A social insurance number (SIN) allows your employer to pay you a salary. It is also required for filing your tax returns.
Your SIN will remain valid until your study or work permit expires, or for a maximum of five years. It is also renewable.
To obtain or renew a SIN
Verify the employment condition on your study permit
To obtain a SIN, your study permit must include one of the following conditions:
- "May work 24 hours per week off campus or full-time during regular breaks if meeting criteria outlined in paragraph 186(v) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR)."
- "May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria, per paragraph 186(f), (v) or (w) of the IRPR, and must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria."
- "May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria."
- "This permit does not authorize the holder to engage in off campus employment in Canada. May accept employment only on campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f). Must cease working if no longer meeting these criteria."
No work authorization appears on your study permit?
If you meet one of the eligibility requirements set out in section 186 of the IRPR, you may request an amendment to your permit at no cost to have this work authorization added.
If you do not meet these requirements, you are not authorized to work in Canada and therefore cannot obtain a SIN. Once you meet one of the eligibility requirements, the work authorization may be added to your study permit when you apply to extend it.
Submit an application
Online (the simplest and fastest option)
- Receive your SIN within approximately five business days, plus mailing time.
- Avoid visiting to a Service Canada Centre.
- Complete your application on the Government of Canada website.
In person
- Make an appointment by completing the eServices request.
- Find a Service Canada Centre.
Provide the required documents
To find out which documents are required to apply for a SIN, check out Social Insurance Number: Required documents - Canada.ca.
Working under maintained status
If you have maintained status, you may continue working or studying under the conditions you were originally granted. They shall remain the same until a decision is made regarding your status. Afterward, you can get your SIN renewed.
Need advice or information about immigration?
It is not necessary to hire a lawyer or a consultant to get help.
If you have any questions:
- Please contact us using the contact form.
- Meet with a counselor for a quick consultation (5 to 10 min.) without an appointment:
- In person: Mondays and Thursdays, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Zone Info in the Decelles building.
- Online (Zoom): Tuesdays and Fridays, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- incoming [at] hec.ca (Contact the IASMS) if you are participating in an exchange program.
This web page is published for informational purposes only and holds no official standing. Changes may occur without notice. Quebec laws and regulations, as well as information emanating from the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, take precedence over this document.