How to apply
[ download application form | what's new ]
Applying for a first-time Social Insurance Number
To apply for a Social Insurance Number, you must complete an application form. You can obtain an application from your local office or download one.
You must also provide a primary document that proves your identity and status in Canada, as well as a supporting document, if the name on your primary document is different from the one you are currently using. It is important that documents are originals and that they are written in English or French.
If you are a parent or legal guardian signing an application for a Social Insurance Number on behalf of a minor, you must also provide your own proof-of-identity document.
If you are submitting an application for a Social Insurance Number on behalf of another person, you must provide a valid photo identity document and an original letter signed by the applicant giving authorization to submit the application on his/her behalf.
We encourage you to apply for your Social Insurance Number in person at one of our offices. This process is faster and more convenient, as it does not require you to part with your valuable identity documents. You may also apply by mail.
Your card should be received by mail within three weeks from the date you submit your application, providing it meets all criteria.
If you are a resident of New Brunswick, you may be eligible to apply for a Social Insurance Number by telephone.
For a Social Insurance Number using Newborn Registration Service
(Ontario only)FOR PARENTS IN ONTARIO: ServiceOntario and Service Canada are now offering the Newborn Registration Service. If you have not yet registered your child's birth (and your child is less than one year of age), use this service to complete your child's Birth Registration form (fill online and print), apply for your child's Birth Certificate online and apply for your child's Social Insurance Number card online. This three-in-one application avoids filling out separate paper forms or entering the same information over and over again. It's fast, convenient and secure.
Applying for a replacement Social Insurance Number card
To apply for a replacement Social Insurance Number (SIN) card, you must complete an application form. You can obtain an application from your local office or download one.
You must provide a primary document that proves your identity and status in Canada, as well as a supporting document, if the name on your primary document is different from the one you are currently using. It is important that documents are originals and that they are written in English or French.
If you are a parent or legal guardian signing an application for a Social Insurance Number on behalf of a minor, you must also provide your own proof-of-identity document.
If you are submitting an application for a Social Insurance Number on behalf of another person, you must provide a valid photo identity document and an original letter signed by the applicant giving authorization to submit the application on his/her behalf.
A $10 fee is charged for the replacement of a Social Insurance Number card. A legal name change is considered an amendment to your SIN card; not a replacement. Acceptable methods of payment are by personal cheques, bank drafts or money orders payable in Canadian funds to the Receiver General for Canada. Cash should never be sent by mail, but it is accepted at any one of our offices.
We encourage you to apply for your Social Insurance Number in person at one of our offices. This process is faster and more convenient, as it does not require you to part with your valuable identity documents. You may also apply by mail.
Your card should be received by mail within three weeks from the date you submit your application, providing it meets all criteria.
If you are a resident of New Brunswick, you may be eligible to apply for a Social Insurance Number by telephone.
Amendment(s) to your Social Insurance Number (SIN) record and/or card
It is not necessary to inform us of a change of address. The names under which you are working must be the same as the names on your SIN card in order to ensure that your Canada and/or Québec Pension Plan contributions are properly credited to you.
To apply for an amendment Social Insurance Number record or card, you must complete an application form. You can obtain an application from your local office or download one.
You must provide an original of a primary document that proves your identity and status in Canada. You must also provide a supporting document if the name on your primary document is different from the one you are currently using. It is important that documents are originals and that they are written in English or French.
If you are a parent or legal guardian signing an application for a Social Insurance Number on behalf of a minor, you must also provide your own proof-of-identity document.
If you are submitting an application for a Social Insurance Number on behalf of another person, you must provide a valid photo identity document and an original letter signed by the applicant giving authorization to submit the application on his/her behalf.
There is no fee to amend the name(s) on your card when the change requested is due to a Legal Name Change (marriage, divorce, legal name change, etc). If the change requested is not due to a Legal Name Change, it is considered a replacement card.
We encourage you to apply for your Social Insurance Number in person at one of our offices. This process is faster and more convenient, as it does not require you to part with your valuable identity documents. You may also apply by mail.
Your amended card should be received by mail within three weeks from the date you submit your application, providing it meets all criteria. If you have requested a correction to the information on your SIN record, a confirmation letter of the action taken is sent to you.
If you are a resident of New Brunswick, you may be eligible to apply for a Social Insurance Number by telephone.
Amend or add an expiry date on the Social Insurance Number card
Social Insurance Number (SIN) cards beginning with a "9" must have an expiry date. If your card does not have an expiry date or has a past expiry date, you must re-apply with an acceptable proof-of-identity document. The expiry date on the card will correspond to the expiry date on the document presented.
To amend or to add an expiry date on your card, you must complete an application form. You can obtain an application from your local office or download one.
You must provide an original of a primary document that proves your identity, your status in Canada, your requirement for a SIN card, as well as the duration of your authorized stay in Canada. You must also provide a supporting document if the name on your primary document is different from the one you are currently using. It is important that documents are originals and that they are written in English or French.
If you are a parent or legal guardian signing an application for a Social Insurance Number on behalf of a minor, you must also provide your own proof-of-identity document.
If you are submitting an application for a Social Insurance Number on behalf of another person, you must provide a valid photo identity document and an original letter signed by the applicant giving authorization to submit the application on his/her behalf.
There is no fee to amend the expiry date on your SIN card.
We encourage you to apply for your Social Insurance Number in person at one of our offices. This process is faster and more convenient, as it does not require you to part with your valuable identity documents. You may also apply by mail.
If you are a resident of New Brunswick, you may be eligible to amend your Social Insurance Number card by telephone.
For additional information on the expiry date on a SIN card, refer to the brochure Expiry date to 900 series SINs.
Applying for a SIN by telephone
(New Brunswick only)If you reside in New Brunswick, you may be eligible to apply for a first-time Social Insurance Number card, a replacement card, or an amendment to your card and/or record by telephone.
You are eligible if:
-
you were born in New Brunswick in 1916 or later
or -
you were born outside Canada and have entered Canada after 1971
To apply by telephone, you must have on hand your New Brunswick birth certificate or your immigration document.
To obtain your birth certificate, contact the Vital Statistics Office in Fredericton at 1 506-453-2385 or visit their web site at http://www.gnb.ca/0051/contacts-e.asp 
To obtain your Immigration document, look in your local telephone book in the Government of Canada listings, under Citizenship and Immigration Canada or visit their web site at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.html 
A parent must apply on behalf of a child under the age of 12. Parents may also apply on behalf of children under the age of 19.
A fee of $10 is required for a replacement card, payable by Visa or MasterCard. Have your credit card number with expiry date on hand when calling.
To change the name on your Social Insurance Number card by telephone, for reasons of marriage or legal change of name, the document must have been registered in New Brunswick in 1987 or later. For recent name changes, please allow 6 weeks before requesting the amendment to your Social Insurance Number card by telephone.
Dial toll-free 1-888-428-0888.
You will be asked to answer the first few questions from the automated system using your telephone keypad, then, an attendant will come on-line to assist you. As soon as your identity is validated, your application is processed. If you are applying for the first time, you will be informed of your number while you remain on the phone. Your card will arrive in the mail approximately one week later.
