You cannot add another person to your FAFSA form, but you can share your Student Aid Report with them
The FAFSA form itself is tied to one student's Social Security number and cannot be jointly filled out or edited by multiple people at once. However, you can give someone access to view your completed form and your Student Aid Report (SAR) — the document that shows your expected family contribution and which schools received your information.
The person you want to invite does not need their own login or account. Instead, you generate a one-time access code through your Federal Student Aid account and share that code with them. They use the code to view your information without being able to change it.
This setup is useful if you want a parent, guardian, school counselor, or financial aid advisor to see what you submitted and what aid you were offered, but you remain the only person who can edit or resubmit your form.
Key Takeaways
- You generate a one-time access code through your Federal Student Aid account that lets someone view your FAFSA results without editing them.
- The person you invite does not need to create an account or log in — they enter the code you give them and can view your Student Aid Report.
- Only you can make changes to your FAFSA form; the access code gives view-only permission.
- You can create a new access code at any time, and old codes expire after a set period or when you generate a replacement.
How to generate an access code for someone to view your FAFSA
Log into your Federal Student Aid account at studentaid.gov using your FSA ID (username and password). Once logged in, go to your FAFSA form and look for an option to share your information or generate an access code — the exact wording and location can shift between updates, but it is typically found in a menu labeled "Share" or "Manage Access."
Select the option to create a new access code. The system will generate a unique code, usually a string of numbers and letters. Write this code down or copy it exactly as shown — you will give this code to the person who needs to view your form.
You can create multiple codes if you want different people to see your information, and you can revoke or replace any code at any time by logging back into your account and generating a new one. The old code will no longer work.
What the person you invite can see and do
When someone uses your access code, they can view your Student Aid Report, which shows your expected family contribution, your dependency status, and a list of schools that received your FAFSA information. They can also see any financial aid offers that schools have sent to you through the Federal Student Aid portal.
They cannot edit your form, change your answers, add or remove schools, or submit a new FAFSA on your behalf. They cannot access your FSA ID or password, and they cannot see any other personal information beyond what appears on your SAR.
If you want someone to help you fill out or correct your FAFSA, you will need to share your FSA ID login information with them directly — which means they will have full access to edit your form. This is different from the access code, which is view-only.
When to share your FAFSA information with others
Share your access code with a school's financial aid office if they ask to review your FAFSA results. Many schools request this during the financial aid process to verify information or to help you understand your aid package.
You might also share it with a parent or guardian who is helping you pay for school, or with a college counselor at your high school who wants to see what you submitted. Some students share it with a financial aid advisor or tutor who is helping them understand their aid options.
Do not share your full FSA ID login unless you explicitly want that person to be able to edit your form. If someone asks for your password, ask them first whether they need to make changes or only view your information — if they only need to view it, give them the access code instead.
What to do if you need to let someone edit your FAFSA
If a parent, guardian, or school official needs to actually change information on your FAFSA — not just view it — you will need to share your FSA ID username and password with them. This gives them full editing access, so only do this if you trust them completely and understand that they can change any answer on your form.
After they finish making changes, you should log back into your account and change your password. This prevents them from making further edits without your knowledge and protects your account from unauthorized access.
Some families use a shared password for this reason, or the parent creates their own FSA ID and becomes a co-filer on the FAFSA. If you are unsure which approach is safest for your situation, ask your school's financial aid office for guidance.
Troubleshooting access codes that do not work
If someone enters your access code and gets an error message, the code may have expired. Access codes typically work for a limited time — check the confirmation message you received when you generated the code to see how long it remains active. If it has expired, log back into your account and generate a new code.
Make sure the person entering the code is typing it exactly as you provided it, with correct capitalization and spacing. Even a single wrong character will cause the code to be rejected.
If the code is current and typed correctly but still does not work, try logging out of your Federal Student Aid account and logging back in, then generate a fresh access code. If the problem continues, contact Federal Student Aid support through studentaid.gov for help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my parent edit my FAFSA if I give them the access code?
No. The access code only lets them view your Student Aid Report and results. To let them edit your form, you must share your FSA ID username and password directly. After they finish, change your password to secure your account.
Do I have to give someone my password to let them see my FAFSA?
No. Generate an access code through your Federal Student Aid account and share that code instead. They enter it to view your information without needing a login or password.
Can I create different access codes for different people?
Yes. You can generate as many codes as you need, and each one works independently. You can also delete or replace any code at any time by logging into your account and creating a new one.
What happens if I share my access code with the wrong person?
They can view your Student Aid Report but cannot change anything on your FAFSA. If you want to prevent them from seeing it, log into your account and generate a new code — the old one will stop working.
Can a school financial aid office request an access code directly from me?
Yes. Many schools ask students to provide an access code so they can review FAFSA results during the financial aid process. It is safe to generate a code and share it with your school's financial aid office.