National Passports: Applying Without a Social Security Number and Understanding Your Religious Right
Most people have been conditioned to believe that a Social Security Number is required for every federal form — especially a U.S. passport. But the truth is simple: No federal agency may force you to violate your sincerely held religious beliefs, and that includes compelling you to provide a Social Security Number if doing so conflicts with your spiritual doctrine.
A growing number of Americans are choosing to live privately, outside commercial systems, and without participating in programs that contradict their faith or their interpretation of scripture. Applying for a passport without a Social Security Number is one of the most important steps in that process.
This section explains how it works, why it is lawful, and how recent case law — including Abigail v. Rubio — has affirmed your religious rights in this area.
This information is for educational purposes only.
Why Some People Choose Not to Use a Social Security Number
A Social Security Number is tied to:
- Federal benefit programs
- Commercial tracking systems
- Taxable privileges
- Government-managed identification
- Contracts that many religious individuals choose not to enter
For many faith-based individuals, the SSN represents a civil membership in a system they are spiritually required to remain separate from. As a result, they refuse to apply for, obtain, or disclose a Social Security Number for religious reasons — a right that is protected under federal law.
Your Right to Apply for a Passport Without a Social Security Number
Federal regulations allow individuals to apply for a passport without a Social Security Number if they certify that:
- They never applied for one
- They never received one
- They refuse to obtain one for religious reasons
- Disclosing or using one would violate their spiritual doctrine
This process has existed for decades, but many individuals — and even many passport clerks — are unaware of it.
Under U.S. law, the government cannot force you to violate your religious beliefs in order to obtain a passport.
Your right to international travel and religious freedom is protected by:
- The First Amendment
- The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)
- Federal administrative law
- Relevant case law, including Abigail v. Rubio
The Impact of Abigail vs. Rubio
In the recent case Abigail vs. Rubio, the court affirmed that:
- Religious beliefs cannot be dismissed simply because an agency finds them “inconvenient.”
- Denying a passport solely based on the refusal to submit or obtain an SSN violates RFRA.
- The government must use the “least restrictive means” when a religious belief conflicts with administrative policy.
- Americans who abstain from federal programs for sincere religious reasons must be accommodated, not punished.
This ruling reinforces that passport eligibility cannot be conditioned on SSN participation when doing so burdens a religious conviction.
This case closed the door on the long-standing practice of clerks rejecting SSN-free applications due to misunderstanding or agency preference.
How to Apply for a Passport Without a Social Security Number
To apply without an SSN, you must:
- Complete your DS-11 normally
- Leave the SSN section blank
- Attach a sworn statement or affidavit explaining your religious objection
- Cite your sincerely held beliefs
- Reference your rights under RFRA
- Affirm that providing or obtaining an SSN would violate your faith
- Certify that the information is true under penalty of perjury
- Submit all supporting identity documents normally required
When done correctly, the State Department is required to process your passport.
Reasons Individuals Choose This Path
People who file for a passport without an SSN often do so because:
- They refuse to be part of federal tracking systems
- They believe the SSN represents a contract that conflicts with their faith
- They live privately and outside of federal benefit programs
- They follow biblical instructions to separate from certain worldly systems
- They do not want their travel or identity tied to federal databases
- They view the SSN as incompatible with their spiritual identity
These are deeply personal and sincerely held religious convictions — and federal law respects them.
Your Right to Travel is Fundamental
A passport is evidence of nationality, not a reward for government participation.
Your right to travel is:
- Constitutional
- Protected
- Recognized internationally
- Independent of federal benefit programs
No agency may lawfully prevent you from traveling because you refuse to participate in systems that violate your religious beliefs.
A Passport Without an SSN Is a Path to Privacy
Applying for a passport without a Social Security Number supports your ability to:
- Live privately
- Operate outside commercial systems
- Separate your spiritual identity from federal programs
- Protect your family’s religious rights
- Move freely without compromising your beliefs
It is a lawful, powerful step toward preserving your sovereignty and spiritual integrity.