Yes. Non-citizens can get a Social Security Number if they are lawfully present in the United States and either have permission to work or have a qualifying non-work reason that requires the number. The application is free, and most people receive their card within about two to four weeks of applying. The type of card you get depends on your immigration status.
Who Qualifies
Federal rules recognize three broad groups eligible for an SSN: U.S. citizens, non-citizens authorized to work, and non-citizens who need a number for a valid non-work reason. Within the non-citizen side, that breaks down by status.
Permanent Residents
If you hold a Green Card (Form I-551), you qualify. Permanent residence carries unrestricted work authorization, so you receive the same card issued to U.S. citizens: name and number only, no employment legend.
Work Visa Holders
H-1B, L-1, O-1, and similar temporary work visas authorize employment, which makes you eligible. Your card will read “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION,” and employers will verify your underlying work permit alongside it.
Refugees and Asylees
If you have been granted refugee or asylee status, you can apply immediately. Asylees receive an unrestricted card because the status itself includes work authorization.
DACA Recipients
With a grant of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and an Employment Authorization Document from USCIS, you qualify. Your card will carry the DHS authorization legend because the work permission is temporary.
F-1 and M-1 Students
International students do not qualify automatically. You become eligible once you have work authorization, whether through on-campus employment, Curricular Practical Training, Optional Practical Training, or a separate work permit from DHS. F-1 students applying based on on-campus work will also need a letter from their school’s designated official confirming enrollment and identifying the employer, plus evidence of the job itself.
Lawfully Present Non-Citizens Without Work Authorization
You can still qualify if a federal law requires an SSN for a benefit you are otherwise entitled to, or if a state or local law requires one for public assistance and you are lawfully present. The SSA reviews the specific legal requirement before issuing a card, which in this case will be marked “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT.”
Which Card You Will Receive
The SSA issues three versions of the card. Which one arrives in the mail depends entirely on your status:
- An unrestricted card, showing only your name and number, goes to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and asylees.
- A card marked “VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION” goes to people with temporary work permission, including work visa holders, EAD holders, and DACA recipients.
- A card marked “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT” goes to people who need an SSN for a qualifying non-work reason.
How to Apply
If you are lawfully present in the United States, you can start the application online on the SSA’s website. After starting online, you must visit a local Social Security office or Card Center within 45 days to finish it. Some offices let you schedule the appointment online; if yours does not, call before going.
You can also skip the online step and do everything in person. Either way, you will submit a completed Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card) with original supporting documents. The form is available on the SSA website or at any office.
Documents to Bring
Bring originals or certified copies from the issuing agency. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted. You need to prove three things:
- Immigration status, using a current DHS document such as your I-551 Permanent Resident Card, an I-94 Arrival/Departure Record with an unexpired foreign passport, or an I-766 Employment Authorization Document. If you are applying for a work-eligible card, the document must show work authorization.
- Identity, using a document with your name and either your date of birth, your parents’ names, a photograph, or a physical description. An unexpired foreign passport, driver’s license, or DHS photo ID works. A birth certificate alone does not prove identity.
- Age, typically a birth certificate or passport. If your birth certificate is unavailable, a passport, hospital birth record, or religious record may be accepted.
Documents in a foreign language may need a certified translation. The SSA scans your originals and returns them; they do not keep your passport or immigration papers.
Wait 10 Days After Arrival
If you recently arrived in the United States, the SSA recommends waiting at least 10 days before applying. That gives DHS time to update its records so the SSA can verify your documents electronically, which speeds up processing.
How Long It Takes
Once the SSA has everything it needs, you should receive your card within about two weeks. If the SSA cannot immediately verify your immigration documents with USCIS, add roughly another two weeks. The card is mailed to the address on your application.
If You Do Not Qualify: the ITIN
Not everyone who has a U.S. tax filing obligation is eligible for an SSN. If you are not, the IRS issues an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead. An ITIN is used only for federal tax purposes. It does not authorize work and does not make you eligible for Social Security benefits.
An ITIN is typically used by nonresident aliens filing a U.S. tax return, resident aliens who cannot get an SSN, spouses or dependents of a U.S. citizen or resident claimed on a return, and nonresident aliens claiming a tax treaty benefit. You apply on IRS Form W-7, filed with your federal tax return and identity documents. A valid passport is the simplest option because it works on its own as proof of both identity and foreign status. Without a passport, you need at least two documents from the IRS’s accepted list, with at least one showing your photograph. Originals or certified copies only.
Updating Your Card After a Status Change
If your status changes, for example from a temporary work visa to permanent residence, update your Social Security record so your card reflects the new status and drops any restrictive legend. Contact your local Social Security office after you receive your new immigration document, and bring proof of identity, your new immigration status, and DHS work authorization. Originals or certified copies only. A replacement card typically arrives within 5 to 10 business days. Removing a restrictive legend because your status changed does not count against your replacement card limits.
Do Not Work on a Non-Work Card
Using a card marked “NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT” to get a job is a federal crime. Anyone who willfully and knowingly uses an SSN with intent to deceive, including falsely representing a number for employment, can be charged with a felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a fine, or both. Using fraudulent or mismatched documents during the employment verification process carries a separate penalty of up to five years in prison.
The immigration consequences run alongside the criminal ones. Unauthorized employment can jeopardize your current status, trigger removal proceedings, and make it harder to obtain lawful status later. If your situation changes and you gain work authorization, update your card first, then take the job.