I-9 Acceptable Documents — Printable Quick Reference (PDF)

I-9 Acceptable Documents Overview

Form I-9 requires employees to present documents that establish (1) their identity and (2) their authorization to work in the United States. Documents are organized into three lists. Employees present either one List A document, or one List B document plus one List C document.

List A — Documents That Establish Both Identity and Employment Authorization

List A documents prove both identity and work authorization. Employees who present a List A document do not need to present any other document. Employers may accept ONE List A document.

• U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card (unrestricted)
• Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551, "green card")
• Foreign Passport containing a Form I-94 with employment authorization annotation
• Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766, EAD card)
• Foreign Passport with a machine-readable immigrant visa with Form I-551 notation
• Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) or the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) with Form I-94 or I-94A

List B — Documents That Establish Identity Only

List B documents establish the employee's identity only. They must be used together with a List C document (not alone). Employers must accept any valid List B document the employee chooses — they cannot demand a specific one.

• Driver's license or state ID card issued by a U.S. state or territory (with photo or description)
• School ID card with photograph
• Voter's registration card
• U.S. Military card or draft record
• Military dependent's ID card
• U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
• Native American tribal document
• Driver's license issued by a Canadian government authority (for non-immigrant aliens authorized to work)
• For persons under age 18 who cannot present the above: school record, report card, clinic/doctor record, or day-care/nursery school record

List C — Documents That Establish Employment Authorization Only

List C documents establish work authorization only. They must be used together with a List B document.

• U.S. Social Security Account Number card (unrestricted — cannot be annotated "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT")
• Certification of Report of Birth issued by the U.S. Department of State (Form FS-545)
• Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the U.S. Department of State (Form FS-240)
• U.S. birth certificate (Form DS-1350 or any official birth certificate)
• Native American tribal document
• U.S. Citizen Identification Card (Form I-197)
• Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States (Form I-179)
• Employment authorization document issued by DHS (other than those listed under List A)

See the complete, annotated document guide: I-9 Acceptable Documents — Full Guide with Verification Tips

Related Resources

• What Is Form I-9? — Complete Guide
• How to Fill Out Form I-9 — Step-by-Step
• I-9 Acceptable Documents — Full Guide
• I-9 Compliance Checklist (Free Download)
• I-9 Deadline Calculator
• Start Free I-9 Audit (10 Employees Free)