What we verified in “ITIN, passport or matrícula: what you can do with each”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. According to the IRS, an ITIN is a 9-digit number the IRS issues if you need a U.S. taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes and are not eligible for a Social Security number; and you can apply regardless of immigration status.

   Sources 1 · Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), last reviewed Oct. 28, 2025: 'An ITIN is a 9-digit number the IRS issues if you need a U.S. taxpayer identification number for federal tax purposes'; 'you can apply for an ITIN regardless of immigration status' · Checked October 17, 2026

2. According to the IRS, an ITIN is issued for federal tax purposes only; it does not qualify you for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit, does not provide or change immigration status, does not authorize you to work legally in the U.S. and does not serve as identification outside the federal tax system.

   Sources 1 · Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN), 'What an ITIN is used for': 'An ITIN is issued by the IRS for federal tax purposes only'; 'Qualify you for Social Security benefits or the Earned Income Tax Credit'; 'Provide or change immigration status'; 'Authorize you to work legally in the U.S.'; 'Serve as identification outside the federal tax system' · Checked October 17, 2026

3. According to the Form W-7 instructions, the ITIN is for federal tax purposes only, for example filing an individual federal return to claim a refund or report income; and it does not entitle you to Social Security benefits or change your immigration status or your right to work in the U.S.

   Sources 2 · Instructions for Form W-7 (Rev. 12/2024), 'Purpose of Form': 'The ITIN is for federal tax purposes only'; 'Examples of using an ITIN for federal tax purposes include filing an individual federal tax return to claim a refund or report income'; 'An ITIN doesn't entitle you to social security benefits and doesn't change your immigration status or your right to work in the United States' · Checked October 17, 2026

4. According to the IRS, it accepts 13 documents to prove identity and foreign status for getting or renewing an ITIN; a passport is the only stand-alone document; without a valid passport you send two documents, one with a photo; the list includes the national identification card, the foreign voter's registration card, the civil birth certificate and U.S. or foreign driver's licenses; the matrícula consular does not appear by name on that list; documents must be originals or certified copies, and the IRS does not accept notarized documents.

   Sources 3 · ITIN supporting documents (last reviewed July 22, 2026): 'We accept 13 documents to prove identity and foreign status'; 'A passport is the only stand-alone document'; 'If you don't have a valid passport, you must submit two supporting documents'; 'One document must show your photo'; 'National identification card'; 'Foreign voter's registration card'; 'Civil birth certificate'; 'Foreign driver's license'; 'Be original documents or certified copies'; 'We don't accept notarized documents' · Checked October 17, 2026

5. Under the federal Customer Identification Program rule, before opening an account a bank must obtain at least your name, date of birth, address and an identification number; for a U.S. person that number is a taxpayer identification number, and for a non-U.S. person it can be one or more of: a taxpayer identification number; a passport number and country of issuance; an alien identification card number; or the number and country of issuance of any other government-issued document evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard.

   Sources 5 · 31 CFR §1020.220(a)(2)(i)(A): 'the bank must obtain, at a minimum, the following information from the customer prior to opening an account'; 'Date of birth, for an individual'; 'For a U.S. person, a taxpayer identification number'; 'For a non-U.S. person, one or more of the following: A taxpayer identification number; passport number and country of issuance; alien identification card number; or number and country of issuance of any other government-issued document evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard' · Checked October 17, 2026

6. Under the same rule, each bank sets risk-based procedures, based on its own assessment of risks, to verify customers' identity; if it uses documents, they can be unexpired government-issued ID evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph, such as a driver's license or passport; and a bank may have procedures to open an account for someone who has applied for, but not yet received, a taxpayer identification number.

   Sources 5 · 31 CFR §1020.220(a)(2) and (a)(2)(ii)(A): 'risk-based procedures for verifying the identity of each customer to the extent reasonable and practicable'; 'These procedures must be based on the bank's assessment of the relevant risks'; 'unexpired government-issued identification evidencing nationality or residence and bearing a photograph or similar safeguard, such as a driver's license or passport'; 'Exception for persons applying for a taxpayer identification number'; 'a customer that has applied for, but has not received, a taxpayer identification number' · Checked October 17, 2026

7. According to the CFPB, to open an account a bank or credit union verifies your name, date of birth, address and identification number, which can be a Social Security number, an ITIN, a passport number and country, an alien identification card number or another government-issued identification number; a Matricula Consular is an official Mexican government ID document, other countries offer similar IDs (CID cards), and their consulates in the U.S. issue them; some banks and credit unions accept foreign passports and consular IDs such as the Matricula, so you should check whether they accept it; and because interest is money subject to tax, an interest-bearing account requires a Social Security number or ITIN.

