--- title: Social Insurance Number (SIN) at Service Canada country: canada service: "social-insurance-number" category: identification difficulty: easy estimated_time: Same visit in person; 5 business days online; 20 business days by mail cost_range: C$0 last_verified: 2026-05-09 canonical: https://publicservices.guide/canada/social-insurance-number/ status: current confidence: low tags: - identification - mandatory - "first-week" - employment - "new-arrival" sources: - https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin.html - https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/qualify.html - https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/apply.html - https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/required-documents.html - https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/receiving-updating.html - https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/protection.html - https://moving2canada.com/canada/social-insurance-number/ --- # Social Insurance Number (SIN) at Service Canada **Country:** πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦ Canada **Last verified:** 2026-05-09 **Estimated time:** Same visit in person; 5 business days online; 20 business days by mail **Cost:** C$0 ## Required documents - **Primary identity document** - Where to get: Issuing immigration or vital-statistics authority (IRCC, provincial registrar, or CIC predecessor) - Required: Original for in-person and mail; clear, legible, full-border digital copy for online - Cost: C$0 paid to Service Canada - _Note:_ Permanent residents present a Permanent Resident card, Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) within 12 months of becoming a permanent resident, or a Record of Landing issued before June 28, 2002. Temporary residents present a work permit, a study permit which indicates the permit holder may accept employment or may work in Canada, or a visitor record showing authorization to work. Canadian citizens present a provincial birth certificate, a certificate of Canadian Citizenship, or a certificate of Registration of Birth Abroad issued before 1977. - **Secondary document** - Where to get: Foreign passport authority or any Canadian government issuer - Required: Valid official document showing legal name and date of birth - _Note:_ A foreign passport satisfies the secondary requirement and is the typical newcomer path. A Canadian provincial or territorial ID card or driver's licence also qualifies once issued. - **Supporting document** - Where to get: Court, marriage registrar, or notary that issued the name-change record - Required: Only if the name on your application differs from the primary or secondary document - _Note:_ Examples include a marriage certificate, divorce decree, legal change-of-name certificate, court order, adoption order, notarial certificate, or request to amend Record of Landing. Quebec residents married after April 1, 1981 cannot use the marriage certificate to support a family-name change and must use a different supporting document. ## Costs - **SIN application β€” in person at a Service Canada Centre:** 0 CAD β€” Service Canada states there is no fee to apply for a SIN. - **SIN application β€” online via the SIN online portal:** 0 CAD β€” Same federal fee shape applies β€” C$0 across the online channel. - **SIN application β€” by mail to Bathurst, NB:** 0 CAD β€” C$0 to Service Canada. Mail-channel originals are returned once processed, but Service Canada is not responsible for documents lost in the mail. ## Steps ### 1. Choose Your Application Channel - In person at a Service Canada Centre β€” same-visit issuance if everything is in order, originals returned at the counter - Online via the SIN online portal at sin-nas.canada.ca β€” within 5 business days, accepts digital copies - By mail to the Social Insurance Registration Office in Bathurst, NB β€” within 20 business days plus mail transit, originals at risk > **Tip:** For most newcomers landing in Canada, the fastest path is the in-person walk-in at a Service Canada Centre β€” you arrive with your COPR or PR card and your foreign passport, and you leave with a printed Confirmation of SIN letter the same visit. Some major airports offer on-site Service Canada desks during specific hours; if you land off-hours, your nearest urban Service Canada Centre is the Plan B β€” check the Service Canada office locator before you arrive. > **If this fails:** If you have perfect document scans on your phone but no originals on hand, in-person and mail are both blocked β€” only the online channel accepts digital copies. Service Canada states: 'If you apply by mail or in-person, you may only submit original documents.' _Links:_ - [Service Canada β€” Apply for a SIN](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/apply.html) - [SIN online application portal](https://sin-nas.canada.ca/en/Sin/) ### 2. Gather Your Primary, Secondary, and Supporting Documents - Pull your primary identity document β€” PR card, COPR, work permit, study permit endorsed for work, certificate of Canadian Citizenship, or birth certificate as applicable - Pull your secondary document β€” foreign passport, Canadian provincial ID card, or driver's licence β€” to confirm legal name and date of birth - Add a supporting document only if the name on your application differs from the primary or secondary document > **Tip:** If you became a permanent resident more than 12 months ago, your COPR is no longer accepted for SIN β€” Service Canada requires the Permanent Resident card after that point. > **If this fails:** Documents not in English or French require translation plus a Canadian certified translator's attestation or a non-certified translator's affidavit sworn before a notary public. Service Canada states: 'Translations by family members are not acceptable.' Family means parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or first cousin. ### 3. Locate Your Nearest Service Canada Centre (In-Person Channel) _Applies when: If applying in person_ - Use the Service Canada office locator to find a Service Canada Centre near your address - Optional: request an appointment via the online service request form at eservices.canada.ca to reduce wait time - Walk-ins are accepted at most centres if you cannot get an appointment slot > **Tip:** If you land at a major Canadian airport, check the arrivals hall for an on-site Service Canada desk β€” when one is open, same-visit