You cannot be paid legally in Canada without a Social Insurance Number. It is a 9 digit number issued by Service Canada, and you need it to work, to get paid, to pay taxes, and to access government programs such as Employment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan (canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin.html).
In this guide
At KGraph Immigration we have helped more than 10,000 clients settle in Canada, with a 98% success rate and a 4.9 Google rating. The SIN is usually the very first thing a newcomer needs after landing, and it is also one of the easiest things to get wrong. This page explains exactly who needs one, what to bring, how to apply, how long it takes, and the one rule that saves people weeks of lost income.
The single most useful thing to know: you can start working as soon as you apply. You do not have to wait for the number to arrive (canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/temporary-residents.html).
Category: Settlement Resources
Two kinds of SIN, and which one is yours
Which SIN you get depends entirely on your status in Canada.
| Your status | Your SIN | Does it expire? |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary resident (work permit, study permit or visitor record that authorizes work) | Always starts with the digit 9 | Yes. It expires on the same date your permit expires |
| Canadian citizen or permanent resident | Does not start with 9 | No. It is permanent and never expires |
If your SIN begins with a 9, it is tied to your immigration document. The moment your permit expires, so does your SIN. This is the detail that catches people out.
Who needs to apply, and when
You must apply for a SIN, or update your existing SIN record, if any of these apply to you:
- You are legally authorized to work in Canada and you are going to work
- You need proof or confirmation of your SIN
- You have received a new permit with a new expiry date
- Your immigration status has changed, for example from temporary resident to permanent resident
- Your legal name has changed
- There is an error on your record that needs correcting
Note that a study permit only gets you a SIN if it actually authorizes you to work. Check the conditions printed on your permit. If your study permit does not carry a work condition, Service Canada cannot issue you a SIN on the strength of it.
What to bring
Your primary document. A valid work permit, study permit or visitor record issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that authorizes you to work.
Read this part twice, because it is where applications get rejected: an email message from IRCC is not accepted. A port of entry letter, an approval email, or a screenshot of your online account will not do. Service Canada needs the actual permit document.
One secondary document that confirms your identity, such as a passport or a government issued driver's licence.
A supporting document if your current name does not match the name on your other documents, for example a marriage certificate or a legal name change document.
Full details and translation requirements are on the Service Canada required documents page (canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/required-documents.html).
How to apply
You have three routes.
| How | Where | Processing time |
|---|---|---|
| Online (fastest) | sin-nas.canada.ca/en/Sin/ | About 5 business days to view your SIN confirmation letter in My Service Canada Account, or before the confirmation is mailed |
| By mail | Service Canada, Social Insurance Registration Office, PO Box 7000, Bathurst NB E2A 4T1, Canada | About 20 business days, and you receive a SIN confirmation letter by mail |
| In person | Any Service Canada office (offices.service.canada.ca/en) | Varies by office |
Online is the fastest route and it is the one we recommend to almost every client.
If you apply by mail, Service Canada will post your documents back to you once your application is complete. Be aware that Service Canada is not responsible for documents lost in the mail, so think carefully before putting your passport in an envelope.
You can work before your SIN arrives
This is the rule that saves people money, and most newcomers do not know it.
You can start working as soon as you have applied for your SIN. You do not need to hold the number in your hand first (canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/temporary-residents.html).
If an employer tells you they cannot put you on payroll until the number arrives, they are adding a rule that Service Canada does not impose. You give them the number when you receive it.
If your SIN expires
If your SIN has expired but you applied to extend your permit before it ran out, you are on maintained status, and you can keep working with your expired SIN until IRCC makes a decision on your extension.
Once your new permit is issued, update your SIN record so the expiry date matches your new permit. After you extend your SIN, destroy the old SIN document. It is no longer valid.
There are no plastic SIN cards any more
Service Canada stopped issuing plastic SIN cards. You now receive a Confirmation of SIN letter, in paper or digital format.
If you still hold an old plastic card, it remains usable. If you have lost it or it is damaged, request a Confirmation of SIN instead of a replacement card.
If you have forgotten your number
Sign in to My Service Canada Account to view and print your SIN (canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/my-account/sin.html).
If you cannot get into your account, your SIN also appears on your income tax return, your T4 slip, your Record of Employment, and your RRSP contribution receipt.
Common mistakes
- Bringing an IRCC email instead of the permit. Service Canada explicitly does not accept email messages from IRCC. Bring the permit document itself.
- Waiting for the SIN before starting work. You are allowed to work from the day you apply. Waiting costs you paychecks for no reason.
- Letting the SIN lapse quietly. Your SIN expires with your permit. It does not renew itself when your permit is renewed. You must update the record.
- Using a study permit that has no work condition. Not every study permit authorizes work. Check the conditions printed on yours.
- Mailing your passport without thinking. Service Canada is not responsible for documents lost in the mail. Apply online or in person if you can.
- Forgetting to update after becoming a permanent resident. A change in immigration status is a trigger to update your SIN record.
Questions people actually ask
Prepared by KGraph Immigration. Last updated July 2026. General information, not legal advice.
