Overview

To work in Canada or access government programs and benefits, you need a 9-digit identifier known as a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

Your SIN is private and it is illegal for anyone else to use it. You are responsible for protecting your SIN.

You can receive your SIN in one of two formats

• Paper format: a confirmation of SIN letter
• Digital format: available by signing in or registering for your My Service Canada Account (MSCA).*

*If you are a temporary resident your SIN has an expiry date. To access MSCA your SIN needs to be active. If your SIN is expired, please refer to If your temporary SIN expires (begins with 9).

If you are a Canadian citizen, your SIN does not have an expiry date.

You must be at least 12 years old and can only access MSCA as yourself. No one is authorized to use or create an account for you.

Find your SIN

If you already have a SIN, you can view and print it by signing in or registering for your MSCA.

If you don’t remember your SIN you can find it on documents such as:

• your income tax return
• tax slips (for example your T4)
• record of employment, or
• Registered Retirement Saving Plan (RRSP) contribution receipt

If you still can’t find your SIN or are looking for your child’s SIN you’ll need to apply to obtain a Confirmation of SIN. This process is the same as applying for a first-time SIN and you will need to provide all required documents.

Lost, stolen, or damaged SIN

Lost or damaged SIN card or confirmation SIN letter

Service Canada no longer issues plastic SIN cards. If you know your SIN, no action is required.

If you need to access your SIN, you can quickly view and print it by signing in to your MSCA.

You can also request a confirmation of your SIN by submitting an application and providing the required documents. This will confirm your existing SIN; a new number will not be issued.

Stolen SIN and fraudulent activity

A new SIN may be issued only if there is clear evidence that your current SIN has been used fraudulently. If you believe this applies to you, please refer to SIN Fraud and Data Breaches for more information.

Found someone else’s SIN

If you find a SIN card or confirmation of SIN letter, please return it to a Service Canada Center or mail it to:

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

Registering a newborn

If your child is under one year old and you haven’t registered their birth, you can apply for their SIN through your province’s Newborn Registration Service.

This service is available in all Canadian provinces but not yet in the Territories.

If you live in a Territory, you can apply for your child’s SIN directly through Service Canada.

To register your child’s birth and apply for your child’s SIN, visit your provincial government’s website