Updated
Can You Get an ITIN Without a Passport? (2026)
Which 12 Documents Does the IRS Accept Instead of a Passport?
- National identification card (must contain photo, name, address, DOB, expiration)
- US driver's license
- Civil birth certificate
- Foreign driver's license
- US state identification card
- Foreign voter's registration card
- US military identification card
- Foreign military identification card
- Visa issued by the US Department of State
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services photo ID
- Medical records (dependents under age 6 only)
- School records (dependents under age 18 only)
Pair any two from the list as long as at least one supports foreign status (foreign-issued document) and at least one supports identity (with photo). See full IRS list at the current Form W-7 instructions.
How Do I Pick the Best Document Combination?
| Applicant Situation | Recommended Pair |
|---|---|
| Adult in the US | Foreign birth certificate + state ID |
| Adult outside the US | National ID + foreign driver license |
| Child under 6 | Birth certificate + medical records |
| Child 6-17 | Birth certificate + school records |
| F-1/J-1 student without passport | US visa + DS-2019/I-20 + birth certificate |
For the broader document checklist, see ITIN documents required.
Why Use a CAA When You Do Not Have a Passport?
Without a passport, the IRS requires originals or issuer-certified copies of every alternative document. Mailing original birth certificates and national IDs to the IRS carries real loss risk. A CAA verifies the originals on a video call and certifies the copies that go to the IRS, so the applicant's irreplaceable documents stay home.
Frequently Asked Questions About Getting an ITIN Without a Passport
Yes. The passport is the preferred single-document option, but the IRS accepts 12 alternative documents in 2-document combinations. Common combinations: foreign birth certificate plus state-issued photo ID; foreign national ID plus foreign driver's license; US visa plus foreign military ID. The IRS publishes the full list in the Form W-7 instructions.
Acceptable combinations include: birth certificate + state ID, national ID + driver's license, civil birth certificate + foreign military ID, US visa + foreign passport (if expired), US driver's license + birth certificate. At least one document must establish foreign status and at least one must support identity.
Yes. Children under 14 can use a birth certificate plus school records or medical records as the document pair. Children 14-17 can use a birth certificate plus school records or a national ID. Children under 6 can use medical records alone.
Yes. The IRS requires originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. A notarized copy is NOT acceptable. A Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) verifies originals on a video call and certifies the copy that goes to the IRS, eliminating the need to mail originals.
After the passport, the lowest-rejection combinations are: foreign birth certificate plus an unexpired national ID with photo, or foreign birth certificate plus a US state-issued photo ID. Combinations that include only paper documents (birth certificate alone or with utility bill) have higher rejection rates.
Apply without mailing originals. Apply with a Certifying Acceptance Agent — $297 flat, ready in 7 days.