SNILS for a child born in Argentina and other Russian procedures, including if you stay here

In short

For a child born in Russia, the SNILS number is opened automatically from civil registry (ZAGS) data. A child born in Argentina has no Russian ZAGS record, so the SNILS is issued on application, and only after Russian citizenship has been recorded. In practice, a SNILS for a child born abroad can only be applied for in person in Russia: at a Social Fund (SFR) client office or an MFC. If the family lives in Argentina and isn't travelling to Russia, a relative does it under a notarized or consular power of attorney. Plenty can be done online from Argentina afterwards, but not this first step.

Why a child needs a SNILS if you live in Argentina

• The child's Gosuslugi: without a SNILS, you can't fully add the child to a parent's profile or file applications for them online.
• Maternity capital: if the child is a Russian citizen, the mother may be entitled to the certificate. That requires the child's data in the SFR system, meaning a SNILS.
• A compulsory health insurance (OMS) policy for visits to Russia, and doctor's appointments, school and kindergarten if you move back.
• Tax deductions for the child, for a parent working in Russia.

A SNILS doesn't commit you to anything: no one pays contributions for the child, and the number simply exists for life.

What must be ready before you apply

1. The Argentine partida de nacimiento with an apostille from Argentina's Foreign Ministry. How to get it: Your baby's documents after birth.
2. A Russian translation of the partida, certified by a Russian consul or a Russian notary. A translation by an Argentine sworn translator (traductor público) is made for Argentine authorities and isn't enough on its own for Russia, which needs a Russian translation certified under Russian rules.
3. Proof of Russian citizenship. For a child born after 26 October 2023, this is the citizenship mark on the translated birth certificate (placed by the consulate or the Interior Ministry) or the child's Russian passport. How to get it: Russian citizenship for a child born in Argentina.
4. The parent's Russian passport if a parent applies; if a relative applies, their passport and the power of attorney.

Check that the names of the child and the parents in the translation match the Russian documents letter for letter. A mismatch is the most common reason a number isn't issued. The patronymic is a separate issue: see Patronymics in foreign documents.

Three scenarios

If you're staying in Argentina: step by step

1. Record the child's Russian citizenship at the consulate in Buenos Aires. The citizenship mark goes on the Russian translation bound to the apostilled partida, and this bundle becomes the key document for the SFR.
2. At the same visit, or a separate appointment, sign a power of attorney for someone in Russia. A consular power of attorney has the same force as a notarized one and needs no apostille. The alternative is an Argentine notary (escribano), but then you need an apostille, a translation and notarization of the translation in Russia, which takes longer and costs more.
3. Make a notarized copy of the bundle, or order a second apostilled partida, in case the original gets lost in transit.
4. Send the originals by courier: the power of attorney and the translated certificate with the mark. Check which services currently deliver documents from Argentina to Russia and how long they take.
5. The representative goes to an SFR client office with their passport, the power of attorney and the child's documents. At a client office the number is usually assigned the same day; at an MFC it takes a few days. They receive a registration notice with the SNILS number.
6. Ask for a scan of the notice and save the number. From here on you work online (see section 07).

What the power of attorney must contain

The power of attorney is granted by a parent, as the child's legal representative. The notary or consul will usually ask to see the child's birth certificate, so bring the translated bundle.

• Grantor's details: full name, date of birth, Russian passport, and a statement that they act as legal representative of their minor child (child's full name, date and place of birth, certificate details).
• Representative's details: full name, date of birth, passport, address.
• Specific powers: to represent the child before the Social Fund of Russia and MFCs on registration in the individual (personalized) accounting system, to file applications and forms, and to collect the SNILS notice and any duplicates.
• Worth adding now, so you don't need a second document: health insurance companies (choosing an insurer and receiving the OMS policy), tax authorities (the child's INN), the SFR on maternity capital (if relevant), and the right to submit and collect documents, sign and make corrections.
• Term: state it explicitly, for example 3 years. If no term is stated, the power of attorney is valid for one year.
• Right of substitution: optional, in case the representative falls ill or travels.

More on types of powers of attorney, the consulate and apostilles: Powers of attorney before departure.

What you can and can't do online

A verified Gosuslugi account is the key to everything online. If you didn't verify it before leaving, from abroad you can usually do it through the online banking of a Russian bank where you hold an account, or with an electronic signature. Since 1 July 2026 there has been a pilot that lets Russian citizens in 12 countries get a SNILS, verify their identity and obtain an electronic signature locally. Argentina is not on that list.

Benefits and obligations to keep in mind

• The unified child allowance goes to families who permanently live in Russia. If you live in Argentina, don't count on it.
• Maternity capital depends on the citizenship of the child and the mother, not on the place of birth. Check your family's case with the SFR on 8-800-100-00-01 (free within Russia).
• Notice of a second citizenship. The child is a citizen of both Argentina and Russia. Under current rules, a parent files the notice with the Interior Ministry within 60 days of entering Russia. More in the article on the child's citizenship.

Common mistakes

• starting with the SNILS before citizenship is recorded: without proof of citizenship the application won't be accepted;
• sending a partida to Russia without an apostille, or with an Argentine sworn translation instead of a Russian-certified one;
• a power of attorney for "all matters" that never mentions the SFR or the child, which may be refused;
• sending the only original without a copy;
• the surname spelled differently in the translation and in the parent's passport.

How we help

We prepare the apostilled partida, book the consulate for citizenship and the power of attorney, and check name spellings and the wording of powers so the SFR accepts the documents the first time. It's part of the Baby's documents back home package ($290). The whole post-birth route is in Giving birth in Argentina: step by step.