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The short answer
An F-1 student can get a Social Security number (SSN) only once they have permission to work, most often an on-campus job, CPT or an OPT work permit; the Social Security Administration says only noncitizens with DHS permission to work can apply. If you are not eligible for an SSN but must file a US tax return, for example because a scholarship is taxable, you apply to the IRS for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) with Form W-7 and your return. An ITIN is for tax only and does not let you work.
Two numbers, two jobs
Nigerian students arriving in the US hear both terms in their first weeks, often from people who use them as if they were the same. They are not. An SSN is issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and is tied to permission to work. An ITIN is issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for federal tax purposes only. You need only one: the IRS says anyone eligible for an SSN does not need an ITIN.
| SSN | ITIN | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Social Security Administration | Internal Revenue Service |
| Who can get it | Noncitizens with DHS permission to work | People with a federal tax purpose who are not eligible for an SSN |
| For an F-1 student, typically when | You have an on-campus job, CPT or an OPT work permit | You must file a return (for example a taxable scholarship) but have no work permission |
| Lets you work? | It reports your earnings; the permission comes from your status and authorisation | No. The IRS says it does not authorise work |
| How to apply | In person at an SSA office with original documents | Form W-7, usually with your tax return, by mail or in person |
When an F-1 student can get an SSN
The SSA's publication for international students (January 2024) is direct: only noncitizens who have permission from the Department of Homeland Security to work can apply. For F-1 students, that means your school has authorised you to work, on or off campus, and you meet the SSA's other requirements. Simply being enrolled is not enough, and the SSA will not issue a number just so you can open a bank account or sign a lease.
Documents the SSA asks for
- Immigration status
- Your passport with a current admission stamp, your Form I-94 if available, and your Form I-20
- On-campus job
- A letter from your designated school official (DSO) confirming your status and naming your employer and type of work, plus evidence of the job such as a recent payslip or a signed, dated letter from your supervisor
- CPT
- Your I-20 with the employment page completed and signed by your DSO
- Work permit
- If you have a DHS work permit (Form I-766), such as for OPT, you must present it
- Age and identity
- Your foreign birth certificate if you can get it, otherwise another document such as your passport; and your unexpired passport for identity
Timing
The SSA suggests waiting at least 48 hours after you report to your school before applying, so that your status shows on the systems it checks. In practice, students usually apply once they have accepted an on-campus job and collected the DSO and employer letters. Ask your employer's payroll team what it needs from you while the application is pending.
When an ITIN applies
The IRS says you need an ITIN if you have a federal tax purpose and are not eligible for an SSN. Its examples include being required to file a return and claiming a refund or tax benefit. For a Nigerian F-1 student without a job, the common case is a scholarship or fellowship that is partly taxable, for instance one that pays for housing, which means filing Form 1040-NR. Our guide to whether Nigerian students in the US file a tax return explains when that happens.
How to apply
- Confirm with your international office that you are not eligible for an SSN; if you have a campus job, apply for the SSN instead.
- Complete Form W-7, the ITIN application, from IRS.gov.
- Prepare the federal tax return the ITIN is needed for. The IRS says to include the tax return in your ITIN application package rather than filing it separately.
- Apply by mail or in person, following the W-7 instructions for the identity documents required.
- Allow about 7 weeks for the IRS to tell you the outcome, or 9 to 11 weeks if you apply between 15 January and 30 April or from overseas, as the IRS states.
An ITIN that has expired must be renewed if you need to file a US return again. The IRS also notes the number is not valid for identification outside the federal tax system.
What you can do without either number
- Open a bank account: many banks accept your passport, I-20 and I-94 instead; see our guide to opening a US bank account on an F-1 visa.
- File Form 8843 in a year with no income, which explains your exempt days to the IRS.
- Study and live on campus; neither number is a condition of enrolment.
If you plan to work later through CPT or OPT, read our guide to F-1 work rules first, because the authorisation you hold decides which documents the SSA will want.
What to check first
- Whether you have, or are about to have, authorised work. If yes, it is an SSN; if no and you must file, it is an ITIN.
- That your name is spelt and ordered the same on your passport, I-20 and I-94.
- That you have your original Nigerian birth certificate with you in the US.
- The current Form W-7 and its instructions on IRS.gov, not a copy saved from a past year.
Where Pryme fits
Neither number is needed to receive support from home through Pryme. A Pryme Personal Account can be opened from any country and holds USD and NGN with local details for each; outside Nigeria, Pryme works through regulated partners. See multicurrency, and for transfers the other way, sending money to Nigeria from the US. This article is information, not tax or immigration advice.
Questions people ask
Can an F-1 student get an SSN without a job?
Generally no. The SSA says only noncitizens with DHS permission to work can apply, so you need an on-campus job, CPT or an OPT work permit.
What documents do I need for an SSN as an international student?
Your passport with admission stamp, I-94 and I-20, plus a DSO letter and job evidence for on-campus work, or your signed I-20 for CPT, or your EAD for OPT, and your birth certificate if available. Originals only.
Can I work in the US with an ITIN?
No. The IRS says an ITIN does not authorise you to work in the US; it is for federal tax purposes only.
How long does an ITIN take to come?
The IRS says to allow 7 weeks, or 9 to 11 weeks between 15 January and 30 April or if you apply from overseas.
Sources
- Social Security Administration: International Students and Social Security Numbers (Pub. 05-10181, Jan 2024) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) (reviewed 28 Oct 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- IRS: Form 8843 (2025) and instructions · 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.