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 2026-04-17
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. Originals only — Service Canada does not accept photocopies, scans, or photos.
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.
- 03
Apply in person at a Service Canada Centre
In Greater Vancouver the main Service Canada centres for SIN applications are at 125 East 10th Avenue (Mount Pleasant — busiest, expect a 1–2 hour wait), 757 West Hastings Street (downtown — quieter, walk-in usually under 30 minutes), and Surrey Central (10362 King George Boulevard). Bring your documents. There is no appointment system for SIN — it's first-come, first-served.
You can also apply online if you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, but online applications take 10–15 business days to mail you a confirmation letter, while in-person applications give you the SIN immediately.
- 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 online when you need the SIN this week
Online SIN applications take 10–15 business days to mail you the confirmation letter. If you're starting a job within two weeks, apply in person — you'll have the number that afternoon.
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?
757 West Hastings Street, between Howe and Granville. It's a small office and usually has the shortest waits in the city centre. The Mount Pleasant office at 125 East 10th Avenue is the largest but the busiest.
Keep going
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