Feds Say Online SIN Application Wait Times Now Cut in Half

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) announced several changes to simplify the Social Insurance Number application process last week. The change is in response to rising demand, particularly from international students during the fall and winter semesters.

The feds said one major update is the online SIN application system, which now takes five days, instead of the previous 10 days. Once issued, your SIN can be viewed in your My Service Canada Account.

Due to high demand, ESDC is also hosting SIN clinics in partnership with community organizations, for in-person support for students and newcomers that need help with applications.

For the previous 2023-24 fiscal year, of the 2,897,218 SIN transactions (updates to an existing SIN record or a request for a new one), newcomers (such as international students), temporary or permanent residents took up 74.2% of the total number of clients.

In January, the Liberal government imposed restrictions on post-graduate work permits and introduced a two-year cap on the number of international student applications it would approve. This year, the target was set at 364,000 undergraduate study permits, a 35% reduction from the whopping 560,000 permits issued in 2023. Critics say the additional immigration has caused a strain on housing availability and affordability.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced plans back in April to allow international students to work up to 24 hours a week off-campus, with the new rule expected to be implemented by the fall.

Currently, international students are only allowed to work 20 hours a week off-campus during the school year but can work full-time during scheduled breaks.

Soon, the federal government will launch “SIN at Entry”, which will combine SIN requests with work permit applications, with hopes to reduce processing times and in-person visits to the over 300 Service Canada Centres nationwide, which could cut visits by 50% at the busiest locations.