• If the employee can provide a document from List A, then they do not need to present any other documents.
• An employee may present one document from List B and one from List C.

List A Documents

List A documents prove both an individual’s identity and work authorization simultaneously, so an employee only needs to produce one document from List A to satisfy the I-9 requirements.

The List A documents are:

• A U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card;
• A Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) or Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551);
• An Employment Authorization Document that contains a photograph (Form I-766);
• A Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) or the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) with Form I-94 or Form I-94A;
• A foreign passport containing a Form I-551 stamp or Form I-551 printed notation; or
• A foreign passport with Form I-94 or Form I-94A that has the same name as the passport. The form must have an endorsement of the individual’s status or parole that has not expired. The proposed employment cannot be in conflict with restrictions identified on the form. (This is only an acceptable List A document for an individual temporarily authorized to work for a specific employer because of the individual’s status or parole.)

List B Documents

List B documents establish identity only and are valid for the Form I-9 when presented with a List C document (which establishes work authorization only). Both must be presented in order to validate the employee.

Employers may notice some documents on both Lists B and C. If an employee presents one of these documents (like a Native American Tribal Document), it can be used to complete both columns B and C. The employee does not need to present any other documents if the document appears on both lists. The reason these documents are not on List A is that List A is established by Congress with specifically named documents.

If employers use E-Verify, and an employee presents a combination of List B and List C documents, then the List B document must contain a photograph.

The List B documents are:

• A driver’s license,
• An ID card issued by federal, state, or local government agencies,
• A school ID card with a photograph,
• A voter’s registration card,
• A U.S. military card or draft record,
• A military dependent’s ID card,
• A U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card,
• A Native American Tribal Document, or
• A driver’s license issued by a Canadian government authority.

For individuals under age 18:

• A school record or report card;
• A clinic, doctor, or hospital record; or
• A day-care or nursery school record.

List C Documents

Documents found on List C establish employment eligibility only and are valid for the Form I-9 when presented with a List B document (which establishes identity only).

The List C documents are:

• A U.S. Social Security number card;
• A birth certificate with an official seal;
• A certification of birth abroad issued by the Department of State (Form FS-240, Form FS-545, Form DS-1350);
• A Native American Tribal Document;
• A Form I-197, U.S. Citizen ID Card;
• A Form I-179, Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the U.S.; or
• An employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Acceptable receipts

An employee may present a receipt in place of a document proving identity, work authorization, or both. The receipt is acceptable for a short period of time, allowing the employer to complete Section 2 of the Form I-9 or Supplement B, for reverification and rehire.

The Lists of Acceptable Documents page on the Form I-9 includes a link to additional details about some acceptable receipts. In addition, the form includes links to information about automatic extensions of employment authorization documentation.