# Get a Social Insurance Number \(SIN\) in Canada

The number you need to work in Canada and to file taxes. It's free, and applying online is the fastest way. For citizens, permanent residents and anyone with a permit that lets them work.

- Kind: Paperwork & IDs
- Applies to: Canada
- Your time: about 2 hr
- Steps: 5
- Written by: @helg
- Version 1, updated 2026-10-24
- Source: https://helg.app/community/get-a-social-insurance-number-sin-in-canada

## Steps

1. **Find your primary document** (10 min)
   Citizen: a provincial birth certificate or a citizenship certificate. Permanent resident: your PR card or Confirmation of Permanent Residence \(COPR\). Temporary resident: a work permit, or a study permit that says you may work.
   - [What Service Canada accepts](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/apply.html)
2. **Find a second ID with your legal name and date of birth** (5 min)
   Adults need one: a passport, a provincial ID card or a driver's licence.
3. **Apply online** (30 min)
   Upload clear digital copies of the originals with the application form \(NAS2120\). There's no fee. Check everything before you send it: an application can't be edited, only sent again.
   - [Apply for a SIN](https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/sin/apply.html)
4. **Or book an in-person visit at Service Canada** (1 hr)
   Request the appointment online. If your documents are complete, you leave with the number.
5. **Keep the number private** (5 min)
   Your employer and the CRA need it; most others don't. A SIN starting with 9 expires with your permit: when you get a new permit, update the SIN with Service Canada.

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Written by people who have done it, not by Helg or any government. Check the official sites before paying for anything.
Add it to Helg as a checklist: https://helg.app/community/get-a-social-insurance-number-sin-in-canada