Can I Get an EIN Without a Social Security Number?

Published 10 February 2026 · Updated 31 August 2026 · Reviewed by Ashfaq Khattak, US Tax Consultant

Yes. You can get an EIN with no Social Security Number and no ITIN. The SSN requirement applies only to the IRS online application, which is a convenience channel, not the law. Foreign owners apply on paper Form SS-4, leave line 7b blank or write "Foreign", and submit it by fax or mail to the IRS international unit in Ogden, Utah.

The EIN you receive this way is identical in every respect to one issued online. Expect four to six weeks by fax. Any provider promising an EIN in 24 or 48 hours for an applicant with no SSN is either describing the online channel you cannot use, or misrepresenting how long the IRS actually takes.

How the paper application works

Complete Form SS-4. Line 7a is the responsible party: you, the foreign owner. Line 7b is their SSN or ITIN, left blank or marked "Foreign" when you have neither.
Name a third party designee on the form if you want the IRS to release the EIN to your representative by return fax. This is what makes the fax route fast rather than slow.
Fax it to the IRS international unit. Faxing is materially faster than mail and gives you a transmission receipt.
Wait four to six weeks. The EIN comes back by fax, or by post as a CP 575 confirmation letter.

Keep the confirmation. Every bank, payment processor and marketplace will ask for it, and the IRS does not reissue CP 575 letters — only a lesser 147C verification letter.

What you need to hand

Your LLC’s exact legal name as filed with the state, character for character
The stamped Articles of Organization or certificate of formation
The formation state and date
The responsible party’s full legal name and home address abroad
Your passport
A short description of the business activity and the reason for applying

You do not need a US address, a US phone number, a US bank account, an ITIN, or a visit to the United States.

Common mistakes that cause rejection

An entity name that does not exactly match the state record. A missing comma before "LLC" is enough to be rejected.
Applying online with a borrowed SSN. The responsible party must be the true owner. Using someone else’s number invalidates the EIN and creates a real tax problem for both people.
Applying before the state has approved the LLC. The entity has to exist first.
Requesting a second EIN because the first has not arrived. Duplicates have to be untangled later and delay everything.

EIN and ITIN are not the same thing

An EIN identifies a business to the IRS. An ITIN identifies an individual who has a US filing obligation but cannot get an SSN. You do not need an ITIN to get an EIN, and you do not need an ITIN to own an LLC or open business banking. You need an ITIN when you personally have to file a US return, such as Form 1040-NR or a partnership return that lists you as a member.