All Canadian residents require a Social Insurance Number to work in Canada and receive most government benefits and services. Here’s how to get a Social Insurance Number in Canada.
Well, specifically, this number should be provided to your employer so that they can facilitate and manage access to significant government programs, like Employment Insurance (EI) and the Canada Pension Plan (CPP).
In Canada, any citizen or resident aged 12 or older might apply for a SIN. In the case of children under 12 years old and adults in the care of others, Service Canada enables parents, legal guardians, and legal representatives to apply for a SIN on behalf of these individuals.
Each SIN is a unique nine-digit number issued by Service Canada to every citizen, permanent resident and temporary resident.
Applying For A SIN
In order to get a Social Insurance Number in Canada, one needs to apply online or in person at a Service Canada location or by mail.
However, application requirements might vary slightly depending on the applicant’s situation. For instance, Service Canada requires different documents if an applicant is applying for themselves or on behalf of someone else. Additionally, application requirements will vary based on the applicant’s status in Canada – whether they are a citizen, PR, or TR.
Note: Employment and Social Development Canada advises TRs and PRs in Canada to apply for a SIN within three days of beginning work. ESDC states that people can ‘begin working in insurable employment only once they apply.
In any situation, all submitted documents should meet the following criteria. They should:
- Be valid, digital copies of original documents
- Be clear, legible, and complete
- Be in English or French
The following will highlight the required documents when applying online for a SIN as a PR or TR in Canada.
Permanent Resident
- Scenario: Applying for yourself
- Status in Canada: PR
- Applying: Online
Primary Identity Document – Either of the following:
- PR card issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) issued by IRCC
- Acceptable if used within one year of becoming a PR. After this period, the PR card is required.
- Record of Landing issued by CIC before June 28, 2002
Secondary Document – Either of the following:
- A passport (Canadian/ foreign)
- A Canadian provincial/ territorial ID card or driver’s license
- Any other Canadian government-issued ID
Note: The secondary document provided must contain the applicant’s full legal name as well as date of birth.
Supporting Document: This document states that the applicant’s most recent name must be used if the name on either the primary or secondary document above is different from the name on the SIN application.
Temporary Resident
- Scenario: Applying for yourself
- Status in Canada: TR
- Applying: Online
Primary Identity Document – Any one of the following:
- Work permit issued by IRCC or CIC
- Study permit issued by IRCC/ CIC (permit must indicate that the holder has work authorization in Canada)
- Visitor record issued by IRCC/ CIC (must indicate work authorization in Canada)
- Diplomatic identity card (alongside a work authorization issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development)
According to IRCC, TRs with an expired SIN might continue working while waiting for their new immigration document as long as they maintain valid status during processing.
As soon as IRCC authorizes a TR to continue working in Canada, they should apply to Service Canada with the new immigration document to update the expiry date on their SIN record.
The expiry date on both your SIN record and your immigration document should match.
Secondary Document – Either of the following
- A passport (Canadian/ Foreign)
- A Canadian provincial or territorial ID card or driver’s license
- Any other Canadian government-issued ID
Note: The secondary document provided should contain the applicant’s full legal name and their date of birth.
Supporting Document: This legal document states that the applicant’s most recent name used is needed if the name on either the primary or secondary document above is different from the name on the SIN application.
Receiving and Updating Your SIN
In order to get a Social Insurance Number in Canada, online SIN applicants need to have their application processed within five business days if ‘everything is in order.’
For temporary residents, ESDC notes that if the SIN you obtain begins with a 9, it is vital to keep your SIN record up to date and ensure that your SIN expiry date matches the expiry date of the IRCC document that permits you to work in Canada. Once your SIN record is up to date, you will obtain a SIN with a new expiry date. Thus, your previous SIN will no longer be valid.
Forgotten, Lost, Or Stolen SIN
Your SIN should be kept private and should be protected at all times.
For Canadian residents who have forgotten their SIN, ESDC states that one can access this number can in a variety of ways, like:
- On an income tax return
- On a record of employment
- On a Registered Retirement Savings Plan contribution
For lost or stolen SINs, ESDC notes that Service Canada only issues a new SIN when there is proof that the original SIN was used fraudulently. The individuals are responsible for protecting their SIN, monitoring their bank accounts for fraudulent activity, and taking appropriate action.
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