Social Insurance Number (SIN)

A Social Insurance Number (SIN) is personal information. The SIN is not a piece of identification. It is a client account number for specific Government of Canada programs such as Employment Insurance or the Canada Pension Plan.

Your SIN card and number should not be shared. For example, you do not need to give your SIN when applying to rent an apartment, or for most banking (e.g., opening a new account, or arranging loans, mortgages or lines of credit).

If an organization refuses to give you its product or service unless you provide your SIN, you can complain to the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, who will investigate

International students can only get a SIN card if they have been offered a job on campus, or have received a Work Permit. Some students have a temporary "tax file number" that they have been given in place of a Social Insurance Number for taxation purposes - this is NOT the same as a SIN and you can not use it for employment purposes.

If your SIN card has expired, you can still use this number to fill out your tax forms, but you need to get a new card before you can work. Your number remains the same.

You need to apply in person for a SIN card at the Service Canada Offices downtown Windsor. The application form is available on-line at the HRSDC website - SIN Card Application

Service Canada Offices
400 City Hall Square East
Suite 103
Windsor, Ontario
Phone: (800) 622-6232
Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm