Last Updated: April 2026
Researched by the I9AuditReady Research Team
I-9 List C Documents — Employment Authorization (2026)
List C documents establish an employee's authorization to work in the United States. USCIS recognizes 8 List C documents for Form I-9 as of the current USCIS instructions (Rev. 08/01/23). A List C document must always be combined with a List B identity document — a Social Security card alone is not sufficient for I-9 verification.
List C must be paired with List B
A List C document establishes employment authorization only. To complete I-9 verification, the employee must also present one List B identity document. If the employee has a List A document instead, no List B or C is needed.
All 8 List C Documents
Each document below proves employment authorization only. Must be combined with a List B identity document.
| Document |
|---|
| Unrestricted Social Security Card Social Security Administration (SSA) Employment Auth only |
| Birth Certificate (U.S.) State or local vital records office Employment Auth only |
| Certification of Birth Abroad (Form FS-545) U.S. Department of State Employment Auth only |
| Certification of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350) U.S. Department of State Employment Auth only |
| U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Employment Auth only |
| Resident Citizen ID Card (Form I-179) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Employment Auth only |
| Employment Authorization Document (DHS-issued) U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Employment Auth only |
| Native American Tribal Document Federally recognized tribal authority Employment Auth only |
List C Document Details
Unrestricted Social Security Card
Issued by: Social Security Administration (SSA) · USCIS I-9 Instructions, List C #1
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.
Birth Certificate (U.S.)
Issued by: State or local vital records office · USCIS I-9 Instructions, List C #2
Must be issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or territory of the United States. Certified copies are acceptable.
Certification of Birth Abroad (Form FS-545)
Issued by: U.S. Department of State · USCIS I-9 Instructions, List C #3
Issued to U.S. citizens born abroad. No expiration date.
Certification of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350)
Issued by: U.S. Department of State · USCIS I-9 Instructions, List C #3 (alternate)
Issued to U.S. citizens born abroad; superseded by FS-240 for newer births.
U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)
Issued by: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) · USCIS I-9 Instructions, List C #4
No longer issued but still acceptable if employee possesses one.
Resident Citizen ID Card (Form I-179)
Issued by: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) · USCIS I-9 Instructions, List C #5
No longer issued but still acceptable if employee possesses one.
Employment Authorization Document (DHS-issued)
Issued by: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) · USCIS I-9 Instructions, List C #6
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.
Native American Tribal Document
Issued by: Federally recognized tribal authority · USCIS I-9 Instructions, List C #7
When a tribal document is listed as both List B and List C, it satisfies both requirements together.
Frequently Asked Questions About List C Documents
What are the List C documents for Form I-9?
USCIS recognizes 8 List C employment authorization documents for Form I-9. These are: (1) Unrestricted Social Security card (not marked "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT" or "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION"), (2) U.S. birth certificate issued by a state, county, or territory, (3) Certification of Birth Abroad (Form FS-545), (4) Certification of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350), (5) U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197, no longer issued), (6) Resident Citizen ID Card (Form I-179, no longer issued), (7) DHS-issued employment authorization document (not listed under List A), and (8) Native American tribal document. List C documents must be combined with a List B identity document.
Can a Social Security card be used for I-9 verification?
Yes, but only an unrestricted Social Security card. A Social Security card is a List C employment authorization document when it does not contain work restrictions. Cards marked "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT" or "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" are not acceptable. The card must be combined with a List B identity document, such as a driver's license.
Is a U.S. birth certificate acceptable for I-9?
Yes. A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or U.S. territory is a List C employment authorization document. It must be combined with a List B identity document. Photocopies of birth certificates are not acceptable — the employer must examine an original or certified copy.
What does "unrestricted" mean for a Social Security card?
An unrestricted Social Security card contains no work restrictions on its face. Cards that say "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT" (issued to non-work-authorized individuals) or "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" (issued to nonimmigrants with work authorization) are NOT acceptable as List C documents. Only a plain card without any such restriction is acceptable.
Do List C documents expire?
Most List C documents do not expire — Social Security cards, U.S. birth certificates, and Certifications of Birth Abroad have no expiration date. However, some DHS-issued employment authorization documents listed under List C (other than Form I-766, which is a List A document) may have expiration dates and require reverification. Employers should always note the expiration date in Section 2 and set reminders accordingly.
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Get Your Audit Score FreeI9AuditReady provides compliance tracking tools, not legal advice. Document lists are based on 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.