SIN issuance can mean a printed Confirmation of SIN letter before you reach your hotel. Hours vary by airport; the Service Canada office locator is the source of truth. _Links:_ - [Service Canada β€” online service request form (appointments)](https://eservices.canada.ca/en/service/) ### 4. Apply In Person at the Counter _Applies when: If applying in person_ - Bring your original primary, secondary, and supporting documents plus translations and translator attestation or affidavit if any document is not in English or French - Hand your documents to the SIN officer; the officer captures the application data at the counter - Receive a printed Confirmation of SIN letter with your 9-digit SIN before you leave the centre - Service Canada states: 'If everything is in order, you will get your SIN during your visit and you will not need to part with your documents' > **Tip:** After issuance, register for or sign in to My Service Canada Account at canada.ca to view and reprint your SIN digitally β€” the MSCA SIN view is treated as equivalent to the paper Confirmation of SIN letter. ### 5. Apply Online via the SIN Portal _Applies when: If applying online_ - Open the SIN online portal at sin-nas.canada.ca - Upload digital copies of your primary, secondary, and supporting documents β€” Service Canada states: 'These digital copies must be clear, legible and complete by showing the entire document including the borders' - If identity information is on both sides of the document, upload both sides - Submit and watch for the email confirming receipt - Within 5 business days, receive a second email when your application is processed; your SIN appears in MSCA if eligible for digital format, or a Confirmation of SIN letter is mailed > **If this fails:** The portal does not let you edit or resume a submitted application. If you spot a mistake or missing document after submitting, you must restart with all documents from scratch. Review every upload before clicking submit. _Links:_ - [SIN online application portal](https://sin-nas.canada.ca/en/Sin/) ### 6. Apply By Mail to Bathurst, NB _Applies when: If applying by mail_ - Download form NAS2120 from the Service Canada eForms catalogue or call 1-866-274-6627 (toll free) or 1-506-548-7961 from outside Canada to order a printed copy - Complete and sign the form; assemble your original primary, secondary, and supporting documents plus any translations - Mail the package to: Service Canada, Social Insurance Registration Office, PO Box 7000, Bathurst NB E2A 4T1, Canada - Wait up to 20 business days for processing once Service Canada receives your application; originals are returned by mail when complete > **If this fails:** Service Canada states it is 'not responsible for documents lost in the mail.' If your only valid passport is in the mail to Bathurst when you need it for a bank appointment or an IRCC interaction, you have no quick recovery path. _Links:_ - [Form NAS2120 β€” Service Canada eForms catalogue](https://catalogue.servicecanada.gc.ca/content/EForms/en/Detail.html?Form=NAS2120) ### 7. Protect Your SIN After Issuance - Store your Confirmation of SIN letter somewhere secure β€” not in your wallet - Register for My Service Canada Account at canada.ca to access the digital version any time - Refuse SIN requests from landlords, telecom providers, retailers, and credit card or mortgage applications β€” Service Canada is explicit that the SIN is not an identity document - If you suspect fraud, contact the SIN Program and review the protection guidance on the canada.ca SIN protection page > **Tip:** Service Canada states: 'Your confirmation of SIN letter or SIN card are not identity documents. Do not use your SIN as identification. Use your passport, driver's license, health card, or another document to prove your identity.' Treat the SIN like a tax number, not an ID. ## FAQ ### Can I start working before my SIN arrives? Yes. Service Canada states: 'Once you have applied for your SIN, you may begin working insurable employment before you receive your SIN.' The companion rule on the qualify page is that you must apply for your SIN within 3 days after you begin work. Together this means a new arrival can accept a job offer and start work, provided the SIN application has been submitted within the 3-day window β€” receipt of the SIN itself is not the gating event. ### Are plastic SIN cards still issued? No. Service Canada states: 'Plastic SIN cards are no longer issued.' SIN now comes in two equivalent formats β€” a paper Confirmation of SIN letter, or a digital format viewable in My Service Canada Account (MSCA). Both formats carry the same legal weight. ### Why does my SIN begin with 9? A SIN beginning with 9 is issued to applicants who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents β€” typically work-permit holders, study-permit holders authorized to work, and visitors with work authorization. Service Canada states: 'If your SIN begins with a 9, keep your SIN record up to date. Make sure your SIN expiry date matches the one on your document from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada allowing you to work in Canada.' Each time IRCC issues a new permit, you must submit a new SIN application to update the expiry date. ### What happens to my temporary 9-SIN when I become a permanent resident or Canadian citizen? You submit a new SIN application with your new primary document β€” the Permanent Resident card or COPR for PR status, or the certificate of Canadian Citizenship for naturalized citizens. Service Canada issues a new SIN that does not begin with 9 and notifies CPP and the Canada Revenue Agency of the new number. You must inform your employer, your financial institutions, and any other government department of the change. ### Can I confirm my SIN by phone if I forget it? No. Service Canada states: 'Service Canada cannot provide or confirm your SIN by telephone.' If you lose your Confirmation of SIN letter and have not yet registered for My Service Canada Account, you must apply in person, online, or by mail with your documents to obtain a new confirmation letter. ### Do I have to give my SIN to a landlord, telecom provider, or credit card company? No. Service Canada is explicit that the SIN is not an identity document and that you are not required to provide it for renting a property, signing up for telecom or utility services (except Hydro QuΓ©bec, which collects SIN under Quebec