Human Resources Development Canada on Friday announced changes to the Employment Insurance Regulations to introduce expiry dates on all 900-series Social Insurance Numbers. The measure is intended to strengthen the integrity of the SIN.

Starting March 30, these SINs will be valid until the end of the person’s authorized stay in Canada to a maximum of five years.

Existing 900-series SIN holders have one year to reapply. They will keep the same number, but they will receive a new card with an expiry date.

SINs that begin with the number 9 are issued to individuals who are neither Canadian citizens nor permanent residents, who need a SIN for employment purposes or to comply with other authorized uses, such as income tax filing. Holders of these SINs include temporary foreign workers and refugee claimants.