Key takeaways
- A SIN is free. Never pay anyone to get one for you
- Apply online, in person at Service Canada, or by mail
- Bring one primary document (PR card, COPR, work permit or study permit that allows work) and one secondary ID such as your passport
- In person, you usually get your SIN during the visit if your documents are in order
- Temporary residents get a SIN that starts with 9 and expires with their permit
- Share it only with your employer, your bank for tax reporting, and government
What is a SIN and when do you need it?
A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a 9-digit number from Service Canada. You need it to:
- Work. Your employer needs your SIN to pay you and report your income. Give it to a new employer within 3 days of starting work, so get it before your first day if you can.
- File taxes and get benefits. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) uses your SIN for your tax return and for benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit.
- Open some accounts. Banks ask for it on accounts that earn interest, because they report interest income to the CRA. You can open a basic account without it.
Most newcomers apply in their first week, often the same day they find an address. See our first 7 days planner for where it fits.
Who can apply for a SIN?
- Permanent residents. Your SIN does not expire.
- Temporary residents allowed to work. This includes work permit holders and students whose study permit says they may work. Your SIN starts with 9 and expires on the same date as your permit.
- Some people without a work permit who need a SIN to get a benefit. Service Canada decides these cases.
Student? Check your study permit before you go. If it does not say you are allowed to work, Service Canada cannot give you a SIN. You may need to ask Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to correct your permit first. Read more about student work rules.
What documents do you need for a SIN?
You need one primary document and, if you are an adult, one secondary document. Bring originals, not copies.
| Your status | Primary document (one of) |
|---|---|
| Permanent resident | Permanent Resident card, or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). A COPR is accepted within one year of becoming a permanent resident. |
| Temporary worker | Work permit |
| International student | Study permit that shows you are allowed to work |
| Other temporary resident | Visitor record from IRCC that shows you are allowed to work |
Secondary document: an ID with your legal name and date of birth, such as your passport or a provincial ID card.
If the name on your documents is different (for example after marriage), bring a supporting document such as a marriage certificate. Documents not in English or French need a certified translation.
How to apply: online, in person or by mail
In person at Service Canada
This is the most common choice for newcomers. Go to a Service Canada Centre with your documents. If everything is in order, you get your SIN during your visit and you keep your documents. You can ask for an appointment with Service Canada’s online service request form.
Online
Service Canada says applying online is faster to process. You upload photos of your documents and your SIN is sent to you. This suits people who cannot easily get to an office.
By mail
Send the application form and your documents to: Service Canada, Social Insurance Registration Office, PO Box 7000, Bathurst NB E2A 4T1. This is the slowest option, and Service Canada is not responsible for documents lost in the mail. Avoid it unless you have no other choice, because you would be mailing your original documents.
Whichever way you apply, it costs nothing.
After you get your SIN
- No plastic card. Service Canada stopped issuing SIN cards. You get a confirmation letter, on paper or in digital form. Keep it safe at home, not in your wallet.
- See it online. You can view and print your SIN in My Service Canada Account.
- Give it to your employer within 3 days of starting work.
- Set up CRA My Account once you have filed your first return, so you can see benefits and tax slips. See your first tax return.
If your SIN starts with 9
A SIN that starts with 9 belongs to a temporary resident. It has an expiry date that must match your work or study permit. When you get a new permit, or when you become a permanent resident, update your SIN record with Service Canada. If you do not, your employer may stop paying you when the SIN expires, and benefits can stop.
Applying to extend your permit before it expires? Ask Service Canada how to keep your SIN record current while you wait.
SINs for your spouse and children
Each person needs their own SIN. Your spouse or partner applies with their own documents. Children who are permanent residents can also get a SIN; a parent or legal guardian applies for them. A child does not need a SIN to start school, but you will need one to open a Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) and receive the federal education savings grants, and when your child gets a first job. Bring the child’s own status document and a document that proves you are the parent or guardian. Benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit are paid to the parent, using the parent’s SIN.
How to protect your SIN
You are responsible for protecting your SIN. Criminals use stolen SINs to open credit cards and loans in your name.
- Share it with: your employer, your bank or investment provider for tax reporting, and government programs.
- Do not give it to: landlords, phone companies, stores or on a rental application. Ask why they need it and offer another ID instead.
- Ignore calls or texts that say your SIN is "suspended" or "blocked". This is a common scam. Service Canada does not do this.
- If you think your SIN was misused, contact Service Canada, your bank and the credit bureaus, and report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Read more in our rental scams guide, which explains why a landlord should never ask for your SIN.