W-7 document checklist
What you send with Form W-7 depends on the reason box you check and the documents you have. Answer a few questions and get your list.
Reviewed by Alex Thomas · Updated Nov 5, 2026
For W-7 reason b, your checklist has 6 items. Send original documents or copies certified by the issuing agency; regular photocopies are rejected.
Your checklist
Attach your federal tax return
Send the W-7 with the return that needs the ITIN. Leave the SSN/ITIN boxes on the return blank.
Your passport
A valid passport is the only document that proves both identity and foreign status on its own.
Originals or certified copies
Certified copies must come from the agency that issued the document. Photocopies and notarized copies aren't accepted.
Option 1: mail it to the IRS in Austin
Send everything to the ITIN Operation address in the W-7 instructions. Your documents come back by mail.
Option 2: go to a CAA or an IRS office
A Certifying Acceptance Agent or an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center can verify passports and some IDs in person, so you keep your originals.
Allow 7 to 11 weeks
The IRS quotes about 7 weeks, and 9 to 11 weeks from January 15 to April 30 or when applying from abroad.
Ask members who've been there
Questions
Do I need to send my original passport with the W-7?
Do I need a tax return to apply for an ITIN?
What documents does a child need for an ITIN?
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Read guide →- Can I apply for an ITIN online?Applying for an ITIN online isn't an option. The IRS lists only two ways to send Form W-7, by mail or in person, at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, a VITA site with ITIN services or an acceptance agent. The tax return that goes with a first application can't be e-filed either. It travels on paper, attached to the W-7.
- How do I get an ITIN for my spouse or child?Getting an ITIN for your spouse or child means filing a Form W-7 for each of them, attached to your federal tax return. They qualify only if they can't get an SSN and you claim them for a tax benefit, such as a joint return or the credit for other dependents. Dependents usually also need proof of US residency.
- How do I get an ITIN for an H-4 dependent?An H-4 dependent gets an ITIN with a Form W-7 attached to the family's federal tax return, but only if they can't get an SSN. An H-4 spouse with a work permit (EAD) can get an SSN instead. Otherwise, a spouse qualifies through a joint return or their own return, and a child when claimed for a tax benefit.
- How much does it cost to get an ITIN number?An ITIN costs nothing from the IRS. The IRS doesn't charge a fee to issue one, and its Taxpayer Assistance Centers and VITA sites with ITIN services help for free. Certifying Acceptance Agents and Acceptance Agents are fee-based, and fees vary from one agent to the next. You pay only if you choose an agent.
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