Canadian Mobile and Internet Plans for Newcomers
Yes, you can get connected soon after you land, even with no Canadian credit history. Prepaid service is paid for before you use it, and each provider sets its own identification and credit rules. Under the CRTC Wireless Code, data overage charges stop at $50 and data roaming charges at $100 per monthly billing cycle unless you agree to pay more.
$50
Where extra data charges stop in a monthly billing cycle, unless you agree to pay more
$100
Where data roaming charges stop in a monthly billing cycle, unless you agree to pay more
15 days
The shortest trial period when a contract carries an early cancellation fee
These limits come from the CRTC Wireless Code. Plan prices vary by province and provider and change often, so this guide quotes none: check the provider.
What kinds of provider sell mobile service in Canada?
- National carriers
- Three large carriers run their own networks and sell under their main brands.
- Their lower-priced brands
- The national carriers also sell service under second brands that use the parent network.
- Regional carriers
- Run networks in some provinces or regions, and may rely on roaming outside their own network areas.
- Mobile virtual network operators
- Sell service on another company’s network. Since a 2021 CRTC decision, regional providers that invest in spectrum can offer service this way on the national carriers’ networks.
Providers of every kind sell prepaid plans, postpaid plans, or both.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) regulates the industry. It has introduced rules to protect consumers and promote competition, including requiring the national carriers to give regional providers wholesale access to their networks (2021).
Can you get a plan without Canadian credit history?
Yes. Many newcomers arrive without a Canadian credit history, which can make postpaid contracts difficult. Each provider sets its own identification and credit rules for monthly service, so they differ from one provider to the next. Ask the provider what it requires.
The options:
- Prepaid service is paid for before you use it, so it does not rely on monthly billing. Ask the provider whether it runs a credit check.
- Some banks offer newcomer packages that can include a credit card. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says a secured credit card may be an option if you have no credit history.
- Some providers will offer postpaid service to newcomers with no credit history if you pay a security deposit. Ask the provider directly.
- Some providers offer eSIM activation online, which helps if your device is unlocked and supports eSIM. Check the provider.
How do prepaid and postpaid plans differ?
- Prepaid plans
- You pay up front for 30 days (or longer) of service, so prepaid does not rely on monthly billing. If you don’t renew, service simply stops. The Wireless Code also covers prepaid service contracts.
- Postpaid plans
- You’re billed monthly after service. A postpaid contract can run for a fixed term or be indeterminate (month-to-month). A credit check may be required for monthly billing arrangements.
The rule
Since December 1, 2017 any device a carrier provides must be given to you unlocked, and if a device is or becomes locked the carrier must unlock it on request at no charge.
What changes the price of a plan?
Advertised prices vary by province and provider and change with frequent promotions, so check the current price on the provider’s own site before signing up. Sales tax differs by province (CRA lists combined rates from 5% to 15%). The Wireless Code requires the prices in your contract to say whether they include taxes.
- Lower-priced mobile brands
- The national carriers’ second brands, regional carriers and mobile virtual network operators sell prepaid and lower-tier plans. Data amounts and prices differ by plan.
- Main-brand mobile plans
- Prepaid and postpaid plans from the national carriers’ main brands. Prices and data amounts vary by province.
- Unlimited mobile plans
- Some plans are sold as unlimited data, and may slow your speed after a set amount. The plan’s terms say what it includes, such as Wi-Fi calling, hotspot use or roaming.
- Home internet (cable or fibre)
- Sold separately from mobile service, by speed tier. Some providers offer a bundle with a phone plan. What is available depends on your address.
- Home internet (DSL or rural)
- DSL and other slower wired service reach some suburban and rural areas, and satellite internet is an option where wired service is unavailable. Prices and equipment costs vary by address.
Is coverage the same in cities and rural areas?
Coverage quality varies significantly between urban and rural areas in Canada:
- Major cities: coverage is generally strong, and 5G service is offered in many urban areas.
- Small cities and towns: coverage varies by provider. Some regional and lower-priced providers rely on roaming outside their own network areas.
- Rural and remote areas: coverage gaps exist. Satellite internet is an option for home internet in remote locations.
- Providers publish coverage maps on their websites. Before choosing a provider, use its online coverage map to verify service in your location.
What rights does the CRTC Wireless Code give you?
