How do you get a Social Security number in the United States in 2026?

U.S. citizens can request a number. Noncitizens usually need current lawful immigration status that includes Department of Homeland Security work authorization, or a narrow non-work reason documented by a government agency. Work-authorized status is the common path for employees on H-1B, L-1, E, TN, and similar visas, asylees, refugees, and lawful permanent residents.

Complete Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card), or start the online Social Security Number Application Process when SSA offers it for your situation, then finish in person with original documents. SSA accepts originals or certified copies from the issuing authority, not ordinary photocopies or notarized copies.

Bring at least two documents that together prove age, identity, and U.S. citizenship or current lawful, work-authorized immigration status. A foreign passport plus an Employment Authorization Document (EAD, Form I-766), a Permanent Resident Card, or an Arrival/Departure Record (Form I-94) with work annotation are common combinations. If U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved work authorization or permanent residence and you requested enumeration during that filing, SSA may mail the card under Enumeration Beyond Entry without a separate office visit.

Find your field office or Social Security Card Center on SSA's locator, then check whether you need an appointment. People age 12 or older who have never had an SSN must usually apply in person. Staff review your documents, enter the application, and return the originals. After approval, SSA mails the card to the U.S. address on the application, often within several business days once processing finishes.

Keep the card secure. Employers and banks usually need the number, not repeated display of the plastic card. Report a lost card through SSA rather than inventing a temporary number.

If you are not eligible for an SSN, do not invent one for tax forms. Apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the Internal Revenue Service with Form W-7 when you need a taxpayer ID to file a U.S. return. An ITIN is not work authorization and does not replace an SSN for employment payroll once you become eligible for an SSN. When SSA later assigns an SSN, stop using the ITIN for wage reporting and update banks and tax accounts.