Getting a Social Insurance Number in Canada is one of the first tasks you’ll need to do upon arrival. This is because you cannot legally work in Canada without a Social Insurance Number. Your SIN number is a nine-digit number used to identify you by government agencies. You will need it to pay taxes, or access government programs and benefits, like Employment Insurance (EI) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents, who are 12 years of age or older, may apply for their own SIN number. Parents can also apply on behalf of their children.
The purpose of a Canadian Social Insurance Number is similar to the National Insurance Number in the UK, the Tax File Number in Australia, the Social Security Number in the USA, the PPS number in Ireland, and similar personal employment numbers in a range of countries.
When you start a job, you are required to provide your Canadian SIN to your employer. There is no fee to apply for a Social Insurance Number in Canada.
Any Temporary Resident who receives a SIN will receive one that begins with a “9”. These are called 900-Series Social Insurance Numbers. They are temporary unlike the SINs issued to Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents of Canada.
You can apply for a SIN either online or by mail. You can also apply in person. If you apply in person, you will receive your SIN at the end of the visit (which can take 10 minutes if there is no queue). The original documents provided will be returned to you. You can find here your nearest Service Canada Office here.
For mail SIN applications, note that you have to send your original documents by mail, and Service Canada is not responsible for any document loss. You will receive your SIN and original documents within 20 business days from the day the application is received.
Your SIN is and should remain confidential. Someone having your SIN could use it illegally to obtain your private information. It is therefore important to only reveal your SIN when necessary. When the SIN is stolen, another person could receive your government benefits, tax refunds, etc. The most common uses of your SIN are for your employer, your income tax information, financial institutions from which you earn interest or income, and government agencies. Therefore, do not give out your SIN unless you are absolutely sure that an actual government agency or department requests it.
When you receive your Confirmation of SIN Letter, store it in a safe place. (Service Canada no longer issues plastic SIN cards)
Never carry your SIN the way you would a driver’s license, for example.
The following should obtain a SIN for working or to access government benefits or other programs in Canada:
Canadian citizens
Permanent Residents of Canada
Temporary Residents of Canada (generally, those with either work permits or study permits)
Parents in Canada’s Provinces but not yet in the Territories can register their newborn child for a SIN at the same time they register their child’s birth. This is done through each province’s Newborn Registration Service. You can visit here for a list of provincial Newborn Registration Service websites.
Resources for the details of documents needed and other info related to SIN:
