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Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens

Does a noncitizen need a Social 

Security number?

Unless you are a noncitizen who wants to work in 

the United States, you probably don’t need a Social 

Security number.

Generally, only noncitizens authorized to work in 

the United States by the Department of Homeland 

Security (DHS) can get a Social Security number. 

Social Security numbers are used to report a 

person’s wages to the government and to determine 

a person’s eligibility for Social Security benefits. 

You need a Social Security number to work, 

collect Social Security benefits, and receive other 

government services.

Lawfully admitted noncitizens can get many 

benefits and services without a Social Security 

number. 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 Social Security numbers 

to identify you in their records. Most, however, will 

identify you by some other means if you request it.

We can’t assign a Social Security number solely 

for you to get a driver’s license or a service that 

requires a credit check.

Although many companies, such as banks and 

credit companies, may ask for your Social Security 

number, you generally aren’t required to provide one 

if you don’t have one.

How can I get a Social Security 

number 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 a Social Security number 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.socialsecurity.gov/ssnvisa); or

• You can visit a Social Security office in person. 

(See section below for what you need to bring 

with you 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 from 

the DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services (USCIS), you can apply for your 

SSN on the same USCIS application 

Form I-765 (Application for Employment 

Authorization). (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 visit a social security office in 

person to apply.

What do I need to bring 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); or

• Form I-766 (Employment Authorization 

Document/EAD).

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.

SocialSecurity.gov Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens
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, ask for International Students And Social 

Security Numbers (Publication No. 05-10181).

You need to prove 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). You can do this 

at the Social Security office or you can find a copy 

of this form on our website that you can print and 

bring with you.

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?

We recommend you wait 10 days after arriving 

in the United States to apply for a Social Security 

number to make it easier for us to verify your DHS 

documents online, which will speed processing of 

your Social Security number application.

We will mail your Social Security number card as 

soon as we have all of your information and have 

verified your documents with the issuing offices.

How much does applying for a Social 

Security number and card cost?

Applying for a Social Security number and 

card is free.

What if I need a number for 

other reasons?

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

States, you can get a Social Security number 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 a Social Security 

number 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 a 

Social Security number 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 a 

Social Security number.

Contacting Social Security

The most convenient way to contact us anytime, 

anywhere is to visit www.socialsecurity.gov. 

There, you can: apply for benefits; open a my

Social Security account, which you can use to review 

your Social Security Statement, verify your earnings, 

print a benefit verification letter, change your direct 

deposit information, request a replacement Medicare 

card, and get a replacement SSA-1099/1042S; 

obtain valuable information; find publications; 

get answers to frequently asked questions; 

and much more.

If you don’t have access to the internet, we 

offer many automated services by telephone, 

24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us toll-free 

at 1-800-772-1213 or at our TTY number, 

1-800-325-0778, if you’re deaf or hard of hearing.

If you need to speak to a person, we can answer 

your calls from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through 

Friday. We ask for your patience during busy periods 

since you may experience a higher than usual rate 

of busy signals and longer hold times to speak to us. 

We look forward to serving you.

Social Security Administration

Publication No. 05-10096 | ICN 468630 | Unit of Issue — HD (one hundred)

March 2018 (Recycle prior editions)

Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens

Produced and published at U.S. taxpayer expense

Printed on recycled paper