Get a Social Insurance Number to work in Canada.

The Social Insurance Number (SIN) is a 9-digit number that the government of Canada gives you. With this number, you can work in Canada and get government benefits and services.

To apply for a SIN to work on campus, you must have one of these conditions printed on your study permit:

• May accept employment on or off campus if meeting eligibility criteria as per R186(f), (v) or (w)They must cease working if they no longer meet these criteria.
• This permit does not authorize the holder to engage in off-campus employment in Canada. They may accept employment only on campus if they meet eligibility criteria as per R186(f). They must cease working if they no longer meet these criteria.

If you’re eligible to work on campus but we didn’t include either of these conditions on your study permit, you can ask to have them added. There’s no fee to add these conditions to your permit.

You’ll need to request an amendment to your study permit before you can apply for a SIN from Service Canada.

Before you arrive in Canada,

Make sure you’re eligible to travel to Canada.

• You can find out if you’re eligible by either

You can find out if you’re eligible by either

• answering a few questions to find out if you can enter Canada or
• reading the travel restrictions and exemptions for international students

How early can you arrive in Canada before you start studying?

There is no set timeline for your arrival in Canada before beginning your studies. You should just arrive to give yourself enough time to prepare before beginning to study. 

Until you begin your studies in Canada, you are not permitted to work on or off campus.

You need to use ArriveCAN.

Use ArriveCAN to provide the required travel information for entry into Canada.

Check that you are using the most recent version of ArriveCAN. If you previously submitted your information using an older version of ArriveCan, you must download the most recent version and resubmit it.

When you arrive in Canada,

When you arrive in Canada, you’ll meet a border services officer who will make sure you meet some basic requirements. To enter Canada, you must

• have a valid travel document, such as a passport
• have the port of entry letter of introduction the visa office sent you when they approved your study permit
  • This letter has your permit reference number, which we use to issue your study permit.
• have a copy of a valid letter of acceptance from your school
• have letters of reference or any other documents the visa office told you to bring
• have a valid electronic travel authorization (eTA), a valid visitor visa (temporary resident visa), a valid green card (or equivalent official proof of U.S. status) or other valid travel document
  • If you have a valid eTA, it’ll be linked to the passport you used to apply for your study permit.
• have enough money for your stay (the amount you will need can vary—it depends on things such as how long you will stay, and whether you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives)
• be in good health
• have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
• convince an immigration officer that
  • you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country
  • you will leave Canada at the end of your visit

• have valid immigration medical exam results (if you needed one)
  • Your exam is valid for 12 months from the date you get it.
  • It must be valid the day you enter Canada.
  • If your exam will expire before you enter Canada, you will need to get another medical exam.
    • This applies even if your letter of introduction is still valid.
• prove that you’ll leave Canada at the end of your stay