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If your child lives outside the United States, we can assign the child a Social Security number if the child is: (1) a U.S. citizen or (2) a noncitizen lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence. Otherwise, we can assign the child a number only if a Social Security number is required by law as a condition of receiving a federally-funded benefit.

What Form Do I Need? 

Use Form SS-5-FS (Application for a Social Security Card) if you are applying for a Social Security card on behalf of a child who is living outside the United States.

You can obtain this form  at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5fs.html.

What Evidence Do I Need? 

Form SS-5-FS explains what evidence you will need to submit with your application.

Where Do I Send the Form? 

You should take or mail the completed form with the required original documents or copies certified by the custodian of the record to the nearest U.S. Social Security office, U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or if you live in the Philippines, to the Veterans Affair Regional Office in Manila. If you are a U.S. military dependent or a U.S. citizen working on a U.S. military post, you may also go to the Post Adjutant or Personnel Office. These offices can copy and certify your records so that you do not have to send original documents through the mail.

Do NOT mail original documents to the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, Maryland. Your child's Social Security card will be mailed to you from the United States. For more information on services outside the United States, see http://www.socialsecurity.gov/foreign/.