How can I apply for someone else (e.g. on behalf of a child or an adult)?

There are specific situations where you may have to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) for someone else. All proof-of-identity documents must be original.

Select which best describes your situation:

Parents or Legal Guardians applying on behalf of a child

Children who are 12 years of age or older may apply for their own SIN. However, parents or legal guardians can also apply on behalf of a child under the age of majority in their province. Here's what you'll need if you are applying on behalf of your child:

Within Canada

To apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), simply gather all the required original documents and take them to the nearest Service Canada point of service.

Requirements when applying at a Service Canada point of service:

  • your SIN. If you were not issued a SIN, you must provide your original proof-of-identity documents;
  • the original proof-of-identity documents of the person for whom you are applying;
  • Legal Guardians will need to provide an original or a certified copy of a document that confirms your legal guardianship, issued by a provincial/territorial authority (in Quebec, a notarized Will is an acceptable document);
  • the $10 fee (if required).

Note: cash, debit cards, credit cards, personal cheques, bank drafts or money orders in Canadian funds (made to the Receiver General for Canada) are acceptable.

If everything is in order, you will get your child's SIN during your visit and receive the card by mail within 10 business days.

Special measures are in place to accommodate individuals who cannot apply in-person at a Service Canada point of service. Note: Only individuals in these circumstances are permitted to apply by mail:

  • Individuals living 100km or more from the nearest Service Canada point of service, in an inaccessible area, or where outreach is very infrequent may apply by mail. To confirm your eligibility to apply by mail, you must verify your postal code.
  • Individuals with other extenuating limitations preventing them from visiting a Service Canada point of service and cannot use the assistance of another individual to submit an application on their behalf may be eligible to apply by mail. Note: Individuals must contact 1-800-206-7218 (select Option #3) to determine if they are eligible to apply by mail.

Requirements when deemed eligible to apply by mail:

  • a fully completed, signed and dated SIN application form;
  • your original proof-of-identity documents;
  • the original proof-of-identity documents of the person for whom you are applying;
  • Legal Guardians will need to provide an original or a certified copy of a document that confirms your legal guardianship, issued by a provincial/territorial authority (in Quebec, a notarized Will is an acceptable document);
  • the $10 fee (if required).

Note: only personal cheques, bank drafts or money orders in Canadian funds (made to the Receiver General for Canada) are acceptable. Do not send cash in the mail.

Send your completed application, original documents, and fee, if applicable, to:

Service Canada
Social Insurance Registration Office
PO Box 7000
Bathurst NB  E2A 4T1
CANADA

If you send your application by registered mail, we will return your document(s) and SIN card in the same manner. Service Canada is not responsible for document(s) lost in the mail.

If the SIN application and document(s) are in order, you will receive the child's SIN card by mail within 20 business days from the date the application is received.

Outside Canada

  • a fully completed, signed and dated SIN application form;
  • your original proof-of-identity documents;
  • the original documents of the person for whom you are applying;
  • Legal Guardians will need to provide an original or a certified copy of a document that confirms your legal guardianship, issued by a provincial/territorial authority (in Quebec, a notarized Will is an acceptable document);
  • the $10 fee (if required).

Note: only personal cheques, international bank drafts or money orders in Canadian funds (made to the Receiver General for Canada) are acceptable. Do not send cash in the mail.

Send the completed application, original documents, and fee, if applicable, to:

Service Canada
Social Insurance Registration Office
PO Box 7000
Bathurst NB  E2A 4T1
CANADA

If you send your application by registered mail, we will return the documents and SIN card in the same manner. We are not responsible for documents lost in the mail.

If the SIN application and documents are in order, you will receive the child’s SIN card by mail within 20 business days from the date the application is received.

Court appointed lawyers or individuals, or provincial/territorial employees can apply on behalf of a minor child or an adult. Here's what you'll need if you are applying on behalf of a child or an adult:

Within Canada

To apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), simply gather all the required original documents and take them to the nearest Service Canada point of service.

