For SBA lenders
Short answer
For U.S. citizens, a passport or birth certificate suffices; for Qualified Aliens, an unexpired Form I-551 (Green Card), I-94 with appropriate endorsements, or other specific USCIS documents are required.
Lenders must obtain and verify acceptable documentation to confirm the citizenship or Qualified Alien status of all individuals owning 20% or more of the applicant business. The type of documentation required depends on the status being claimed.
An owner claiming U.S. citizenship provides a U.S. passport. Another owner claiming Qualified Alien status provides their unexpired Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551). The lender scans and retains these documents in the loan file.
Procedural Notice 5000-876626 - Revised Applicant Ownership, Citizenship and Residency
Policy Notice 5000-876441 - Citizenship and Residency Requirements
SBA Form 1919 - Borrower Information Form
Last checked 2026-06-13. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 · SBA sources checked through 2026-06-13. DealRoom analysis of public SBA 7(a) lending records (FY2020–present). Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against the official sources above before relying on it for a live deal. Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision.
More on citizenship & residency
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