I-9 Acceptable Documents: Complete List A, B, and C Guide (2026)

Every U.S. employer must verify employment eligibility using Form I-9. Employees must present documents from the USCIS-approved lists below. A single List A document proves both identity and employment authorization. Alternatively, one List B document (identity) plus one List C document (employment authorization) together satisfy the requirement.

Key rule: USCIS recognizes 7 List A documents, 9 List B documents, and 8 List C documents for I-9 employment eligibility verification. Employees present their choice of document(s) — employers cannot require specific documents without risking an anti-discrimination violation under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b.

The Three Document Lists

List A

Proves identity AND employment authorization

7 documents

View full list

List B

Proves identity only (use with List C)

9 documents

View full list

List C

Proves employment authorization only (use with List B)

8 documents

View full list

How the Document Lists Work

AList A alone is sufficient

One List A document proves both identity and the right to work in the United States. When an employee presents a List A document, no other documents may be requested. Examples: U.S. Passport, Permanent Resident Card (Green Card), EAD (Form I-766).

B+CList B + C together

One List B document (identity) combined with one List C document (employment authorization) together satisfy the I-9 requirement. The most common combination is a driver's license (List B) plus an unrestricted Social Security card (List C).

Never combine: An employer may not accept a List A document together with a List B or List C document. Doing so constitutes “over-documentation” and may be a discriminatory document abuse violation.

All Acceptable I-9 Documents

24 total documents recognized by USCIS as of the Form I-9 revision dated 08/01/23.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents are acceptable for I-9 verification?

USCIS accepts three categories: List A documents (7 documents that prove both identity and employment authorization, such as a U.S. Passport or Permanent Resident Card), List B documents (identity only, such as a driver's license), and List C documents (employment authorization only, such as an unrestricted Social Security card). Employees must present either one List A document OR one List B document combined with one List C document.

Can an employer require a specific document for I-9 verification?

No. Employers cannot require specific documents or request more documents than are required by law. Employees may choose which acceptable document(s) to present from the Lists. Requiring specific documents based on citizenship status or national origin can constitute illegal discrimination under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Do I-9 documents need to be original?

Yes. Employees must present original documents. Photocopies of documents (other than a certified copy of a birth certificate) are not acceptable for I-9 verification. Employers must physically examine the original documents.

What is the difference between List A and List B + C?

List A documents prove both identity and employment authorization in a single document (e.g., U.S. Passport). If an employee presents a List A document, no other documents are needed. List B documents prove identity only, and List C documents prove employment authorization only — both must be presented together when not using a List A document. An employer cannot accept List A together with List B or List C.

Can expired documents be accepted for I-9 verification?

Generally, no. Expired documents are not acceptable for I-9 verification, with one exception: a List B identity document may be expired if the employee is under age 18 and cannot reasonably obtain an unexpired document. All other documents must be unexpired at the time of examination.

What happens if an I-9 document expires after hire?

U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents do not need to reverify. For employees with temporary work authorization (such as an EAD), employers must track expiration dates and complete Section 3 of the I-9 before the document expires. I9AuditReady sends alerts at 90, 60, and 30 days before expiration to ensure reverification happens on time.

Know which of your I-9s have expired documents

I9AuditReady tracks document expiration dates and sends alerts at 90, 60, and 30 days. Get your audit readiness score free for up to 10 employees.

Check Your Audit Score Free

I9AuditReady provides compliance tracking tools, not legal advice. Document lists are based on publicly available USCIS Form I-9 instructions (Rev. 08/01/23). Laws and guidance can change. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice on your specific situation.

