What is a Social Insurance Number?

Your Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a form of government-issued identification like an account number.

The number that your SIN begins with indicates the province of registration. For example, 1 is Atlantic Canada and 7 in British Columbia.

Non-Canadian citizens are issued a temporary Social Insurance Card with the indicator number 9.

If you are here in Canada on a working holiday, working visa, or if you are an international student, you will receive a temporary card with an expiration date and a number beginning with 9.

Canadian citizens, permanent, and temporary residents, require a Social Insurance Number to work or access Government of Canada programs.

Why do I need a SIN Card?

You require a Social Insurance Number when you accept a job, pay taxes, or receive government benefits like the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Employment Insurance (EI). Even if you are only here in Canada on a Working Holiday, Canada Work Permit, or a Canadian Study Permit, you will need a SIN card to access employment or government benefits.

How do I apply for my Social Insurance Number?

Most people apply for their Social Insurance Number in person. To do this, you must look up your nearest Service Canada Office. No one can apply for a SIN on your behalf. You can apply via mail if you are applying from abroad or if your nearest Service Canada office is 100 km or more away. However, it may take 20 days for a mail request to arrive. There isn’t a fee to apply for a Social Insurance Number in Canada, and you will receive your number immediately when you apply in person. Your SIN card is a form of identification, so carefully guard it as you do with any identity document.

Required Documents to apply for your SIN

Permanent Residents require a Permanent Resident card (PR card) or Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) if you arrived within the last 12 months. Also, bring:

1. Work permit or study permit.

2. Passport, Provincial or Territorial ID, Driver’s licence, or another piece of government-issued ID.

3. Proof of address. Acceptable forms of proof of address include government mail, mail from a financial institution, bills addressed to your address, and official documents from an educational institution.

Note: All your documents must be original.

The three documents you need are to

: 1. Prove your identity and status in Canada (primary identity document).

2. An official document that proves your identity (secondary identity document) with your date of birth and a legal name like a passport, Canadian provincial or territorial ID card or driver’s license, or any Canadian government-issued ID.

3. Proof of address.

* * Proof of address must come from a government, a company, an institution, an organization, a landlord or an employer and be a document or an attestation letter signed by the issuer.

You will also need supporting documents to explain any discrepancies. For example, if you recently got married and the name on your passport is different from the name on your driver’s licence.

What about my family?

If your children are 12 years old or younger, you can apply for your child’s Social Insurance Number on their behalf.

Additional Information

When submitting your documents in person or via mail, submit the original documents. Translating documents: Documents that are not in English or French must be translated into English or French by a certified translator.

You cannot bring an envelope or previous rejection letter as proof of address.

Source: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin.html