Reusing SIM cards

[SwiftPuffin7]

My parents visited Canada and USA a couple of years ago and then got PM SIM cards with monthly plans which they used across both countries and later expired once they went back home. 

Now they are visiting again and are wondering if can reactive the SIM cards they already have with a new plan? The thing is that they are landing in the US, coming to Canada a few days later. Will it be possible to get a PM plan and start using it in roaming (US) without being activated in Canada first?

[SwiftPuffin7]

Thanks for responding quickly. Got clarity how things work and will figure out out something for them.

[Up2NoGood]

Unfortunately after 90 days the account they had and the SIM cards would expire. In order to get on a plan again they would need to create another account and would either need to get new SIM cards or use ESIM's (the old SIM cards cannot be reactivated).

Additionally it would be very hard to activate an account while in the US. To activate an ESIM or SIM you need the Public Mobile app which is region blocked to Canada for downloading (unless they already have the app installed?). Payment would also need to be made with a Canadian credit card when activating.

[umnikke8 · Accepted solution]

The used SIM cards are done. 

You might be able to get Amazon.ca to ship new SIM cards to the US, not sure. If phones support eSIM you might be able to do that in the US. In either case the phones need to be able to access the Public app in the Canadian app store to activate service. You also need to use Canadian credit card to pay for service.