List	Document	Issued By	Proves	Notes
A	U.S. Passport U.S. Department of State Identity + Employment Auth	U.S. Department of State	IdentityEmployment Auth	Unexpired. Accepted for all U.S. citizens and nationals.
A	U.S. Passport Card U.S. Department of State Identity + Employment Auth	U.S. Department of State	IdentityEmployment Auth	Unexpired. Wallet-sized card; valid for domestic air travel and land/sea border crossings.
A	Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Identity + Employment Auth	U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)	IdentityEmployment Auth	Also known as Green Card. Unexpired. Includes Alien Registration Receipt Card.
A	Foreign Passport with Form I-94 (Temporary I-551 Stamp or MRIV) Foreign government + U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Identity + Employment Auth	Foreign government + U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)	IdentityEmployment Auth	Foreign passport must be unexpired. I-94 must contain an unexpired endorsement of alien's nonimmigrant status.
A	Foreign Passport with Form I-551 Stamp or MRIV Foreign government + USCIS Identity + Employment Auth	Foreign government + USCIS	IdentityEmployment Auth	For permanent residents awaiting I-551 card issuance. Stamp must not be expired.
A	Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Identity + Employment Auth	U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)	IdentityEmployment Auth	Commonly called EAD card. Must be unexpired. Requires reverification upon expiration.
A	Passport from Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) or Republic of the Marshall Islands with Form I-94 FSM or RMI government + U.S. Customs and Border Protection Identity + Employment Auth	FSM or RMI government + U.S. Customs and Border Protection	IdentityEmployment Auth	Applies under the Compact of Free Association. Passport must be unexpired with a valid I-94 indicating nonimmigrant admission.
B	Driver's License or ID Card (state-issued) State Department of Motor Vehicles Identity only	State Department of Motor Vehicles	Identity	Must include a photograph or identifying information (name, date of birth, sex, height, eye color, address). Must not be expired.
B	ID Card issued by federal, state, or local government agency Federal, state, or local government agency or entity Identity only	Federal, state, or local government agency or entity	Identity	Must contain a photograph or identifying information. Does not include a driver's license or state ID.
B	School ID Card with Photograph Educational institution Identity only	Educational institution	Identity	Must contain a photograph of the employee.
B	Voter Registration Card State or county election authority Identity only	State or county election authority	Identity	—
B	U.S. Military Card or Draft Record U.S. Department of Defense Identity only	U.S. Department of Defense	Identity	—
B	Military Dependent's ID Card U.S. Department of Defense Identity only	U.S. Department of Defense	Identity	—
B	U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card U.S. Coast Guard Identity only	U.S. Coast Guard	Identity	—
B	Native American Tribal Document Federally recognized tribal authority Identity only	Federally recognized tribal authority	Identity	When used as a List B document, also serves as a List C document simultaneously.
B	Canadian Driver's License or ID Card Canadian provincial government Identity only	Canadian provincial government	Identity	For nonimmigrant aliens authorized to work.
C	Unrestricted Social Security Card Social Security Administration (SSA) Employment Auth only	Social Security Administration (SSA)	Employment Auth	Must not contain work restrictions (e.g., "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" or "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT" are NOT acceptable). No expiration date.
C	Birth Certificate (U.S.) State or local vital records office Employment Auth only	State or local vital records office	Employment Auth	Must be issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or territory of the United States. Certified copies are acceptable.
C	Certification of Birth Abroad (Form FS-545) U.S. Department of State Employment Auth only	U.S. Department of State	Employment Auth	Issued to U.S. citizens born abroad. No expiration date.
C	Certification of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350) U.S. Department of State Employment Auth only	U.S. Department of State	Employment Auth	Issued to U.S. citizens born abroad; superseded by FS-240 for newer births.
C	U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Employment Auth only	U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)	Employment Auth	No longer issued but still acceptable if employee possesses one.
C	Resident Citizen ID Card (Form I-179) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Employment Auth only	U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)	Employment Auth	No longer issued but still acceptable if employee possesses one.
C	Employment Authorization Document (DHS-issued) U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Employment Auth only	U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)	Employment Auth	Any document issued by DHS that authorizes employment, other than those listed under List A. Includes Form I-94, I-94A, and certain other DHS-issued documents.
C	Native American Tribal Document Federally recognized tribal authority Employment Auth only	Federally recognized tribal authority	Employment Auth	When a tribal document is listed as both List B and List C, it satisfies both requirements together.