To be employed by someone in the US you need a Social Security Number, and behind it, work authorization. An ITIN is a tax-filing number only. It is not work authorization, it never goes on a Form I-9, and it does not let you be hired as an employee. Both are nine digits, which is exactly why they get confused, but they do completely different jobs. The SSN proves who you are, that you can work, and handles your taxes. The ITIN exists so that people who are not eligible for an SSN can still file and pay US taxes. Getting this wrong is one of the most common and most costly mistakes new arrivals make, so it is worth being precise.
The one-line version
- Social Security Number (SSN): issued by the Social Security Administration. It is identity, work authorization, and tax rolled into one. If you are eligible for an SSN, you can be employed. Citizens, green card holders, and people with work-authorizing visas get one.
- Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN): issued by the IRS. It exists for one purpose, filing federal taxes. It does not authorize work, does not give you any immigration status, and cannot be used to get a job as an employee.
If you take nothing else from this page: an ITIN is not a work permit. Anyone who tells you it is, is either mistaken or trying to take advantage of you.
Side by side
- Who issues it. SSN comes from the Social Security Administration. ITIN comes from the IRS.
- What it is for. SSN covers identity, work authorization, and tax. ITIN covers tax filing only.
- Does it authorize work? SSN: yes, if you are eligible for one. ITIN: no, never.
- Who gets it. SSN: US citizens, lawful permanent residents, and people with a work-authorizing visa. ITIN: non-citizens who are not eligible for an SSN but have a US tax obligation.
- Can it go on a Form I-9? SSN: the I-9 verifies your identity and work-authorization documents, not the number itself. ITIN: never, under any circumstances.
- Will it open a bank account? SSN: yes. ITIN: many banks accept it as a substitute for opening an account, which is a genuine and legal use.
What an ITIN is actually for
The IRS created the ITIN in 1996 so that people who cannot get an SSN can still comply with US tax law. That includes some non-citizens, dependents, and, yes, undocumented residents who owe and pay tax. Filing taxes with an ITIN is a lawful, legitimate act, and the IRS treats an ITIN filing as a tax matter, not an immigration matter.
In the trades, the ITIN has one main practical role. In states that allow it, an ITIN can support a self-employed contractor or business owner: it lets you file business taxes and, in certain states, apply for a contractor license without an SSN. See the non-citizen licensing guide for how that works and how much it varies by state. What an ITIN does not do is let you be hired as somebody's employee. That always requires work authorization and a completed I-9.
Why the confusion is dangerous
The "ITIN equals work permit" myth costs people in two directions. Some arrive believing an ITIN is all they need to take a job, and end up in an unlawful arrangement with an employer who is happy to pay them badly. Others are sold an ITIN by a "consultant" for a fee, told it is a shortcut to working legally, and it is not.
Getting an ITIN is free to apply for through the IRS, and it does exactly one thing. If someone is charging you a large fee and promising it will let you work, or calling it a work permit, treat that as a scam and walk away. Real advice about your ability to work comes from a licensed immigration attorney or an accredited nonprofit, not from whoever is selling the number.
How to get a Social Security Number when you are work-authorized
If you have work authorization (through a green card or a work-authorizing visa), the SSN is what you actually want, and it is what opens the widest set of doors: employment, licensing in every state, a driver's license, a bank account, and building credit.
- Coming in on a work-authorizing immigrant visa: you can request the SSN as part of your visa application (Form DS-260), and the consulate handles most of it, so the card can follow you to your US address.
- Already in the US: apply in person at a local Social Security office, but not before you have been in the country about 10 days, because the system the SSA uses to verify your status needs time to update after you enter. Applying too early risks a rejection.
- What to bring: your passport, your I-94 arrival record, and your EAD card or visa, plus the completed application (Form SS-5, free from ssa.gov). Green card holders bring the green card itself.
- Timing: in a straightforward case the card arrives by mail within a few weeks; complex cases take longer. The SSA national helpline is 1-800-772-1213.
Do this early. Many of your other first-weeks tasks get easier the moment you have an SSN in hand. All of these are federal processes in 2026, so verify the current steps at ssa.gov and uscis.gov before you go.
Common questions
Can I legally work in the US with only an ITIN?
No. An ITIN does not authorize employment. To be hired as an employee you need work authorization (a work visa or a green card) and a completed Form I-9, and an ITIN can never be used on an I-9. An ITIN is an IRS tax-filing number and nothing more. In states that allow it, it can support a self-employed contractor or business owner for tax and licensing purposes, but that is not the same as being authorized to work for an employer. Anyone selling an ITIN as a "work permit" is misleading you.
Is it true that an ITIN is not a work permit?
Yes. In 2026, as since the ITIN was created in 1996, it provides no immigration status and no work authorization. It exists so people who cannot get a Social Security Number can still file and pay US taxes. Filing taxes with an ITIN is legal and legitimate, but it does not let you be employed. If a recruiter, employer, or "consultant" tells you an ITIN means you can work, that is wrong. Verify the facts at irs.gov and get advice about your status from a licensed immigration attorney.
Which number do I need to be hired, an SSN or an ITIN?
An SSN, and the work authorization behind it. Employers verify work authorization through the Form I-9, and only people eligible for an SSN (citizens, green card holders, and work-authorizing visa holders) can be lawfully hired as employees. The I-9 checks your identity and work-authorization documents rather than the number itself, but an ITIN is never acceptable on it. If you are work-authorized, apply for your SSN promptly, because it also unlocks licensing, banking, and a driver's license.
How do I apply for an SSN after I arrive?
Apply in person at a local Social Security office, but wait until you have been in the US for about 10 days so the status-verification system can update. Bring your passport, I-94 record, and your EAD or visa (or green card), plus a completed Form SS-5. The card usually arrives by mail within a few weeks. If you are entering on a work-authorizing immigrant visa, you can instead request the SSN as part of your visa application. These are federal steps in 2026; confirm the current process at ssa.gov.
The honest bit
- This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Whether you are eligible for an SSN, and what your work authorization allows, depends on your immigration status, which is a matter for a licensed immigration attorney (aila.org) or a DOJ/EOIR-recognized accredited nonprofit, not a notario or unlicensed consultant.
- The core facts here are federal and current for 2026: an ITIN is a tax number, not work authorization, and never goes on an I-9. Verify at irs.gov, and verify SSN steps at ssa.gov and uscis.gov, before acting.
- Whether an ITIN can support a contractor license is a per-state question. Route it to the non-citizen licensing guide and Working in Your State.
- Applying for an ITIN or an SSN through the government is free. Anyone charging a large fee and promising a number will let you work is running a scam. Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and uscis.gov.
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Templates you might need
Sources
- IRS - Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) · An ITIN is issued for TAX purposes to people who are not eligible for an SSN. It does not authorize work, does not affect immigration status and is not a substitute for an SSN
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