To update your citizenship status with Social Security, request a replacement card through your my Social Security account online, then finish the update in person at your local field office with your original citizenship and identity documents. There is no fee, and the new card arrives by mail within 5 to 10 business days after your appointment.1Social Security Administration. Update Citizenship or Immigration Status
This matters most for people who have recently naturalized. Until early 2025, the SSA ran a data match with the Department of Homeland Security that updated many newly naturalized citizens’ records automatically. That program is indefinitely suspended, so the responsibility to request the update sits with you. If you naturalized recently and assumed it had been handled, check your record.
The Two Steps: Online, Then In Person
The SSA treats this as one process with two parts. You begin online and finish at a field office because original documents cannot be submitted electronically.2Social Security Administration. Can I Electronically Submit Documents to Social Security
First, sign in to your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. If you don’t have one, you can create it through Login.gov or ID.me.3Social Security Administration. my Social Security From your account, choose the option to apply for a replacement Social Security card. The system will walk you through the request and prompt you to schedule an in-person appointment at your local office.
If the online portal isn’t an option for you, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., to arrange the update and book an office visit. Representatives are available in English, Spanish, and other languages.
At the appointment, an SSA employee reviews your documents, scans what they need, and returns your originals to you the same day. You do not surrender them.
Documents to Bring
Proof of U.S. Citizenship
For most newly naturalized citizens, the Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570) issued at the ceremony is the standard proof. The SSA also accepts:4eCFR. 20 CFR 422.107 – Evidence Requirements
- Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)
- U.S. passport or passport card
- U.S. Citizen Identification Card issued by DHS
- Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240 or FS-545)
- Other verification from DHS, the State Department, or federal or state court records confirming citizenship
If you were born in the United States, a birth certificate showing a U.S. place of birth is acceptable proof.5Social Security Administration. Handbook 1725 – Evidence of U.S. Citizenship
Proof of Identity
You also need a separate document proving identity. A U.S. passport covers both citizenship and identity, but if you’re using your naturalization certificate for citizenship, bring something else for identity. Acceptable identity documents must include your name plus either your date of birth, your age, your parents’ names, or a photograph.6Social Security Administration. 20 CFR 422.107 – Evidence Requirements A state-issued driver’s license or ID card usually works.
Document Rules
Every document must be an original or a copy certified by the issuing agency. Photocopies are not accepted, and everything you present is subject to verification with the agency that issued it.4eCFR. 20 CFR 422.107 – Evidence Requirements
Filling Out Form SS-5
Form SS-5 is the Application for a Social Security Card. The same form covers new cards, replacements, and record corrections, and there is no filing fee.7Social Security Administration. What Does It Cost to Get a Social Security Card You can download it from the SSA website or pick one up at a field office.
The form asks for your full legal name (as you want it printed on the card), your existing Social Security number, date of birth, and place of birth. The citizenship update happens at item 5, where you check the box for “U.S. Citizen” instead of the status previously on file. The form also asks for both parents’ names and their Social Security numbers if you know them; mark “Unknown” if you don’t.8Social Security Administration. Application for a Social Security Card
Because you already have a Social Security number, answer “Yes” to question 11 and enter the name on your most recent card at question 12. Sign the form yourself.
What the New Card Looks Like and When It Arrives
Once processed, your card arrives by mail within 5 to 10 business days.1Social Security Administration. Update Citizenship or Immigration Status The number itself does not change. What changes is the legend printed on the card. Noncitizen cards carry restrictive text such as “Valid For Work Only With DHS Authorization” or “Not Valid for Employment,” depending on prior status. A citizen’s card has no legend at all.9Social Security Administration. 20 CFR 422.103 – Social Security Number Cards
You can track the request through your my Social Security account. If the card doesn’t arrive in the expected window, call the SSA or visit your local office.
Why the Update Is Worth Doing Promptly
A Social Security record that still shows your old status can cause real problems. Employers running E-Verify checks may flag your work authorization, and federal benefit applications can be delayed when your record and your citizenship don’t line up.
The Earned Income Tax Credit is the clearest financial reason to act. To claim the EITC, you, your spouse (if filing jointly), and any qualifying children must each have a Social Security number valid for employment. A card marked “Not Valid for Employment” does not qualify.10Internal Revenue Service. Basic Qualifications The IRS specifically advises naturalized citizens and lawful permanent residents whose cards still carry that legend to request a new card from SSA.11Internal Revenue Service. Who Qualifies for the Earned Income Tax Credit Every tax year you file with an out-of-date card is a year you may lose that credit.
Updating a Child’s Record
If your child became a U.S. citizen through your naturalization or through adoption, their record has to be updated separately. A parent or legal guardian completes and signs Form SS-5 on the child’s behalf but must show authority to do so, typically by appearing on the child’s birth certificate or by providing guardianship documents.8Social Security Administration. Application for a Social Security Card
Citizenship evidence for a child is the same as for an adult: naturalization certificate, passport, or birth certificate. Identity evidence is broader because children rarely have a driver’s license or passport. The SSA accepts a state-issued ID card, a certified medical or immunization record, a certified school record, or a health insurance card that carries identifying details such as a photo or date of birth.12Social Security Administration. Priority List of Acceptable Evidence of Identity Documents A religious record like a baptismal certificate also qualifies if it shows the child’s name and date of birth or age.