SNAP & Immigration Status
Receiving SNAP is not considered for Public Charge and does not impact your immigration status.
Depending on your immigration status, you may or may not be eligible for SNAP. Learn more about how your immigration status affects your SNAP eligibility below.
Legal immigrants who meet all SNAP eligibility except for immigration requirements are eligible for Washington’s State Food Assistance Program, which provides similar benefits to SNAP.
Immigrants who are ineligible for SNAP can always apply on behalf of family members who are eligible.
Eligible for SNAP
Refugees
Asylees
Victims of trafficking
Cuban or Haitian entrants
Amerasian immigrants
Hmong or Highland Lao tribal member
Those granted withholding of removal
Special immigrants from Iraq & Afghanistan
Non-citizen American Indian
Immediately
After Five Years in the U.S.
Eligible for SNAP
Legal Permanent Residents (green card holders)
Conditional entrants
Paroled for one year or more
Individuals from Ukraine granted humanitarian parole
Victims of spousal or child abuse
Ineligible for SNAP
Undocumented immigrants
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients
Those on student, work, or diplomatic visas
“I am not eligible for SNAP, but my family needs help with groceries.”
If you are not eligible for SNAP because of your immigration status, you can apply and receive benefits on behalf of household members who are eligible.
For example, if you are undocumented but have children who are U.S. citizens, your family can receive SNAP.
SNAP is NOT considered for Public Charge. Applying for SNAP will not affect your immigration status or your ability to receive a green card.
The State Food Assistance Program
If you are a legal resident who meets all SNAP eligibility criteria except the immigration requirements, you are eligible for the State Food Assistance Program (FAP).
Through this program, you will receive the same amount of money for groceries each month as you would if you were enrolled in SNAP. Households can receive both SNAP and FAP depending on the status of each individual family member.
Have Questions About Your Eligibility?
The SNAP guidelines around immigration can be confusing! If you have questions about how your status affects your SNAP eligibility, call the Family Food Hotline today. You will be connected to a trained specialist who can answer your questions and help you through the application process.
Available Monday - Thursday 8:00am - 5:30pm and Fridays 8:00am - 5:00pm
Last updated: October 7, 2024