Social Insurance Number
Social Insurance Number
It is no secret that Canadians love acronyms, and if you chose this country to be your new home, even a temporary one, you are bound to learn a few. SIN, which stands for Social Insurance Number, is one of the first, and most important acronyms all students, workers, and permanent residents will learn within their first few days in Canada.
SIN( is a 9-digit number that you need to work and file taxes in Canada. If your status in Canada is temporary, you will get a social insurance number beginning with 9, and it will be usually valid until your work or study permit expires.
You need a Social Insurance Number, if you want to work in Canada, and your immigration document authorizes you to do so. You need to apply for a SIN even if you don’t need a work permit, for example if you are a student working on campus.
If you’re wondering how to get a SIN number, you’ll be happy to know that the application process is very straightforward. There is no Canada social insurance number application form. You just need to go to a Service Canada location closest to you, bring your passport along with your work or study permit, and you will be issued the SIN on the spot without having to pay anything. If you are a new permanent resident, you will need to bring your Confirmation of Permanent Residence letter (if you are within a year from when you became a permanent resident) or your Permanent Resident Card. You can see the complete list of eligibility requirements on the Government of Canada website.
The process to apply for SIN is so simple, it seems like nothing could go wrong – and it is almost true. You need to double-check your immigration document to ensure it contains no errors and it authorizes you to work. For example, if the immigration officer made a mistake and issued a study permit that does not state that you can accept employment or “may work”, you will need to reapply for a study permit before you’re able to apply for a SIN and start working. If this happens to you, contact our team or immigration consultants for the best remedy to your situation.
Once you receive your SIN , you can accept employment for as long as you’re eligible to work. This means following the conditions of your work or study permit, E.g.: hours of employment, and/or working for a specific employer.
If you choose to extend your stay in Canada, you may be able to continue working or studying while your application is being processed. This is called implied status. If you are eligible to work while on implied status, you can continue to do so even if your Social Insurance Number is expired. Once you receive a new permit you need to bring it to Service Canada for your SIN renewal, which would extend your SIN expiration date.
It is important that you don’t share your SIN with anyone except your employer to protect yourself from fraud. If your social insurance number was lost, stolen, or forgotten you have several options. You can contact Service Canada to issue a new one or to get a confirmation, or you can just find your SIN in your tax documents. If you want a new Social Insurance Number due to its being stolen, you might have to prove that it was used fraudulently.
This does not apply if you were issued a SIN as a temporary resident, and you changed your status to PR. In this case you should get a new SIN and update your bank, and your employer.
All in all, the key takeaways regarding your SIN (Social Insurance Number) and your immigration status are the following:
- Check your work/study permit as soon as it’s issued to ensure it enables you to work and there’s no errors.
- You can keep working if your SIN is expired while you’re on implied status.
- Only work if you’re authorized to do so. See your work/study permit for the conditions.
- Update your SIN when you become a permanent resident.
And finally, contact Service Canada, a settlement agency, or an immigration consultant if you have questions about the SIN and your immigration status.
Regards,
International Experience Club
