Who Has a Social Security Number: Citizens, Noncitizens, and ITINs

Anyone lawfully connected to the U.S. earnings and tax system can qualify for a Social Security number. That covers every U.S. citizen, every lawful permanent resident, and noncitizens who hold work authorization from the Department of Homeland Security. A narrow fourth path exists for noncitizens without work authorization when a specific federal, state, or local benefit program requires a number. So the short answer to who is eligible for a Social Security number is: citizens, green card holders, work-authorized noncitizens, and a small group of lawfully present noncitizens with a documented non-work reason.¹

U.S. Citizens

Citizenship is the simplest basis for eligibility. It does not matter whether you were born in the United States or naturalized later.¹ Most children born in the country receive their number automatically through Enumeration at Birth: parents check a box during birth certificate registration at the hospital, and the SSA mails the card without a separate application.²

Adult citizens who never received a number can still apply at any point in life. Naturalized citizens typically present a Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570), though a U.S. passport, Certificate of Citizenship, or Consular Report of Birth Abroad also proves citizenship for SSN purposes.²

Lawful Permanent Residents

Every lawful permanent resident is eligible, and the card issued is the same unrestricted version citizens receive, with no work-limitation notation printed on it.³ The number is what lets you work legally, file taxes, and handle financial tasks that require a taxpayer identification number.⁴

If you requested an SSN during your immigrant visa application on Form DS-230 or DS-260, the State Department and SSA share the information and mail the card automatically once you arrive. That process is called Enumeration at Entry.⁴ If you skipped that step, you can apply at a Social Security office after your Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) arrives.⁵

Noncitizens with Work Authorization

Noncitizens who are not permanent residents can still get a Social Security number as long as they hold work authorization from DHS.² That includes people on employment-based visas such as H-1B, L-1, and O-1, along with refugees and asylees. The number is how their wages get reported to the IRS and how their payroll tax contributions get recorded against any future benefit claim.

Refugees and Asylees

Refugees and asylees are authorized to work as soon as they receive their status, without needing a separate Employment Authorization Document first.⁶ They can apply for an unrestricted card immediately.⁷ Other work-authorized noncitizens generally have to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) before they can apply.

International Students

F-1 and M-1 students qualify only when they have actual work authorization in place. An F-1 student working on campus needs a letter from the school’s designated official confirming enrollment, identifying the employer, and describing the work, along with evidence of the job itself such as a recent pay slip or a supervisor’s letter listing start date, duties, and weekly hours.⁸

Students authorized for Curricular Practical Training present a Form I-20 with the employment page completed and signed by the designated school official. One timing rule matters: the SSA will not process the application if on-campus or CPT work is set to begin more than 30 days after the application date. Students approved for Optional Practical Training present their Form I-766 instead.⁸

Noncitizens with a Valid Non-Work Reason

A noncitizen without work authorization can still qualify in narrow circumstances. There are two: a federal law requires you to have an SSN to receive a federally funded benefit, or a state or local law requires one for public assistance and you are lawfully present in the United States.⁹

You cannot self-certify this. You have to bring a letter from the government agency administering the benefit, on official letterhead, that includes your name, the specific reason an SSN is needed, the law that requires it, confirmation that you meet all other program requirements, and a contact name and phone number at the agency.⁹¹⁰¹¹

If You Do Not Qualify: the ITIN

Not everyone who needs to interact with the U.S. tax system is eligible for an SSN, and it is worth being clear about the boundary. If you cannot qualify under any of the categories above but you still have to file a U.S. federal tax return, the IRS issues an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead. An ITIN is a nine-digit number available to resident aliens, nonresident aliens, and their spouses or dependents regardless of immigration status.¹² You request one by filing Form W-7 with your tax return.¹³

An ITIN is strictly a tax-processing number. It does not authorize work, does not qualify anyone for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit, and does not affect immigration status.¹²

Proof You Will Need to Show

Whichever category you fall into, an SSN application requires proof of three things: your age, your identity, and your citizenship or immigration status. All documents must be originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies and notarized copies are not accepted.²

For age, a U.S. birth certificate is standard. If none exists, the SSA may accept a religious record made before age five, a U.S. hospital record of birth, or a U.S. passport.
For identity, a current unexpired document showing your name and identifying information such as date of birth or a recent photo. A U.S. driver’s license, state-issued ID card, or U.S. passport all work.
For citizenship or immigration status, U.S.-born applicants usually satisfy this with the birth certificate itself. Naturalized citizens use a Certificate of Naturalization or U.S. passport. Noncitizens present their immigration documents, such as Form I-551 or Form I-766.

The application itself is Form SS-5, which asks for your full legal name, date of birth, place of birth, and parents’ names.¹⁴ There is no fee. If a website or company asks you to pay for help getting an SSN, it is not affiliated with the SSA, and you will still have to submit your documents to the agency yourself.¹⁵

1
Social Security Administration. Request Social Security Number for the First Time
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Social Security Administration. Learn What Documents You Will Need to Get a Social Security Card
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Social Security Administration. Types of Social Security Cards
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Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for U.S. Permanent Residents
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Social Security Administration. Apply for Your Social Security Card While Applying for Your Work Permit and/or Lawful Permanent Residency
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Benefits and Responsibilities of Asylees
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Administration for Children and Families. State Letter 04-14
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Social Security Administration. International Students and Social Security Numbers
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Social Security Administration. Social Security Numbers for Noncitizens
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Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 408 – Penalties
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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Chapter 6 – Unauthorized Employment
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Internal Revenue Service. Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
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Internal Revenue Service. About Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
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Social Security Administration. Application for Social Security Card Form SS-5
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Social Security Administration. What Does It Cost to Get a Social Security Card?