My FSA ID for the FAFSA

What is a FSA ID?

An FSA ID consists of an account username and password that you create in order to gain access to the U.S. Department of Education’s online systems, including StudentAid.gov. An FSA ID can also serve a your legal signature when completing electronic documents.

How do I get an FSA ID?

Visit Studentaid.gov to create an FSA ID.

Here’s what you will need:

• Social Security number (you must have a SSN to get a FSA ID)
• Full Name (must match your Social Security card)
• Date of Birth
• Mobile Phone Number and Email Address

Top FSA ID Tips

• Never tell anyone else your FSA ID—not even your parent, child, school official, or loan company representative. Remember, your FSA ID is your signature. Protect it!

• Create your own FSA ID. Letting someone else create or use your FSA ID can cause problems or delays with your student aid. And never make an FSA ID for someone else.

• You’ll use your FSA ID every year you fill out a FAFSA and for the lifetime of any loans. So be sure to take a little time while making it to create a memorable username, password, and answers to your “challenge questions.” Keep your FSA ID in a safe place, or memorize it.
• One of your parents might need an FSA ID as well. If you need to provide information about your parents on the FAFSA, one of your parents will have to sign the application. Your parent can create an FSA ID and then sign the FAFSA electronically using that FSA ID. 
• Each e-mail address can be associated with only one FSA ID. If you share an e-mail address with someone else, only one of you will be able to use that e-mail address to create an FSA ID. So, for instance, if you’re a dependent student, and you and your mom share an e-mail address, one of you should use a different e-mail address when creating an FSA ID.
• It takes the Department of Education approximately 3 days to validate the FSA ID. It is recommended that the FSA ID be validated before beginning the FAFSA.