Social Insurance Number (SIN) for Newcomers2026-04-15T18:15:13+00:00
Social Insurance Number (SIN) for Newcomers
A SIN is a 9-digit number you need to work in Canada or receive any government benefit. Apply at any Service Canada Centre and you walk out with your number the same day. There is no fee.
SIN is federal, not provincial. ServiceOntario does not issue Social Insurance Numbers. You must visit Service Canada (a different agency). The two are often confused because both serve the public.
What a SIN Is and Why You Need One
A Social Insurance Number is a 9-digit identifier issued by the federal government. It is the single most important number for working and accessing benefits in Canada. Without it, you cannot legally work, file taxes, or receive any government program payment.
Starting a job. Your employer needs your SIN to set up payroll and report your income to the government.
Filing taxes. Required for filing your annual tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency.
Receiving government benefits. Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, GST/HST credits, and many other programs use your SIN as your identifier.
Opening interest-bearing bank accounts. Banks need your SIN to report any interest you earn to the CRA. They cannot legally pay interest without it.
Investing through TFSA, RRSP, or RESP. All registered investment accounts require a SIN.
Applying for a credit card or loan. Most lenders require your SIN to check your credit history.
When you do NOT need to share your SIN:
Setting up a chequing account or debit card (banks may ask but cannot require it for non-interest accounts)
Renting an apartment (some landlords ask but it is not required)
Signing up for utilities, internet, or cell phone service (companies often ask but cannot require it)
Applying for school admission (universities use student IDs, not SIN)
Buying a car or signing up for car insurance (your driver's licence number is what they need)
Who Can Apply
•Canadian citizens - SIN does not expire
•Permanent residents - SIN does not expire
•Temporary residents authorized to work (work permit holders, eligible study permit holders, certain visitor permit holders) - receive a SIN starting with "9" that expires when your immigration document expires
•Children 12 and over can apply for their own SIN
•Children under 12 need a parent or legal guardian to apply on their behalf
Study permit holders: Your study permit must say either "may accept employment" or "may work" for you to be eligible for a SIN. If your permit does not include this wording but you meet the eligibility criteria for working as a student, you can ask IRCC to amend your permit at no charge before applying.
Required Documents
You need a primary identity document that proves your status in Canada. If your name is different on any document or you are over the age of majority in your province, you also need a secondary document.
One of these primary documents:
• Permanent Resident Card (PR card)
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), valid only within 1 year of becoming a PR
• Record of Landing issued before June 28, 2002
Plus one secondary document containing your full name, date of birth, and (if you have reached the age of majority in Ontario, which is 18) your signature:
• Foreign passport
• Provincial ID such as Ontario driver's licence or Photo Card
• Provincial health card (such as Ontario health card)
Primary document:
• Work permit issued by IRCC or CIC
Plus one secondary document with your full name, date of birth, and signature:
• Foreign passport
• Provincial driver's licence or photo ID
Primary document:
• Study permit that explicitly states "may accept employment" or "may work" in Canada
If your study permit does not have this wording, you cannot apply for a SIN. Contact IRCC to ask for an amendment to your permit at no cost. The amendment is added when you can prove you meet the requirements to work as a student (full-time post-secondary studies at a designated institution, etc.).
Plus one secondary document with your full name, date of birth, and signature:
• Foreign passport
• Provincial ID
All documents must be in English or French. If yours are in another language, you must submit:
• The original document in the original language
• A translation completed by a Canadian certified translator (member of a provincial association) with their seal and an attestation
• If a non-certified translator did the translation, an affidavit signed by them
Translators from your home country are not accepted. Find a certified translator through the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario (ATIO) at atio.on.ca, or through any settlement agency.
Three Ways to Apply
In-person is the fastest method. You receive your SIN on the spot and keep your documents. You do not need to fill out the paper form ahead of time; the agent enters your information into their system.
2Book an appointment online (recommended) or walk in. Wait times for walk-ins can be 1 to 3 hours at busy locations
3Bring your original primary and secondary documents (no photocopies)
4An agent reviews your documents, enters your information, and prints a confirmation slip with your SIN
5You leave with your SIN written on the confirmation slip. Service Canada also mails you a SIN confirmation letter within a few weeks
Service Canada no longer issues physical SIN cards. You receive your SIN on a paper confirmation, not a plastic card. Memorize it, write it down somewhere secure, and never carry the paper in your wallet.
