Unknown calls from Canada
Canadians who see an unfamiliar number usually want to know two things: is it from Canada at all, and is it the sort of call that CRA impostors and fake Service Canada agents make? Because Canada shares the +1 code with the United States and the Caribbean, an unknown area code can come from Toronto, Texas or Turks and Caicos. Many unexpected calls turn out to be pharmacies, contractors or delivery services, but bilingual robocalls threatening tax penalties or immigration problems remain common. A quick lookup helps place the area code, spot toll-free numbers and see whether others have reported the caller.
Canada phone numbers at a glance
- Country calling code
- +1
- Trunk prefix
- 1
- Number format
- Ten digits under the North American Numbering Plan, written as (area code) exchange-line, e.g. (416) 555-0198. Canadian and US numbers look identical, so the area code is the main clue to the province.
- Example (national)
- (416) 555-0198
- Example (international)
- +1 416 555 0198
- Emergency number
- 911
- Telecom regulator
- Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC)
To call a Canadian number from abroad, drop the leading 1 and dial +1 first: (416) 555-0198 becomes +1 416 555 0198. A missed call showing +1 at the start came from a Canada number.
How to tell what kind of Canadian number called you
Mobile numbers
| Type | Starts with | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile and landline (shared) | Any area code | Canada has no mobile-only prefixes. Wireless and wireline numbers are drawn from the same area codes, such as 416/647/437 in Toronto or 604/778/236 in British Columbia. |
Toll-free, premium and special numbers
| Type | Starts with | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toll-free | 800, 833, 844, 855, 866, 877, 888 | Shared with the US. Free for the caller, and used by banks, telecom companies, government departments — and telemarketers. |
| Premium-rate | 900, 976 | Pay-per-call ranges that charge above normal rates. Uncommon today, but a reason to double-check before dialling. |
| Community information | 211, 311, 511, 811 | Three-digit codes for social services, municipal information, travel information and non-urgent health advice in many provinces. |
Mobile networks in Canada
Numbers can be ported between networks, so the prefix alone does not prove which carrier a number is on today. A WhoCallsMe lookup reads the current carrier of record. The main mobile operators are:
- Rogers
- Bell
- Telus
- Freedom Mobile