How to Get a SIN for Your First Job in Canada

Before your first paycheque, your employer will ask for your Social Insurance Number (SIN), a 9-digit number you need to work in Canada and to get government benefits. This guide is for students, teenagers and newcomers: who can apply, how to apply, what to bring and how to keep the number safe.

Everything here comes from Government of Canada pages, listed at the end. Procedures can change, so the official SIN pages are the final word. GetJobnify is not a government website.

Last verified: 18 October 2026.

Who needs a SIN and who can apply

Citizens, permanent residents and temporary residents all need a SIN to work in Canada. According to Service Canada’s “Apply for a SIN” page, anyone 12 years or older can apply for their own SIN. For children under the age of majority in their province or territory, a parent or legal guardian can apply for them.

The SINs of citizens and permanent residents never expire; those of temporary residents do (see below).

How to apply: online, by mail or in person

There is no fee to apply for a SIN, so never pay a website or an agent for one. The official Apply for a SIN page offers three ways, and its step-by-step tool lists the documents for your situation:

Online, which Service Canada calls the fastest option.
By mail, to Service Canada, Social Insurance Registration Office, PO Box 7000, Bathurst NB E2A 4T1. Your original documents are mailed back, but Service Canada is not responsible for documents lost in the mail.
In person at a Service Canada Centre (you can request an appointment online). If everything is in order, you get your SIN during the visit and keep your documents.

You receive a confirmation of SIN letter; plastic cards are no longer issued but old ones still work. Processing times depend on how you apply and are listed on the “Application status and receiving your SIN” page.

The documents you need

1. A primary identity document, which proves your status in Canada. Examples:

Canadian citizens: a birth certificate issued by the province or territory of birth, or a certificate of Canadian citizenship.
Permanent residents: a Permanent Resident card, or your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) within one year of becoming a permanent resident.
Temporary residents: a work permit, a study permit that says you “may work” or “may accept employment” in Canada, or a visitor record showing you are authorized to work.

2. A secondary identity document that is valid and shows your full legal name and date of birth, such as a passport, a Canadian driver’s licence or a provincial ID card. The Apply page asks for it once you have reached the age of majority.

3. A supporting document, only if your name has changed, such as a change of name certificate.

Before you submit:

Documents must be valid and in English or French. Others need a translation that meets Service Canada’s rules (not done by a family member).
Quebec birth documents issued before 1994 are not accepted.
Online, upload both sides and show the whole document, borders included. By mail or in person, you use the originals.
If you make a mistake or forget a document, you cannot go back to your application: you must send a new one with all the documents.

SINs for temporary residents

For international students and work permit holders, Service Canada says:

your SIN will always start with “9”;
it expires on the same date as your work permit, study permit or visitor record;
you must update your SIN record when you get a new permit with a new expiry date, or when your status changes (for example, to permanent resident).

If your permit expires while IRCC is deciding on your extension (“maintained status”), you can keep working with your expired SIN until IRCC decides. Once you have the new permit, update your SIN so both expiry dates match, and destroy the old SIN document.

A SIN alone does not give you the right to work; your permit sets the conditions. International students should check IRCC’s page on working as an international student before accepting shifts.

When an employer can ask for your SIN

Employers need your SIN to report your income, so they only need it once you are hired. Service Canada says you do not have to give it to fill out a job application, Job Bank recommends keeping it out of résumés and interviews, and the SIN Code of Practice tells employers: “Don’t ask for the SIN on a job application or during an interview.” Our interview preparation guide covers what to expect.

Once you start, the Code of Practice explains the timing set by the Employment Insurance Regulations:

your employer must ask for your SIN no more than 3 days after your first day;
you must give it to them no later than 3 days after your start date;
if you do not have a SIN yet, you can still start working: apply within 3 days of starting, then give your employer the number within 3 days of receiving it.

Keep your SIN safe

Do not carry your SIN letter or card in your wallet; keep it locked away or on a password-protected device.
Your SIN is not an identity document. Use your passport or driver’s licence instead.
Shred papers that show your SIN.
Before sharing it, ask whether it is legally required, why it is needed and who will see it.

Watch out for job scams

Scammers use phishing, spoofing and fake ads to steal SINs, Service Canada warns. A request for your SIN before you have a job offer is a warning sign. Never give it by phone unless you made the call and know it is legally required, and be wary of messages claiming your SIN is compromised, especially ones that claim to come from the government.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre adds other signs: a job offer you did not apply for, a web-based email address instead of a business domain, requests to pay fees or deposits, and requests to move money through your bank account. Apply on the employer’s official careers site; our page on how we find and verify jobs explains how we check the postings we list. If you think you were targeted, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

If you forget, lose or suspect misuse of your SIN

Forgot your SIN or lost the letter? Your number does not change. View and print it in My Service Canada Account (MSCA), which needs a valid SIN (an expired SIN starting with 9 has to be extended first), check a tax return, T4 slip or Record of Employment, or apply for a confirmation of SIN.

If you suspect someone is using your SIN (for example, a tax reassessment for income you never earned), Service Canada advises watching your credit reports (Equifax and TransUnion) and your bank and card statements. If you find that fraud has occurred, its steps are to file a police report, notify the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and contact the credit bureaus. A new SIN is issued only with clear evidence of fraud, and Service Canada does not recommend it, because you stay responsible for the old number.

FAQ

Can I start working before I receive my SIN?

Yes, as long as you apply within 3 days of starting (see “When an employer can ask for your SIN” above).

Do I have to give my SIN to a landlord or a bank?

Not to a landlord: Service Canada says renting a property does not require it. A bank needs it for accounts that earn interest, but not to apply for a credit card, a mortgage or a line of credit or to cash a cheque.

With your SIN ready, browse current postings on our Find Jobs page.

Sources

All sources were checked on 18 October 2026. The date in brackets is the date each page was last modified.