Primary identity document

A primary identity document is an official document that proves your identity and status in Canada.

Important: If you apply in person or by mail, you must provide your original primary identity document; photocopies are not accepted.

If you apply online, the digital copy of your document must be clear and legible. You must provide both sides of the document if there is identity information on each side.

If there are minor variances between the information you provided on your online application and the information as it appears on your primary identity document, the information will be entered in the Social Insurance Registry as it appears on your primary identity document.

To determine which primary identity document you must provide, please refer to the appropriate section below:

· Canadian Citizens must provide 1 of the following documents:

  • certificate of birth or birth certificate issued by the vital statistics agency in the province or territory of birth
  • certificate of Canadian Citizenship issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
  • certificate of Registration of Birth Abroad issued by CIC before 1977

Note:

  • Most original certificates of birth and birth certificates are acceptable to get a SIN. However, some birth certificates, although original documents issued by a vital statistics agency, may no longer be considered valid by the issuing province or meet the requirements for various reasons. Service Canada must review the document to determine its validity.
  • Service Canada does not accept Quebec proof of birth documents issued prior to 1994.
  • If you have Indian status under the Indian Act and you want to register your status in your SIN record, you must provide your primary identity document and a Certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada.

· Permanent Residents must provide 1 of the following documents:

  • Permanent Resident card issued by IRCC or CIC
  • Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) issued by IRCC, accompanied by a travel document (for example, a foreign passport), or an alternate photo identification issued by a provincial or territorial authority (for example, a driver’s license) Note: If the COPR is used within one year of becoming a permanent resident, it is acceptable. After this period, the Permanent Resident Card is required
  • Record of Landing issued by CIC before June 28, 2002
  • Verification of Landing issued by IRCC or CIC when an original Record of Landing or the COPR is not available (for example, if it has been lost). This document is only acceptable to amend a SIN record or to get the confirmation of an existing SIN
  • Status Verification or Verification of Status issued by IRCC or CIC. This document is only acceptable to amend a SIN record or to get a confirmation of an existing SIN

· Temporary Residents must provide 1 of the following:

  • work permit issued by IRCC or CIC
  • study permit issued by IRCC or CIC, and meets one of the following requirements:
    • indicates the permit holder “may accept employment” or “may work” in Canada
    • is supported by a “confirmation to work off campus” letter issued by IRCC or CIC prior to February 11, 2015 Note: If you do not meet either of these requirements, contact IRCC to verify if you are eligible to apply for an amended study permit
  • visitor record issued by IRCC or CIC, indicating you are authorized to work in Canada
  • diplomatic identity card and a work authorization issued by Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development

· Individuals residing outside Canada with no legal status in Canada

Individuals residing outside Canada, who are not Canadian citizens nor Registered Indians with no legal status in Canada but who are eligible to receive a Canadian government benefit or pension must provide both following original documents:

  • birth certificate issued by a state authority from your country of birth. Document has to be in English or French.
  • letter confirming eligibility for pension or benefits from Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security or Régime des rentes du Québec.

Secondary document

A secondary document is an official document that confirms your identity.

The secondary document must be valid. It must be a document issued by a Canadian government (federal, provincial or territorial) or be a foreign passport. The following information must appear on the document:

  • legal name (surname and given name), and
  • date of birth

Examples of acceptable secondary documents:

  • a passport (Canadian or foreign)
  • a Canadian provincial or territorial ID card or driver’s license
  • any other Canadian government-issued ID

Supporting document

A supporting document is a legal document stating the name you currently use. It is required if the name on your primary identity document is different from the one you are currently using or different from the name on your secondary document.

Examples of acceptable supporting documents:

  • certificate of marriage, record of solemnization of marriage or marriage statement (or a similarly titled document, depending on the issuing authority) to support your family name after marriage. Note: This does not apply to Quebec residents married after April 1, 1981, regardless of where they were wed
  • divorce decree, certificate of divorce or decree absolute issued in accordance with a court (Canadian or foreign) for the dissolution of a marriage to support the family name requested on the SIN record when it does not appear on the primary or secondary document
  • legal change of name certificate or court order document issued in accordance with provincial or territorial name change legislation
  • adoption order certified by a Canadian court (applies to adoptions in Canada only)
  • notarial certificate, also called notarial adoption certificate, issued by the country of origin of a child adopted abroad and used by the adoptive parents to have the SIN issued in the adopted child’s Canadian name
  • request to Amend Record of Landing issued by IRCC or CIC and used to amend a Record of Landing or a COPR

Proof of address

A proof of address is a document issued by an institution or organization, which contains the following information (you should redact any other personal information on the document):

  • applicant’s name (surname and given name) or, if applying on behalf of someone else, the parent, legal guardian or legal representative’s name (surname and given name)
  • applicant’s address or, if applying on behalf of someone else, the parent, legal guardian or legal representative’s address

Note: Correspondence from the SIN Program, such as a previous Confirmation of SIN letter or a reject letter, is not accepted as proof of address.

The outside of an envelope is not accepted as proof of address.

Examples of acceptable proofs of address:

  • a letter or document from a federal, provincial, territorial or foreign government.
  • a letter or document from a financial institution. For example:
    • bank statement
    • credit card statement
    • mortgage contract or statement
  • a residential tenancy agreement or lease
  • a bill. For example:
    • from a telecom provider
    • from a cable provider, or
    • from a utility provider
  • a document issued by:
    • a school
    • a college, or
    • a university
  • an employment contract (must contain a section that confirms your mailing address)
  • a letter from an organization, institution or employer that:
    • attests the mailing address of the applicant, and
    • is signed by the organization, institution or employer