Regulations Amending the Social Insurance Number Regulations: SOR/2026-176

Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 160, Number 17

Registration
SOR/2026-176 August 7, 2026

DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ACT
EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACT

P.C. 2026-738 August 6, 2026

The Canada Employment Insurance Commission makes the annexed Regulations Amending the Social Insurance Number Regulations under

May 15, 2026

Her Excellency the Governor General in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Employment and Social Development, under subsection 28.2(4)footnote a of the Department of Employment and Social Development Act footnote b and section 140footnote c of the Employment Insurance Act footnote d, approves the annexed Regulations Amending the Social Insurance Number Regulations, made by the Canada Employment Insurance Commission.

Regulations Amending the Social Insurance Number Regulations

Amendments

1 The portion of section 2 of the English version of the Social Insurance Number Regulations footnote 1 before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

Information required

2 Any application to register a person must be made in the form and manner required by the Commission and must include documents that allow for the identification of the person and their status and contain the information specified in at least one of the following paragraphs:

2 Sections 3 and 4 of the Regulations are replaced by the following:

Making

3 (1) Subject to subsection (2), an application for registration must be made by one of the following persons and must include an attestation made by that person in the form and manner required by the Commission:

Agreement between Commission and province

(2) If an agreement providing for registration at birth has been made between the Commission and the government of the province where the person to be registered was born, an application to register that person must be made by an official responsible for registering births in that province.

Refusal to apply

4 If a person who is required by law to have a Social Insurance Number refuses to apply for registration, the Commission must register the person and assign a Social Insurance Number to that person if it has information that establishes their identity and status.

3 Paragraph 5(2)(a) of the English version of the Regulations is replaced by the following:

Coming into Force

4 These Regulations come into force on the day on which they are registered.

REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS STATEMENT

(This statement is not part of the Regulations.)

Issues

The Standing Joint Committee for the Scrutiny of Regulations (SJCSR) identified issues within the Social Insurance Number Regulations (the Regulations), which include discrepancies between English and French versions and a lack of clarity as to how certain provisions are to be interpreted and applied. These issues allow for potential inconsistencies in the interpretation of requirements for Social Insurance Number (SIN) application, registration and assignment.

Background

The SIN is a number that the Government of Canada assigns for people to work, to file income tax returns, and to receive benefits and services from government programs.

The Canada Employment Insurance Commission (the Commission) has the authority for SIN assignment and registration under the Department of Employment and Social Development Act (DESDA), and, under DESDA and the Employment Insurance Act, for making regulations about SIN assignment and registration (including applications for registration). The day-to-day operation of SIN assignment and registration activities is carried out by Employment and Social Development Canada (Service Canada) under the authority of the Department of Employment and Social Development Act.

The SIN application process has evolved from being primarily a paper-based and manual process where applicants had to apply in person or by mail, to being digitally enabled and available across a choice of service delivery channels. Between 2005 and 2013, the federal government entered into agreements with each of the 10 provinces to provide SIN registration at birth. This allows parents and/or guardians to register their newborn for a SIN at the same time that they register their newborn’s birth through their province’s Newborn Registration Service. In 2006, the SIN Rapid Access system was introduced at Service Canada Centres to allow for same-day processing and assignment of SIN for in-person applications. Since 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, SIN applications have been made available online through the Government of Canada website.

While the SIN application process has been modernized, the Regulations have not been updated accordingly. Most applications are no longer paper-based and are more compatible with other types of attestation than signature; yet the Regulations still prescribe a signature requirement by default while allowing, as an alternative, the option for the Commission to assign a SIN in the absence of a signature. Because non-paper-based applications that are attested to by other means than signature are now the default instead of the exception, there is a need to clarify the requirements in the Regulations.

Objective

The objective is to ensure consistent interpretation and application of requirements for SIN application, registration, and assignment by improving precision and clarity within the Regulations and aligning with modern processes for SIN assignment, notably those that involve applications that are not paper-based and that are not suited for signature.

Description

Application and information required

The provisions that set out the information required to apply for registration for a SIN and to apply for replacement of a SIN card will be amended in the English version of the Regulations, changing “supporting documents” to “documents” to correct the discrepancy between the English and the French versions.

