹

Video Visits as an Alternative

If travel isn’t practical, the MDOC offers video visits through the GTL platform. A scheduled visit runs 20 minutes for $3.20, paid in advance by the visitor. You still have to be on the prisoner’s approved visitor list, so the same CAJ-103 application applies. Video visits are scheduled through the GTL Visitor website no more than seven days ahead and no fewer than 48 hours before the visit. Not every facility has enabled online scheduling yet, so confirm availability at your prisoner’s facility before setting up a GTL account.⁷

1
State of Michigan: Department of Corrections. Visiting a Prisoner
2
State of Michigan: Department of Corrections. MDOC Policy Directive 05.03.140 – Prisoner Visiting
3
State of Michigan: Department of Corrections. MDOC Policy Directive 05.03.140 – Prisoner Visiting
4
State of Michigan: Department of Corrections. MDOC Visiting Application CAJ-103
5
Michigan Legislature. Visiting a Michigan Correctional Facility
6
State of Michigan: Department of Corrections. MDOC Policy Directive 04.04.110
7
State of Michigan: Department of Corrections. Video Visitation