Employment Insurance
Contact information for individuals
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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 make 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)
- upload documents, including medical certificates
- 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)
- Phone number
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Within Canada and the United States (toll-free): 1-800-206-7218
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Telephone Information Service (follow prompts)
- Automated self-service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- General EI information
- Information about your claim
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Contact an officer (select “0”)
- EI-related questions
- Changes to your direct deposit and contact information
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Outside Canada and the United States (call charges may apply): 1-877-486-1650
- Teletypewriter (TTY) or Canada Video Relay Service (VRS)
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TTY: 1-800-529-3742
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Canada VRS:
- download the Canada VRS app
- once you are registered, you can find our number in the VRS directory
- call us through the app
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If you use any other relay service, call 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 Saturday and Sunday Closed Public holidays Closed - Wait times
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This is the average time callers waited before reaching an officer. Our service standard is to answer your call within 10 minutes.
Check our average wait times
Average wait time for the week of May 25, 2026 Days Average wait time Monday, May 25, 2026 32 minutes Tuesday, May 26, 2026 19 minutes Wednesday, May 27, 2026 7 minutes Thursday, May 28, 2026 4 minutes Friday, May 29, 2026 17 minutes Average wait time for the week of May 25, 2026 15 minutes Weekly average wait time Weeks Average wait time The week of May 18 to 22 23 minutes The week of May 11 to 15 15 minutes The week of May 4 to 8 19 minutes The week of April 27 to May 1 27 minutes Monthly average wait time Months Average wait time May 2026 18 minutes April 2026 18 minutes March 2026 3 minutes 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 - If you prefer a callback
- Submit an eServiceCanada - Service Request Form, and an officer will call you back within 2 business days.
Submit your Employment Insurance reports using 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.
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), if available
- 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.