   Sources 6 · Checklist for opening a bank or credit union account (A Newcomer's Guide to Managing Money): 'identification number can be a Social Security number, Individual Taxpayer Identification'; 'passport number and country'; 'alien identification card number, or'; 'other government-issued identification number'; 'consular IDs, such as the Matricula Consular card'; 'A Matricula Consular is an official Mexican government identification document'; 'Other countries offer similar IDs, sometimes called consular identification (CID) cards'; 'Consulates in the United States offer them'; 'check with the banks and credit unions about whether they accept it'; 'interest is money that is subject to tax'; 'to open an interest-bearing account, you need a Social Security number or ITIN' · Checked October 17, 2026

8. According to the FDIC, many banks allow you to open an account even if you are not a U.S. citizen, and you might need different forms of identification, such as a foreign passport, a consular ID or an ITIN.

   Sources 7 · #GetBanked: 'many banks allow you to open an account even if you're not a U.S. citizen'; 'You might need different forms of identification, like a foreign passport, a consular ID, or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)' · Checked October 17, 2026

9. According to the IRS instructions for requesters of Form W-9, the form is used to get the correct name and taxpayer identification number of a payee; for individuals that number is generally a Social Security number, but individuals who have an ITIN must provide it on the W-9; and if the IRS deactivates an ITIN because it expired, it may still be used on the W-9, although it must be renewed if a tax return needs to be filed.

   Sources 4 · Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9 (03/2024), 'Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)': 'is used by persons required to file information returns with the IRS to get the payee's (or other person's) correct name and TIN'; 'For individuals, the TIN is generally a social security number (SSN)'; 'Individuals who have an ITIN must provide it on Form W-9'; 'If the IRS deactivates the ITIN because it has expired, the ITIN may still be used on Form W-9'; 'the ITIN holder will have to apply to renew the deactivated ITIN if there is a need to file a tax return' · Checked October 17, 2026

10. In a December 2003 legal opinion, the NCUA (the federal regulator of credit unions) saw no legal impediment to a federal credit union lending to members who use ITINs and the matrícula consular rather than a Social Security number, as long as it identifies and addresses the risks.

    Sources 8 · NCUA Legal Opinion 03-0964 (December 2003): 'rather than a social security number'; 'We see no legal impediment to this plan'; 'an FCU must be sure to identify and address any risks associated with this initiative' · Checked October 17, 2026

11. Fannie Mae's Selling Guide requires each borrower to have a valid Social Security number or ITIN, in addition to meeting existing legal residency and documentation requirements.

    Sources 9 · Selling Guide B2-2-01, General Borrower Eligibility Requirements, 'Tax Identification Numbers': 'requires that each borrower have a valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), in addition to meeting existing legal residency and documentation requirements' · Checked October 17, 2026

12. According to Fannie Mae's Selling Guide, Fannie Mae buys mortgages made to non-citizens who are lawful permanent or non-permanent residents on the same terms as for citizens; it does not specify the exact documentation: the lender determines status case by case, using documentation it deems appropriate.

    Sources 10 · Selling Guide B2-2-02, Non-U.S. Citizen Borrower Eligibility Requirements: 'lawful permanent or non-permanent residents of the United States under the same terms that are available to U.S. citizens'; 'does not specify the precise documentation the lender must obtain'; 'based on the circumstances of the individual case, using documentation it deems appropriate' · Checked October 17, 2026

13. Under the federal REAL ID rule, a state DMV may issue a REAL ID driver's license or ID card only to a person who has presented satisfactory evidence of lawful status.

    Sources 11 · 6 CFR §37.11(g), Evidence of lawful status in the United States: 'A DMV may issue a REAL ID driver's license or identification card only to a person who has presented satisfactory evidence of lawful status' · Checked October 17, 2026

14. Under the federal REAL ID rule, states that choose to also issue licenses and ID cards that federal agencies do not accept for official purposes must clearly state on the face of the card that it is not acceptable for official purposes, and use a unique design or color.

    Sources 12 · 6 CFR §37.71(a): 'choose to also issue driver's licenses and identification cards that are not acceptable by Federal agencies for official purposes'; 'Clearly state on their face and in the machine readable zone that the card is not acceptable for official purposes'; 'Have a unique design or color indicator' · Checked October 17, 2026

15. According to the CFPB, HUD-approved housing counselors give advice on buying a home, renting and credit issues, among other topics, and offer independent advice, often at little or no cost.

    Sources 13 · Find a Housing Counselor: 'Housing counselors throughout the country can provide advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, forbearances, foreclosures, and credit issues'; 'they can offer independent advice, often at little or no cost to you' · Checked October 17, 2026

16. According to the Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), those who can represent you include validly licensed attorneys and accredited representatives; notarios, document preparers, immigration consultants and travel agents are not allowed to practice law or give you legal advice.

    Sources 14 · Can Someone Represent You Before EOIR?: 'Those include validly licensed attorneys and accredited representatives'; 'Notarios, document preparers, immigration consultants, and travel agents are not allowed to practice law'; 'They cannot give you legal advice' · Checked October 17, 2026