Employment Insurance
Contact information for individuals
Disruption of Canada Post services
Due to the labour disruption at Canada Post, mail correspondence from some programs and services may be impacted. Consult the measures in place during the disruption of Canada Post services.
Online
The following online services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Apply online
Find out if you qualify and how to apply for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits. If you're already familiar with the EI program, you can apply now.
Apply for EI benefits as soon as you stop working. We aim to inform you of our decision within 28 days of filing your application.
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Submit your Employment Insurance reports
If you need to submit EI reports, you can do so online using the Internet Reporting Service. You can also use the Telephone Reporting Service.
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Check your claim status and information in My Service Canada Account
My Service Canada Account (MSCA) allows you to:
- check your claim status and messages
- review payment information and deductions
- access your records of employment and EI tax slips (T4Es)
- submit documents
- access debt statements
By phone
Before you call
When you call, you may need:
- your social insurance number (SIN)
- your access code (sent to you by mail)
Call us
Contact an officer directly or call our automated telephone services line.
Contact an officer
For any EI-related questions or changes to your direct deposit and contact information, contact an officer directly.
- Toll-free: 1-800-206-7218 and select "0"
- Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-800-529-3742
- Canada Video Relay Service:
- download the Canada Video Relay Service (VRS) app
- once you are registered, you can find our number in the VRS directory
- call us through the app
If you use another relay service, use our toll-free number (1-800-206-7218) instead.
- Hours
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Service hours to contact an officer Day Hours Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (local time) Saturday and Sunday Closed Public holidays Closed
Average wait time
This is the average time callers waited before reaching an officer. Our service standard is to answer your call within 10 minutes.
Average wait time for the week of March 2, 2026
| Days | Average wait time |
|---|---|
| Monday, March 2, 2026 | 2 minutes |
| Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | 4 minutes |
| Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 25 seconds |
| Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 2 seconds |
| Friday, March 6, 2026 | 5 minutes |
| Average wait time for the week of March 2, 2026 | 3 minutes |
Weekly average wait time
| Weeks | Average wait time |
|---|---|
| The week of February 23 to 27 | 1 minute |
| The week of February 16 to 20 | 5 minutes |
| The week of February 9 to 13 | 3 minutes |
| The week of February 2 to 6 | 4 minutes |
Monthly average wait time
| Months | Average wait time |
|---|---|
| February 2026 | 3 minutes |
| January 2026 | 15 minutes |
| December 2025 | 6 minutes |
| November 2025 | 1 minute |
| October 2025 | 1 minute |
| September 2025 | 28 seconds |
| August 2025 | 5 minutes |
| July 2025 | 13 minutes |
| June 2025 | 5 minutes |
| May 2025 | 1 minute |
| April 2025 | 2 minutes |
| March 2025 | 2 minutes |
If you prefer a callback
Submit an eServiceCanada Service Request Form, and an officer will call you back within two business days.
Call the Telephone Reporting Service
If you need to submit EI reports, you can do so by calling 1-800-531-7555 (toll-free). You can also use the Internet Reporting System.
Call the automated Telephone Information Service
For general EI information or information about your claim, call our self-service line available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
- Toll-free: 1-800-206-7218
- Teletypewriter (TTY): 1-800-529-3742
By mail
You can submit your EI reports and documents by mail.
Mailing addresses for Employment Insurance reports and documents
| Province or territory | EI reports | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Service Canada Employment Insurance Program PO Box 2100 Vancouver BC V6B 3T4 |
Service Canada Centre PO Box 245 Edmonton AB T5J 2J1 |
| British Columbia | ||
| Manitoba | ||
| Northwest Territories | ||
| Nunavut | ||
| Saskatchewan | ||
| Yukon | ||
| New Brunswick | Service Canada Employment Insurance Program PO Box 6080 Moncton NB E1C 0A7 |
Service Canada Centre PO Box 8548 St. John's NL A1B 3P3 |
| Nova Scotia | ||
| Prince Edward Island | ||
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Service Canada Employment Insurance Program PO Box 8548 St. John's NL A1B 3P3 |
Service Canada Centre PO Box 8548 St. John's NL A1B 3P3 |
| Ontario | Service Canada Employment Insurance Program PO Box 4500 Belleville ON K8N 5C1 |
Service Canada Centre PO Box 2602 Mississauga ON L4T 0B1 |
| Quebec | Service Canada Employment Insurance Program PO Box 60 Boucherville QC J4B 5E6 |
Service Canada Centre PO Box 60 Boucherville QC J4B 5E6 |
In person
When you visit a Service Canada Office to apply for EI benefits or to get help filing your application, you'll need your social insurance number (SIN).
To get or provide information about your EI claim, you'll need:
- your SIN
- your access code (sent to you by mail)
- an original and valid identity document (ID) showing your current legal name, photo, and signature or date of birth
Examples of valid identity documents
- One of the following:
- a driver's licence, or a provincial or territorial ID card
- a Canadian or foreign passport, or permanent resident card
- a Certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada
- Two of the following, if you're unable to provide one ID that meets all the requirements listed above:
- a provincial or territorial birth certificate
- a certificate of Canadian citizenship
- a certificate of registration of birth abroad
- any other Canadian government-issued ID
Other support and services
You can also visit a Service Canada Office to:
- submit documents
- get a temporary access code
- validate your identity and update your information
- provide proof of identity documents
- authenticate appointed representatives and third parties
- access sign language services, or telephone interpretation services if you don't communicate in English or French
Visiting a Service Canada Office also allows you to access many other programs and services offered by Service Canada, such as passports, Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and more.