As a U.S. citizen

If you are a U.S. citizen, you will need your birth certificate or a U.S. passport. If you need information about getting a copy of your birth certificate, see Getting a copy of your birth certificate.

You will also need one of the following to get a new Social Security card:

• School ID
• Work ID
• Military ID
• Official school transcript
• Medical records
• Medical insurance card (not a paper "medical card")

To apply for a new or replacement Social Security Card, you can complete the online application here. You can also go to a Social Security Office with your documents. You can find locations of Social Security Offices here. Afterward, it usually takes 2-4 weeks to get an official school transcript or medical records. If you have questions, you should call (800) 772-1213.

As a foreign-born U.S. citizen

If you are a U.S. citizen, but you were born outside of the U.S., you will need to prove your citizenship and your identity.

You can prove that you are a citizen by showing your:

• U.S. passport,
• Certificate of naturalization (N-550/N-570), Certificate of citizenship (N-560/N-561), Certificate of a report of birth (DS-1350); or
• Consular report of birth abroad (FS-240).

You can prove your identity by showing your:

• School or work ID,
• Military ID,
• Health insurance card (not a "medical card"),
• School transcript or medical record,
• Passport, or
• State ID.

If you receive Medicaid, you should have received a plastic insurance card from a Managed Care Company such as Blue Cross Blue Shield or Aetna. If you don't have the card, you'll need to call the company to ask for a replacement. If you don't know who your Managed Care Company is, you can use the Illinois Client Enrollment Broker website to look up this information.

As a non-citizen

If you are a non-citizen with permission to work, you can apply for a Social Security number or may have one already. You can apply in your home country before you leave for the United States, or you can apply in-person at the Social Security Office once you arrive.

When you visit the Social Security Office, you must prove your identity and that you are allowed to work. Documents you can use to prove these things include:

• Form I-551, permanent resident card;
• Form I-766, employment authorization document ("work permit"); or
• Form I-94, arrival-departure record.

If you are an F-1 or M-1 student, you also must show your I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status).

If you are a J-1 or J-2 exchange visitor, you must show your DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status).

For more information, please see Social Security numbers for non-citizens.