Annex 9 - Applying for a Social Insurance Number
Service Canada has made it easy for you to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN), to replace your card, or to amend your SIN record.
How to apply for a SIN
1. Visit your Service Canada Centre
If everything is in order, you will get your SIN in one visit. Your SIN card will be sent to you by mail and should be received within 10 business days. For more information on what documents are required, please read our publication, Applying For Your Social Insurance Number…Fast, Simple, Secure!. To find your nearest Service Canada Centre, please visit our Web site.
2. Applying By Mail
Simply download an application form from our Web site or order the form by phone at 1-800-206-7218 and select Option “3”. Send us your completed application, documents, and payment, if necessary. You will receive your SIN card in the mail within 20 business days. If you send your application by registered mail, we will return your documents in the same way. We are not responsible for documents lost in the mail. Our mailing address is:
Service Canada
Social Insurance Registration Office
P.O. Box 7000
Bathurst , New Brunswick
E2A 4T1
Original Documents Required
An original primary document4 is required for all SIN applications, including first-time applications, to replace a SIN card, or to amend a SIN record. If the name on the primary document is different from the name the individual currently uses, a supporting document5 will need to be provided. If you are a parent, legal guardian or legal representative, you will need to provide original additional documents.
For more information about the documents required to apply for a SIN, please visit our “What information/documents do I need to apply?” page on our website.
How to Contact Us
By telephone
Dial 1-800-206-7218 and select Option "3". Agents are available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (your local time), except statutory holidays. If you are calling from outside Canada, please dial 506 548-7961 (long distance charges apply), from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. (Atlantic time).
In Person at a Service Canada Centre
To find the Centre nearest you, visit our Web site or call 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you have a hearing or speech impairment and use a teletypewriter (TTY), please call 1-800-926-9105.
By mail
Service Canada
Social Insurance Registration Office
P.O. Box 7000
Bathurst, New Brunswick
E2A 4T1
4 An official document that proves your identity and status in Canada .
5 A legal document indicating the name you are currently using.
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