Use Form I-9 to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. All U.S. employers must properly complete Form I-9 for every individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and noncitizens. Both employees and employers (or authorized representatives of the employer) must complete the form.
On the form, an employee must attest to their employment authorization. The employee must also present their employer with acceptable documents as evidence of identity and employment authorization. The employer must examine these documents to determine whether they reasonably appear to be genuine and relate to the employee, then record the document information on the employee’s Form I-9. Certain employers who choose to remotely examine the employee’s documentation under a DHS-authorized alternative procedure rather than via physical examination must indicate they did so by checking the box provided.For more information, review the Special Instructions tab below.
Download Instructions
USCIS provides information on Downloading and Printing Immigration Forms such as Form I-9 on your laptop or PC.
To open Form I-9 on an Apple mobile device:
- Download a PDF filler application to your device, if necessary.
- Click the link below using your device. Note that this form view is NOT fillable.
- Select the Upload button, then choose a PDF filler application on your device to open a fillable form.
To open Form I-9 on an Android mobile device:
- Download a PDF filler application to your device, if necessary.
- Click the link below using your device to open a fillable form.
Forms and Document Downloads
Form I-9 (Please see the Download Instructions tab on how to download this version.) (PDF, 477.5 KB)
Instructions for Form I-9 (PDF, 290.66 KB)
Form I-9 in Spanish (Please see the Special Instructions tab on how to use this version.) (PDF, 475.35 KB)
Instructions for Form I-9 in Spanish (PDF, 402.84 KB)
Form Details
Edition Date
08/01/23. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
Dates are listed in mm/dd/yy format.
If you complete and print this form to mail it, make sure that the form edition date and page numbers are visible at the bottom of all pages and that all pages are from the same form edition. If any of the form’s pages are missing or are from a different form edition, we may reject your form.
If you need help downloading and printing forms, read our instructions.
Where to File
Do not file Form I-9 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Employers must:
- Have a completed Form I-9 on file for each person on their payroll who is required to complete the form;
- Retain and store Forms I-9 for three years after the date of hire, or for one year after employment is terminated, whichever is later; and
- Make their forms available for inspection if requested by authorized U.S. government officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, or Department of Justice.
Special Instructions
The Form I-9 link consists of four parts:
- Page 1 contains the sections that all new employees and their employers must complete.
- New employees must attest to their employment authorization in Section 1 and present acceptable documents to their employer.
- Employers must examine the employee’s documents and record the document information in Section 2.
- Certain employers who choose to remotely examine the employee’s documentation under a DHS-authorized alternative procedure must check the box in Section 2 to indicate they did so.
- Page 2 contains the Lists of Acceptable Documents that employers must provide to employees, either as a hard copy or as a hyperlink to this form.
- Employers do not need to retain this page with an employee’s Form I-9.
- Page 3 contains Supplement A, Preparer and/or Translator Certification for Section 1.
- Employers must ensure that preparers or translators who assist an employee in completing Section 1 complete this page, then retain it with the employee’s Form I-9.
- If the employee does not use a preparer or translator, employers do not need to print, provide, or retain this page with an employee’s Form I-9.
- Page 4 contains Supplement B, Reverification and Rehire (formerly Section 3).
- Employers must complete and retain this page when an employee requires reverification of their employment authorization or, in some cases, employment authorization document; or if the employer chooses to document a rehire.
- Employers do not need to print, provide, or retain this page with an employee’s Form I-9 unless and until an employee requires reverification or the employer chooses to document a rehire.
Employers must ensure that employees have access to the Instructions for completing Form I-9, by providing them either a hard copy or a hyperlink. Also, the hyperlink on the main Form I-9 webpage returns you to the Instructions above.
Employers must retain all completed pages of Form I-9 for a designated period and make them available for inspection by authorized government officers.
Only employers located in Puerto Rico may complete the Spanish-language version of Form I-9 instead of the English-language version. Any employer may use the Spanish-language form and instructions as a translation tool.
Form I-9 is a fillable form, which means you can type your answers directly into the form, except for the signature blocks. Employers and employees using this fillable form must print and manually sign it rather than typing or electronically affixing a signature because this fillable form does not meet DHS standards for electronic Form I-9 generation, storage and retention systems. See 8 CFR section 274a.2. Failure to meet DHS standards for electronically generated, stored and/or retained Form I-9 may result in fines and other penalties.
Related Links
- Handbook for Employers M-274
- I-9 Central
- E-Verify
Last Reviewed/Updated:
