Renting Without a Social Security Number in St. Louis
No Social Security number does not mean no apartment. Missouri has no law requiring an SSN to rent — it is up to each landlord's screening process, and many can work with an ITIN or other documents. Here is how it works and how to make your application strong.
The short version
- Missouri has no statute requiring an SSN on a rental application — acceptance is landlord policy, so it varies property to property.
- Screening companies can check eviction records, criminal history (by name and date of birth), and income without an SSN. Some can run credit with an ITIN; some cannot.
- Smaller landlords and individual owners are often more flexible than big corporate properties, because they make their own rules.
Documents landlords commonly accept instead of an SSN
- Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
- U.S. passport or unexpired foreign passport
- Permanent resident card (green card) or employment authorization document
- Consular ID card (matrícula consular)
- State driver's license or state ID
- Refugee travel document or tribal photo ID
Ask the property up front — before paying an application fee — exactly which documents they accept and whether their screening supports ITIN. A five-minute question can save you a $50 fee on an application that was never going to process.
Make the rest of the application strong
Without a U.S. credit file, the rest of your file carries the weight. Bring:
- Proof of income — recent pay stubs, an employer letter, or bank statements showing regular deposits. Aim to show income of about 3x the rent (see our income guide).
- Rental history — a reference letter from a previous landlord, even from another country, plus proof you paid on time (receipts, transfers).
- A larger deposit or a co-signer, if you can offer one. Missouri caps security deposits at two months' rent, so a landlord can legally accept more deposit in exchange for a thin credit file — but never more than two months.
- Patience on timing — screening without an SSN is often manual, so approval may take a few extra days.
Your fair-housing rights
The Fair Housing Act bars landlords from treating you differently because of national origin, race, or another protected trait. They cannot single you out for extra questions about immigration status because of your national origin, your accent, or your name. If every applicant must show ID, that is legal; if only you are asked for different documents, that may not be. If you believe you were treated unfairly, you can file a complaint with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (1-877-781-4236) within 180 days, or with HUD (1-800-669-9777, hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination) within one year. Legal Services of Eastern Missouri ((314) 534-4200) can advise qualifying renters free of charge.
Local help
Getting an ITIN itself is free through the IRS (Form W-7, filed with a tax return). IRS Certifying Acceptance Agents and IRS-certified volunteer tax (VITA) sites can assist — never pay a stranger who promises to "sell" you a number.