Opening A Bank Account Without A Sin: Is It Possible?

In Canada, you have the right to open a bank account, regardless of your credit status, and even if you have gone through bankruptcy or are unemployed. While it is mandatory to provide proper identification to open a bank account, it is not necessary to have a Social Insurance Number (SIN). As long as you satisfy the ID requirements and do not apply for an interest-bearing account, you can open a bank account without a SIN. However, if the account generates interest, a SIN is required for income tax reporting purposes.

You can open a bank account without a SIN number if you have a passport and are a temporary worker

In Canada, you can open a bank account without a SIN number if you have a passport and are a temporary worker. To open a bank account, you must provide proper identification to confirm your identity. This can be done through two methods:

• Provide two documents from a reliable source: one document indicating your name and address, and the other indicating your name and date of birth. These documents can include identification issued by the Government of Canada or the government of a province, recent notices of tax assessments, recent statements of benefits, recent Canadian public utility bills, or recent bank account or credit card statements.
• Provide any document from a reliable source that indicates your name and date of birth, as long as your identity is also confirmed by a customer in good standing with the bank or someone who is of good standing in the community where the account is being opened.

If you are a non-resident of Canada, you may need additional documentation to open a bank account, such as a work permit or study permit. It is important to note that some banks may require a SIN number for interest-bearing accounts, as it is required for income tax reporting purposes. However, this is not mandatory, and you can open a basic chequing account without a SIN number.

Additionally, when opening a bank account, you must be able to provide your home address, date of birth, and occupation or type of business, if applicable. It is recommended to contact the specific bank to confirm the required documentation, as some banks may have different requirements or additional steps for opening an account.

If you are not a Canadian citizen, you must show a piece of Canadian ID

If you are not a Canadian citizen, you can still open a bank account in Canada, but you must show a piece of Canadian ID. This can be done in person at a financial institution of your choice. Photocopies of your ID will not be accepted.

There are two ways to meet the identification (ID) requirements:

Provide two documents from a reliable source: one document indicating your name and address, and the other indicating your name and date of birth. The two documents must be from the following list:

• Identification issued by the Government of Canada or the government of a province.
• Recent notices of tax assessments issued by the Government of Canada or the government of a province or municipality.
• Recent statements of benefits from the Government of Canada or the government of a province.
• Recent Canadian public utility bills.
• Recent bank account or credit card statements.

Provide any document from a reliable source that indicates your name and date of birth. This method will only work if your identity is also confirmed by either:

• A customer who is in good standing with the bank.
• Someone who is of good standing in the community where you are opening the account.

In addition to providing identification, you must also disclose the following information if it is not available on the pieces of identification that you present:

• Your home address.
• Your date of birth.
• Your occupation or type of business, if any.

It is important to note that some banks may have additional requirements for opening a bank account, so it is recommended to contact the financial institution for more information.

You can open a bank account without a SIN as long as it is not an interest-bearing account

It is possible to open a bank account without a SIN, as long as it is not an interest-bearing account. This is because Canadian tax law requires that you provide a SIN for any accounts that pay interest. This is for income tax reporting purposes.

If you are a non-resident, you may be able to open a bank account with the proper identification, even if you are not a Canadian citizen. However, tourists may struggle to obtain the necessary proof of ID for an account.

To open a bank account, you will need to provide original, valid, and non-defaced identification. This can be one piece of government-issued photo identification, or two independent pieces of identification, at least one of which must be from a reliable source.

If you are under 16, a parent or guardian will need to open an account for you and provide their own identification.

You can open a basic chequing account without a SIN

For those without a SIN number, it is essential to have valid, original, and non-defaced government-issued photo identification. This can include a driver's license, passport, permanent resident card, or other forms of identification, depending on the bank's requirements. It is also important to note that some banks may require two pieces of identification, with at least one being from a list of acceptable forms of ID. This can include a government-issued photo ID or documents such as a birth certificate, tax assessments, utility bills, or bank statements.

In addition to the required identification, there may be other requirements to open a basic chequing account. For example, some banks may require individuals under the age of 12 to have a parent or legal guardian open the account on their behalf. It is also important to understand the account's terms and conditions, fees, and other features before opening an account.

Overall, while it is possible to open a basic chequing account without a SIN number in Canada, proper identification and meeting other requirements are crucial. It is always recommended to contact the specific bank or refer to their website for detailed information on their account opening process and requirements.

You can open an account with two pieces of ID, one of which must be from Part A of the Schedule of Acceptable Identification

In Canada, you can open a bank account with two pieces of ID, as long as one of them is from Part A of the Schedule of Acceptable Identification. This includes:

• A valid driver's license issued in Canada (except in Quebec, where it can only be used if volunteered)
• A valid Canadian passport
• A Certification of Naturalization, in the form of a paper document or card (Commemorative certificates are not accepted)
• A Canadian Citizenship card issued before 2012
• A Permanent Resident Card
• A provincial or territorial health insurance card containing a photo (these cannot be used for identification purposes in Ontario, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Yukon)
• A secure certificate of Indian Status issued by the Government of Canada
• A DND 404 Driver's Licence
• A Canadian Forces Card
• A Firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence
• A valid foreign passport
• A valid driver's license
• A National Identity Card
• A U.S. Permanent Resident Card (only valid for U.S. residents)
• A U.S. driver's license (only valid for U.S. residents)

The second piece of ID must show your name and date of birth, and can be any reliable source, such as:

• A Canada Pension Plan (CPP) statement of contributions
• An original birth certificate
• A marriage certificate or government-issued proof of marriage document (long-form which includes the date of birth)
• Divorce documentation
• A Canadian Citizenship certificate
• A temporary driver's license (non-photo)
• A Canadian insurance document (home, auto, life)
• A health card without a photo issued by a province or territory (excluding Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, and Yukon)

It's important to note that you must provide original documents in person at the financial institution of your choice, as photocopies are usually not accepted. Additionally, if the name on your ID has changed, you may need to bring additional documentation, such as a marriage license or court order, to link your new and previous names.

Frequently asked questions