Making an application

The requirements for an application for registration will be amended to require an attestation by the person to be registered (if they are 12 years of age or older), their parent, or their legal representative, instead of a signature. The change of requirement from signature to attestation will remove the provision that allows an applicant to mark their application if they are unable to sign it and will remove the Commission’s discretionary authority to assign a SIN in the absence of a signature or mark.

Refusal to apply

The amendments will change the Commission’s existing authority to assign a SIN where someone is required by law to have one but refuses to apply, from optional to mandatory. The Commission will be required to assign a SIN to a person who refuses to apply if that person is identifiable and is legally required to have a SIN.

Regulatory development

Consultation

Since the amendments make corrections to ensure consistency between the English and French versions and codify current practices for SIN application and assignment, no public consultations were held and the amendments were not prepublished in the Canada Gazette, Part I.

Indigenous engagement, consultation and modern treaty obligations

An assessment of modern treaty implications was completed as required by the Cabinet Directive on the Federal Approach to Modern Treaty Implementation. No adverse impacts on potential or established Indigenous or treaty rights, which are recognized and affirmed in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, were identified.

Instrument choice

The Department of Employment and Social Development Act and the Employment Insurance Act provide authority for the Commission to make regulations respecting SIN applications and assignment. Because the clarity and consistency issues identified by the SJCSR are in the Social Insurance Number Regulations, they could not be addressed by means other than regulatory amendments. Non-regulatory options were not considered.

Regulatory analysis

Benefits and costs

A cost-benefit analysis was conducted. Based on this analysis, it was found that this initiative has a minor benefit of added clarity and no expected costs associated with it.

The baseline scenario describes what would happen without the regulatory change. This would be the application of the Regulations, as they are currently written. Currently, an application must include documents that allow for the identification of the person and their status. An application must be signed, or if the applicant is unable to sign, they may attest to the truthfulness and completeness of the information on the application by making their mark in the presence of two witnesses who sign the application. If an application containing the required information is made without a signature or mark, the Commission still has authority to assign a SIN. If a person refuses to apply for a SIN, the Commission has authority to assign them one if it has information on the person’s identity and status in Canada and if the person is required by law to be registered.

Under the regulatory scenario, when the Regulations are changed, an application will need to include documents that allow for the identification of the person and their status. The Commission will assign a SIN when an application contains the required information and is appropriately submitted and attested. If a person refuses to apply for a SIN, the Commission will need to assign them one if it has information on the person’s identity and status in Canada and if the person is required by law to be registered.

In both the baseline scenario and the regulatory scenario:

Both scenarios lead to identical processes and outcomes. Therefore, there are no expected costs and a minor benefit of added clarity associated with this initiative.

Small business lens

There is no cost impact on small businesses associated with the amendments. As a result, the small business lens does not apply.

One-for-one rule

There is no administrative burden on businesses associated with the amendments. As a result, the one-for-one rule does not apply.

Regulatory cooperation and alignment

There is no regulatory cooperation and alignment component associated with the amendments.

International obligations

There is no linkage to any international agreements or obligations associated with the amendments.

Effects on the environment

In accordance with the Cabinet Directive on Strategic Environmental and Economic Assessment (SEEA Directive), a preliminary scan concluded that a strategic environmental and economic assessment is not required.

Gender-based analysis plus

A gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) was conducted and established that the Regulations will not directly affect any individual, group, or demographic sector. This is because the amendments will not change the processes or outcomes for SIN application and assignment. However, it is expected that this initiative will result in a minor benefit of added clarity. This may result in a minor benefit to people with disabilities because changing the signature requirement into an attestation requirement will make it clear that a person can make an application even if they are unable to make a mark in place of a signature. This may also result in a minor indirect benefit to people whose first official language is English because amendments to align the English version with the French version will clarify the application requirements and remove inconsistencies.

Implementation, compliance and enforcement, and service standards

The amendments will come into force upon registration. No updates to application forms or operational guidance, such as procedure manuals, will be required. This is because the amendments will not change any processes or outcomes for SIN application and assignment. Therefore, there are no changes to implementation, compliance and enforcement, and service standards.

Contact

Stéphanie Brodeur
Director
Identity Policy and Strategic Partnerships
Integrated Channel and Solutions
Service Canada
Employment and Social Development Canada
Telephone: 438‑357‑1364
Email: stephanie.a.brodeur@servicecanada.gc.ca