Every Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA®) needs to be signed with both a student and parent (for dependent students) FSA ID. This ID is a safe and secure way to sign the financial aid application.

How to Make a Parent FSA ID to Sign Your FAFSA®
How to Make a Parent FSA ID to Sign Your FAFSA®

Here's how to make a parent FSA ID.

  1. Go to the FSA ID website .
  2. Fill in the information under "Create an FSA ID," and then click "continue."
  3. You'll be directed to another page with an online form. There, you'll fill out your personal information, which includes your name, address, and Social Security number.
  4. Once you've followed all the instructions, you'll need to wait up to three days while the system confirms your identity.

While you're waiting for confirmation, consider verifying your email, which is optional but helpful. Verifying your email allows you to get email notifications about changes occurring in your parent account and also makes resetting your username and password easier since you can bypass challenge questions. You will be shown an option to verify your email as you follow the prompts.

Here are a few more tips for parents to keep in mind:

  • You don't need to provide an email address or a mobile phone number, but doing so makes it easier for you to retrieve your password if you ever lose it.
  • You cannot use the same email address or phone number that your child used for their FSA ID. This is to prevent parents and children from having the same FSA ID.
  • Do not create an FSA ID for your child. Both the child and the parent must have a unique FSA ID.
  • Do not allow anyone else to create an FSA ID for you.
  • If you think the Social Security Administration (SSA) may have the wrong date of birth in their record for you, this may impact your ability to create an FSA ID. You will need to correct any errors on their website or your FSA ID will not be processed.
  • If your FSA ID is ever lost, you have the option to reset your username or password on the FSA ID website. Additionally, if your FSA ID is stolen, you can contact the FSA directly by phone. (add phone number?)

If your child is a dependent student who completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, you'll need to create your own FSA ID at the FSA ID website .

Frank FAFSA® is Now Open - File Today

Having an FSA ID helps you and your child submit the FAFSA® promptly so you hear back about your federal student aid faster.

Here's everything you need to know about making a parent FSA ID.

Common Parent Questions About FSA ID:

What is an FSA ID?

An FSA ID consists of a username and password that let you access U.S. Department of Education websites.

As a parent, you can use your ID to provide your FAFSA® parent signature, sign federal student aid contracts electronically for your child, view a copy of the Student Aid Report, and retrieve your IRS tax information.

It basically functions as a legal signature, which is why parents and students must each have their own FSA ID.

Do all parents need one?

If you need to provide your information for your child's FAFSA®, you need an FSA ID.

Parents with dependent students need to get an FSA ID. When your child fills out the FAFSA® , they will find out if they're considered dependent or independent. Factors include their age, marital status, and whether they're on active duty in the U.S. armed forces.

Simply put, if they need your information for the application, you'll need to get an FSA ID.

Does every parent in your household need an FSA ID?

Only one legal parent needs an FSA ID.

In the case of separated or divorced parents, students should provide information for the parent they lived with most during the past 12 months.

Make sure you know who the legal parent is before filling out the FAFSA®. Incorrect information can delay the application process.

Applying for financial aid doesn't need to be complicated. Make sure to create your parent's FSA ID early so your child's FAFSA® gets processed quickly.