Social Security & ID

Apply for a Social Security number or an ITIN, and get a state ID card if you do not drive.

Apply for a Social Security number
Who is eligible, what to bring, and why almost nothing else works properly until you have one.
Replace a lost Social Security card
Why you probably do not need the card at all, the limits on how many replacements you can get, and what to do if the number itself has been misused.
Get an ITIN if you cannot get an SSN
The tax identification number for people who must file U.S. taxes but are not eligible for a Social Security number, and the mistake that costs you your passport for two months.
Get a state ID card or a REAL ID
Why you want photo ID even if you do not drive, what makes a licence REAL ID-compliant, and the $45 option if you turn up at the airport without one.

Official links · Social Security & ID

Select a state to see the offices and websites that apply to you.