You cannot legally buy an SSN; SSA assigns numbers and issues original or replacement cards free of charge.[1] Eligible noncitizens need DHS work authorisation or a qualifying nonwork reason.[2] After approval, a first-time card normally arrives by mail within 5–10 business days.[3] We suggest starting with SSA’s online application and preparing any documents requested for an office visit.[3]
Buy SSN: What You Need to Know
| Options | Price | Timeframe | Requirements | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obtaining SSN from SSA | Free | 5 to 10 business days after approval | Proof of identity and eligibility documents | Must apply directly to SSA; no advantage from private companies |
| Buying SSN from sellers | Varies (often illegal) | Untenable | No legitimate requirements; often fraudulent | Purchasing SSN is a felony; can lead to imprisonment |
| Using fake SSN | Untenable | Untenable | No legitimate requirements; often fraudulent | Illegal if used to deceive; can lead to imprisonment |
| Claiming U.S. citizenship falsely | Untenable | Untenable | No legitimate requirements; often fraudulent | Permanent inadmissibility; no waiver available |
| Noncitizen SSN application | Free | 5 to 10 business days after approval | DHS work authorization or qualifying nonwork reason | Cards may be marked 'VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION' or 'NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT' |
How to Get an SSN Legally
- 1. Do not buy an SSN
Do not buy one. Federal law treats knowingly buying or selling a genuine or purported Social Security card as a felony, punishable by a fine, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.[4] A fabricated or unassigned number is not a legal substitute: using it as an SSN with intent to deceive can also carry up to five years in prison.[4] Before proceeding, use this checklist: reject offers for an SSN, a Social Security card, or a "credit profile number", and apply only through the Social Security Administration.
- 2. Check whether you qualify
Check your eligibility. A noncitizen may qualify with DHS work authorisation or a qualifying nonwork reason, although the resulting card may state "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" or "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT".[2] If you are ineligible for an SSN but need a federal tax number, an ITIN may fit that limited purpose; it does not authorise work, change immigration status, provide Social Security benefits, or function as identification outside the federal tax system.[5] Before applying, confirm which result you need: an individual SSN, an ITIN for federal tax purposes, or an EIN that identifies a business and cannot replace an SSN or ITIN.[6]
- 3. Apply directly to SSA
Apply directly to SSA. A first-time applicant in the United States can begin online, and many applicants can either complete the SSN-card application online or self-schedule an office appointment when additional steps are needed.[3][7] SSA assigns the number and issues original or replacement cards free of charge; fee-charging private companies provide no advantage and still require you to submit documents directly to SSA.[1] For a Seattle applicant, our checklist is simple: use the SSA application route, pay no intermediary, and keep the application information for follow-up.
- 4. Complete any requested follow-up
Complete any requested follow-up. Depending on the application, SSA may require you to present supporting documents at an SSA office before it approves the request.[3] Organise the documents requested for your circumstances and attend the self-scheduled appointment if the online process directs you to one.[3][7] Before attending, check that you are responding to SSA rather than a seller or private service, because only SSA assigns Social Security numbers and issues the cards.[1]
- 5. Wait for the mailed card
Wait for the mailed card. After SSA approves a first-time application, the card normally arrives by mail within 5 to 10 business days.[3] Count the waiting period from approval rather than from the day you started the online form or attended an appointment.[3] Our waiting checklist is: retain the application details, monitor the delivery address you supplied, and treat only the card sent following your own SSA application as the expected result.
- 6. Check the result and act on misuse
Check the result carefully. If the card contains a work restriction, follow the wording shown: "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" or "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT" has practical consequences for employment use.[2] Never test or use a number supplied by a seller, because a number marketed as fake may belong to a real person, and using another person’s SSN during an enumerated felony can add a mandatory consecutive two-year prison sentence.[8][9] If you already paid a seller, contact the payment provider promptly to request a stop or reversal; if an SSN was exposed, freeze your credit separately with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, use IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan, and consider a free IRS IP PIN.[10][11][12]
Risks, Limitations, and Guarantees
Purchasing an SSN involves considerable legal risks. Federal law strictly prohibits the buying or selling of genuine or purported Social Security cards, categorising these actions as felonies. Convictions can lead to fines and imprisonment for up to five years[4]. Additionally, using a fabricated or unassigned number with the intent to deceive is illegal and carries similar penalties[4].
