Editing National identification number (section)

=== United States ===
{{Main|Social Security number}}

In the [[United States]], the Social Security number (SSN) is a nine-digit number issued to [[United States nationality law|U.S. citizens]], [[Permanent residence (United States)|permanent residents]], and temporary (working) residents. Its purpose was to identify individuals for the purposes of [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], but it is now also used to track individuals for [[Taxation in the United States|taxation]] purposes. There is no legal requirement to have a SSN if it is not required for Social Security or taxation purposes, but in practice one is required for many other purposes, for example to open a bank account or apply for a driving license, so that nearly all U.S. citizens and permanent residents have one. The SSN has therefore become a ''de facto'' national identification number,<ref>{{cite news |first=Jim |last=Kouri |title=Social Security Cards: De Facto National Identification |url=http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=3911 |work=American Chronicle |date=9 March 2005 |access-date=18 July 2010 |archive-date=17 July 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717092547/http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=3911 |url-status=live }}</ref> despite the fact that originally it was expressly not for this purpose.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/26/weekinreview/the-nation-not-for-identification-purposes-just-kidding.html|title=The Nation; Not for Identification Purposes (Just Kidding) (Published 1998)|first=Robert|last=Pear|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 July 1998|access-date=5 September 2017|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925104640/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/26/weekinreview/the-nation-not-for-identification-purposes-just-kidding.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In fact, a valid SSN can be easily guessed, as they were issued serially<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/geocard.html | title=Social Security History | access-date=2017-08-04 | archive-date=2019-12-05 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205135753/https://www.ssa.gov/history/ssn/geocard.html | url-status=live }}</ref> prior to 25 June 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ssa.gov/employer/randomization.html | title=Social Security Number Randomization | access-date=2017-12-21 | archive-date=2019-10-02 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002182027/https://www.ssa.gov/employer/randomization.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

A [[Selective Service Number]] must be applied for by all male citizens and immigrant non-citizens turning age 18, to register for military conscription. Though the United States currently employs a [[volunteer military]], all males are required to register in case of a potential draft.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nationale Identitätsnummer ESTA |url=https://www.estaformular.org/reisen-in-den-usa/nationale-identitaetsnummer-esta |access-date=2022-12-07 |website=Zeitschrift für Migrationsforschung |language=de |archive-date=2022-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207104727/https://www.estaformular.org/reisen-in-den-usa/nationale-identitaetsnummer-esta |url-status=live }}</ref>