Acceptable I-9 Documents Based on Citizenship Status
Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is required to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. All U.S. employers must properly complete Form I-9 for every individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and aliens. Both employees and employers (or authorized representatives of the employer) must complete the form. On the form, an employee must attest to their employment authorization. The employee must also present their employer with acceptable documents as evidence of identity and employment authorization. The following are acceptable I-9 documents based on an individual’s citizenship status.
List A
- U.S. Passport
List B
- Driver’s license or ID card issued by state
- ID card issued by federal, state or local government
- School ID card with photograph
- Voter’s registration card
- U.S. Military card or draft record
- Military dependent’s ID card
- U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
- Native American tribal document
- Driver’s license issued by a Canadian government authority
For persons under age 18 who are unable to present a document listed above:
- School record or report card
- Clinic, doctor, or hospital record
- Day-care or nursery school record
List C
- Unrestricted Social Security card
- Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State
- Certification of Report of Birth issued by the Department of State
- Original or certified copy of the birth certificate
- Native American tribal document
- U.S. Citizen ID Card
- Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the U.S.
- Employment
List A
- U.S. Passport
List B
- Driver’s license or ID card issued by state
- ID card issued by federal, state or local government
- School ID card with photograph
- U.S. Military card or draft record
- Military dependent’s ID card
- U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
For persons under age 18 who are unable to present a document listed above:
- School record or report card
- Clinic, doctor, or hospital record
- Day-care or nursery school record
List C
- Unrestricted Social Security card
- Original or certified copy of birth certificate
- Employment authorization document issued by
DHS
This citizenship status is very uncommon.
See I-9 instructions for more details. A noncitizen national is defined as: Noncitizen nationals of the U.S. are persons born in American Samoa, certain former citizens of the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and certain children of noncitizen nationals born abroad.
List A
- Form I-551 – Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card
- Foreign Passport with I-551 Stamp or Printed Notation
- Form I-94 containing unexpired temporary I-551 stamp – Receipt
List B
- Driver’s license or ID card issued by state
- ID card issued by federal, state or local government
- School ID card with photograph
- Voter’s registration card
- U.S. Military card or draft record
- Military dependent’s ID card
- U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
- Driver’s license issued by a Canadian government authority
For persons under age 18 who are unable to present a document listed above:
- School record or report card
- Clinic, doctor, or hospital record
- Day-care or nursery school record List C
- Unrestricted Social Security card
A card that includes any of the following restrictions is not an acceptable List C document:
- Not valid for employment
- Valid for work only with INS authorization
- Valid for work only with DHS authorization
List A
- Form I-766 – Employment Authorization Document with photograph
- Foreign passport with I-94 or I-94A
- Foreign passport with I-94 or I-94A and I-20
- Foreign passport with I-94 or I-94A and DS-2019
- FSM or RMI Passport with I-94 or I-94A
- Form I-94 with a Refugee Admission Stamp – Receipt
- Unexpired Employment Authorization Document with photograph (Forms I-668, I-668A, or I-668B)
List B
- Driver’s license or ID card issued by state
- ID card issued by federal, state or local government
- School ID card with photograph
- Voter’s registration card
- Driver’s license issued by a Canadian government authority
For persons under age 18 who are unable to present a document listed above:
- School record or report card
- Clinic, doctor, or hospital record
- Day-care or nursery school record
List C
- Unrestricted Social Security card
- Employment authorization document issued by DHS
List A
- Form I-766 – Employment Authorization Document with photograph
- Foreign passport with I-94 or I-94A and I-20
- Foreign passport with I-94 or I-94A and endorsed
CPT I-20 - Employment Authorization Document with proof of STEM filing or an I-20 endorsed with STEM OPT
- Employment Authorization Document and proof of H-1 pending for cap-gap purposes
List B
- Driver’s license or ID card issued by state
- ID card issued by federal, state or local government
- School ID card with photograph
- Voter’s registration card
- Driver’s license issued by a Canadian government authority
For persons under age 18 who are unable to present a document listed above:
- School record or report card
- Clinic, doctor, or hospital record
- Day-care or nursery school record
List C
- Unrestricted Social Security card
List A
- Foreign passport with I-94 or I-94A and DS-2019
List B
- Driver’s license or ID card issued by state
- ID card issued by federal, state or local government
- School ID card with photograph
- Voter’s registration card
- Driver’s license issued by a Canadian government authority
For persons under age 18 who are unable to present a document listed above:
- School record or report card
- Clinic, doctor, or hospital record
- Day-care or nursery school record
List C
- Unrestricted Social Security card
A card that includes any of the following restrictions is not an acceptable List C document:
- Not valid for employment
- Valid for work only with INS authorization
- Valid for work only with DHS authorization