E-Verify Requirements by State 2026

E-Verify Requirements Status

Voluntary

Yes

Yes for public employers only

State	E-Verify Requirements Status↓	E-Verify Notes
Alabama	Yes	Requires all or most businesses to use e-verify.
Arizona	Yes	Requires all or most businesses to use e-verify.
Florida	Yes	Requires all or most businesses to use e-verify.
Georgia	Yes	Requires all or most businesses to use e-verify.
Louisiana	Yes	Requires all or most businesses to use e-verify.
Mississippi	Yes	Requires all or most businesses to use e-verify.
North Carolina	Yes	Requires all or most businesses to use e-verify.
South Carolina	Yes	Requires all or most businesses to use e-verify.
Tennessee	Yes	Requires all or most businesses to use e-verify.
Utah	Yes	Requires all or most businesses to use e-verify.
Idaho	Yes for public employers only	Requires public employers to use e-verify based on city or county ordinances.
Indiana	Yes for public employers only
Michigan	Yes for public employers only
Minnesota	Yes for public employers only
Missouri	Yes for public employers only
Nebraska	Yes for public employers only
Oklahoma	Yes for public employers only
Pennsylvania	Yes for public employers only
Texas	Yes for public employers only
Virginia	Yes for public employers only
West Virginia	Yes for public employers only
Alaska	Voluntary
Arkansas	Voluntary
California	Voluntary
Colorado	Voluntary
Connecticut	Voluntary
Delaware	Voluntary
District of Columbia	Voluntary
Hawaii	Voluntary
Illinois	Voluntary
Iowa	Voluntary
Kansas	Voluntary
Kentucky	Voluntary
Maine	Voluntary
Maryland	Voluntary
Massachusetts	Voluntary
Montana	Voluntary
Nevada	Voluntary
New Hampshire	Voluntary
New Jersey	Voluntary
New Mexico	Voluntary
New York	Voluntary
Ohio	Voluntary
Oregon	Voluntary
Rhode Island	Voluntary
South Dakota	Voluntary
Vermont	Voluntary
Washington	Voluntary	Several Washington counties and cities require certain contractors and subcontractors to use E-Verify for new hires.
Wisconsin	Voluntary
Wyoming	Voluntary

E-Verify Employment Eligibility System A federal online system that allows employers to confirm that new employees are authorized to work in the United States by checking government records.

E-Verify Employment Verification System

At the federal level, participation in E-Verify is generally voluntary for most employers, although certain federal contractors may be required to use it. States may also establish their own rules governing when the system must be used.

As a result, E-Verify requirements vary across the United States. Some states require most employers to use the system, others mandate it only for public employers or government contractors, and many states leave participation voluntary, as seen in the table above.

States Where E-Verify Is Required for Most Employers

Some states require most or all employers to use E-Verify when confirming the work eligibility of new hires. In these jurisdictions, businesses are generally required by state law to check employment authorization through the federal E-Verify system.

States where E-Verify is required for most employers include Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah.

States Where E-Verify Is Required for Public Employers

Some states require E-Verify only for public employers or for businesses working under government contracts. In these cases, the requirement typically applies to state agencies, local governments, or contractors performing work for the government, while most private employers are not required to use the system.

States where E-Verify is required for public employers include Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

States Where E-Verify Is Voluntary

In many states, employers are not required by state law to use E-Verify. In these jurisdictions, participation in the system remains voluntary for most employers, though some federal contractors may still be required to use it under federal regulations.

The table above identifies the states where E-Verify participation is voluntary at the state level.