Does a SIN expires after loosing PR?
- Thread starter sohereiam
- Start date
A SIN # that hasn’t been used in five or more years is coded as dormant . Person must go to a Service Canada office, show identification/ PR documents to reactivate .
“Dormant SIN reversals
Each year, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides ESDC with a list of SINs that are associated with [protected information] protected information. ESDC then matches those SINs to records in the SIR and places a "dormant" flag onto that file. Until it is removed, the dormant flag may prevent the SIN holder from receiving benefits from some SIN authorized programs. To remove the flag, the client must visit a SCC where a CSO will ask the client to fill out a questionnaire which will be sent to NIDS for processing. An officer in NIDS will then evaluate whether it is a simple request or a suspicious request using a risk chart, and suspicious requests will be subsequently addressed by the contact centre.”
Since you’ve neglected to mention the province , and healthcare is provincial, almost guaranteed that number has expired. A library card expires , guaranteed a healthcard expires. It’s almost 40 years ago
https://kurucz.ca/expatrepat/files/DormantSINQuestionnaire.pdf
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The old SIN remains and is 'valid' but will almost certainly be in dormant status (as explained by @Copingwithlife) .
Basically they will need to contact Service Canada and provide some updated documents. I believe this can be done at some (but not all) Service Canada locations, or by phone plus mail.
They should not try to get a new SIN, but just deal with the process - it's not that onerous.
Background: have done this for my spouse (who became a PR some years ago, left and eventually renounced PR status, and then we returned together via sponsorship), was not an issue. Don't recall exactly what needed to be provided. We did this by phone and got sent a form which we returned with some doc.
Note that the SIN is not 'invalid' even if dormant, they can use the SIN to work. The employer might get an inquiry to confirm identity. If they expect to work right away they might prefer to visit a Service Canada location, would be faster - but I'd call in advance to confirm what they need to take.
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They would be required to apply for new health cards no matter what because they have not met the residency requirements to qualify for provincial healthcare
Exactly
Only exception would be if they had one of those red & white ohip cards from years ago that had no expiration date . If they did it is probably flagged for non use. I had an old one , and finally got a letter with either replace it with a photo one or we will cancel your coverage .
They would still have to replace the red/white card since they didn’t meet residency rules. It is also likely flagged due to inactivity and most have been threatened with discontinuing coverage if they haven’t gotten photo id.
