A Certifying Acceptance Agent can authenticate most qualifying ITIN supporting documents, but the authority is not unlimited and differs for primary or secondary applicants and dependents.
The current CAA boundary
According to the IRS, a CAA may authenticate most supporting documents for primary and secondary applicants, except foreign military identification cards. For dependents, a CAA may authenticate passports and civil birth certificates only. Other dependent documents generally must be submitted as originals or copies certified by the issuing agency.
Authentication requires possession and review
The CAA must examine the qualifying original document or an acceptable issuing-agency certified copy. A video meeting may help conduct an interview, but it does not replace the required possession and review of the document. Applicants should not rely on a phone photo, scan, or ordinary notarized copy unless the current IRS rules specifically accept it.
A passport is special, but details still matter
The IRS identifies a passport as the only document that can generally establish both identity and foreign status by itself. Dependent rules may require proof of U.S. residency or a date of entry unless an exception applies. Document validity, consistency, translation, and applicant category all require review.
A CAA does not issue the ITIN
Authentication means certifying to the IRS that reviewed documents meet the applicable standard. It is not an ITIN approval, an immigration determination, or government endorsement of the service provider. The IRS makes all final decisions.
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