How to Apply for a SIN (Social Insurance Number)
A SINSocial Insurance Number — Your 9-digit Canadian work and tax number. You need it to work, open accounts, and receive benefits.Click for official info ↗ is your 9-digit Canadian work and tax ID. You can apply online, in person at a Service CanadaService Canada — The government service counter network for SIN applications, passports, EI, and other federal programs.Click for official info ↗ office, or by mail. Online is the fastest. In person is usually same-day. Newcomers need a main ID, like a passport, plus proof of their immigration status. You get the number on a paper letter.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Free (Service Canada never charges)
- Total time:
- Same day (in person) to about 20 business days (by mail)
- Steps:
- 10 steps
- Where to apply:
- canada.ca
Last reviewed November 2026 against official sources. Re-checked annually · next review due November 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official CAN sources(November 2026).
0 of 10 steps
- Before You Go 10 min
Check whether you need one
You need a SIN to work in Canada. You also need it to file taxes and to get benefits, like the Canada Child Benefit or the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit. Did you have a SIN before and forget it? Check your old tax returns (Notice of Assessment) or your T4Statement of Remuneration Paid — The slip your Canadian employer issues each February showing your wages and deductions. You need it to file taxes.Click for official info ↗ slips first. Do this before you apply for a new confirmation letter. In some cases, you cannot start work without the number, or without proof that you have applied. Your employer must write down your SIN within 3 days of your start date.
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- Go 30 min
Gather your documents
Newcomers need one main document, like a passport or PR cardPermanent Resident Card — The official proof of Canadian permanent resident status, needed for travel back to Canada on commercial vehicles.Click for official info ↗. Temporary residents also need one status document. This can be a work permit, a study permit with a work condition, or a visitor record. All documents must be originals. Photocopies are refused. If your permit says "does not permit employment", you need a changed permit before you apply.
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- Go 15 min
If you are applying for a child, bring the child's documents plus your own
A parent or legal guardian can apply for a SIN for a child. The child must be under the age of majority in their province or territory. Children who are 12 or older can also apply for their own SIN. Bring the child's original ID document. Also bring your own SIN, or your original ID documents. Legal guardians also need a document that proves guardianship. The exact list of documents depends on your status and the child's status. Use the Canada.ca tool to get the right list for you before you go.
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- Go 1 hour + travel
Apply in person at a Service Canada office
Walk in to any Service Canada Centre with your original documents. You can find your nearest office at servicecanada.gc.ca. Staff check your documents and give you a paper SIN confirmation on the spot. Most visits take under an hour. Booked an appointment online? Still bring your documents.
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- Go 30 min
Or apply online
Apply online with the Canada.ca SIN tool. This is faster. You need scans of your original documents. The online option is open to every status.
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- Fill / Prepare 30 min + mail time
Or apply by mail
Download the SIN application form. Send it with your ORIGINAL documents to Service Canada, Social Insurance Registration Office, PO Box 7000, Bathurst, NB E2A 4T1, Canada. They mail your documents back when your application is done. Allow about 20 business days, plus mail time.
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- Wait 0 to about 20 business days
Wait for your confirmation (mail only)
If you applied in person, you get the SIN right away. If you applied by mail, it comes back by post. Applied by mail? Do not set a job start date before the number arrives.
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- Follow Up 10 min
Expiry dates for temporary residents
A SIN that starts with 9 is temporary. It ends on the same date as your work or study permit. When you renew your permit, you must also renew your SIN. Your number stays the same for life. Only the end date changes.
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- Follow Up 10 min
Newcomers: the 900-series SIN rules
Temporary residents get a SIN that starts with 9. It expires on the permit's expiry date. It is valid only while you hold that status. When you renew your permit, you must update your SIN record. The number stays the same for life. Only the end date changes. Employers see the expiry date. They must stop payroll if the SIN lapses. You do not need a job offer to get a SIN. Any valid immigration document that allows work is enough. Study permit holders also qualify, if their permit allows work. That is up to 24 hours a week off campus during term, since November 2024. Visitor-record holders without work conditions cannot get a SIN.
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- Receive —
Store it securely
Your SIN is private. Give it ONLY to employers, banks (for accounts that pay interest), the CRACanada Revenue Agency — Canada's tax agency. It administers income tax, benefits like the Canada Groceries and Essentials Benefit (formerly the GST/HST credit), and CRA My Account.Click for official info ↗, and benefit programs. Never carry it in your wallet. Never email it. Never put it on a résumé or a rental application. If someone steals your identity with your SIN, it can take months to fix.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a SIN for my child?
A parent or legal guardian can apply for a SIN for a child under the age of majority. You can apply online, by mail, or in person at a Service Canada office. Bring the child's original ID document. Also bring your own SIN, or your original ID documents. Legal guardians also need proof of guardianship. The exact list of documents depends on your status and the child's status. Check the Canada.ca application tool to get the right list for you.
Can my 12-year-old apply for their own SIN?
Yes. Anyone 12 or older can apply for their own SIN. A parent or legal guardian can still apply on their behalf if the child is under the age of majority in their province or territory.
Do I need a job offer to get a SIN?
No. Any valid immigration document that allows work is enough. Study permit holders also qualify, if their permit allows work. That is up to 24 hours/week off campus during term, since November 2024. Visitor-record holders without work conditions cannot get a SIN.
My permit was renewed. Do I need a new SIN?
No. The number stays the same for life. But you must update the expiry date on your SIN record with Service Canada. Bring the new permit. If you do not, employers and CRA systems treat your SIN as expired. Payroll and benefits then break.
Does a SIN cost anything?
No. Service Canada gives out SINs for free. A private site that charges a "processing fee" is just a middleman. You can only apply through Service Canada. You can apply online, in person, or by mail, depending on your situation.
My study permit says I can work 24 hours a week. Do I still need a SIN?
Yes. Any paid work in Canada requires a SIN, and your study permit with an off-campus work condition is an accepted status document. The SIN expires with the permit.
I lost my SIN confirmation. How do I get it again?
Visit a Service Canada office with your original documents. They will print a new confirmation letter for you. First, check your old tax documents, like a T4 or a Notice of Assessment. Your number may be printed there.
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