Newcomer guide · Identity & paperwork
How to get a SIN as a newcomer to Canada
A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is the nine-digit number Service Canada assigns you so you can work, file taxes, and access government benefits like Employment Insurance or the Canada Child Benefit. Without one you cannot legally start a job, and your employer cannot put you on payroll. The good news: applying is free, can usually be done in person on your first or second day in Canada, and you walk out with your number the same visit. The catch is that temporary residents (study permits, work permits) get a SIN that starts with the digit 9 and expires when their permit does — and you have to remember to renew it whenever your status changes.
Last reviewed 2026-05-10
Step by step
The 6 steps, in order
- 01
Confirm you're eligible
You can apply for a SIN if you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or temporary resident with a valid status document (study permit, work permit, or open work permit). Visitors and tourists are not eligible. Children under 12 cannot apply themselves but a parent or legal guardian can apply on their behalf.
If your status document does not explicitly authorize you to work in Canada, you cannot get a SIN — most study permits do authorize on/off-campus work; check the Conditions section of your permit.
- 02
Gather your documents
You need one primary document proving your identity and status. For in-person and mail applications, Service Canada accepts originals only — no photocopies. For online applications they do accept clear digital copies (the entire document including borders must be visible).
For temporary residents that's your work permit, study permit, or visitor record. For permanent residents that's your PR card or PR Confirmation (IMM 5292 or IMM 5688). For Canadian citizens born outside Canada it's the citizenship certificate. If your name on your status document doesn't match your other ID (common after marriage), bring a supporting document like a marriage certificate. Documents not in English or French must come with a certified translation.
- 03
Apply online or in person
If you have everything in order, the fastest path is online via the Service Canada SIN application portal — Service Canada processes online applications in 5 business days and emails you a confirmation. Apply by mail and it's 20 business days from receipt. Apply in person at a Service Canada Centre and you walk out with the SIN at the counter the same visit.
In Greater Vancouver, Service Canada Centres handling SIN applications include offices in downtown Vancouver, Mount Pleasant, and Surrey. Use the official office finder at offices.service.canada.ca to confirm the closest location and current hours before going — there's no appointment system for SIN, it's first-come, first-served.
- 04
Receive your SIN immediately
When you apply in person, the agent enters your information, verifies your status document, and prints a confirmation letter with your SIN at the counter. The number is yours for life (or until your temporary status expires). There is no plastic card any more — Service Canada stopped issuing physical SIN cards in 2014. Keep the printed letter in a safe place; you'll need to give the number (not show the letter) to employers, your bank, and the CRA.
- 05
Give your SIN to your employer and your bank
Within three days of starting any job, your employer must collect your SIN to put you on payroll. Banks need it when they pay you interest above $50/year (because they have to report that interest to the CRA). The CRA needs it to open your tax file — usually you give it on your first tax return.
Do not give your SIN to landlords, dating-app verifications, online retailers, or anyone outside the contexts above. A SIN is a high-value identity-theft target.
- 06
Renew when your status changes
If your SIN starts with 9 (temporary residents), it expires the same day your status document does. When you renew or extend your work/study permit, take your new permit to a Service Canada Centre and they update your SIN expiry to match. If you become a permanent resident, your SIN does not change — but the expiry restriction is lifted.
What to watch for
Common mistakes newcomers make
Bringing photocopies instead of originals
Service Canada accepts originals only. If you bring a photocopied work permit you'll be turned away. The only exception is the citizenship certificate, where a notarized copy is sometimes accepted — call ahead to confirm.
Forgetting that the SIN expires for temporary residents
Your SIN's expiry is tied to your work or study permit. When you extend the permit, you must also update the SIN — your employer's payroll system will block you when the expiry passes.
Giving the SIN to the wrong people
A SIN is for Service Canada, the CRA, your employer, and (sometimes) your bank. Landlords don't need it. Phone companies don't need it. Don't write it on Craigslist forms or give it to anyone over the phone unless you initiated the call.
Applying by mail when you're starting a job soon
Mail SIN applications take 20 business days from receipt. Online is faster — 5 business days — and you can send digital copies of documents. If you're starting a job within a week or two, apply in person at a Service Canada Centre and you'll walk out with the SIN that day.
Frequently asked
About this process
Can I work in Canada while waiting for my SIN?
Service Canada explicitly allows you to start work without a SIN, as long as you apply within three days of starting and provide it to your employer once received. Most BC employers know this and will hire you on the understanding that the SIN is coming.
What if I lose my SIN confirmation letter?
Your number is permanent — losing the letter doesn't lose the number. You can request a confirmation reprint online via Service Canada (free) or in person at any Service Canada Centre. There is still no physical card.
Do my children need a SIN?
Children only need a SIN if they're working, claiming GST credit at 19, or if you want to claim the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) for them — and CCB applications now usually create the SIN automatically. There's no rush to get a SIN for an infant.
Where is the closest Service Canada to downtown Vancouver?
Service Canada office locations and hours change periodically — the downtown Vancouver office relocated in early 2026. Use the official finder at offices.service.canada.ca and search by postal code to confirm the current address, hours, and which services that office provides before going.
Sources
- Government of Canada — Social Insurance Number — Apply, update or obtain a SIN confirmation (retrieved 2026-05-10)
- Government of Canada — Social Insurance Number — Receiving and updating your SIN (processing times) (retrieved 2026-05-10)
- Government of Canada — Social Insurance Number — Required documents (retrieved 2026-05-10)
- Canada Revenue Agency — Get the social insurance number (SIN) from the individual — Employer obligations (retrieved 2026-05-10)
- Service Canada — Find a Service Canada Office (retrieved 2026-05-10)
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