For SBA lenders
Short answer
Non-citizen owners must be lawful permanent residents of the U.S. or provide documentation of their alien registration number and legal status.
All owners of 20% or more of the equity in the applicant business must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. Lawful permanent residents must provide their Alien Registration Number. Certain non-immigrant visa holders may be eligible under specific circumstances, but lawful permanent residency is the most common path for non-citizens.
An applicant for a $500,000 7(a) loan owns 30% of the business. They are a lawful permanent resident holding a valid Green Card. The lender would require their Alien Registration Number and verify their current legal status to confirm eligibility.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
Policy Notice 5000-876441 - Citizenship and Residency Requirements
Procedural Notice 5000-876626 - Revised Applicant Ownership, Citizenship and Residency
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.
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