The Social Insurance Number: how to get a SIN in Canada
A SIN is the 9-digit number you need to work in Canada. It is free, anyone 12 or over can apply for their own, and an online application takes about five business days. Temporary residents get a SIN starting with 9 that expires with their permit.
Key takeaways
A Social Insurance Number is the 9-digit identifier required to work in Canada and to access programs such as Employment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan. Applications are free and can be made online, by mail or in person at a Service Canada office, with one primary document proving status and one secondary document confirming identity. Online applications take about 5 business days and mailed ones about 20. SINs issued to temporary residents start with 9 and expire with the permit that authorised the work, so the record must be updated with each new permit.
- A SIN is free and anyone 12 or over can apply for their own.
- Online is about 5 business days; by mail about 20 business days.
- Temporary residents get a SIN starting with 9 that expires with the permit.
- You can start working as soon as you apply, you need not wait for the number.
- Service Canada no longer issues plastic cards; you get a confirmation letter.
What is a SIN and why do you need one?
The Social Insurance Numberis the number that connects you to Canada's payroll, tax and benefits systems. Service Canada describes it plainly: to work in Canada or access government programs and benefits, you need a 9-digit identifier known as a SIN (source: canada.ca, Social Insurance Number, read September 2026). Without one, an employer cannot put you on payroll properly.
For newcomers it is usually the second or third errand after landing, alongside a bank account and, in Alberta, registering for AHCIP health coverage. Service Canada lists four things a SIN is required for: working legally in Canada, getting paid and paying taxes, accessing programs such as Employment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan, and filing income taxes.
| SIN fact | Detail (2026) |
|---|---|
| Format | 9 digits; temporary residents' numbers start with 9 |
| Cost | No fee to apply |
| Minimum age to apply for yourself | 12 years old |
| Where to apply | Online, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada office |
| Processing, online | About 5 business days |
| Processing, by mail | About 20 business days |
| What you receive | A SIN confirmation letter, in paper or digital format; no plastic card is issued |
| Expiry | Permanent for citizens and permanent residents; tied to the permit for temporary residents |
Who needs a SIN, and who can apply?
Anyone who works in Canada needs one, whether they are a citizen, a permanent resident or a temporary resident with work authorisation. Service Canada says anyone aged 12 or over can apply for their own SIN. For children below the age of majority in their province or territory, a parent or legal guardian applies on their behalf, and a legal guardian or representative can apply for adults in their care.
You must apply, and provide all required documents even if you already hold a SIN, when you need a first-time SIN, want to confirm a SIN for yourself or your child, need to correct or update your SIN record, or need to extend the expiry date of a temporary SIN starting with 9. Newborns in the provinces are usually registered through the provincial Newborn Registration Service rather than directly with Service Canada.
What documents do you need to apply for a SIN?
The document rule is simple in structure: one primary document that proves your status in Canada, and one secondary document that confirms your identity. If your name has changed since the primary document was issued, you also need a supporting document showing the link between the old name and the new one, for every change.
| Your status | Primary document (proves status) | Secondary document (confirms identity) |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian citizen | Canadian birth certificate, certificate of Canadian citizenship, or Registration of Birth Abroad (before 1977) | Passport, Canadian driver's licence, provincial or territorial ID card, or other Canadian government-issued ID |
| Permanent resident | PR card, Confirmation of Permanent Residence within 1 year, or Record of Landing from before 2002 | Same list: must be valid and show full legal name and date of birth |
| Temporary resident | Work or study permit stating you 'may work' or 'may accept employment', or a visitor record authorising work | Passport (Canadian or foreign) or a government-issued Canadian ID |
| Registered under the Indian Act, born outside Canada | Birth certificate plus Certificate of Indian Status | As above |
Your permit must actually say you can work
How do you apply for a SIN, step by step?
Online is the fastest of the three channels and the one Service Canada recommends. Whichever you choose, gather the documents first: an incomplete application cannot be corrected part way through, you have to start a new one with every document attached again.
- 01
Check you have the right permit
Temporary residents need a work permit, study permit or visitor record that authorises work. Permanent residents use a PR card, COPR or Record of Landing.
- 02
Gather one primary and one secondary document
Plus supporting documents for any name change. Translations are needed for anything not in English or French.
- 03
Choose your channel
Online for about 5 business days, by mail to the Social Insurance Registration Office in Bathurst, New Brunswick, for about 20, or in person at a Service Canada office.
- 04
Submit everything at once
If a document is missing you cannot return to the application. You must submit a fresh one with the full set included.
- 05
Watch for the confirmation emails
If you provide an email address you get one when Service Canada receives the application and another when it has been processed.
- 06
Retrieve your SIN
View and print it in My Service Canada Account, or receive a SIN confirmation letter by post if you prefer or are not eligible for an account.
- 07
Give it to your employer
You can start work as soon as you have applied; pass the number on as soon as it arrives.
If you do not hear back
How does a SIN work for temporary residents?
This is where most newcomers trip up. A SIN issued to a temporary resident always starts with 9 and expires on the same date as the permit that authorised the work, whether that is a work permit, a study permit or a visitor record. It is not a one-off errand: the record has to keep pace with your immigration status.