Understanding the limitations of alternative options is crucial. Noncitizens may qualify for an SSN only if they possess proper DHS work authorisation or specific nonwork reasons. Even then, the issued cards may include restrictions such as "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION"[2]. This means that even if you manage to acquire an SSN, its practical use could be significantly restricted.
If you suspect misuse of your SSN or have fallen victim to a scam, immediate action is vital. We recommend contacting the payment provider to attempt to reverse the transaction and freezing your credit with major agencies like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion[10][11]. For identity theft recovery, IdentityTheft.gov can generate a personalised recovery plan to assist you[12]. Always verify the legitimacy of any offers and avoid those that seem too good to be true, as they often lead to severe legal consequences and financial loss.
Straight answers
Can you legally buy a Social Security number?
No. SSA assigns Social Security numbers rather than selling them, and knowingly buying a genuine or purported Social Security card is a felony punishable by a fine, imprisonment for up to five years, or both.[1][4] We advise rejecting sellers who describe the product as a "credit profile number" or another alternative name.
What happens if you buy and use someone else’s SSN?
Using another person’s SSN can lead to identity-theft and fraud charges. If it occurs during an enumerated felony, aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory additional two-year prison sentence that generally follows the sentence for the underlying offence.[8] We would not assume a seller-generated number is unused: one supposed "credit profile number" belonged to a person born in 2004, resulting in 24 months in prison and $22,734.08 in restitution.[13]
Is it legal to use a fake SSN that does not belong to anyone?
No, not when you use it as an SSN with intent to deceive. A fabricated or unassigned number can bring imprisonment for up to five years under 42 U.S.C. § 408(a)(7)(B).[4] We advise against testing the number on a job, credit, housing, tax, or government form.
What is the difference between an SSN, an ITIN, and an EIN?
An SSN is assigned by SSA to an eligible individual, while an ITIN is an IRS tax number for someone who needs federal tax identification but cannot obtain an SSN.[1][5] An ITIN does not authorise employment, change immigration status, provide Social Security benefits, or serve as identification outside the federal tax system.[5] An EIN identifies a business entity and must not replace an SSN or ITIN.[6]
What should I do if I already paid for an SSN?
Contact the payment provider promptly and request that it stop or reverse the transaction where possible. This applies to a card issuer, bank, wire service, gift-card company, payment app, or cryptocurrency platform.[10] We advise against using any number received, because deceptive use of a fabricated number can carry up to five years in prison.[4]
What should I do if my Social Security number is for sale online?
Treat the number as exposed and freeze your credit separately with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion; freezes are free, do not affect credit scores, and remain until lifted.[11] Use IdentityTheft.gov to create an official FTC Identity Theft Report and personalised recovery plan.[12] We also suggest requesting the IRS six-digit IP PIN, which is regenerated annually and helps prevent fraudulent federal tax returns using your SSN.[12]
Links and references
- 1. What does it cost to get a Social Security card? | SSA
- 2. Types of Social Security Cards | SSA
- 3. Request Social Security number for the first time | SSA
- 4. 42 USC 408: Penalties
- 5. Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) | Internal Revenue Service
- 6. Instructions for Form SS-4 (Rev. December 2025) | Internal Revenue Service
- 7. New Streamlined Online Process for Social Security Number Applications | SSA
- 8. 18 USC 1028A: Aggravated identity theft
- 9. Illegal Alien Faces Federal Charges for Identity Theft, Producing and Selling Counterfeit Social Security Cards, and Unlawful Gun Possession | SSA OIG
- 10. What To Do if You Were Scammed | Federal Trade Commission
- 11. Credit Freezes and Fraud Alerts | Federal Trade Commission
- 12. Frequently asked questions about the Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) | Internal Revenue Service
- 13. Fraudulent "Credit Profile Number" Results in Two Years in Prison | U.S. Department of Justice
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