Getting a SIM Card and Mobile Plan in Canada: A Guide for Brits
One of the first things you'll want to sort on arrival in Canada is your mobile phone. Getting connected quickly matters, you need it for navigation, communication, banking and pretty much everything else involved in settling in.
Your first 24-48 hours
Prepaid options
Prepaid plans in Canada are less feature-rich than postpaid but perfectly workable as a bridge.
Koodo Prepaid. Koodo (owned by Telus) has decent prepaid options starting around CAD $45/month for a basic plan with a few GB of data.
Public Mobile and Lucky Mobile. Discount brands owned by Telus and Bell respectively, both offer cheaper prepaid tiers than the big three's own-brand plans, worth comparing before you commit to a full postpaid contract.
Key Takeaways
- Canadian mobile plans cost considerably more than UK equivalents for similar data. Budget for it.
- Telus, Rogers, Bell and Freedom Mobile are the big four; Koodo, Public Mobile and Lucky Mobile are cheaper discount brands on the same networks.
- Use prepaid as a bridge for your first week or two while you settle on an address and a plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Canadian mobile plans so expensive?
It's a long-running structural issue in Canada's telecom market, dominated by three major carriers (Telus, Rogers, Bell), and it affects Canadians as much as newcomers. Discount sub-brands owned by the same three companies are the main way to reduce the cost.
Do I need a Canadian credit history for a postpaid plan?
Some postpaid plans may ask for a deposit or credit check without a Canadian credit history. Prepaid avoids this entirely, which is part of why it's a sensible bridge in your first weeks.
Planning your move from the UK to Canada?
Our free relocation toolkit covers your visa, banking, tax and moving checklist in the order you'll actually need them.