Having a Canadian cell number while living abroad for receiving authentication texts purposes
u/Koreancaisbabyr/expats21 oct 2025
Freedom Mobile, $99/year and use with wifi calling feature, you get calls and sms as if you were in Canada.
Yes—you can keep your Canadian number by porting it to a Canadian-capable internet phone provider, then receive calls and compatible texts through an app using your new U.S. plan’s data.
“I am a Canadian moving to the US soon and plan to get a US carrier plan. How can I keep my Canadian phone number to receive calls and texts without continuing to pay my current provider?”
Resumen
You do not have to keep paying your current Canadian carrier indefinitely. The important part is to transfer the number before canceling and to protect any bank or verification accounts that depend on SMS.
You have two realistic Canadian-number routes, while transferring the number directly onto an ordinary U.S. carrier line is not a workable route.
Port to VoIP.mspermanent move
This is the clearer route for a permanent U.S. move. VoIP.ms offers free Canadian number porting, with average completion around five business days; its pay-per-minute service starts at US$0.85 per month per , plus usage. SMS costs US$0.0075 per incoming or outgoing message if the number is SMS-compatible (VoIP.ms “Porting a Number,” “DID Portability,” current rates, and SMS-MMS pages).
Port to Fongo Mobileconditional
This conditional app-based route charges C$25 plus tax for the transfer, can take up to 10 business days, and lets you receive ordinary texts free over Wi-Fi or U.S. mobile data. Use it only if your number is eligible and Fongo Mobile’s Canadian-app-store and long-term-Canadian-resident/travel profile fits you (Fongo transfer and service pages).
Port directly to a U.S. carriernot portable
Canadian portability permits keeping a number when moving providers within the same exchange. A normal U.S. mobile carrier does not serve your Canadian exchange, so keep the Canadian number with a Canadian-capable service and use your new U.S. line for cellular data (Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2024-26, footnote 3).
A moves the number—it does not copy it—so keep your Canadian service active until the new provider confirms completion.
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Watch out for
Do not cancel firstKeep the Canadian line active until the transfer finishes. The CRTC expressly says not to cancel before switching, and VoIP.ms says disconnected numbers or numbers scheduled for cancellation cannot be ported (CRTC, “Switch providers and keep your number”; VoIP.ms, “Porting a Number”).
Approve the transfer quicklyWatch your existing Canadian SIM and email after submitting the request. VoIP.ms gives you 90 minutes to approve a Canadian wireless port; Fongo’s process says to respond within 30 minutes (VoIP.ms and Fongo porting instructions).
Bank texts may not arriveVoIP.ms says delivery of , including two-factor authentication messages, is not guaranteed. Before porting, move important accounts to your new U.S. mobile number or another verification method accepted by each account (VoIP.ms SMS-MMS).
Fongo is conditionalFongo Mobile is available through Canadian app stores and says it is intended for long-term Canadian residents using it while travelling abroad. Its World Edition is a separate service that does not accept number transfers, so VoIP.ms is the clearer route for a permanent U.S. move (Fongo Mobile; Transfer Existing Number to Fongo Mobile).
Receive-only Fongo use can go dormantFongo says incoming calls and messages do not count as account activity. A number transferred from another carrier gets five years rather than 120 days before automatic deletion, so do not leave the account receive-only indefinitely (Fongo Dormant Account Policy).
Próximos pasos
These steps preserve your Canadian number while moving everyday mobile service to your new U.S. plan.
Before leaving or canceling
Keep the Canadian line active and gather its details
Do not cancel or schedule cancellation. The CRTC says the new provider handles the number transfer, while VoIP.ms requires the number to remain active and unscheduled for cancellation.
Requisitos
Active Canadian phone service
Current carrier account number
Exact account-holder name and billing address
Account PIN or other authorization details, if used
Recommended permanent-move route
Start the VoIP.ms port for a permanent move
In the VoIP.ms customer portal, open “DID Numbers,” choose “DID Portability,” and select “Start Procedure.” Porting is free, the stated average is five business days, and pay-per-minute service starts at US$0.85 per month per DID plus usage. After completion, enable SMS only if the transferred DID displays the SMS/MMS icon.
Requisitos
VoIP.ms account
Account balance above US$0
Active Canadian number and current-provider details
Conditional alternative
Use Fongo instead only if its profile fits
Create the Fongo Mobile account and submit the transfer through Fongo’s official “Transfer existing number to Fongo Mobile” process at https://support.fongo.com/hc/en-us/articles/4417042248084-Transfer-existing-number-to-Fongo-Mobile-Port-in. Fongo states that the transfer may take up to 10 business days.
Requisitos
Fongo Mobile downloaded through a Canadian app store
Eligible number based in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, or Saskatchewan
Active current service
C$25 plus tax
When the authorization arrives
Approve the transfer immediately
Answer the authorization request as soon as it arrives. VoIP.ms states a 90-minute Canadian wireless approval window; Fongo’s instructions state 30 minutes. Continue paying the old provider until the port is complete, because losing service early can stop the transfer.
