How to get a Social Insurance Number in Canada
All Canadian residents need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada and receive most government benefits and services.
Specifically, this number must be provided to your employer so they can facilitate and manage access to important government programs such as Employment Insurance (EI) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
In Canada, any citizen or resident aged 12 or older may apply for a SIN. In the case of children under 12 years old and adults in the care of others, Service Canada allows parents, legal guardians, and legal representatives to apply for a SIN on behalf of these individuals.
Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration
Each SIN is a unique nine-digit number issued by Service Canada to every citizen, permanent resident (PR) and temporary resident (TR).
Applying for a SIN
Applying for a SIN can be done online, in person at a Service Canada location or by mail.
However, application requirements may vary slightly depending on the applicant’s situation. For example, Service Canada requires different documents if an applicant is applying for themselves or on behalf of someone else. Additionally, application requirements will vary based on the applicant’s status in Canada – whether they are a citizen, PR or TR.
Note: Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) advises TRs and PRs in Canada to apply for a SIN within 3 days of when they begin work. ESDC says that a person can “begin working in insurable employment” only once they apply.
In any situation, all submitted documents must meet the following criteria. They must:
- Be valid, digital copies of original documents
- Be clear, legible and complete (displaying the entire document including the borders)
- Be in English or French (see translation requirements if your document is in another language)
The following will outline the required documents when applying online for a SIN as a PR or TR in Canada. To learn more about applying for a SIN in these situations and others, use the Apply for a SIN tool on this Government of Canada webpage.
Permanent Resident
- Scenario: Applying for yourself
- Status in Canada: PR
- Applying: Online
Primary Identity Document - Any one of the following:
- PR card issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) issued by IRCC
- Acceptable if used within one year of becoming a PR. After this period, the PR card is required.
- Record of Landing issued by CIC before June 28, 2002
Secondary Document - Any one of the following:
- A passport (Canadian or foreign)
- A Canadian provincial or territorial ID card or driver’s license
- Any other Canadian government-issued ID
Note: The secondary document provided must contain the applicant’s full legal name and date of birth.
Supporting Document: This document, which must be a legal document stating the applicant’s most recent name used, is required if the name on either the primary or secondary document above is different from the name on the SIN application
Temporary Resident
- Scenario: Applying for yourself
- Status in Canada: TR
- Applying: Online
Primary Identity Document - Any one of the following:
- Work permit issued by IRCC or CIC
- Study permit issued by IRCC or CIC (permit must indicate that the holder has work authorization in Canada)
- Visitor record issued by IRCC or CIC (must indicate work authorization in Canada)
- Diplomatic identity card (alongside a work authorization issued by Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development)
According to IRCC, TRs with an expired SIN may continue working while waiting for their new immigration document as long as they maintain valid status during processing.
As soon as IRCC authorizes a TR to continue working in Canada, they must apply to Service Canada with the new immigration document to update the expiry date on their SIN record.
The expiry date on both your SIN record and your immigration document must match.
Secondary Document - Any one of the following:
- A passport (Canadian or foreign)
- A Canadian provincial or territorial ID card or driver’s license
- Any other Canadian government-issued ID
Note: The secondary document provided must contain the applicant’s full legal name and their date of birth.
Supporting Document: This document, a legal document stating the applicant’s most recent name used, is required if the name on either the primary or secondary document above is different from the name on the SIN application
Receiving and updating your SIN
According to ESDC, online SIN applicants will have their application processed within five business days if “everything is in order.”
For temporary residents, ESDC notes that, if the SIN you receive begins with a 9, it is important to keep your SIN record up to date and ensure that your SIN expiry date matches the expiry date of the IRCC document that permits you to work in Canada. Once your SIN record is updated, you will receive a SIN with a new expiry date and your previous SIN will no longer be valid.
For further details on receiving and updating your SIN, visit this Government of Canada webpage.
Forgotten, lost or stolen SIN
Your SIN should be kept private and must be protected at all times.
For Canadian residents who have forgotten their SIN, ESDC says that this number can be accessed in a variety of ways including:
- On an income tax return
- On a record of employment
- On a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contribution
For lost or stolen SINs, ESDC notes that Service Canada only issues a new SIN when there is proof that the original SIN was used fraudulently. It is the responsibility of the individual to protect their SIN, monitor their bank accounts for fraudulent activity and take the appropriate action if necessary.
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