What are my responsibilities related to my employees' SINs?

Your employees' Social Insurance Number (SIN) is confidential and should only be used for income-related information. As an employer you play a leading role in protecting your employees' personal information and preventing fraudulent activities.

Did you know that, in Canada, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act sets out ground rules about how private sector organizations may collect, use or disclose personal information?

Key responsibilities?

• Request and examine each new employee's Social Insurance Number card within three days of them starting to work.
  

• You must view an employee's SIN card, ensuring that any employee's SIN beginning with "9" has not expired and record the name and number exactly as they appear on the card. Every person working in Canada must have a SIN.
  

• If a new employee does not have a SIN and is eligible to work in Canada, instruct the individual to apply for a SIN at one of our Service Canada Centres... it's fast, simple and secure! If the application and identity documents are in order, individuals can get their SIN in one visit and be able to provide you with proof that they applied for it.
  

• If you would like to confirm the SIN of a current or former employee, you need to provide your business number (issued by the Canada Revenue Agency) along with appropriate identification for the company and the employee. Please contact Service Canada's Social Insurance Registration Office at 1-800-206-7218 and select Option “3”. If calling from outside Canada, dial 1-506-548-7961 (long distance charges apply).