Online applications take about 5 business days to process. Apply at sin-nas.canada.ca. You upload digital scans or photos of your documents instead of mailing them. After processing, you receive a SIN confirmation letter by mail and can also view your SIN through My Service Canada Account.
Online is convenient if you cannot easily travel to a Service Canada Centre, but it is slower than in-person. If you need to start work right away, in-person is the better choice.
Mail applications take about 25 business days from when Service Canada receives your envelope. Avoid mail unless you cannot apply in person or online, because you have to send original documents and they may be lost or damaged in transit.
Download form NAS2120 from canada.ca, complete it, sign it, and mail it with your original documents to:
Service Canada Social Insurance Registration Office P.O. Box 7000 Bathurst NB E2A 4T1 Canada
Your original documents will be returned by mail with your SIN confirmation letter once processing is complete.
SIN for Children
Children 12 and older can apply for their own SIN. For children under 12, a parent or legal guardian applies on their behalf.
If your baby was born in Ontario:
Use the 5-in-1 Newborn Bundle when registering the birth. The SIN is included automatically and arrives by mail in about 3 weeks.
Apply at a Service Canada Centre with the parent's primary and secondary identity documents (the same documents you used for your own SIN), proof of address, and the child's primary identity document (their immigration document or birth certificate from country of birth).
If Your SIN Has Already Been Issued
Forgot your SIN?
Sign in to My Service Canada Account (MSCA) to view your SIN. If you do not have an MSCA account, look on your tax returns, T4 slips, RRSP statements, or any document where you previously provided your SIN. As a last resort, request a confirmation of SIN by submitting an application with the same documents you would use for a first-time SIN.
SIN starts with 9 (temporary residents only)?
Your SIN expires when your immigration document expires. When your work or study permit is renewed or extended, you must update your SIN record. Visit Service Canada with your new immigration document. Your SIN number stays the same; only the expiry date changes. While waiting for IRCC to process your renewal, you can keep working with an expired SIN if you maintain valid status.
Becoming a permanent resident or citizen?
If you previously had a temporary SIN starting with 9 and now have permanent status (PR or citizenship), apply for a new SIN. Your new SIN will start with a different digit and will not expire. Provide all required documents as if applying for the first time.
Protecting Your SIN
Your SIN is private. It is the equivalent of a key to your financial life and identity. If someone gets your SIN, they can commit identity fraud, file false tax returns in your name, and apply for credit using your identity.
Memorize your SIN. Do not carry the confirmation paper or the number in your wallet.
Only share with people who legally need it: Your employer, your bank (for interest accounts), the CRA, and government benefit administrators.
Refuse to give it to landlords, gyms, retailers, or anyone else who asks. They have no legal right to it.
Be wary of phone scams. The CRA and Service Canada will never call you demanding your SIN under threat. These calls are scams, regardless of how convincing they sound.
If you suspect SIN fraud, contact Service Canada at 1-866-274-6627 immediately. You may be issued a new SIN if you can prove your existing SIN was used fraudulently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for a SIN before I arrive in Canada? +
No. You must be physically in Canada to apply for a SIN. Your immigration documents and ID must be the original (not photocopies), so all applications happen on Canadian soil.
Do I need to bring my passport even if I have a PR card? +
Your PR card is the primary document. You also need a secondary document with your full name, date of birth, and signature, which is most commonly a passport, but can also be an Ontario driver's licence or Photo Card if you already have one.
My employer asked for a copy of my SIN paper. Should I give it to them? +
No. Provide the SIN number itself for payroll, but do not give them a photocopy of the confirmation letter. Your employer only needs the number, not a copy of the document.
Can I have more than one SIN? +
No. Each person is issued one SIN for life (citizens and permanent residents) or one SIN per immigration period (temporary residents, where the SIN expires with the permit and is updated rather than reissued). Knowingly having multiple SINs is a criminal offence.
My SIN starts with 9. What does that mean? +
SINs starting with 9 are issued to temporary residents (work permit holders, eligible study permit holders). They have an expiry date that matches your immigration document. When you become a permanent resident or citizen, you must apply for a new SIN that does not start with 9 and does not expire.
