Can a Foreigner Get a Social Security Number: Eligibility and ITIN

Yes, a foreigner can get a Social Security number if they fall into one of three groups: lawful permanent residents, non-citizens with work authorization from the Department of Homeland Security, or people who need the number for a specific non-work reason such as a federally funded benefit. The application is free, generally requires an in-person visit to a Social Security office, and the card arrives by mail about two weeks after processing finishes.¹

Who Qualifies

Federal regulations set out three eligibility routes. Green card holders qualify automatically. Non-citizens admitted on a temporary basis qualify if they have permission to work in the United States — this includes H-1B specialty occupation workers, L-1 intra-company transferees, and other employment-based visa holders. F-1 students qualify once they have authorization for on-campus employment, curricular practical training, or optional practical training. J-1 exchange visitors qualify when their program sponsor has authorized employment.²

The third route is narrower. If you do not have work authorization but a federal law requires you to have an SSN to receive a federally funded benefit you already qualify for — or a state or local law requires an SSN for public assistance and you are legally present — you can apply on that basis. You will need a letter from the agency administering the benefit, on official letterhead, identifying you by name, explaining the specific legal reason an SSN is required, citing the law, and giving the name, signature, and phone number of an agency contact.¹

If you recently entered the country, wait at least 10 days before applying. That gives government databases time to update your arrival information so the Social Security Administration can verify your immigration status electronically. Applying sooner often leads to delays or a request to come back.³

Which Card You Will Receive

Your immigration status determines not only whether you qualify but also which of three cards the SSA issues you.⁴

The unrestricted card shows only your name and number. It goes to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, and lets you work for any employer without restriction.
The card marked “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION” goes to temporary visa holders who currently have work permission from DHS. You can work, but your employer may need to see a separate document, such as your Employment Authorization Document or an endorsed I-94, to complete hiring paperwork.
The card marked “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT” goes to people who received an SSN for a non-work reason. If wages are reported under this number, the SSA notifies the Department of Homeland Security.

The legend matters at hiring time. A restricted card alone does not satisfy the I-9 employment eligibility form every U.S. employer must complete, so you will need to show additional or alternative documents to prove you are authorized to work.

Documents You Need

You must provide original evidence of your age, identity, and immigration status. The SSA does not accept photocopies or notarized copies, and no document can be expired.⁵ For most non-citizens the core set is:

An unexpired foreign passport, which proves both identity and age.
Your I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, which proves lawful entry and current status. You can print this from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website if you entered by air or sea.
Your I-766 Employment Authorization Document, if your work permission comes through that card rather than your visa status itself.

⁶

F-1 students also bring their I-20 and a letter from their designated school official confirming enrollment and identifying the employer and type of work. J-1 exchange visitors bring their DS-2019 and a letter from their program sponsor, on sponsor letterhead with an original signature, authorizing employment.⁶

If your documents are not in English, you do not need to arrange a translation. Submit the original or a certified copy, and the SSA will handle a verbatim translation internally as part of the review.⁷

How to Apply

The application is Form SS-5. It asks for your full legal name, any other names you use, your date and place of birth, and your parents’ names and SSNs if known. There is no fee.⁸

If you are lawfully present, you can start online through the SSA website and then have 45 days to visit a local Social Security office or Card Center in person with your original documents.¹ You can also skip the online step and apply entirely in person. Federal regulations require an in-person interview for anyone age 12 or older applying for an first-time SSN.⁵

At the office, the representative reviews your Form SS-5 against your originals, asks any clarifying questions, and scans the documents before returning them to you. You leave with a printed receipt confirming the application has been filed.

Applying With an Immigrant Visa

If you are applying for an immigrant visa through a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad, you can request an SSN at the same time and skip the separate SSA visit. On the DS-260 Immigrant Visa Electronic Application, answer “Yes” to the question asking whether you want the SSA to assign you an SSN, and agree to the consent-to-disclosure statement.⁹ When your visa is granted and you are admitted to the United States, DHS forwards your information to the SSA, which assigns your number and mails your card to the address on your visa application. The card typically arrives within 7 to 10 business days after entry.¹⁰

How Long It Takes and What Happens Next

After you file, the SSA verifies your immigration status electronically through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, which connects to DHS records. In a straightforward case the system returns a response within seconds. If the automated check cannot confirm your status, the SSA submits a request for additional verification, which may require uploading a copy of your immigration document for manual review.¹¹

Once verification is complete and your application is processed, your card arrives by mail in about two weeks.¹² If manual verification is needed, that step can add several weeks or longer before the two-week mailing window starts. If your card does not arrive when expected, contact the SSA or return to your local office with your receipt.

Your SSN is assigned to you for life, even if your immigration status later changes.

If You Do Not Qualify: The ITIN

Foreign nationals who are not eligible for an SSN but have a U.S. federal tax filing obligation can apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead. An ITIN is strictly a tax-processing number: it does not authorize you to work, and it does not make you eligible for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit.¹³

Common situations calling for an ITIN include nonresident aliens required to file a U.S. tax return, nonresident aliens claiming a tax treaty benefit, and spouses or dependents of U.S. citizens or residents who are not eligible for an SSN. You apply by filing IRS Form W-7 along with a federal tax return and documents proving identity and foreign status. A valid passport is the only single document that satisfies both requirements; without one, you need at least two documents from a list of 13 acceptable alternatives.¹⁴

You cannot hold both an ITIN and an SSN at the same time. If you later become eligible for an SSN, stop using your ITIN and notify the IRS so the agency can combine your tax records under the new number. Failing to do so could mean you do not receive credit for wages and taxes already reported.¹³

1
Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens
2
eCFR. 20 CFR 422.104 – Who Can Be Assigned a Social Security Number
3
Study in the States. Obtaining a Social Security Number
4
Social Security Administration. Types of Social Security Cards
5
eCFR. 20 CFR 422.107 – Evidence Requirements
6
Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card
7
Social Security Administration. Transmittal of Foreign-Language Documents for Translation
8
Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card
9
Social Security Administration. What You Need to Do – Social Security Numbers and Immigrant Visas
10
Social Security Administration. What Is Enumeration at Entry and How Does It Work
11
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Verification Process
12
Social Security Administration. How Long Does It Take to Get an SSN Card
13
Internal Revenue Service. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
14
Internal Revenue Service. Form W-7 Apply for an ITIN