Does Permanent SIN number go on hold for some reason or expire?
- Thread starter cprasp
- Start date
SIN numbers of permanent residents, and citizens DO NOT expire.
Yes they go on hold if inactive for a certain amount of time. Are you compliant with your RO? Do you have a valid PR card? You also have to renew your healthcare card as well even if it is still valid. You must meet the residency obligation to retain healthcare coverage in your province. Being outside your home province for over 2 years means that you have to met the residency obligation to qualify for healthcare coverage and must reapply for your healthcard.
Thank you! I do meet the RO as of now and I plan to come back before that changes. Can you tell when SIN goes on hold and if any action is necessary to be to come back or can I work on it once I'm back in Ontario?
The status is called dormancy and it appears to exist primarily to block access to the benefits, i.e. not to stop you from working. Although it is not clear what will happen eg wil inquiry come to employers when you attempt to use it to work.
IF it is in dormancy status, you'd need to contact service canada and ask for the dormant flag to be removed. They seem to request a recent PR card (not clear if recently expired is acceptalbe or only valid) and an address in Canada to do so.
I have not seen such a post myself. Another trusted poster here has said that yes, employers can be contacted. I do not know of any confirmation or more details. But it is not at all clear to me that the employers are being told that the person cannot work, or just inquiry about identity, or what exactly.
Mind, we must admit that many employers would not want to be involved in any difference of opinion over such a case and it puts the PR in an awkward position.
Given that you still meet your RO, you should be finegetting your SIN from dormant to active if it is currently dormant. You will likely need to prove that you have been living in Canada for the past 2 out of 5 years. You will also have the taxreturns backing your up that you were in Canada for at least 2 years in the past 5.
I missed that still compliant with the RO. Do you still have a valid PR card?
At any rate, if still compliant with RO, it means must have been in Canada in just a bit less than the last three years. My impression is that SIN is only put into dormant status after longer periods without use - although not certain; anyway, chances are it is still fine, and if not, can be reactivated without too much difficulty.
Yes, I do and you are right about the duration. That's reassuring to know about getting it activated. Thank You!
Please update here once you've returned and if any issues. It's a topic with not much coverage.
Hey Guys, I am back in Canada and the SIN doesn't go in to any dormant status. However, my OHIP coverage was suspended and I had to get it re-instated at Service Ontario government office using a latest address proof.
Thanks for you update, did Services Ontario ask you for a valid PR card to reactivate your OHIP coverage or you only used a latest address proof?