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Social Insurance Number (SIN)

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is an identifying number issued to administer various government programs.  SINs are issued by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (previously Human Resources Development Canada).  Employees must have a valid SIN to work in Canada.  

The first number of the SIN indicates the province in which it was registered.  SINs that begin with the number “9” are issued to temporary residents who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents.  Often, these individuals must have a work permit in order to work in Canada.  SINs beginning with a “9” are different from SINs assigned to citizens and permanent residents, as they have an expiry date (which usually coincides with the expiration of the holder’s work permit)