How to choose a phone plan in Canada

Chapter 1 of 3

Phone plans are expensive in Canada compared to the services you may be used to in your home country. The first step in choosing the right plan is to decide if you really need a phone plan in Canada.

Coming to Canada with visitor (tourist) status

If you are only spending a few weeks/months in Canada, a Canadian phone plan isn’t necessarily required. You might be able to get by with your current plan; check with your phone company if they offer any international usage.

If you’ll be charged a lot to use your phone abroad, you can look into temporary SIM cards or eSIMs for your travels in Canada. Note that eSIMs usually won’t include a Canadian phone number or any texts/minutes, but you will be able to purchase data.

You may also choose to rely on free Wi-Fi, especially if you’re staying in a city. Most hotels and hostels include Wi-Fi in your booking. You can also access public Wi-Fi at libraries, cafes, Tim Horton’s, etc.

Coming to Canada with an IEC permit

If you’re staying in Canada on an IEC permit (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, International Co-op), it is essential to have a Canadian telephone number. You’ll want to be easily contactable when approaching potential employers or landlords. Many Canadian employers require proof you are already settled in the country, so applying to jobs with a foreign telephone number could send a bad signal.

In addition, you will be asked for a Canadian telephone number by most services, including registration at the library, grocery delivery service, walk-in clinics, opening a bank account, etc.

Once you have applied for your SIN, getting a Canadian phone plan is usually the next step when you arrive in Canada.

Should I keep my current phone number?

If you want to keep your usual phone number, it will make returning home at the end of your work permit easier. You can ask your current phone company if they can pause your contract until you return.

However, it’s more likely you will have to continue paying for services in your home country to keep your number. You can ask if you can move to the cheapest service available, allowing you to keep the number active without spending too much.