You can get a U.S. passport without a Social Security Number, but only if you have never been issued one. The DS-11 application instructions cover this exact situation: enter zeros in the SSN field and attach a signed statement, made under penalty of perjury, declaring that no SSN has ever been assigned to you. If you do have a number and simply can’t find it, this path is not available to you, and using it anyway is a federal crime.
Who Actually Qualifies
The no-SSN process is for people who have legitimately never been assigned a Social Security Number. That is a narrower group than many applicants assume. It typically covers U.S. citizens born abroad who were never enrolled in the Social Security system, young children whose parents have not yet applied for a number on their behalf, and members of certain religious communities that have historically opted out.
Being issued an SSN is not the same as remembering it or holding the card. If a number was assigned to you at birth, through a parent’s tax filing, or when you took your first job, you have an SSN whether the card is in a drawer somewhere or long gone. The exception on the passport form only applies when no number has ever been issued in your name.
How to Complete the Form
On Form DS-11, item 5 asks for your Social Security Number. If you have never been issued one, the instructions say to enter “000-00-0000” rather than leaving the field blank, and to submit a signed, dated statement with your application.1U.S. Department of State. U.S. Passport Application Form DS-11 Both pieces are required. Zeros alone, without the statement, will leave your application incomplete.
The DS-82 renewal form works the same way. If you are renewing and still have never had an SSN, enter zeros in box 5 and include the same sworn statement with your renewal materials.2U.S. Department of Commerce. DS-82 U.S. Passport Renewal Application for Eligible Individuals
What the Sworn Statement Must Say
The wording matters. For an adult applying on their own behalf, the required language is: “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: I have never been issued a Social Security Number by the Social Security Administration.” Sign and date the statement, using your full name exactly as it appears on the application.3USEmbassy.gov. No SSN Statement 2023
If you are applying for a child who has never been issued an SSN, adjust the wording: “I [your full name] declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the following is true and correct: [child’s full name] has never been issued a Social Security Number by the Social Security Administration.” The statement can be typed or handwritten and gets submitted with your other application materials.3USEmbassy.gov. No SSN Statement 2023
If You Have an SSN but Cannot Remember It
This is the situation most people are actually in, and the zeros-and-statement path does not apply. Filing that statement when a number has been assigned to you is a false declaration under penalty of perjury. You need to recover the number first.
The Social Security Administration offers a few options:
- A my Social Security account at ssa.gov will display your number if you have one set up.
- You can request a replacement Social Security card online in many states, or by scheduling an appointment at a local SSA office. Replacement cards arrive by mail in 5 to 10 business days.4Social Security Administration. Replace Social Security Card
- SSA’s phone line at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) operates Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.4Social Security Administration. Replace Social Security Card
Your SSN also appears on prior tax returns, W-2s, and bank records. If you have travel coming up, those documents can be faster than waiting for a replacement card.
An ITIN Is Not a Substitute
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number cannot fill in for an SSN on a passport application. ITINs exist for federal tax processing and are not treated as identification outside that system. If you hold an ITIN but have never been issued an SSN, you still follow the zeros-and-statement process. If you are eligible for an SSN, applying for one through SSA is the cleaner route before you submit your passport paperwork.
Penalties for a False Declaration
Claiming you were never issued an SSN when you actually have one is not a paperwork mistake. The DS-11 warns that knowingly false statements are punishable under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (false statements to a federal agency), 18 U.S.C. § 1542 (false statements in passport applications), and 18 U.S.C. § 1621 (perjury).
The passport statute carries the heaviest exposure: up to 10 years in prison for a first or second offense, and up to 15 years for later offenses. If the false statement is tied to drug trafficking, the maximum rises to 20 years; if tied to international terrorism, 25 years.5Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 1542 – False Statement in Application and Use of Passport Omitting a valid SSN, without the sworn statement, is a civil matter that carries a $500 IRS penalty. Signing a false statement moves it into criminal territory.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 6039E – Information Concerning Resident Status
Why the SSN Is Asked for in the First Place
The requirement is driven by federal tax law. Under 26 U.S.C. § 6039E, every passport applicant must provide a taxpayer identification number, which for most individuals is their SSN.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 6039E – Information Concerning Resident Status The State Department forwards that information to the IRS, which uses it to track citizens who may have foreign income or unfiled returns.7Social Security Administration. POMS RM 10225.120 – Social Security Numbers for Passport Applications
Separately, 22 U.S.C. § 2714a(f) authorizes the Secretary of State to deny a passport application that omits an SSN or includes one that is incorrect and was provided willfully, intentionally, negligently, or recklessly.8GovInfo. 22 USC 2714a – Revocation or Denial of Passport in Case of Certain Unpaid Taxes That is why the zeros-and-statement combination exists: it lets applicants who truly have no SSN satisfy the rule without leaving the field blank.
Fees and Processing Times
For a first-time adult passport book in 2026, expect two separate charges: a $130 application fee payable to the U.S. Department of State, and a $35 acceptance fee payable to the facility where you apply. Expedited processing adds $60 on top of the application fee.9U.S. Department of State. Passport Fees
Routine processing runs 4 to 6 weeks and expedited processing runs 2 to 3 weeks, measured from the day the application arrives at a passport agency. Mailing time to and from the agency is not included, so build in extra days on both ends.10U.S. Department of State. Processing Times for U.S. Passports Applying without an SSN does not add processing time on its own, provided your zeros and sworn statement are in order.