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Social Security Number (SSN)

Choose from the applicable options below to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN).

If you are residing in the PHILIPPINES, the Social Security Number (SSN) application form and supporting documents must be mailed to our office. If you do not wish to send your original documents, contact us by e-mail at FBU.Manila@ssa.gov to request for an appointment (Subject: Appointment Request).

If you reside outside the Philippines, the Social Security Number (SSN) application form and supporting documents must be mailed to our office via registered mail or courier service with tracking capability (such as UPS, DHL or FedEx). For the secure return of original documents, you may provide us with a pre-paid return label issued by a courier service provider. Otherwise, we will return the original documents to you using our mail service provider.

If you reside outside the Philippines and do not wish to send the original documents to our office, you can have them certified at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate. You should schedule an appointment with the American Citizen Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy/Consulate servicing your area. On your appointment, present the original documents to the Consular Staff and inform them that you need certified copies of the documents for a federal benefits / Social Security application. The Consular Staff will give you certified copies of the documents, which you will then mail to our office.

Our street mailing address is:

Social Security Administration
ATTN: SS-5
U.S. Embassy – Manila
1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita
Manila, Philippines 0930

Our military mailing address (for clients with APO/DPO/FPO address only) is: (If you are using this option, you may provide a pre-paid priority certified mail envelope for the return of original documents)

Social Security Administration
U.S. Embassy
8600 Manila Place
Washington D.C. 20521-8600

If you have further inquiries, contact us by e-mail at FBU.Manila@ssa.gov (Subject: Social Security Number Application)

Option 1 – How do I apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) for my child under the age of 12?

Download, complete and sign Form SS-5-FS – Application for a Social Security Card – All questions must be answered legibly.

Send the completed Form SS-5-FS together with the following original documents. Uncertified photocopies are not acceptable.

  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Birth Certificate of the child
  • Valid/Unexpired U.S. Passport of the child (the child’s U.S. Passport must be signed)
  • Valid/Unexpired U.S. Passport or U.S. Government Issued ID (such as U.S. Driver’s License, U.S. Permanent Resident Card, U.S. State Identity Card or U.S. Military ID) of the parent who signed the Form SS-5-FS

Additional Requirement if the child was born in the U.S.:

Option 2 – How do I apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) for myself or my child over the age of 12?

All first-time applicants for Social Security Number (SSN) over the age of 12 must apply in person. The applicant must contact our office and advise as to which country the applicant was born. If the applicant resides in the Philippines, the interview will be conducted at the Federal Benefits Unit in Manila. If the applicant resides overseas, the interview will be conducted at your servicing U.S. Embassy/Consulate. Our office will provide guidance on how to arrange the interview appointment.

Download, complete and sign Form SS-5-FS – Application for a Social Security Card – All questions must be answered legibly.

During the interview, the applicant must present the following original documents:

  • Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Birth Certificate
  • Valid/Unexpired U.S. Passport or U.S. Permanent Resident Card
  • If the applicant is a minor, Valid/Unexpired U.S. Passport or U.S. Government Issued ID (such as U.S. Driver’s License, U.S. Permanent Resident Card, U.S. State Identity Card or U.S. Military ID) of the parent who signed the Form SS-5-FS
  • Documents proving that the applicant have been outside the U.S. for a prolonged period of time

The documentation provided must be comprehensive enough to demonstrate that the applicant has been living outside the U.S. from birth up to the present. This may include school records (report cards, transcript of records confirming dates of attendance), medical records, travel records (entry/exit stamps on expired passports, immigration records), employment records, etc.

Additional Requirement if the applicant was born in the U.S.:

Option 3 – How can I update my record with my new/current name?

Download, complete and sign Form SS-5-FS – Application for a Social Security Card – All questions must be answered legibly.

Send the completed Form SS-5-FS together with the following original documents. Uncertified photocopies are not acceptable:

  • Valid/Unexpired U.S. Passport or U.S. Government Issued ID (such as U.S. Driver’s License, U.S. State Identity Card or U.S. Military ID)
  • Name Change Document such as Marriage Certificate, Divorce Decree, Amended Birth Certificate, Court Order, Deed Poll, Certificate of Naturalization, etc.

Option 4 – How can I find out my or my child’s SSN or how do I replace a lost Social Security Card?

Download, complete and sign Form SS-5-FS – Application for a Social Security Card – All questions must be answered legibly.

Send the completed Form SS-5-FS together with the following original documents. Uncertified photocopies are not acceptable.

  • Valid/Unexpired U.S. Passport or U.S. Government Issued ID (such as U.S. Driver’s License, U.S. Permanent Resident Card, U.S. State Identity Card or U.S. Military ID)
  • If the number holder is a minor, Valid/Unexpired U.S. Passport or U.S. Government Issued ID (such as U.S. Driver’s License, U.S. Permanent Resident Card, U.S. State Identity Card or U.S. Military ID) of the parent who signed the Form SS-5-FS

Option 5 – I have a visa that allows me to work in the U.S. Can I apply for a SSN before I travel to the U.S.?

If you have obtained a U.S. Visa that allows you to work in the U.S., you must apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) once you have entered the U.S.

You can apply at the nearest Social Security Administration District Office in your area. You can find a list of our offices here.

How can I obtain my or my child’s Social Security Number (SSN) which is needed for U.S. Passport Application?

The applicant or his/her parent must contact us via our FBU Inquiry Form (Inquiry Reason: SSN Verification for Passport) and provide the following information in the Remarks portion:

  • Last Name:
  • First Name:
  • Middle Name:
  • Date of Birth:
  • Place of Birth:
  • Parent’s Name:

We will provide instructions on how to apply if the applicant does not have an SSN.

If the applicant has an SSN and would like to obtain this information, he/she must submit an application for a replacement card.

What is the processing time for an application for Social Security Card?

Once the application is processed, the Social Security Card is printed at a central location in the U.S. and sent by regular mail to the mailing address provided. The average mailing time is within 3 weeks for a U.S. mailing address, and within 60 days for a foreign mailing address. We recommend that you provide a U.S. mailing address for faster delivery, especially if you are residing in a country where the local postal system is unreliable.

The processing of original Social Security Numbers for applicants who were born in the U.S. may take up to six months, as the birth record must be verified with the State where the applicant was born.