Skip to content

Service Canada

How to Apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Apply online (fastest), by mail, or in person by appointment. It is free. You need a primary identity document such as a birth certificate, citizenship certificate, PR card or eligible work or study permit, plus a secondary ID if you are an adult. Plastic SIN cards are no longer issued.

By Fact-checked by Samuel Athur

Last verified How we check our facts

Who can apply

Anyone 12 or older can apply for their own SIN. Parents or legal guardians apply for younger children, and representatives can apply for adults in their care. Name changes need linking documents for each change.

Step by step

  1. Get your primary document.

    Canadian citizens: provincial or territorial birth certificate or certificate of citizenship. Permanent residents: PR card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence. Temporary residents: an eligible work or study permit or visitor record.

  2. Get a secondary ID if you are an adult.

    A passport, provincial or territorial ID card or driver's licence, or other government ID with your legal name and date of birth.

  3. Apply online, by mail or in person.

    Online is fastest: complete applications are processed within 5 business days. In person, request an appointment through the online form and receive your SIN during the visit. Mail goes to Service Canada, Social Insurance Registration Office, PO Box 7000, Bathurst NB E2A 4T1.

  4. Keep your SIN private and view it any time in My Service Canada Account.

Phone numbers

Social Insurance Number

1-866-274-6627

Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time

From outside Canada and the U.S.: 1-506-548-7961 (8:30 am to 7:30 pm Atlantic time)

TTY: 1-800-926-9105

Related

How to Sign In to My Service Canada Account (MSCA) Go to the official My Service Canada Account page, choose the sign-in option you registered with (Interac Sign-In Partner, GCKey, or B.C./Alberta provincial sign-in), then complete multi-factor authentication. First time? Register once using the Interac verification service or a Personal Access Code (PAC). Service Canada Offices: What You Can Do In Person and What to Bring At a Service Canada office you can apply for EI, get help with an application, submit documents, get a Personal Access Code or a temporary EI access code, and update your information. Bring your SIN and original, valid ID.

Sources

North Help Desk is an independent guide, not a government website. Rules, amounts and phone hours can change; always confirm on the official page before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.