Service Canada says you must apply or update your SIN record when you are legally authorised to work and will be working, when you need confirmation of your SIN, when you receive a new permit with a new expiry date, when your immigration status changes (for example from temporary resident to permanent resident), when your legal name changes, or when you are correcting an error.
| Situation | What happens to your SIN |
|---|---|
| New work or study permit issued | Update the SIN record so the expiry date matches the new permit |
| Permit extension pending (maintained status) | You can keep working with the expired SIN until IRCC decides |
| Temporary resident becomes a permanent resident | Apply to update the record; the new SIN no longer starts with 9 and does not expire |
| Legal name change | Update the record with a supporting document linking the old and new names |
| Old SIN document after an extension | Destroy it, Service Canada says it is no longer valid |
The maintained status rule is worth underlining, because it is the one that saves jobs. If you applied to extend your permit before it expired, you are on maintained status, and Service Canada confirms you may continue working with the expired SIN until IRCC makes a decision. Employers who do not know this sometimes take people off payroll unnecessarily.
What if you lose your SIN, or someone else uses it?
You do not need to reapply simply because you cannot remember the number. Service Canada suggests checking an income tax return, a T4 or other tax slip, a Record of Employment, or an RRSP contribution receipt. You can also sign in to My Service Canada Account to view and print it at any time.
If your old plastic card is lost or damaged, request a Confirmation of SIN instead: plastic cards are no longer issued but existing ones remain usable, and the confirmation arrives as a letter in paper or digital form. Keep the number somewhere secure rather than in a wallet. Service Canada is explicit that you are responsible for protecting your SIN and that it is illegal for anyone else to use it, and it runs a separate process for fraud, misuse or identity theft, including exposure in a data breach. Share the number only where it is legally required, which in practice means your employer, your bank for interest reporting, and government programs.
Where does the SIN fit in your first weeks in Canada?
The SIN is one item on a short list of practical tasks that follow landing. Our guide to the first steps after landing in Canada sets out the order most newcomers find works: confirm your status documents, apply for the SIN, open a bank account, register for provincial health coverage, then sort a driving licence and school registrations. In Alberta the health registration is AHCIP, and our healthcare for newcomers guide explains the waiting periods that apply elsewhere.
Working under a licensed RCIC (CICC #R706497), we advise on the work permit and permanent residence routes that get you to Canada in the first place, and on keeping status valid once you are here. We do not issue SINs and cannot apply for one on your behalf: that is a Service Canada process you complete yourself, and it is free. What we can do is make sure the permit underneath it is right, because a SIN is only ever as good as the status it is attached to. We never guarantee an outcome on any application.
Frequently asked questions
What is a SIN number in Canada?
A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a 9-digit identifier you need to work in Canada and to access government programs and benefits. Employers need it to pay you and report your earnings, and it is used for income tax, Employment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan. Your SIN is confidential, you are responsible for protecting it, and it is illegal for anyone else to use it.
How do I get a SIN number in Canada?
Apply through Service Canada online, by mail or in person at a Service Canada office. You need one primary document proving your status in Canada and one secondary document confirming your identity. There is no fee. Online is the fastest route, at about 5 business days, compared with about 20 business days by mail. Anyone aged 12 or over can apply for their own SIN.
How long does it take to get a SIN?
Service Canada publishes about 5 business days for online applications and about 20 business days for applications by mail, provided everything is complete and all required documents are included. If you applied online and have heard nothing after 10 business days, or after 25 business days for a mailed application, contact the SIN Program. Service Canada cannot give you your SIN over the phone.
Do temporary residents get a different SIN?
Yes. A SIN issued to a temporary resident always starts with the digit 9 and expires on the same date as the work permit, study permit or visitor record that authorised the work. You need to update your SIN record each time you receive a new permit with a new expiry date, and again if your status changes, for example from temporary resident to permanent resident.
Can I start working before my SIN arrives?
Yes. Service Canada states that you can start working as soon as you apply for a SIN, you do not need to wait for the number itself. Tell your employer the application is in progress and give them the number as soon as you have it. What you cannot do is work without the underlying authorisation: your permit must actually allow you to work.
What happens if my temporary SIN expires?
If your SIN expires but you have applied to extend your permit and are on maintained status, Service Canada says you can continue working with your expired SIN until IRCC makes a decision. Once your new permit is issued, update your SIN record to match the new expiry date, and destroy the old SIN confirmation document because it is no longer valid.
What documents do I need to apply for a SIN?
One primary identity document that proves your status, and one secondary document that confirms your identity. For permanent residents the primary document is a PR card, a Confirmation of Permanent Residence within one year, or a Record of Landing from before 2002. For temporary residents it is a work or study permit that says you may work or may accept employment, or a visitor record authorising work. The secondary document must be valid and show your full legal name and date of birth, such as a passport or a Canadian driver's licence.
Do I get a plastic SIN card?
No. Service Canada no longer issues plastic SIN cards, though older cards remain usable. You receive a SIN confirmation letter instead, in paper or digital format, and you can view and print your SIN at any time by signing in to My Service Canada Account. If you have lost or forgotten your SIN, you can also find it on an income tax return, a T4 slip, a Record of Employment or an RRSP contribution receipt.
Settling in, step by step
The SIN is one errand. Here is the rest of the first month.
Planning your move to Canada?
Get a clear read on the permit or PR route that fits your situation from a licensed RCIC.