Social Security Numbers (SNN)
Below you will find some of the most common scenarios related to applications for Social Security numbers. If you are in a different situation or If you do not find the information you are looking for, please contact the Federal Benefits Unit for advice. Our email address is fbu.madrid@ssa.gov.
How do I apply for a Social Security number for my child under the age of 12?
Complete an Application for a Social Security Card, Form SS-5-FS (https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf) – All questions must be answered and legible.
All supporting documents submitted with your application must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies.
This type of applications do not require a personal interview and you do not need to visit the Embassy. You may file your application by registered mail (‘correo certificado’).
Depending on where you live, if you do not wish to mail us your U.S. passport or U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad, you may obtain certified copies of these documents, free of charge, at the U.S. Consulate General in Barcelona, or at one of the the five consular agencies in Spain. You must make a notary appointment with the relevant office to obtain the certified copy. For more information, see our page on notary services.
Once you have the certified copies, you must mail them to the Federal Benefits Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Madrid along with the completed application form. Our address is Federal Benefits Unit, American Embassy, Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid.
Please provide us with the following documents (or copies certified by the issuing agency):
- Proof of the child’s birth
- Original U.S. birth certificate or original U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad; or
- If the child is a U.S. Resident, original foreign birth certificate.
- Proof of the child’s U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Resident status
- Original U.S. birth certificate; or
- Original U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad; or
- Original U.S. Passport; or
- If the child is a U.S. Resident, Permanent Resident Card.
- Proof of the child’s identity
- Original U.S. Passport, must be current and signed; or
- Original Spanish Passport or DNI, must be current; or
- If the child is a U.S. Resident, Permanent Resident Card. We may accept other documents that show the applicant’s legal name and biographical information, such as a passport or national identity card issued by a third country, so long as the preponderance of evidence can conclude that the individual is who they are presenting themselves as.
- Proof of the identity of the parent signing the application
- Original U.S. Passport, must be current and signed; or
- Original Spanish Passport or DNI, must be current. We may accept other documents that show the applicant’s legal name and biographical information, such as a passport or national identity card issued by a third country, so long as the preponderance of evidence can conclude that the individual is who they are presenting themselves as.
The completed application and documents should be mailed to us to the address shown below (please use registered mail). All original documents will be returned after receipt by registered mail.
We are currently processing our SSN applications and returning the documents within the same week of receipt. Since we use ‘correo certificado’ to return the documents, please estimate two to three weeks of mailing time. The physical SSN cards are issued within 48 hours at a central location in the United States. Please estimate three to four weeks for your card to reach Spain.
However, if your child was born in the United States, U.S. birth certificates need to be verified with Vital Statistics. In most cases, this process can be done electronically and does not delay the application. If we cannot verify the document with Vital Statistics electronically or if the document does not exactly match their records, our office in Baltimore will be required to contact the Vital Statistics office of the state in which the child was born for a manual verification. This is a process that may take 6 months, thereby delaying the application.
How do I apply for a Social Security Number for myself or my child age 12 or over?
Anyone age 12 or older must present themselves in person at a Federal Benefits Unit or designated U.S. Military installation.
You must complete an Application for a Social Security Card, Form SS-5-FS (download a PDF of SS-5-FS – PDF 56K) – all questions must be answered and legible.
Once you have the documentation ready, please use the following link to schedule your ‘In-Office Appointment’:
Book an appointment with the Madrid FBU
We are open for appointments Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
You must also provide the following original documents – photocopies are not acceptable.
- Proof of birth
- Original U.S. birth certificate; original U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad; or original birth certificate other than the documents mentioned above.
- Proof of U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Resident status
- Original U.S. birth certificate; or
- Original U.S. Consular Report of Birth Abroad; or
- Original Naturalization or Citizenship Certificate; or
- Original U.S. Passport; or
- Original Permanent Resident Card.
- Proof of identity
- Original U.S. Passport, must be current and signed; or
- Original Spanish Passport or DNI, must be current; or
- Original Permanent Resident Card. We may accept other documents that show the applicant’s legal name and biographical information, such as a passport or national identity card issued by a third country, so long as the preponderance of evidence can conclude that the individual is who they are presenting themselves as. Please contact the Federal Benefits Unit for advice. Our email address is fbu.madrid@ssa.gov.
- Proof of the identity of the parent signing the application, if applicable – a parent can sign the form for a child up to age 18; a child can sign the form above age 12.
- Original U.S. Passport, must be current and signed; or
- Original Spanish Passport or DNI, must be current. We may accept other documents that show the applicant’s legal name and biographical information, such as a passport or national identity card issued by a third country, so long as the preponderance of evidence can conclude that the individual is who they are presenting themselves as. Please contact the Federal Benefits Unit for advice. Our email address is fbu.madrid@ssa.gov.
- Proof that you or the child has resided outside of the U.S.
- You must submit documentary proof that you or the child has resided outside of the U.S. The proof of foreign residency is needed to explain why a Social Security number has not been issued in the past. The proof should cover a significant portion of the entire period of time you or the child has been outside of the U.S. (Click here to see list of suggested documentation; other documents may be submitted for consideration.)
We are currently processing our SSN applications within the same week of receipt. The SSNs are assigned and the cards are issued within 48 hours at a central location in the United States. Please estimate 3 to 4 weeks for your card to reach Spain.
However, if you were (or your child was) born in the United States, U.S. birth certificates need to be verified with Vital Statistics. In most cases, this process can be done electronically and does not delay the application. If we cannot verify the document with Vital Statistics electronically or if the document does not exactly match their records, our office in Baltimore will be required to contact the Vital Statistics office of the state in which the child was born for a manual verification. This is a process that may take 6 months, thereby delaying the application.