From Wiki
[edit] Introduction
- Get a Social Insurance Number (SIN) as soon as possible after taking up residence in Canada.
[edit] Why you need an SIN
- You will need an SIN to work in Canada, to complete an income tax return, and to benefit from government programs.
[edit] How to apply
- To apply for an SIN, go to your nearest Service Canada Centre (listed in the blue pages of your telephone book or on this website).
[edit] Required documents
- Permanent residents need to provide the original copy of their Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292) and visa counterfoil attached to their passport or their permanent resident card.
- Those who obtained permanent residence "in-country" must provide a PR Card.
- Temporary residents need to show their study permit or their temporary work permit and their contract of employment.
- If the name you are using to apply for your SIN card is different from the one listed on your supporting document, you must also provide a marriage certificate or a change of name document.
- This page of Service Canada's website provides more details about the documents that you need to submit.
[edit] Meaning of the First Digit
- The first digit of the SIN usually indicates the province/territory where it was first issued
- "1" is allocated to the Atlantic Provinces, "2" and "3" to Quebec, "4" and "5" to Ontario, "6" to the Prairie Provinces, and "7" to the West (B.C. and Yukon).
- If you move elsewhere in Canada you retain your initial SIN.
[edit] SIN beginning with "9" - Temporary Residents
- If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident your SIN will begin with "9" and will have an expiry date linked to your status in Canada
- This will indicate to an employer that you need specific permission to work in Canada.
- Banks and credit providers will generally be more reluctant to extend credit to those whose SIN begins with "9"
- If you extend your temporary status in Canada, you may obtain a new SIN card with a new expiry date. The number will remain the same.
- Even if you are a temporary resident, if you previously had a SIN beginning with a number other than "9" you may still use it. For example, if you are a former permanent resident, former Canadian citizen or a former temporary resident who was issued with a full-validity SIN before the existing rules were introduced.
- A SIN card where the first digit begins with 9 that does not have an expiry date is no longer valid. You will need to re-apply for a SIN card. It will have the same number.
- If you switch status from temporary to permanent resident (or in the small number of cases where you become a Canadian citizen directly from temporary residence), you will need to apply for a new "permanent" Social Insurance Number where the first digit will be from 1 to 7.
[edit] How long does it take?
- If your documents are in order, you will receive a Social Insurance Number during your visit to a Service Canada Centre.
- You can expect to receive your SIN card in the mail within five working days.
[edit] SINs for children
- Young children ordinarily do not require Social Insurance Numbers.
- However, there are some situations in which your child may need a SIN, for example, if you invest in a Registered Education Savings Plan(RESP) on behalf of your child.
- Ontario and British Columbia offer a Newborn Registration Service that permits you to complete your child's Birth Registration and apply for your child's Birth Certificate and Social Insurance Number card at the same time.
- In other provinces, you can apply for your newborn's SIN at a Service Canada Centre or by mail.
- If you apply by mail, you'll receive the SIN card in about three weeks.
- There is no fee for applying for a Social Insurance card.
[edit] More stuff to do
To find out the other things that you need to do after arriving in Canada, please see the BE Wiki article entitled Arrival To Do List.
