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How to create a StudentAid.gov account without a Social Security number for FAFSA

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Courtesy of Federal Student Aid

Update on February 21, 2024: There is currently an issue preventing contributors without a Social Security number (SSN) from starting or accessing the 2024–25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. Until it’s resolved, here is how the student can submit FAFSA if you have a contributor without an SSN.

Update on March 22, 2024: According to this release, parents without a SSN may now log in to FAFSA.gov to either start a FAFSA form or complete their section of the FAFSA form after being invited to participate by a student. Click here for more information about ongoing technical issues.

Here are step-by-step instructions for students without a Social Security number (SSN) to successfully create their StudentAid.gov account, according to this press release from Federal Student Aid (FSA).

This process outlines the steps needed in order for a student without a SSN to have their identity verified and StudentAid.gov account created.

Step 1: The student should visit StudentAid.gov, select “Create Account” and complete all steps, including answering 1-4 knowledge-based verification questions via TransUnion®.

Step 2: Upon completing the create account process, the student will see a confirmation page with the results of their identity verification. If the TransUnion® process failed, the student will be informed that FSA was unable to verify their information and that they must contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-433-3243.

The student will also receive an email from FSA informing them to call FSAIC for next steps and verify their identity.

Step 3: Once the student contacts FSAIC, FSA will create a case number and send them a verification email, which will include guidance on how to submit copies of unexpired acceptable documentation (listed below) to verify their identity. Students will also be required to submit an attestation and validation of identity form along with their approved identity documentation. This form will be available on https://studentaid.gov/forms-library.

Acceptable documents to establish a student’s identity

Students will need to provide one of the following documents to establish identity:

  • U.S. Driver’s License
  • U.S. State/City Identification Card
  • Foreign Passport

OR

One set of the documents below to establish identity:

  • Municipal Identification Cards + utility bill
  • Community ID + utility bill
  • Consular Identification Cards/Matricula Consular + utility bill

Step 4: Upon receipt of the email that FSA was unable to verify their identity, the student is then required to submit one or a combination of their acceptable documentation from the list above and a signed attestation form to: IDVerification@ed.gov.

Step 5: FSA will review the student’s submitted documentation and signed attestation form to ensure it is acceptable and matches the account information provided during the create account process. If there is a successful match, FSA will finalize the account creation. The student will receive an email indicating their identity has been verified and that they may now use their account username and password (FSA ID) to log in at StudentAid.gov and complete applications for student financial assistance programs.

Once student’s create the account, here is what they need to know about the new FAFSA form:

What you need to know about the new FAFSA

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