How Canada will simplify the SIN application process for newcomers in 2025

The SIN@Entry program, announced by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), aims to eliminate the bottleneck in issuing nine-digit social insurance numbers (SIN) to new immigrants. Below is a comprehensive overview of what applicants can expect in 2025, how the service will work, and how it will differ from the current mechanisms.

Why is the SIN so important?

Everyone needs a SIN if they:

  • work in Canada
  • pay taxes and file tax returns
  • receives government benefits (GST/HST credit, Canada Child Benefit, etc.)

Without a number, it is impossible to open a bank account, set up payroll, receive medical tax benefits, or be officially hired.

Current ways to obtain a SIN

As of 2024:

  1. In person at Service Canada – fastest, but requires a visit and waiting in line
  2. eSIN online – 5 business days, upload scans of originals
  3. By mail – 20 business days and risk of losing documents

Newcomers are often delayed due to lack of original documents, time limits for renting accommodation, and parallel bureaucratic steps (OHIP/AHCIP, bank accounts, apartment rental, children's school).

How SIN@Entry will work

Element Current model SIN@Entry (2025)
Point of submission Service Canada office / eSIN website Directly from the IRCC online account when applying for a visa or PR
Documents Originals / scans of passport, permit, status The same files already uploaded to the IRCC application
Format of issuance Paper letter or PDF eSIN PDF SIN Confirmation Letter in the IRCC account
Processing time 5–20 days “Immediately after visa/PR approval” – automatic assignment
Office visits May be required Reduction of visits by ≈50%

Key steps

  1. When completing the immigration form, the applicant checks the box “Request SIN at entry”
  2. IRCC forwards the required certified copies to ESDC / Service Canada
  3. After final approval, the applicant will see a PDF letter with their SIN number in their IRCC account

Expected implementation schedule

  • March 2025 – pilot testing on selected streams (CMWP, CUAET extensions)
  • September 2025 – phased expansion to Express Entry and PNP
  • By the end of the 2025/26 fiscal year – full launch for all temporary permits and PR categories, except for super visas

Comparison with SIN@Landing

SIN@Landing, which operates at airports (YYZ, YVR, YYC, YUL, YHZ, YEG), issues a number immediately upon arrival, but:

  • only works during Service Canada business hours
  • does not cover weekend/night flights
  • does not help those arriving in other cities

SIN@Entry solves these problems: you can get a number before physically crossing the border, even if your first point of entry is a small airport or land border crossing.

Planned eSIN upgrade

At the same time, the government is upgrading the existing online platform:

  • AI document validation – processing time reduced to a few minutes
  • PDF letters in MSCA – no more paper envelopes from August 2025
  • Better status tracking – push notifications in My Service Canada Account

Documents likely to be required for SIN@Entry

  • Passport + stamp/visa
  • eTA or CoPR / work permit / study permit Approval Letter
  • If necessary: marriage certificate (for a joint number), job offer letter

What will change for employers and banks

  • Onboarding HR will be able to verify the SIN in the Record of Employment immediately after receiving a screenshot from the employee's IRCC account
  • Banks and credit unions will automatically pull the number via API, reducing the need for physical proof

Potential risks and privacy concerns

  • Data security IRCC ↔︎ ESDC: the government promises to use TLS 1.3 encryption and limit processing to only necessary fields
  • Validity period: for temporary statuses, the SIN will remain “temporary” and will expire along with the work/study permit
  • Correcting errors: Service Canada will maintain channels for in-person corrections of names or dates of birth

Practical advice for newcomers

  1. When filling out the immigration form, select the SIN@Entry option
  2. Make sure that the uploaded copies of your passport and permits are legible — this will reduce the risk of a “manual review.”
  3. Save several copies of the PDF sheet with your number (in the cloud, on your phone).
  4. Notify your employer and bank about your SIN before you arrive — this will speed up the processing of your payroll, credit card, and rental agreements.

Benefits for the government and the economy

  • Reduction in physical visits to Service Canada ≈ 2 million per year
  • Faster entry of newcomers into the labor market: less waiting time between appointment and first day of work
  • Reduction in case backlog in eSIN and paper mail

Conclusion

The launch of SIN@Entry in 2025 will be an important step in the deregulation of the Canadian immigration system. The automatic issuance of a social insurance number directly during the immigration application process will reduce bureaucracy, allow immigrants to integrate into the labor market more quickly, and ease the burden on Service Canada offices. Even with the parallel existence of SIN@Landing and the classic eSIN, the new program will become the primary “default” channel for most applicants by the end of 2025.