Canadians can now view their social insurance number online
It will also become much easier to get a social insurance number.
Social services in Canada are committed to providing high quality, easily accessible and safe services to citizens, no matter where a person lives in the country. Technology is advancing, and with it, client expectations for services are rising. And the Government of Canada is trying to keep up with the times by modernizing the way these services are delivered.
One step in this modernization is how Service Canada has upgraded the My Service Canada Account (MSCA). Citizens can now view their Social Insurance Number (SIN) online in a secure manner.
Those who apply for a new Social Insurance Number online will now be able to see confirmation of their new SIN on the MSCA website. People who already have a SIN and an MSCA account will be able to securely view their social insurance number in the MSCA application. Customers who do not have an MSCA account but have a SIN will be able to view their Social Insurance Number securely online by creating an MSCA account and verifying their identity. Individuals will also continue to automatically receive a Social Insurance Number confirmation letter via mail.
Access to online social insurance number viewing will improve service delivery and reduce the need for customers to visit Service Canada centers. This will especially make life easier for international students new to Canada, who account for the majority of social insurance number transactions. Coupled with the ability to apply for a SIN online, this step in Service Canada's modernization will allow customers to go through the entire SIN application process on their own, avoid the need to visit a Service Canada center, avoid queues, and access their SIN online at any time of day or night. Social Insurance Numbers allow Canadian citizens, permanent and temporary residents to work in Canada and access benefits and government programs services anytime, anywhere.
Previously, the MSCA system required a social insurance number for proof of identity in order to register. Changes to the MSCA system will allow applicants to register without a SIN. Other information, such as the Unique Client Identifier issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or the registration number on a Canadian birth certificate combined with the SIN application number, will now be accepted for identity verification when creating a My Service Canada account.
