To get a replacement Social Security card for your child, you will need to complete an Application for a Social Security card and provide evidence of the following:
- Your identity
- The child’s identity
- U.S. citizenship if you have not established the childs U.S. citizenship with the Social Security Administration
- Your custody of or relationship to the child
You can visit the Social Security Number and Card page to begin the application online and then bring the required documents to your local Social Security office to finish the application process, usually in less time. Primary forms of identification such as a U.S. driver’s license, state-issued identification card, or U.S. passport are preferred, but most children do not have primary identification. When primary documents are not available, secondary ID may be accepted. An acceptable document must show your childs name, identifying information (i.e., age, date of birth, or parents names), and preferably a recent photograph. Birth certificates are not accepted as proof of identity.
To prove your childs U.S. citizenship, you can provide one of the following documents:
- U.S. birth certificate
- U.S. consular report of birth abroad
- U.S. passport
- Certificate of Naturalization
- Certificate of Citizenship
To prove your own identity, you will need to provide a document showing your name, identifying information, and photograph, such as a U.S. driver’s license, state-issued identification card, or U.S. passport.
It is important to note that all documents must be original or certified copies issued by the agency that issued them. Photocopies or notarized copies are not accepted. Additionally, all documents must be current (not expired), and the Social Security Administration cannot accept a receipt showing you applied for the document.
