SOCIAL INSURANCE NUMBER (SIN)

If you are moving to Canada from another country, one of the first things you’ll need to do is obtain your Social Insurance Number (SIN) card.  This is the number which the government uses to identify you as a tax payer, so your employer will need it in order to deduct taxes from your paycheque and your bank will need it, in order to issue a statement of the interest you’ve earned at the end of the year.  In fact you’ll find you can’t open a bank account without a SIN number.  Children do not need SINs.

Fortunately this is one of the simplest government documents to obtain and there is no fee.  You’ll need just two things:-

• Something which proves you can legally work (eg your work visa if you’re moving here temporarily, your permanent resident card if you’re an immigrant) or your birth certificate if you’re a Canadian citizen.
  
  
• Something which proves your identity (eg your passport or birth certificate)

Full details about acceptable documentation, where to find a Service Canada office and how to protect your Social Insurance Number (to prevent identity theft, for example) are on the government website http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/sin/

Tips:

• At busy locations such as the one at City Hall downtown, it’s best to arrive early in the morning.  Suburban locations are usually much less busy.
  
  
• No need to fill a form out in advance – the staff will fill out the form online while you’re there.
  
  
• Although it takes a couple of weeks for your plastic card to arrive in the mail, you’ll be given a print out of your SIN immediately so you can start getting paid and open your bank account.

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