Yes. In general, a non-U.S. citizen can get a Social Security number (SSN) if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has authorized them to work. The application route depends on whether you are already in the United States, applying for certain immigration benefits through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), or applying for an immigrant visa. A narrow exception applies when a law requires an SSN for a particular benefit or service.
Who can get an SSN?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) says, “In general, only noncitizens with permission to work from the Department of Homeland Security can get a Social Security number.” Work permission may be shown by an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), certain immigration documents, or evidence tied to a specific immigration category. An SSN is not itself a work permit and does not grant immigration status or work authorization.
There is a limited nonwork exception: SSA may issue an SSN when a law requires one for a particular benefit or service. You must document that legal requirement. Wanting an SSN for a driver’s license, school enrollment, banking, or ordinary tax filing does not by itself qualify. SSA says a person cannot get an SSN solely to obtain a driver’s license. See SSA guidance for noncitizens for current eligibility details.
Choose the application route that matches your immigration process
| Where you are in the process | How to request the SSN | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| In the United States and applying for your first SSN | Use SSA’s first-time request process, then provide documents at a local SSA office. | SSA says the service is free and estimates mailing the card 5 to 10 business days after approval; this is not a guaranteed deadline. |
| Applying through certain USCIS processes | Request an SSN in the relevant section of Form I-765 or Form I-485, if applicable. | When the request is properly included and the immigration application is approved, a separate SSA application is not needed. |
| Applying for an immigrant visa | Request an SSN through Form DS-230 or DS-260, if eligible. | After visa approval and admission to the United States as a lawful permanent resident, SSA receives the information through DHS and mails the card to the address given in the visa process. |
Applying in the United States through SSA
Start with SSA’s first-time Social Security number and card request service and follow its current instructions. The online process is followed by a visit to a local SSA office to show documents. The stated 5-to-10-business-day mailing estimate applies after approval, not from the day you begin the application; document checks or immigration-status verification can affect timing.
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Requesting an SSN through USCIS
For certain applications, including Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) and Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status), you may be able to request an SSN on the immigration form. USCIS collects the information for SSA. Use the current form instructions and make sure the SSN request section is completed; do not assume it was included automatically. SSA explains the process on its SSN request with USCIS page.
Requesting an SSN during an immigrant-visa application
An eligible immigrant-visa applicant may request an SSN through Form DS-230 or DS-260. If you receive the immigrant visa and are admitted to the United States as a lawful permanent resident, DHS sends the information to SSA, which mails the card to the address provided during the visa process. SSA’s FAQ gives an estimate of 7 to 10 business days after arrival, not a guaranteed delivery date. If the card does not arrive, follow SSA’s current instructions and contact a local office. Details are in SSA’s Enumeration at Entry information.
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What documents do you need?
SSA requires current, unexpired documents. Bring originals or copies certified by the agency that issued them; SSA does not accept photocopies, notarized copies, or receipts showing that you applied for a document. The exact evidence depends on your immigration category, so check SSA’s document requirements before an appointment.
Common evidence of immigration status or work permission
- Form I-551, a Permanent Resident Card, or a qualifying immigrant visa in an unexpired foreign passport.
- Form I-766, an Employment Authorization Document.
- Form I-94 or an admission stamp in an unexpired foreign passport. Some classes of admission authorize work; others do not, so the class shown matters.
Some applicants can establish work permission with an I-94 showing a work-authorized class of admission; others need an EAD. SSA’s Social Security numbers for noncitizens explains evidence by category.
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- F-1 students: Bring Form I-20. Depending on the work authorization route, SSA may also require school authorization and proof of current or secured employment. An EAD or curricular practical training authorization recorded on the I-20 may provide the applicable evidence.
- M-1 students: Bring Form I-20 and the evidence required for your specific work authorization.
- J-1 exchange visitors: Bring Form DS-2019 and, where required, a letter from your sponsor.
Check SSA’s student and noncitizen instructions for the evidence that applies to your individual status before you visit.
Documents for a nonwork SSN exception
If you do not have work authorization but believe a law requires an SSN for a specific benefit or service, SSA asks for a letter on government-agency letterhead. The letter must identify you and cite the law that requires an SSN for that benefit or service. SSA decides whether the documentation meets its requirements.
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When an ITIN may be the right tax identifier
If your need is to file a tax return and you cannot get an SSN, ask the Internal Revenue Service about an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). An ITIN is issued through a separate IRS process; it is not an SSN and does not grant work authorization. Use the IRS’s official ITIN information page rather than paying an outside service simply to obtain the application process.
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