MONTREAL
Social Insurance Number
The Social Insurance Number(SIN) was introduced in Canada as a form of identification and to register people with Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, and Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. The Social Insurance Number is a nine-digit number used in the administration of the above government programs. It is issued to one person only and it cannot be legally used by anyone else. You will require a SIN to work in Canada or to receive government benefit and services.
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Documentation Required
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You will need to provide a primary and supporting document to apply for a Social Insurance Number.
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Applying by Mail (From Outside Canada)
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If you are currently outside of Canada, you may apply for your SIN by following these steps:
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Download an application form from the website, or order the form by phone at 1‑800‑206‑7218. Select Option “3”.
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Send your completed application, and original documents(Photocopies are not accepted) to:
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Service Canada
Social Insurance Registration Office
PO Box 7000
Bathurst, NB E2A 4T1 CANADA
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If you send your application by registered mail, your documents and confirmation of SIN letter will be returned in the same way. Service Canada is not responsible for documents lost in the mail. If your SIN application meets the requirements, you will receive your confirmation of SIN letter by mail within 20 business days from the date your application is received.
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Applying by Mail (Within Canada)
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Individuals in Canada will be permitted to apply by mail in these circumstances ONLY:
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Individuals living 100 km or more from the nearest Service Canada point of service, in an inaccessible area, or where outreach is very infrequent may apply by mail. To confirm your eligibility to apply by mail, you must verify your postal code.
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Individuals with other extenuating limitations preventing them from visiting a Service Canada point of service and cannot use the assistance of another individual to submit an application on their behalf may be eligible to apply by mail. Note: Individuals must contact 1-800-206-7218 (select Option #3) to determine if they are eligible to apply by mail.
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Applying at a Service Canada Centre
Service Canada has made it easy for you to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) – Simply gather the documents you need and take them to your nearest Service Canada Centre. If your application and documents are in order, you will get your confirmation of SIN letter during your visit.
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To contact the SIN Program call 1-800-206-7218 (within Canada), Select Option “3”, agents are available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
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Contact Information
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You can contact Service Canada:
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Telephone:
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1-800-206-7218, option #3 (within Canada)
Monday to Friday – 8:30am to 4:30pm (local time)
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506-548-7961(outside Canada, long distance charges apply)
Monday-Friday 8:00am-8:30pm (Atlantic Time)
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In Person: Find a Service Canada Centre Near You on the website, or call 1-800-206-7218 or 1-800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232).
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**Please Note: The Government of Canada has introduced new security procedures for issuing Social Insurance Numbers. Random applications (1 out of 100) will be chosen by their computer system. Those applications must be submitted manually into their system which may delay the processing of the SIN application by up to 6 weeks. If your application is chosen for this security screening, you will be provided detailed information on how to proceed. **
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QUEBEC HEALTH INSURANCE (RAMQ)
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The Quebec Health Insurance Plan is intended for all residents of Quebec. Under the plan, eligible persons registered with the Régie de l ‘assurance maladie du Quebec benefit from insured health-care services and products.
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Eligibility
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To be eligible for the Quebec Health Insurance Plan, a person must be a resident of Quebec within the meaning of the Health Insurance Act. Persons who are considered residents of Quebec consist primarily of the following persons, as long as they are domiciled in Quebec and spend at least 183 days per year in Quebec.
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Insured Services
To be insured, services must be medically necessary and must be provided by a general practitioner or medical specialist in a health-care facility (a hospital centre, CLSC, residential and long-term care centre, or rehabilitation centre), in a private medical office or in the patient’s home. These services include:
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visits and examinations;
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consultations;
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psychiatric treatment;
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diagnostic and therapeutic procedures;
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surgery;
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radiology;
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anaesthesia.
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Most laboratory services and certain highly specialized examinations such as ultrasounds, CAT scans and magnetic resonance imaging, are insured only when performed in hospital centers.
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How to Register
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Step 1 – Fill out the registration form. You cannot register online. You must call or visit the Régie. Please note: they will not send this form before you arrive in Quebec. You should also have your proof-of-identity documents handy when you call or visit the office.
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Step 2 – Attach the required proof-of-identity documents.You must attach certain documents to your registration form. For details on which documents you will require, based on your status in Canada, please visit: Proof-of-identity documents.
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Step 3 – Submit your documents and have your photo taken. In most cases, you will need to provide your signature and have a photo taken.
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Once the Régie has received all your documents, and if you fulfill the eligibility requirements, you will receive a letter indicating when your coverage under the Health Insurance Plan will take effect. You will receive your Health Insurance Card within 2 weeks after that date.
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Except in certain cases, you will become eligible for the Health Insurance Plan after a waiting period of three months. If you are moving from within Canada, the Health Insurance from your province of origin will usually provide coverage for the first three months, please check with your Health Insurance office to make sure. If not, we suggest that you take out private insurance so that you will have coverage during the waiting period.
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Contact Information
For more information, please contact:
The Health Insurance Info-Line
Phone: 514-864-3411 (within Montreal) or 418-646-4635
Phone: 1-800-561-9749
Website: Health Insurance
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In Person:
To determine the location of a Service Canada office that is closest to you, please visit the following link: Find a Service Canada Centre Near You on the website, or call 1-800-206-7218 or 1-800 O-Canada (1–800-622-6232).
