A member's Social Insurance Number (SIN) expired along with their old work permit, and while they received an IRCC letter authorizing continued work while a new permit was in process, their prospective employer still refused to let them start because the SIN itself showed as expired.
What the thread suggested:- Contact Service Canada directly about updating or reissuing your SIN. Technically, the authorization letter should mean you're allowed to keep working even with an expired SIN tied to your prior permit, but the practical hiring reality can differ.
- Employers frequently insist on seeing a SIN that isn't expired, regardless of what your IRCC letter says — this is a common real-world friction point, not just an isolated case.
- If an employer won't budge, consider looking for a different employer who is willing to hire based on the authorization letter alone, since as of this thread there was no confirmed way to renew a SIN without first having an approved new work permit in hand.
The practical takeaway: an IRCC letter authorizing continued work doesn't guarantee an employer will accept it in place of a valid SIN. Call Service Canada to ask about your options, but be prepared that some employers will still decline until your new work permit (and a fresh SIN) comes through — in that case, a more flexible employer may be your fastest path forward.