A Social Security number is a nine-digit number that is issued to US citizens and permanent residents. Most government agencies use the Social Security Number as a key identifier when providing key government services. One of these services is passport application, where you are required to provide your Social Security Number. However, there are concerns about whether SSN is included on the passport.
A Social Security Number is not included on a US passport. Although the Social Security Number (SSN) is required when applying for or renewing a passport, it is used as proof of identity and U.S. citizenship, and it won’t appear on your passport. If your SSN appears on your passport, it is an error and you should contact the Department of State to have the mistake corrected.
Is Social Security Number required for passport application or renewal?
If you are a US citizen planning to travel to another country, you will need to present your passport when arriving in or departing from another country. US passports are issued by the Department of State to eligible US citizens and permanent residents of the United States. When applying for or renewing a passport, you must provide your SSN.
The Department of State requires the SSN for several reasons. First, the SSN helps the Department of State to verify your identity and US citizenship status. The SSN can also be used to perform a background check to determine if you have defaulted on child support or if you have any felony convictions. Falling behind on child support or having felony convictions may prevent your passport from being approved.
You can still apply for a US passport if you don't have a Social Security Number. However, you will need to submit a sworn statement stating that you have never been issued a Social Security number, and include it along with your application form.
Is your Social Security number included on your passport?
Your Social Security number is not displayed on your US passport, and you won’t find your SSN on your passport book or card. If your SSN is displayed on your passport, it is an error. You must contact the Department of State for the error to be corrected. You should ensure you have the passport number and not the SSN on your passport.
A passport contains several pieces of information, including your full legal name, passport number, date of birth, photograph, passport issue date, expiration date, signature, etc. Though a passport does not indicate your home address, it leaves a blank space where you can write down your home address. Generally, a passport contains sensitive information, and you should keep it safe to avoid getting this information into the wrong hands.
Can you get a passport without Social Security Number?
If you have never been issued a Social Security Number, you can still apply for or renew a passport. You will be required to provide additional documentation to prove your identity and US citizenship; examples of documents you can provide include a U.S. birth certificate, a driver’s license, and a certificate of naturalization. You must apply for the passport in person and complete Form DS-11.
The US Department of State will also require you to provide a sworn statement that you have never been issued a Social Security number. You must attach this statement when mailing your application form. However, if you were issued an SSN, and you fail to provide a valid SSN, or you intentionally or wilfully provide an incorrect SSN, your passport application may be rejected.
Generally, if you can’t remember your SSN or you’ve never applied for an SSN, you may encounter a delay with the processing of your passport application. You can decide to apply for a Social Security card by filling out Form SS-5 online or visiting the local Social Security office. It can take about 14 days for Social Security to process your application and mail a Social Security card. Once you get an SSN, you can complete the passport application.
Is the name on your Social Security card the same as on your passport?
Your Social Security card and your passport should display your full legal names, and the names on both documents should match. Traveling with documents with different names could affect your travel, and you may have to explain the mismatch almost every time you are required to provide these documents. If there is a mismatch in the legal names on your Social Security card and your passport, you should request a change with the respective agency.
If you want to change the names on your Social Security card, you should fill out Form SS-5- Application for Social Security card and provide evidence of your legal name change such as a court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree. If you want to change the legal name on your US passport, you will need to apply for a new passport and present evidence to prove the name change.
Where to find your Social Security Number
If you are required to provide your Social Security Number, the simplest place to check is your Social Security card. This is a document issued when you apply for a Social Security number. The Social Security card acts as an official verification of the SSN assigned to the person whose name appears on the card.
If you lost your Social Security card, you can still find your Social Security number in several other documents. You can check your old tax returns from the Internal Revenue Service. Other documents you can check include your bank statement, credit card statement, Social Security statement, pay stubs, etc.
If you can’t trace these records, you can visit the local Social Security office and request your SSN. You may be required to provide documents to verify your identity and citizenship, including your passport, driving license, state ID, etc.
