Can Non-Residents Claim Unclaimed Property in the US?

Yes — non-residents and non-citizens can absolutely claim unclaimed property held by US states. There is no citizenship or residency requirement to claim property that legally belongs to you. The money could come from wages earned while working in the US, bank accounts from a past stint as a student or worker, investments, or insurance policies.

Common Reasons Non-Residents Have US Unclaimed Property

• Bank accounts opened while studying or working in the US on a visa
• Final paycheques from a US employer that were returned as undeliverable
• Security deposits from US apartments
• Investment or brokerage accounts opened during a US stay
• US life insurance policies purchased by or for non-residents
• Tax refunds from the IRS or state tax authorities for years worked in the US

How to Search for US Unclaimed Property From Abroad

The search process is identical whether you're in Kansas or Kuala Lumpur — all the official databases are online:

1. 1Go to MissingMoney.com — the official multi-state search portal (NAUPA partner). Enter your full name as it appeared on US documents.
2. 2Also search individual state databases, particularly for states where you lived or worked. High-value states: California, New York, Texas, Florida, Illinois.
3. 3Try name variations — if your name uses characters not standard in English (accents, etc.), try both versions.

Filing the Claim as a Non-Resident

The claim process works the same way, but you'll need to pay attention to a few specific areas:

Identity Verification

US states typically require a government-issued photo ID. For non-residents, a passport is universally accepted. If you previously had a US driver's licence or state ID, that may also be accepted.

For notarisation requirements (common for larger claims), non-residents should use:

• The nearest US Embassy or Consulate (they provide notary services)
• A local notary whose work is apostilled under the Hague Apostille Convention

Social Security Number or ITIN

Many state claim forms ask for a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). If you had a SSN while working in the US, provide it — this significantly speeds up identity verification. If you never had one, the state will verify identity by other means (passport, address history, original account details).

Where to Receive the Payment

States generally issue payment by cheque (mailed) or bank transfer. For non-residents:

• Request a cheque sent to a trusted US address (friend, family, or a mail forwarding service) — this is the simplest option
• Some states can wire to an international account with SWIFT/IBAN details — ask the state's unclaimed property office directly
• Some states are beginning to use PayPal or other digital payment systems for smaller amounts

Tax Withholding for Non-Residents

IRS Unclaimed Tax Refunds

Separately from state unclaimed property, if you worked in the US and may be owed a federal tax refund from the IRS, you can check and claim it through the IRS directly. There is a 3-year statute of limitations on claiming IRS refunds — after that, the IRS keeps the money. This is one case where acting quickly does matter.

Frequently Asked Questions for Non-Residents Claiming US Property

Do I need a Social Security Number to claim US unclaimed property?

Not necessarily. Some US states require a Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to verify identity, but many states accept foreign passport numbers or other government-issued ID as an alternative. If you are a non-resident who worked in the US or had a US bank account, you may already have an SSN. If you held investments through a US broker, you may have received an ITIN for tax withholding purposes. Contact the specific state's unclaimed property office to understand what documentation they will accept for non-US-resident claimants.

What kinds of property are most commonly held for non-residents?

Non-residents most commonly have unclaimed property from brokerage accounts and dividends from US-listed stocks held through foreign brokers or purchased while working in the US, travellers' cheques or money orders purchased in the US but never cashed, wages or refunds from US employers, deposits from US hotels or apartments, insurance payouts from US policies, and bank accounts opened while studying or working in the US. The value can range from a few dollars to tens of thousands — it is always worth searching.

Do US states notify non-residents when property is escheated?

States are required to make a "due diligence" effort to notify property owners before reporting property to the state — this usually means mailing a notice to the last known address. If you moved abroad and did not update your address with the financial institution holding your property, you likely never received a notice. States then publish names of owners in newspaper notices, but non-residents rarely see these. This is why proactively searching databases like missingmoney.com and individual state portals is important, especially if you have lived in the US at any point.

Will I owe US tax on unclaimed property I receive?

Generally, the property itself is your own money being returned to you, and a simple return of property is not a taxable event. However, interest or earnings that accrued while the property was held may be taxable. For non-residents, the US withholds 30% on certain types of US-source income paid to foreign persons (this rate may be reduced by a tax treaty). If you receive interest along with your returned property, check whether withholding applies. The state unclaimed property office can tell you what, if any, earnings or interest were added to your claim.