If you’re going to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, in December, it’s important that you have a verified Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). The FSA ID enables you to complete, sign, edit and renew your FAFSA, and it also gives you access to important information about your federal financial aid at various U.S. Department of Education websites.
Here it is in a nutshell:
- You should create your FSA before the end of November.
- If you already have an FSA ID that you used on a previous FAFSA, ensure that you provided an email address when you created the ID. The 2024-25 FAFSA will require that everyone has their own unique email address.
- If you are creating an FSA ID for the first time, it will take an average of two to three days for the information to go through a matching process with the Social Security Administration. Until the information is verified, you won’t be able to complete your FAFSA. Make sure it’s been verified before you start the application.
- As you create your FSA ID, you may find it helpful to write down all of the information you entered, along with a one-time authentication code to save in case you need it later. The FSA ID worksheets in English and Spanish will be useful for keeping the information safe until you renew your FAFSA next year.
- If you’re required to report one or both parents’ information on your FAFSA, they’ll need a verified FSA ID as well. If you have questions about who should create an FSA ID, refer to Who Needs a Federal Student Aid ID? at UCanGo2.org.