Requisitos
Access to the current Canadian SIM
Access to the email associated with the port request
After the port completes
Move calls, texts, and verification safely
Use the app over Wi-Fi or your U.S. plan’s data for Canadian-number calls and supported texts. Update banks and other important services to your U.S. mobile number or another accepted verification method because VoIP.ms does not guarantee short-code or two-factor SMS delivery; if using Fongo, do not leave the account receive-only for years because incoming calls and messages do not count as activity.
Requisitos
New U.S. carrier plan with mobile data
Selected provider’s calling app
Access to accounts currently using the Canadian number
Otras personas que pasaron por esto
You are not the first to go through this. Here is how it went for others who asked the same thing.
Moving from Canada to UK and exploring VOIP.MS to keep phone number
u/VanCityJohnr/VOIP12 oct 2025
I’ve been using voip.MS for well over 10 years. Been happy with the service they provided. Especially the ability of having ported mobile phones receive SMS text messages. Has been a godsend for two factor authentication often required by Canadian or US accounts.
Fuentes legales
This answer uses the CRTC’s portability rules and the official current instructions from VoIP.ms and Fongo.
Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2024-26
Canadian number portability works within the number’s existing exchange, which is why a standard U.S. mobile line cannot simply take over the Canadian number.
Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2024-26
footnote 3
LNP and WNP permit customers to retain their number when moving to a new telecommunications service provider within the same exchange.
CRTC: Switch providers and keep your number
The new provider initiates the transfer, and the old service must remain active first.
CRTC: Switch providers and keep your number
Most importantly, do not cancel your service before you switch to the new provider. Tell your new phone provider that you want to keep your number. They will take care of the transfer for you – they’ll ask for some personal details to set up your account and ask you which services you want to keep, remove or change.
VoIP.ms: Porting a Number
VoIP.ms can port Canadian numbers without a porting charge, provided the existing number remains active.
VoIP.ms: Porting a Number
Important Information
Porting is FREE across Canada and US48. The number(s) you are looking to port must be active with the losing carrier. Disconnected numbers or numbers scheduled for disconnection/cancellation are not eligible to be ported.
VoIP.ms: DID Portability
VoIP.ms requires a positive account balance and states its average porting time.
VoIP.ms: DID Portability
You must have an account balance greater than $0.00 in order to start the porting process. Currently, the average processing time for a number port is an average of 5 business days.
VoIP.ms: SMS-MMS
SMS works only on compatible numbers, costs per message, and may not reliably receive bank or other short-code verification texts.
VoIP.ms: SMS-MMS
SMS Feature is only available for US and Canadian DID Numbers and toll-free numbers marked with the distinctive SMS/MMS icon. Please note that the delivery of Short Code SMS messages cannot be guaranteed by VoIP.ms. This includes 2FA authentication SMS messages. SMS Messages have a cost of $0.0075 per incoming and outgoing message.
VoIP.ms Current Rates
VoIP.ms has a small recurring number charge plus per-minute usage rather than requiring the old carrier plan.
VoIP.ms Current Rates
Pay Per Minute Plans from $0.85 / month per DID. Incoming Calls $0.009 / minute. Outgoing Calls $0.005 / minute. Unlimited Plans from $4.25 / month per DID. Incoming Calls $0 / minute. Outgoing Calls $0.005 / minute. All prices are in US dollars.
Fongo: Transfer Existing Number to Fongo Mobile
Fongo states its transfer price and maximum processing estimate.
Fongo: Transfer Existing Number to Fongo Mobile
Fongo Mobile Phone Number Transfer has a one-time fee of $25 + tax. Phone number transfers to Fongo Mobile can take up to 10 business days to complete.
Fongo Mobile
Fongo can receive ordinary texts without a per-message incoming charge.
Fongo Mobile
All incoming text messages are free to receive.
Fongo FAQ
Fongo can operate in the United States through Wi-Fi or the data connection on the user’s U.S. plan.
Fongo FAQ
Nearly all Fongo services can be used anywhere in the world with an unrestricted internet connection.
Fongo Mobile
Fongo Mobile describes who the app is designed for and where it can be downloaded.
Fongo Mobile
Fongo Mobile is only available through the Canadian App Store and Google Play Store. Fongo Mobile is intended for long term Canadian residents and for use while travelling abroad.
Fongo Dormant Account Policy
A ported Fongo number receives a longer dormancy period, but merely receiving calls or messages does not keep it active.
Fongo Dormant Account Policy
This extends the automatic deletion date from 120 days of inactivity to 5 years (1827 days). Incoming calls do not count as account activity. Incoming messages do not count as account activity.
Fongo: Transferable Phone Numbers
Fongo’s transfer coverage is limited geographically and remains number-specific.
Fongo: Transferable Phone Numbers
The phone number must be based in the following provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan.
These are the regulator’s and providers’ official rules and rates as published on the cited dates; rules, coverage, and prices can change.
This is general information about official processes, not legal advice, and SettleKit is not a law firm.
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