SIN number in Canada: how newcomers get a Social Insurance Number

What a SIN is and who needs one

Your SIN is a 9-digit number issued by Service Canada. You need it to work in Canada, and the government uses it to process your tax return, check your eligibility for programs and give you access to benefits such as employment insurance, student loans, grants and public pensions.

Citizens and permanent residents get a SIN that is permanent and does not expire. Temporary residents, such as international students and foreign workers, get a SIN that always starts with 9. You need one if your work permit, or your study permit, allows you to work in Canada.

Anyone 12 years or older can apply for their own SIN. A parent or legal guardian can apply for a child under the age of majority.

The temporary SIN that starts with 9

If you are in Canada on a work permit, a study permit that allows work, or a visitor record that authorizes work, your SIN starts with 9. It expires on the same date as the immigration document you used to apply. When that document expires, your SIN record expires too, unless you update it.

This is why newcomers need to update their SIN every time their permit changes. Service Canada asks you to update your record when you get a new permit with a new expiry date, when your immigration status changes, or when your legal name changes.

If you applied to extend your permit before it expired, Service Canada says you can keep working with your expired SIN until IRCC makes a decision. IRCC adds that while you are on maintained status, you cannot apply for a SIN or update its expiry date. Wait for your new permit, then update your SIN record right away.

Documents you need

You need one primary document that proves your status in Canada, plus, if you are an adult, one secondary document that proves your identity. Documents must be originals. If you apply online, you upload digital copies of the original documents.

• Temporary residents (primary): a work permit issued by IRCC, a study permit that says you may accept employment or may work in Canada, or a visitor record that shows you are authorized to work.
• Permanent residents (primary): a permanent resident card, or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), which is accepted if used within one year of becoming a permanent resident.
• Secondary document: a passport (Canadian or foreign), a Canadian provincial or territorial ID card or driver's licence, or other Canadian government ID. It must show your legal family name, given name and date of birth.
• Name change: if your current name does not match your other documents, bring a supporting document.
• Not accepted: email messages from IRCC. Bring the permit itself, not the approval email.

How to apply: online, by mail or in person

There is no fee to apply for a SIN. Service Canada offers three ways to apply, and recommends online for faster processing.

1. Online: use the SIN online application on canada.ca and upload digital copies of your documents. You can usually see your SIN confirmation letter in about 5 business days.
2. In person: visit a Service Canada office with your original documents. If everything is in order, you often get your SIN during your visit.
3. By mail: send your application and documents to Service Canada, Social Insurance Registration Office, PO Box 7000, Bathurst NB E2A 4T1. Processing takes about 20 business days, and your documents are returned by mail.

Getting your SIN soon after you land

In a December 2023 news release, the Government of Canada said in-person SIN services were offered at Toronto Pearson International Airport, and at Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Halifax airports during peak seasons. Arriving students and workers were told to look for a Service Canada counter. Availability and hours can change, so do not plan your arrival around it. If there is no counter, apply online or at a Service Canada office in your city.

Service Canada states that it no longer issues plastic SIN cards; it refers instead to a SIN confirmation letter. Service Canada also says you can view and print your SIN through My Service Canada Account.

Before your SIN arrives, you can still accept a job offer and fill in a job application. Your employer only needs your SIN after you are hired and start earning income.

When to give your SIN, and when to say no

Service Canada's rule is simple: only provide your SIN when the law requires it. Your employer needs it after hiring, banks and other financial institutions need it to report income such as interest for tax purposes, and the government uses it for taxes and benefits.

You do not have to provide your SIN to do any of the following. Newcomers are often asked for it in these situations, especially by landlords.

• Fill out a job application.
• Apply for a credit card, mortgage or line of credit, or cash a cheque.
• Rent a property, including the application and lease negotiation.
• Sign up for phone, internet or cable service (except Hydro-Québec, which must collect it under Quebec law).
• Rent a car, complete a medical history questionnaire or write a will.
• Apply for post-secondary education or request your credit report.

Protecting your SIN from fraud

You cannot be denied a product or service for refusing to give your SIN when it is not legally required. If a business insists, explain politely that it is not required by law and offer another ID, such as your passport or driver's licence. If they still refuse, speak to the person in charge, and you can complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.

Scammers often pretend to be the government and ask newcomers for their SIN by phone. Service Canada's advice is to never provide your SIN by phone unless you made the call and know it is legally required.

• Do not keep your SIN confirmation letter in your wallet or bag.
• Store SIN documents in a locked place or on a password-protected device.
• Shred documents that show your SIN before throwing them away.
• If you suspect misuse, follow Service Canada's SIN fraud guidance. A new SIN is issued only if there is clear evidence your current SIN was used fraudulently.

Updating your SIN after you become a permanent resident

Becoming a permanent resident is a change in immigration status, which Service Canada lists as a reason to update your SIN record. Use your permanent resident card, or your COPR within one year of landing, as your primary document. You can update online, and online updates are processed in about 5 business days, compared with about 20 business days by mail.

Keep your record current after every change: a new permit, a new status or a new legal name. Common mistakes to avoid: applying with an IRCC approval email instead of the permit, forgetting to update after an extension, and sharing your SIN with a landlord who does not need it.

We don't provide legal opinions; for advice on your file, contact an RCIC-verified consultant or a lawyer.