+1CA
Canada number screening
Canada shares +1 with the US, so the area code is the only thing that separates the two lists.
Mobile number format
Canadian numbers follow the same NANP format as the US — 10 digits, a 3-digit area code plus 7 digits. The split is in the codes: 416/647/437 Toronto, 604/778 Vancouver, 514/438 Montreal, 403/587 Alberta, 613 Ottawa. Mobile and landline share them.
Main carriers
- Rogers
- Bell
- Telus
- Freedom Mobile
Each incumbent runs a discount flanker on its own network — Fido under Rogers, Koodo under Telus, Virgin Plus under Bell — while Freedom Mobile now sits with Quebecor. Lookups usually resolve to the host network, so a flanker and its parent should not be read as two separate sources.
On the ground
CASL is among the strictest anti-spam laws anywhere: commercial messages, SMS included, need express or implied consent, and penalties run into eight figures. Language is the other constraint — Quebec law puts French first, so numbers on 514, 438 and 418 need French copy rather than an English default.
Screening guidance
Start by splitting Canadian records out of any +1 pool by area code; mixing them with US numbers skews every downstream metric. Then run an iOS device check to size the Apple share and branch from there — mainstream contacts through SMS and social, immigrant communities through WhatsApp and Telegram.
Key platforms in Canada
Everyday messaging still runs on SMS and iMessage, and iPhone share is high enough that iOS device checks pay off. But South Asian and Latin American communities in Toronto and Vancouver live on WhatsApp, with Telegram close behind — effectively two separate outreach paths inside one country.
FAQ
How many digits is a Canadian phone number?
Ten: a three-digit area code plus seven digits, or eleven with +1 — identical to the US. Canada has its own set of codes: 416, 647 and 437 for Toronto, 604 and 778 for Vancouver, 514 and 438 for Montreal. Length cannot separate the two countries; only the area code can.
How do I separate Canadian numbers from US numbers?
Look up the three-digit area code. The numbering plan assigns each code to a specific province or state, so 604, 514, 613 and 403 are Canadian while 212, 310 and 312 are American. Country code and length are identical, and skipping this step means reporting two markets as one.
What should I watch for when messaging Canadians?
CASL requires express or implied consent before a commercial message, plus sender identification and a working unsubscribe, and penalties are severe. Quebec adds a language requirement: numbers on 514, 438 and 418 should receive French content rather than a default English send.
Nearby markets
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Submit numbers for this market after signup, or integrate in bulk through the API.
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