What are Acceptable Forms of ID For an I9?

To complete the I-9 form for employment eligibility verification, employees must present acceptable forms of identification. These documents are divided into three lists by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): List A, List B, and List C. You can choose to present one document from List A, or a combination of one document from List B and one from List C.

Table of Contents

List A: Documents that Establish Both Identity and Employment Authorization

Providing one document from List A is sufficient because it establishes both your identity and your authorization to work in the U.S. Examples include:

U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with a photograph (Form I-766)
Foreign passport with an I-551 stamp or machine-readable immigrant visa
Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) or the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) with Form I-94 indicating nonimmigrant admission

List B: Documents that Establish Identity Only

If you do not provide a List A document, you must provide one document from List B to establish your identity, and one document from List C to establish your employment authorization. Examples of List B documents include:

Driver’s license or ID card issued by a U.S. state or outlying possession
ID card issued by federal, state, or local government agencies with a photograph or identifying information
School ID card with a photograph
Voter’s registration card
U.S. Military card or draft record
Military dependent’s ID card

List C: Documents that Establish Employment Authorization Only

When using a List B document for identity, you must also provide one document from List C to verify your employment authorization. Examples include:

Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration (not marked as “Not Valid for Employment”)
Original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a U.S. state, county, or municipality with an official seal
Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (Form FS-545)
U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)
Native American tribal document

Important Considerations

Originals Required: You must present original documents (not photocopies), except for a certified copy of a birth certificate.
Unexpired Documents: All documents must be unexpired unless specifically noted by USCIS.
Employer’s Responsibility: Employers must physically examine the documents to ensure they are genuine and relate to the employee presenting them.

These acceptable documents ensure that the I-9 form is completed correctly, verifying both the identity and work authorization of all employees in compliance with U.S. employment law.