- No unlocking fees
- Carriers cannot charge you to unlock your device from their network.
- Data overage caps
- Your provider must suspend extra wireless data charges once they reach $50 within a single monthly billing cycle, unless you expressly agree to pay more.
- Data roaming caps
- Your provider must suspend national and international data roaming charges once they reach $100 within a single monthly billing cycle, unless you expressly agree to pay more. This is a per-billing-cycle cap, not a per-trip cap.
- Trial period
- When your contract carries an early cancellation fee, the Code gives you a trial period to cancel without penalty: at least 15 calendar days, or at least 30 days if you self-identify as having a disability. You must have used less than the permitted trial usage and return any device in near-new condition, including its original packaging.
- Contract clarity
- For postpaid service, your provider must give you a Critical Information Summary with your contract, summarizing its most important elements. The prices in the contract must be clear and say whether they include taxes.
- Early cancellation fees limited
- With a subsidized device, the early cancellation fee cannot exceed the value of the device subsidy, and it falls to $0 over at most 24 months. Without a subsidized device, a CRTC decision of March 2026, in force since June 2026, removes extra fees to cancel a plan.
- Complaints
- If you have a billing or service dispute, you can escalate to the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS), a free dispute resolution service.
The CRTC has reviewed and amended the Code over time, so confirm current details at crtc.gc.ca.
Which free tool checks your own case?
- Document ChecklistTypical documents by application type
- Currency ConverterFees and funds in your own currency
Free, with no account. What you enter in a tool stays in your browser.
What do people ask?
How much do mobile internet plans cost in Canada?
It depends on the provider, the province and the plan, and prices change often, so this guide quotes no figures: check the provider's own site. Sales tax differs by province (CRA lists combined rates from 5% to 15%), and the Wireless Code requires the prices in your contract to say whether they include taxes. The Cost of Living by Province guide puts phone costs into a full budget.
What is the cheapest phone plan in Canada for newcomers?
There is no single answer, because prices change often. The national carriers' lower-priced brands, regional carriers and mobile virtual network operators are the kinds of provider to compare, along with prepaid and postpaid options. Compare two or three providers for the same data amount on their own sites. The Cost of Living by Province guide shows where phone costs fit in a budget.
Can I use an eSIM when I arrive in Canada?
Yes. Many Canadian providers support eSIM. If your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked, you may be able to activate a Canadian plan online without a physical SIM card, where the provider offers it. A phone from home works here if it is unlocked and supports Canadian network bands. The Settling in Canada: First 30 Days guide lists the other arrival tasks.
Do I need a Canadian credit card to get a phone plan?
No. Prepaid service is paid for before you use it, and a Canadian debit card and bank account are often enough to pay. Each provider sets its own identification and credit rules: some postpaid (monthly billing) plans run a credit check, and some providers accept a security deposit instead. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says a secured credit card may be an option if you have no credit history. The Banking & Credit for Newcomers guide explains how.
What ID do I need to buy a SIM card or phone plan in Canada?
It depends on the provider. Each provider sets its own identification and credit rules, so ask what it accepts before you go. Postpaid plans may add a credit check. The Settling in Canada: First 30 Days guide covers the documents to carry.
Can I keep my phone number if I switch carriers in Canada?
Usually, yes. You can keep your number when you switch providers, and the CRTC publishes a page on switching providers and keeping your number. Ask the new provider how the transfer works. You can then change plans without changing the number your bank and employer have. The Banking & Credit for Newcomers guide covers the bank side.
Is home internet included with a mobile plan?
Usually not. Your mobile plan covers your phone's cellular data, and home internet is a separate service installed at your home by cable, fibre, DSL or satellite. Some providers offer a bundle of both. In a shared rental, check whether internet is already included in the rent before you sign a separate contract. The Finding Housing in Canada guide covers which utilities rentals include.
What does the CRTC Wireless Code guarantee me as a mobile customer?
Several protections. Carriers must provide unlocked devices and unlock a phone on request at no charge. Extra data charges stop at $50, and data roaming charges at $100, per monthly billing cycle unless you agree to pay more. When a contract carries an early cancellation fee, you get a trial period of at least 15 days (30 if you self-identify as having a disability) to cancel it. Billing disputes can go to the free CCTS. The CRTC source below has the details.
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.