Robinhood Age Requirements 2026: Minimum Age & Verification Process

The Robinhood age requirement is 18 years old regardless of whether you want to trade stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, or prediction markets event contracts. While this applies across all US states, there are a couple exceptions for specific types of accounts.

What’s less obvious is everything that comes after that. Robinhood still needs to verify who you are before your account goes live, and that means submitting a photo ID, your Social Security Number, and sometimes a selfie. I’ll walk you through the full sign-up process, how long approval usually takes, and what the rules look like for prediction markets specifically.

How old do you have to be?

The Robinhood minimum age limit is 18 for almost every US state. That being said, there are two state-level exceptions worth knowing about.

In Alabama and Nebraska, the age of majority is 19, so residents of those states need to be 19 to open a joint account. For standard individual investing accounts, 18 is still the limit across the board.

The age rule covers everything from stocks, ETFs, crypto to Robinhood sports events trading. There’s no way around it.

What documents does Robinhood ask for?

Robinhood verifies your identity during sign-up. This is a federal requirement under the USA Patriot Act, which means that every US broker has to do it. Here’s what you’ll need:

• A government-issued photo ID – A driver’s license, passport, or state ID all work. It can’t be expired. When you photograph it, get all four corners in the frame and avoid glare. The site tends to reject blurry or partial photos.
• Social security number – Every applicant needs to provide an SSN, or another valid US Tax ID.
• A US home address – Robinhood only serves US residents.

Robinhood sometimes also asks for a selfie. Their system uses it to match your face to your ID. It’s a standard fraud prevention step. Your data is stored securely and not sold.

How the sign-up process works

The whole process takes under 10 minutes for most people. Here’s how it goes:

1. Download the app – Click on one of our banners to access the site and download the official Robinhood app.

2. Enter your personal details — You will need to enter your legal name, date of birth, US home address, email, and Social Security Number.

3. Submit your application – Robinhood runs an automated check on the spot.

4. Check your email – Most people get confirmation within minutes and can start setting up their account right away.

5. Upload any requested documents – The email will include a secure link, or you can upload directly through the app. Make sure to reply quickly.

If Robinhood needs something extra from you, you’ll get an email on the lines of “Action Needed: Verify Your Information.” One more thing to keep in mind. If your status shows as “pending,” don’t resubmit. Starting over resets everything. Just wait and keep an eye on your inbox.

How long does approval take?

Most people are approved in minutes. The automated system handles plenty of applications on its own, but things slow down when details need a second look. Maybe your name doesn’t perfectly match what’s on your ID, or the document photo wasn’t clear.

If you don’t hear from them in five business days, it might be a good idea to contact their support through their Help Center with your full name and sign-up email.

Join Robinhood today

Look up Robinhood prediction markets

Prediction markets require an extra step

The age limit for the platform is 18, but trading Robinhood event contracts through the prediction markets hub requires one more thing. You’ll need an approved Robinhood Derivatives account.

To get one, you’ll need margin investing enabled or Level 2 options approval on your main account first. Once that’s set, you apply for a Derivatives account and, after approval, the prediction markets hub shows up under Investing in the app.

Sports event trading is available in most states. As of early 2026, Maryland, Nevada, and New Jersey all have restrictions on sports contracts, but economic and political contracts are available everywhere. As we found when looking into the PrizePicks welcome bonus, a predominantly sports-first prediction market, these restrictions come down to ongoing legal questions in those states about trading sports event contracts.

What if you don’t meet the Robinhood age requirement?

There’s no trading account for anyone under 18. Robinhood doesn’t offer custodial accounts, so even with a parent involved, minors can’t trade. What does exist is a parent-controlled child banking account. It’s basically a debit account with spending controls and no investing access whatsoever.

It also doesn’t convert into a trading account when the child turns 18. A separate application is needed at that point. Bear in mind that using a parent’s account to trade is illegal. You can read more about this in a more comprehensive Robinhood review.

Pros and cons

All in all, new traders can sign up at Robinhood easily. If you have your documents to prove that you’re of legal age, then event contract trading is within your reach in minutes. Here are the upsides and downsides we’ve noticed:

Pros and Cons

• Fast sign-up
• Most accounts approved within minutes
• Your documents are secure

• Manual reviews can take up to a week

Is Robinhood the right platform for you?

If you’re 18 or older and live in the US, then you are eligible to create a Robinhood account. Have your ID and SSN ready, take clear photos, and you’ll likely be approved fast. The prediction markets side takes a little extra setup with the Derivatives account, but it’s all within the same app once you’re live.

Also, make sure to check out Robinhood fees before clicking on one of our banners to download the app, so you have the full picture about the platform.

Robinhood age requirement FAQs