Requirements when applying at a Service Canada point of service:

  • the original proof-of-identity documents of the person for whom you are applying;
  • valid photo identification confirming your identity. Note: Provincial/territorial employees must provide valid employee photo identification.
  • an original document or certified copy of a document that confirms your legal representation, issued by a provincial/territorial authority (in Quebec, a notarized Will is an acceptable document);
  • Provincial/territorial employees must also provide an original Letter of Authorization issued by the agency and signed by the agency’s Director/Administrator authorizing the employee to apply for a SIN on behalf of the agency; this letter must be on agency letterhead;
  • the $10 fee (if required).

Note: cash, debit cards, credit cards, personal cheques, bank drafts or money orders in Canadian funds (made to the Receiver General for Canada) are acceptable.

If everything is in order, you will get the SIN for the person for whom you are applying during your visit and receive the card by mail within 10 business days.

Special measures are in place to accommodate individuals who cannot apply in-person at a Service Canada point of service. Note: Only individuals in these circumstances are permitted to apply by mail:

  • Individuals living 100 km or more from the nearest Service Canada point of service, in an inaccessible area, or where outreach is very infrequent may apply by mail. To confirm your eligibility to apply by mail, you must verify your postal code.
  • Individuals with other extenuating limitations preventing them from visiting a Service Canada point of service and cannot use the assistance of another individual to submit an application on their behalf may be eligible to apply by mail. Note: Individuals must contact 1-800-206-7218 (select Option #3) to determine if they are eligible to apply by mail.

Requirements if deemed eligible to apply by mail

  • a fully completed, signed and dated SIN application form;
  • original proof-of-identity document(s) of the person for whom you are applying;
  • valid photo identification confirming your identity. Note: Provincial/territorial employees must provide valid employee photo identification.
  • an original document or certified copy of a document that confirms your legal representation issued by a provincial/territorial authority (in Quebec, a notarized Will is an acceptable document);
  • Provincial/territorial employees must also provide an original Letter of Authorization issued by the agency and signed by the agency’s Director/Administrator authorizing the employee to apply for a SIN on behalf of the agency; this letter must be on agency letterhead;
  • the $10 fee (if required).

Note: only personal cheques, bank drafts or money orders in Canadian funds (made to the Receiver General for Canada) are acceptable. Do not send cash in the mail.

Send your completed application, original documents, and fee, if applicable, to:

Service Canada
Social Insurance Registration Office
PO Box 7000
Bathurst NB  E2A 4T1
CANADA

If you send the application by registered mail, we will return the documents and SIN card in the same manner. Service Canada is not responsible for documents lost in the mail.

If the SIN application and documents are in order, you will receive the SIN card for the person for whom you are applying by mail within 20 business days from the date the application is received.

Outside Canada

  • a fully completed, signed and dated SIN application form;
  • original proof-of-identity documents of the person for whom you are applying;
  • valid photo identification confirming your identity. Note: Provincial/territorial employees must provide valid employee photo identification.
  • an original document or certified copy of a document that confirms your legal representation issued by a provincial/territorial authority (in Quebec, a notarized Will is an acceptable document);
  • Provincial/territorial employees must also provide an original Letter of Authorization issued on agency letterhead by the agency’s Director/Administrator authorizing the legal representative to represent the agency to apply for a SIN;
  • the $10 fee (if required).

Note: only personal cheques, international bank drafts or money orders in Canadian funds (made to the Receiver General for Canada) are acceptable. Do not send cash in the mail.

Send the completed application, original documents, and fee, if applicable, to:

Service Canada
Social Insurance Registration Office
PO Box 7000
Bathurst NB  E2A 4T1
CANADA

If you send the application by registered mail, we will return the documents and SIN card in the same manner. Service Canada is not responsible for document(s) lost in the mail.

If the SIN application and documents are in order, you will receive the SIN card for the person for whom you are applying by mail within 20 business days from the date the application is received.