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The short answer
You can usually send money to Nigeria from the US without a Social Security number. Providers such as Remitly list a passport, SSN or ITIN, or other government ID among what they may ask for, so a valid Nigerian passport plus, where needed, an ITIN often works. Without an SSN, expect lower limits or more document requests, and note that the IRS says an ITIN is for federal tax purposes and is not identification outside the tax system.
Plenty of Nigerians in the US do not have an SSN: recent arrivals, visitors, spouses waiting on paperwork, some students. Sending money home is still possible. What changes is which documents you use and how far your limits go.
Is an SSN legally required to send money?
The federal rules for money transmitters do not say every sender must have an SSN. FinCEN's guide for money services businesses requires the provider to verify identity and keep records for transfers of $3,000 or more, but it does not limit verification to one document. The SSN does feature in one specific case: for Currency Transaction Reports on cash over $10,000 a day, FinCEN's customer notice says you will be asked for identification such as an SSN as well as a driver's licence or other government document. Providers then set their own rules on top.
What providers accept instead
Remitly's limits page, checked in October 2026, lists the information it may need as name, date of birth and address, plus a passport, SSN or ITIN, or other government ID, and supporting documents such as a utility bill, bank statements or pay stubs. In practice, combinations like these often work:
| Your situation | Documents to try | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| No SSN, no ITIN | Valid Nigerian passport; proof of US address | Account opens with lower limits; more checks as you send more |
| ITIN holder | Passport or state ID, plus ITIN as taxpayer number | Often enough for higher limits, provider by provider |
| State ID or driver's licence without SSN | State ID plus passport | Some providers accept state ID alone as photo ID |
| Work permit holder | Employment Authorization Document plus passport | See our page on EAD cards as ID |
Exact acceptance varies, so check the provider's help page or verification screen. Our guide to using an EAD card as ID covers that document.
What an ITIN is, and is not
The IRS issues an ITIN, a 9-digit number, to people who need a US taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes but are not eligible for an SSN. You can apply regardless of immigration status if you meet the conditions. The IRS also says an ITIN does not authorise work, does not change immigration status, does not qualify you for Social Security benefits, and does not serve as identification outside the federal tax system (IRS, reviewed October 2025).
So a provider treats an ITIN as a taxpayer number that helps it match you in its checks, not as photo ID. You still need a passport or other photo document. Getting an ITIN just to send money is not its purpose; people normally have one because they file US tax returns.
How to keep limits workable without an SSN
- Verify with your passport at sign-up rather than waiting to be asked.
- Add proof of your US address early: a bank statement or utility bill in your name.
- Fund transfers from a US bank account or debit card in your own name. Paying in cash or by money order adds the 1% federal remittance tax in force since January 2026, according to the IRS.
- Keep evidence of your income or savings ready for larger transfers; see source-of-funds documents.
- Send the amounts you need in full rather than splitting to stay under thresholds; splitting cash transactions to avoid reports is structuring, which FinCEN says is a crime.
Common problems
Name format
Nigerian names are sometimes recorded differently across documents, with middle names dropped or surnames moved. If your passport, bank account and app profile do not match, verification can fail. Use the passport version everywhere you can.
Expired passport
An expired passport is often rejected. If yours is close to expiry, renew it before you need to raise limits; see how long passport renewal takes from the US.
No US bank account
Without an SSN some people also lack a bank account, which narrows payment methods. A prepaid card, which Remitly lists as accepted from the US, avoids cash and the remittance tax.
Being asked for someone else's SSN
Never use a friend's or relative's SSN, or let them send on your behalf using theirs. The transfer would be recorded in their name, and using another person's identity documents can create serious problems for both of you. If an app will not verify you, ask its support team which of your own documents it will take.
Where Pryme fits
A Pryme account can be opened from any country with identity checks carried out through regulated partners outside Nigeria; the documents needed are shown during sign-up. Once verified you can hold USD and NGN and send with Send; the app shows the rate and the fee before you approve. See how it works.
Questions people ask
Can I send money to Nigeria without a Social Security number?
Usually, yes. Many providers accept a passport and other government ID; Remitly, for example, lists passport, SSN or ITIN, or other government ID.
Is an ITIN accepted for money transfers?
Some providers accept an ITIN as a taxpayer number alongside photo ID. The IRS says an ITIN is not identification outside the federal tax system, so you will still need a passport or similar.
Will my limits be lower without an SSN?
Often. Providers set limits by verification level. Proof of address and source-of-funds documents can help.
Can I use my Nigerian passport only?
Many providers accept a valid Nigerian passport as photo ID, but may ask for proof of US address and more documents for larger transfers.
Sources
- Remitly: Increase your sending limits (US, August 2026 change) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) (reviewed 28 Oct 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- FinCEN: Bank Secrecy Act requirements, quick reference guide for money services businesses · accessed Oct 2026
- FinCEN: Notice to customers, a CTR reference guide · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS news release IR-2026-48: proposed regulations on the remittance transfer tax (10 Apr 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.