Social Insurance Number (SIN)
How to get your SIN upon arrival if you are Permanent or Temporary Resident
One the first things to do upon arrival is to get your Social Insurance Number (SIN). You cannot legally work without this it.
Why do I need a SIN in Canada?
Your SIN number is a nine-digit number used to identify you by government agencies. You will need it to work, pay taxes, or access government programs and benefits, like Employment Insurance (EI) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
Who can apply for a SIN?
If you are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or a temporary resident, you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada or to receive benefits and services from government programs.
Children who are 12 years of age or older may apply for their own SIN.
Children who are 12 years of age or older may apply for their own SIN.
What do I need to apply for a SIN?
To apply for a Social Insurance Number, you need a primary document to prove your identity and legal status in Canada.
If you are a permanent resident, you can provide an original of one of the following:
If you are a temporary resident, you can provide an original of one of the following:
If your study permit doesn’t have these conditions, but you meet the criteria, you can ask to have them added so you can apply for a SIN. There is no fee to add these conditions.
If your actual name if different from the name indicated in your primary document, you will need to provide an original of one of the following:
If you submit a document that is not in English or French, you must also submit:
If you are a permanent resident, you can provide an original of one of the following:
- Permanent resident card, issued by IRCC.
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence issued by IRCC, accompanied by either a travel document (for example, a foreign passport) or an alternate photo identification issued by a provincial/territorial authority (for example, a driver’s licence).
If you are a temporary resident, you can provide an original of one of the following:
- Work permit issued by IRCC.
- Study permit issued by IRCC, indicating that you are authorized to work in Canada. Your study permit have printed on it:
- May work 20 hrs. per week off-campus, or full-time during regular breaks, if meeting criteria outlined in section 186(v), or
- May accept employment on or off-campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria.
If your study permit doesn’t have these conditions, but you meet the criteria, you can ask to have them added so you can apply for a SIN. There is no fee to add these conditions.
If your actual name if different from the name indicated in your primary document, you will need to provide an original of one of the following:
- Certificate of marriage, record of solemnization of marriage or marriage statement to support your family name after marriage.
- Divorce decree, certificate of divorce or decree absolute issued in accordance with Canadian court for the dissolution of a marriage.
- Legal change of name certificate or court order document issued in accordance with provincial name change legislation.
- Adoption order certified by a Canadian court (applies to adoptions in Canada only).
- Notarial certificate, also called notarial adoption certificate, issued by the country of origin of a child adopted abroad and used by the adoptive parents to have the SIN issued in the adopted child’s Canadian name.
- Request to Amend Record of Landing issued by IRCC and used to amend a Record of Landing or a Confirmation of Permanent Residence document.
If you submit a document that is not in English or French, you must also submit:
- an English or French translation of the document; and
- an attestation or affidavit written and signed by the translator.
How do I apply for a SIN?
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You can apply for a SIN either in person, or by mail.
If you apply in person, your SIN Canada is given to you during your visit, on a printed sheet of paper, called a Confirmation of SIN letter. The original document provided will be returned to you. You can find here your nearest Service Canada Office. |
If you are in some circumstances listed here, you can apply by mail. Beware 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.
Protecting your SIN
Your Social Insurance Number in Canada is confidential.
It could be used maliciously to obtain private information about you, so it’s important to only disclose your SIN when it’s essential to do so. When the SIN is not linked to you as its rightful owner, 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.
It could be used maliciously to obtain private information about you, so it’s important to only disclose your SIN when it’s essential to do so. When the SIN is not linked to you as its rightful owner, 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.
What's next?
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