Service Canada: What It Does and How to Use It
Service Canada is the federal government's main front door for many everyday services. As a newcomer you'll most likely use it for your Social Insurance Number, and later for Employment Insurance, pensions or a passport. It's easy to confuse with other agencies, so here's what goes where.
- Last reviewed
- Last reviewed
- Reading time
- 3 min read
In this guide
What Service Canada handles
Service Canada describes itself as a single point of access to a wide range of government services and benefits [1]. The services you're most likely to meet include:
- Social Insurance Number (SIN), which you need to work in Canada [1]
- Employment Insurance (EI), with benefits if you lose your job, are sick or injured, give birth or become a parent [1]
- Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS), the public pensions [1]
- Passports: applying for a passport, processing times and service locations [1]
- The Canadian Dental Care Plan, which you can reach through My Service Canada Account [1]
The full list is on the Service Canada page and changes over time.
What it doesn't handle
| If you need… | Go to |
|---|---|
| Income tax or the Canada Child Benefit | The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which administers the Canada Child Benefit [4]. See Filing Your First Canadian Tax Return. |
| Work permits, PR cards, citizenship or any immigration application | Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) |
| Health cards, driver's licences, tenancy and most local services | Your province, territory or city |
Three ways to get help
Step 1: Online
My Service Canada Account gives you access to services including EI, CPP, OAS, your SIN and the Canadian Dental Care Plan. You sign in securely through Interac, GCKey or provincial options, with multi-factor authentication [2].
Step 2: By phone
The Service Canada website lists the right phone number for each program, so look it up on canada.ca rather than searching for a number elsewhere.
Step 3: In person
Visit a Service Canada office. The Find a Service Canada office tool helps you find the closest office, its hours and the services it offers, including passport services [3]. Check whether you need an appointment.
Staying safe
- A legitimate Government of Canada immigration site has a Canada.ca address or an address ending in .gc.ca. IRCC says forms and guides are free on its website [6].
- There is no fee to apply for a SIN [5]. Some services, such as passports, have official fees that are listed on canada.ca.
- The CRA says it will not demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, cryptocurrency, prepaid credit cards or gift cards, and will not threaten to deport or arrest you [7].
Sources
Numbered references such as [1] in the guide match this list. We last reviewed this guide against these sources on . Official pages change, so open the source before you act. See our editorial standards for how we choose and check sources.
Employment and Social Development Canada
Service Canada: programs and services (opens in a new tab)canada.ca
Employment and Social Development Canada
Social Insurance Number: Apply (opens in a new tab)canada.ca
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
How can I tell if an immigration website is a scam? (opens in a new tab)ircc.canada.ca
Navak provides general information only. It is not legal, immigration, financial or tax advice.
Related guides
- Government4 min read
Understanding Your SIN Number
What a Social Insurance Number is, who can get one, how to apply, and how to keep it safe from fraud.
Read guide - Government3 min read
Health Card, Driver's Licence, Photo ID: Which Do You Need?
The main ID documents in Canada, what each is for, how to get a photo ID if you don't drive, and how to keep your documents safe as a newcomer.
Read guide - Taxes3 min read
What the CRA Is, and How to Set Up Your CRA Account
What the Canada Revenue Agency does, when a newcomer can register for a CRA account, what the account lets you do and how to keep it secure.
Read guide