In order to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you need a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. An FSA ID is secure login made up of a selected username and password. Students and parents should create their own in order to electronically sign their FAFSA and other federal financial aid documents.
Your FSA ID is used to sign those legally binding financial aid documents electronically. It has the same legal status as a written signature. Don’t give your FSA ID to anyone – not even someone helping you fill out the FAFSA. Sharing your FSA ID puts you at risk of identity theft.
You’ll use your FSA ID every year you fill out the FAFSA form.
Who needs an FSA ID?
Students and parents of dependent students need an FSA ID. The FSA ID is used to electronically sign the FAFSA. Parents who have more than one child attending college can use the same FSA ID to sign all applications. Each student will need his/her own FSA ID.
Please Note: Each FSA ID user must have a unique email address.
Where can I use my FSA ID?
An FSA ID can be used at the following U.S. Department of Education websites:
- FAFSA.gov
- Electronically sign your (or your child’s) FAFSA.
- Import your tax information from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- Make online corrections to an existing FAFSA.
- View or print an online copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR).
- The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) or My Federal Student Aid
- View a history of any federal student aid that you have received.
- Look up your loan servicer’s contact information.
- StudentLoans.gov
- Complete entrance counseling, the Financial Awareness Counseling Tool, or exit counseling.
- Electronically sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
- Estimate your student loan payments using the Repayment Estimator.
- Apply for a income-driven repayment plan or a consolidation loan.
How can I get an FSA ID?
You can create an FSA ID when logging into certain ED websites.
The FSA ID process consists of three main steps:
- Enter your log-in information.
- Provide your e-mail address,
- A unique username, and password
- Verify that you are at least 13 years old.
- Enter your personal information.
- Provide your Social Security number, name, and date of birth.
- Include your mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number, and language preference.
- For security purposes, provide answers to five challenge questions.
- Submit your FSA ID information.
- Review your information, and read and accept the terms and conditions.
- Verify your e-mail address using the secure code. (Note: By verifying your e-mail address, you can use your e-mail address as your username when logging into certain ED websites. This verification also allows you to retrieve your username or reset your password without answering challenge questions.)
Can I create an FSA ID for someone else (my child, parent, or spouse)?
No. Only the owner of an FSA ID should create the account. The FSA ID serves as a legal signature and should not be shared with anyone.
I previously created a password when I started my FAFSA. Is that the same as the FSA ID password?
No. Prior to the implementation of the FSA ID, you may have created a password when starting a FAFSA. This FAFSA password was used to save a partially completed FAFSA or FAFSA correction and return to it later. It was also used to share a FAFSA between a parent and child who were not together geographically. If you created a password for a FAFSA or FAFSA correction, you should enter that password when you are asked for your Save Key.
Your FSA ID password is not the same as the former FAFSA password or the Save Key.
You can use the FSA ID to sign a FAFSA right away. Once the Social Security Administration verifies your information in one to three days, or if you have linked your PIN to your FSA ID, you will be able to use your FSA ID to access the websites listed above.
