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Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens

Does a noncitizen need a Social 

Security number (SSN)?

Unless you are a noncitizen who wants to 

work in the United States, you probably don’t 

need an SSN.

Generally, only noncitizens authorized to work 

in the United States by the Department of 

Homeland Security (DHS) can get an SSN. 

SSNs are used to report a person’s wages to 

the government and to determine a person’s 

eligibility for Social Security benefits. You need 

an SSN to work, collect Social Security benefits, 

and receive other government services.

Lawfully admitted noncitizens can get many 

benefits and services without an SSN. You 

don’t need a number to get a driver’s license, 

register for school, get private health insurance, 

or apply for school lunch programs or 

subsidized housing.

Some organizations use SSNs to identify you in 

their records. Most, however, will identify you by 

some other means if you request it.

We can’t assign an SSN solely for you to get a 

driver’s license or access a service that requires 

a credit check.

Although many companies, such as banks and 

credit companies, may ask for your SSN, you 

generally aren’t required to provide one if you 

don’t have one.

How can I get an SSN and card?

If you are an immigrant, you can apply 

two ways:

• You can apply in your home country before 

you come to the United States when filing 

an application for an immigrant visa with 

the U.S. Department of State. In almost all 

cases, if you apply for an SSN and card with 

your immigrant visa application, you don’t 

have to visit a Social Security office in the 

United States. (For more information, see 

www.ssa.gov/ssnvisa).

• If you are lawfully present in the United 

States, you must contact your local 

Social Security office. (See the section 

below for what you need to submit to the 

Social Security office).

If you are a nonimmigrant, you can apply 

two ways, depending on your visa status:

• If you are lawfully present in the United 

States and plan to apply for work 

authorization or lawful permanent resident 

status from DHS, U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services (USCIS), you can apply 

for your SSN or replacement card. This can 

be done on the same USCIS application 

Form I-765 (Application for Employment 

Authorization), or via Form I-485 (Application 

for Lawful Permanent Residency or to 

Adjust Status). (For more information, see 

https://www.ssa.gov/ssnvisa/ebe.html).

• If you are lawfully present in the United 

States and your visa status allows you to 

work, then you must contact your local 

Social Security office to apply.

What do I need to submit to the Social 

Security office?

You need to prove your identity and 

work-authorized immigration status.

To prove your identity and work-authorized 

immigration status, show us your current U.S. 

immigration documents and your unexpired 

foreign passport. Acceptable immigration 

documents include your:

• Form I-551 (Lawful Permanent Resident 

Card, Machine-Readable Immigrant Visa).

• Admission stamp showing a class of 

admission permitting work.

• Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record).

• Form I-766 (Employment Authorization 

Document/EAD).

SSA.gov Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens
Exchange visitors: If you’re a J-1 or J-2 

exchange visitor, we also need to see your 

DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange 

Visitor Status or EAD. If you are a J-1 student, 

student intern, or international visitor, you must 

provide a letter from your sponsor. The letter 

should be on sponsor letterhead with an original 

signature that authorizes your employment.

International students: If you’re an F-1 or 

M-1 student, we need to see your Form I-20, 

Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant 

Student Status or Designated School Official 

(DSO) letter. For information on other 

documents that students must provide, read 

International Students and Social Security 

Numbers (Publication No. 05-10181).

You need to prove your age.

You must present your foreign birth certificate 

if you have it or can get it within 10 business 

days. If not, we can consider other documents, 

such as your unexpired passport or a document 

issued by DHS, as evidence of your age.

You need to complete an application.

You will need to complete an Application for 

a Social Security Card (Form SS-5).

Important: All documents must be either 

originals or copies certified by the issuing 

agency. We cannot accept photocopies or 

notarized copies of documents. We also 

cannot accept a receipt showing you applied 

for the document.

We may use one document for two purposes. 

For example, we may use your DHS EAD as 

proof of both your identity and work-authorized 

immigration status. Your birth certificate 

or passport may serve as proof of age. 

However, you must provide at least two 

separate documents.

When should I apply?

If you cannot apply using one of the forms 

noted above, we recommend you wait 10 days 

after arriving in the United States to apply for 

an SSN to make it easier for us to verify your 

DHS documents online. This will speed up the 

processing of your SSN application.

We will mail your SSN card as soon as we have 

all of your information and have verified your 

documents with the issuing offices.

How much does applying for an SSN 

and card cost?

Applying for an SSN and card is free.

What if I need a number for reasons 

other than work?

If you aren’t authorized by DHS to work in the 

United States, you can get an SSN only if you 

can prove you need it for a valid non-work 

reason. That might happen, for example, if a 

state or federal law requires you to have an 

SSN to get benefits to which you have already 

established entitlement.

If you need a number for tax purposes, and 

you aren’t authorized to work in the United 

States, you can apply for an Individual 

Taxpayer Identification Number from the 

Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Visit the IRS 

in person, or call the IRS toll-free number, 

1-800-TAXFORM (1-800-829-3676), and 

request Form W-7, Application For An 

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

If a business or government agency asks you 

for an SSN and you are not authorized to work 

in the United States, ask if they can identify 

you in some other way. In most cases, you’ll 

be able to get the service or license you need 

without an SSN.

Contacting Social Security

The most convenient way to do business 

with us from anywhere, on any device, is to 

visit www.ssa.gov. There are several things 

you can do online: apply for benefits; get useful 

information; find publications; and get answers 

to frequently asked questions.

Or, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213

or at 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) if you’re deaf or 

hard of hearing. We can answer your call from 

7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. You can also use 

our automated services via telephone, 24 hours 

a day. We look forward to serving you.

Social Security Administration

Publication No. 05-10096

September 2021 (March 2018 edition may be used)

Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens

Produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense