Protect your SIN

Why protect your SIN

Your SIN is confidential. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could lead to several serious issues:

Invasion of privacy and identity theft:
Unauthorized use of your SIN can lead to breaches of your privacy. If someone uses your SIN to commit fraud, it could ruin your credit rating
Loss of money or credit:
Unauthorized use of your SIN could result in the loss of government benefits, tax refunds, or bank credits
Unlawful employment issues:

If your SIN is used illegally for work, you could end up owing taxes to the Canada Revenue Agency for money you never earned

It is important to protect your SIN to protect yourself against fraud and identity theft. This will help you avoid problems and keep your money and personal information safe.

How to protect your SIN

The best way to protect your SIN is to limit who has access to it.

By following these guidelines, you will help ensure your SIN remains secure and prevent its unauthorized use:

Limit access

Avoid carrying it around with you

Avoid writing it down or carrying it unless necessary
Only share your SIN when legally required
Use secure platforms like My Service Canada Account (MSCA) to view and print your SIN

Store it safely

Keep your SIN somewhere safe

Keep documents containing your SIN (confirmation of SIN letters, SIN cards and income tax documents) in a locked cabinet or safe, or on password-protected devices
Do not keep your confirmation of SIN letter or your SIN card in your wallet or bag
If your confirmation of SIN letter or SIN card is damage or lost, visit the SIN page for more information

Dispose securely

Shred documents containing your SIN and personal information before disposal

When to provide your SIN

Only provide your SIN when the law requires it.

You are legally required to provide your SIN in the following situations:

Employment

Employers need your SIN to report your income for tax and social benefits. Your SIN is only required after hiring and upon earning income

Financial accounts

Financial institutions need your SIN to report income like interest and dividends for tax purposes

Government services

The government uses your SIN to process tax returns, verify eligibility, and provide access to benefits like employment insurance, student loans, grants and public pensions. The Social Insurance Number Code of Practice provides more information about authorized federal uses of the SIN

Ask questions before sharing

Before giving your SIN, ask:

is it legally required
why is it needed
how will it be used
who will have access to it

If it's not required by law, you can choose whether to share it. Only do so if:

you understand the risk of fraud or identity theft
you are prepared to accept the risk

The Directive on Social Insurance Number provides a list of federal laws that refer to SIN.

When to refuse to provide your SIN

Your confirmation of SIN letter or SIN card are not identity documents. Do not use your SIN as identification. Use other documents like a passport or driver's license to prove your identity.

Some businesses may ask for your SIN. This is strongly discouraged, but not illegal.

You do not have to provide your SIN to:

fill out a job application
apply for a credit card, a mortgage or a line of credit or to cash a cheque
rent a property (application, lease negotiation)
sign up for phone, internet or cable service (except Hydro Quebec, which must collect the SIN by provincial law)
rent a car
complete a medical history questionnaire
write a last will or testament
apply for post-secondary education
request a credit report

Declining to provide your SIN

You cannot be denied a product or service for refusing to provide your SIN when it is not legally required.

If a business requests your SIN when it is not legally required:

politely explain that it is not required by law
offer alternative forms of identification, such as driver's license or passport
if services or products are denied for this reason, escalate your concern by:
- speaking with the person in charge. Many people are unaware of the appropriate uses of a SIN. Once they understand, they may change their practices
- filing a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada if you are not satisfied with the response
- contacting the association, ombudsman or complaint office of the group or entity that asked for your SIN

Learn more about what to do when someone asks for your SIN.

Recognizing and avoiding scams

Scammers and fraudsters often use various tactics to obtain your SIN. It's important to remain vigilant. Here are some key precautions to follow to avoid scams:

never provide your SIN by phone unless you made the call and know that it is legally required
avoid sharing your SIN with unknown contacts or during unsolicited requests
be cautious of phone calls, text messages or emails from unknown sources that:
- claim your SIN is compromised
- offer to replace your SIN
- threaten to lock or cancel your SIN
- request personal information
- require urgent action
be cautious of messages about something you didn't expect or ask for
be especially cautious about messages that claim to be from the government
contact organizations directly if you are unsure about a message or request
be cautious online and avoid posting your SIN publicly. Never disclose your SIN where privacy cannot be assured

Learn about scam and fraud prevention to protect yourself and your SIN.

How Service Canada protects your SIN

Service Canada stores personal information requested to apply for a SIN in the Social Insurance Register. This information includes:

your name
your date of birth
your place of birth
your parents' names

Dates of death are also recorded in the Register.

Only authorized employees who have a "need to know" can access this information.

Lost or damaged SIN

If you lost your SIN or need to confirm your number, visit Damaged, forgotten or lost SIN for more information.

Stolen SIN, fraud and data breaches

A new SIN may be issued only if there is clear evidence that your current SIN has been used fraudulently.

If you think:

someone else is using your SIN or
if your SIN was included in a data breach

Please refer to SIN fraud and data breaches.

Contact us

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2026-05-20

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