What is a Social Insurance Number (SIN)?

Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a 9-digit identifier to work, access government programs and benefits in Canada. Each individual’s SIN should always be confidential and can be received in either a Paper Format or a Digital Format. Paper format is received as a confirmation letter while a digital format can be retrieved by registering and signing in at MSCA (My Service Canada Account).

Service Canada stores all the personal information of the applicant in the Social Insurance Register which includes one’s SIN, Name, Date of birth, Place of birth, and one’s Parents names. One must be at least 12 years old to access MSCA. No one is authorized to use or create it on behalf of anyone.

Note: Once a SIN is applied, one may begin working insurable employment before even receiving one’s SIN.