provincial law), credit card or mortgage applications, cashing a cheque, or a medical history questionnaire. You are required to provide your SIN for employment after hiring, financial accounts that report interest or dividends to the CRA, and government services such as tax returns, EI, CPP, and student loans. ## Sources - [Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin.html) β€” accessed 2026-05-09 β€” _T1_ β€” To work in Canada or access government programs and benefits, you need a 9-digit identifier known as a Social Insurance Number (SIN). Plastic SIN cards are no longer issued. SIN is delivered in two equivalent formats: paper format as a Confirmation of SIN letter, or digital format viewable by signing in or registering for My Service Canada Account (MSCA). - [Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/qualify.html) β€” accessed 2026-05-09 β€” _T1_ β€” If you are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or a temporary resident, you need a Social Insurance Number (SIN) to work in Canada or to receive benefits and services from government programs. Apply for your SIN within 3 days after you begin work. Once you apply, you can begin working in insurable employment. If your SIN begins with a 9, keep your SIN record up to date. Make sure your SIN expiry date matches the one on your document from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada allowing you to work in Canada. Children 12 years of age and over may apply for their own SIN. - [Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/apply.html) β€” accessed 2026-05-09 β€” _T1_ β€” There is no fee to apply for a SIN. If everything is in order, you will get your SIN during your visit and you will not need to part with your documents. Mail applications go to: Service Canada, Social Insurance Registration Office, PO Box 7000, Bathurst NB E2A 4T1, Canada. Service Canada is not responsible for documents lost in the mail. If you made a mistake or forgot a document on the online channel, you cannot go back to your application and must submit a new application and include all required documents again. The online portal is at sin-nas.canada.ca. The mail-channel form is NAS2120, available from the Service Canada eForms catalogue, or by phone at 1-866-274-6627 (toll free) or 1-506-548-7961 from outside Canada. Permanent residents present a Permanent Resident card, a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR), or a Record of Landing issued before June 28, 2002 β€” and if the COPR is used within one year of becoming a permanent resident, it is acceptable; after this period, the Permanent Resident Card is required. Temporary residents present a work permit, a study permit which indicates the permit holder may accept employment or may work in Canada, a visitor record showing authorization to work, or a diplomatic identity card with work authorization. - [Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/required-documents.html) β€” accessed 2026-05-09 β€” _T1_ β€” If you apply by mail or in-person, you may only submit original documents. If you apply online, you may submit digital copies. These digital copies must be clear, legible and complete by showing the entire document including the borders. All documents submitted with your SIN application must be in English or French. If the document is not in English or French, it must be translated, accompanied by an attestation from a Canadian certified translator or an affidavit from a non-certified translator. Translations by family members are not acceptable. A family member is defined as a parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew or first cousin. For Quebec residents married after April 1, 1981, the marriage certificate or registration cannot be used to support a family name change, regardless of the province or country in which the marriage took place. - [Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/receiving-updating.html) β€” accessed 2026-05-09 β€” _T1_ β€” Once you have applied for your SIN, you may begin working insurable employment before you receive your SIN. If you apply online and everything is in order, your application will be processed within 5 business days from the date your application was received. If you apply by mail and everything is in order, your application will be processed within 20 business days from the date your application was received. Service Canada cannot provide or confirm your SIN by telephone. Applicants who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents receive a distinctive SIN beginning with the number 9. Canadian citizens receive a SIN that does not begin with 9. - [Employment and Social Development Canada / Service Canada](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/protection.html) β€” accessed 2026-05-09 β€” _T1_ β€” Your confirmation of SIN letter or SIN card are not identity documents. Do not use your SIN as identification. Use your passport, driver's license, health card, or another document to prove your identity. You do not have to give your SIN for a job application before being hired, a credit card or mortgage or line of credit application, cashing a cheque, renting a property, signing up for telecom or utility services (except Hydro QuΓ©bec, which collects SIN under Quebec provincial law), renting a car, a medical history questionnaire, a will, a post-secondary education application, or requesting a credit report. You are required to provide your SIN for employment after hiring, financial accounts that report interest or dividends, and government services such as tax returns, EI, CPP, and student loans. - [Moving2Canada (newcomer-onboarding outlet)](https://moving2canada.com/canada/social-insurance-number/) β€” accessed 2026-05-09 β€” _T3_ β€” In-person applications can be made by gathering the documentation you need and bringing these to your nearest Service Canada office. If you apply in person, your Social Insurance Number is given to you during your visit, on a printed sheet of paper, called a Confirmation of SIN letter. Some airport locations (Toronto Pearson, MontrΓ©al-Trudeau, Vancouver International) offer on-site services, only during the specific hours of operation. All documents must be translated into English or French before submission. --- Verification pending β€” see the canonical page for the latest trust state. Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/canada/social-insurance-number/