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U.S. Citizen — Adult Change Name On Social Security Card

SSA Publication No. 05-10513, January 2009, ICN 470117 [View .pdf] Get Accessible Adobe Acrobat Reader (En Español) [Audio.mp3] audio icon

  To change your name on your card, you must show us documents proving your legal name change and identity. You must also show us a document proving your U.S. citizenship, if it is not already in our records.

 

 
 

To prove

You must show

Your legal name change

One of the following documents:

  • Amended or corrected birth certificate;
  • Marriage document;
  • Divorce decree;
  • Certificate of naturalization showing a new name; or Court order for a name change.
We may ask to see other documents showing your old and new names.

Your identity

A document showing your name, identifying information and photograph, such as one of the following

  • U.S. driver’s license;
  • State-issued nondriver’s identification card; or
  • U.S. passport.

We may be able to accept your

  • Employer ID card;
  • School ID card;
  • Health insurance card;or
  • U.S. military ID card;

Your U.S. citizenship

One of the following documents:

  • U.S. birth certificate;
  • U.S. consular report of birth;
  • U.S. passport;
  • Certificate of naturalization; or
  • Certificate of citizenship
 
 

You must present original documents or copies certified by the agency that
issued them. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies.

 
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