What's the country calling code for Canada?

Need to call someone in Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal? When dialling a Canadian phone number from the UK, getting the 10-digit format right is essential.

This guide is designed to clear up any confusion. We explain the international code for Canada (+1), walk you through the exact dialling steps for both landlines and mobiles, and share tips on saving money and avoiding common mistakes, whether you’re calling from home or using a Revolut eSIM while travelling.

Understanding the international code for Canada

Making an international call requires a specific, multi-step sequence. The full sequence is essential to direct your call and ensure a successful connection.

The role of the international access code (00 or +)

Your call must begin with an international access code, also known as an exit code. This tells your phone company that the next digits are for a country outside of your own.

• Calling from a mobile phone: you should always start your sequence with +. This allows your phone company to redirect your call out of your country. Since most customers use mobile phones, this makes things simpler.
• Calling from a landline: you must start with 00 instead of +. This is the standard international exit code for the UK and many other countries.

The mandatory Canadian country code: 1

Immediately following your exit code, you must dial the country code. In this case, use the Canada dialling code, 1. Canada, the United States, and several Caribbean nations are all part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), meaning they share the same country code. This is the unique digital identifier assigned to them.

Whether you begin with the landline exit code or the mobile + symbol, the combined sequence is the international dialling code for Canada.

• Mobile full start: +1

Example: if the Canadian mobile number is 604 987 6543, you'd dial +1 604 987 6543.

• Landline full start: 00 1

Example: if the Canadian number is 416 123 4567, you'd dial 00 1 416 123 4567.

Understanding this format is the first step in mastering the correct Canadian phone number format.

How to call a Canadian phone number from the UK

Once you have the correct international prefix, the rest of the sequence is straightforward, as Canada doesn't use a domestic trunk code (like the 0 in some places). However, the area code is mandatory.

The comprehensive format you need to follow is:

1. UK exit code or +
2. Canada country code: 1
3. 3-digit area code
4. 7-digit local number

All calls to Canadian numbers, whether landline or mobile, must total 10 digits following the country code.

Dialling Canadian landlines and mobiles: area codes are mandatory

Unlike some numbering plans, Canada requires the 3-digit area code for all calls, even domestic ones. The number sequence is fixed, meaning landlines and mobile numbers follow the same international format.

For example, if your contact in Toronto provides the mobile number 647 912 3456, the correct international dialling code would be +1 647 912 3456. The number +1 acts as the universal phone code for Canada when reaching any line.

How to save your Canadian contacts

For seamless calling and messaging, especially when you're travelling or using apps, you should always save your Canadian contacts in the international format.

Always save the contact starting with the + symbol and the country code.

• Correct mobile save: +1 647 912 3456
• Correct landline save: +1 416 123 4567

This standard format ensures that apps and services correctly interpret the number, removing any need to manually adjust the format or exit code, regardless of your current location.

Why didn't my call to Canada work?

Common dialling mistakes

If you tried to call a Canadian contact and your call failed, you've most likely made a common dialling mistake. Even with the Canadian country code entered correctly, other small mistakes in the sequence can stop your call from going to plan.

Mistake 1: forgetting the mandatory 10-digit sequence

The most common error for international callers unfamiliar with the NANP system is trying to dial the local 7-digit number without the 3-digit area code. In Canada, all calls must be 10 digits (covering the area code and local number) after the country code.

Always verify and include the 3-digit area code, even if the person you're calling is using a mobile phone.

Correct: +1 416 912 3456.

Incorrect: +1 912 3456 (missing the area code).

Mistake 2: confusing the +1 country code with the country of origin

Since the NANP code is simple (+1), some people mistake it for their own country's access code or forget it entirely. Always remember that 1 is the country identifier for Canada.

If you're calling from a UK mobile, start with +1. If you're calling from a UK landline, start with 00 1. Never forget to include the country code, as your call won't route outside the UK if you do.

Mistake 3: the hidden costs of international calling

Even if your call connects, you might be shocked at how much it costs. If you're using a standard UK phone plan, calling Canada can incur significant per-minute charges.

Make sure you check your network provider's specific international calling rates to Canada before you dial. This is especially important if you're travelling to Canada from the UK. Relying on UK network roaming for calls and data in Canada is notoriously expensive, which leads many customers to seek alternatives. Our eSIM data plan for Canada offers a digital solution, allowing you to instantly buy data plans in-app and bypass those costly traditional roaming fees.

What's the best time to call Canada?

Canada is vast, spanning almost 5,000km East to West, which results in 6 major time zones. This makes time zone management a critical step before you dial your Canada dialling code. As a UK customer, you're typically 3.5–8 hours ahead of the person you're calling in Canada, depending on their province.

Navigating the 6 Canadian time zones

Canada observes the following major time zones:

• NST (Newfoundland Standard Time): UTC-3:30 (3.5 hours behind the UK)
• AST (Atlantic Standard Time): UTC-4 (4 hours behind the UK)
• EST (Eastern Standard Time): UTC-5 (Toronto, Montreal, 5 hours behind the UK)
• CST (Central Standard Time): UTC-6 (6 hours behind the UK)
• MST (Mountain Standard Time): UTC-7 (Calgary, Edmonton, 7 hours behind the UK)
• PST (Pacific Standard Time): UTC-8 (Vancouver, 8 hours behind the UK)

The impact of daylight savings time (DST) on UK calls

Most of Canada (except parts of Saskatchewan) follows daylight savings time. It usually changes to DST at the same time the UK changes to British Summer Time (BST). This means the time difference usually remains constant across the summer months.

Always confirm the current time in the specific Canadian city you're calling. For instance, calling someone in Vancouver at 9am UK time might wake them up, as it's 1am in Vancouver (PST/PDT), while calling at 3pm UK time reaches them at 7am in Vancouver​ — a much better time for catching someone.

When to call for business vs personal reasons

• Personal calls: the best time for people in the UK to call friends and family is usually late afternoon or early evening in the UK (4–8pm GMT/BST). This means it'll be late morning or early afternoon across most major Canadian cities like Toronto and Montreal (11am–3pm EST/EDT).
• Business calls: for professional communication, you should aim for the afternoon in the UK (1–5pm GMT/BST). This targets the core working hours for Canadian businesses (8am–12pm EST/EDT).

Other Canadian phone number types (toll-free and premium)

It's useful to know about 2 other types of numbers you might encounter, as Canada is part of the NANP:

• Toll-free numbers (800, 888, 877, etc.): these are primarily for business use within Canada and the wider NANP region. While they're free to call from a Canadian landline, calling them internationally using the international dialling code for Canada will likely incur charges.
• Premium numbers (900): these are specialised pay-per-call services. Calling these from the UK will involve significantly higher costs, and often the numbers may not connect at all due to international dialling restrictions.

Staying connected internationally: our eSIM for Canadian travel

If you're heading to Canada, managing your data and communication should be as easy as knowing the international code. Excessive data roaming charges are a thing of the past when you travel with us.

Eliminating roaming fees with a prepaid eSIM

Traditional roaming is expensive and unpredictable, and buying a local SIM card in Canada is inconvenient and involves physical insertion. Our eSIMs offer a digital solution that solves both problems.

A Revolut eSIM allows you to buy prepaid data packages in-app, without needing to buy a physical SIM card. This ensures you have high-speed data access the moment you land, eliminating the stress of searching for WiFi or a local mobile shop.

You can instantly top up your data plan in-app, keeping you connected for maps, messaging, and internet calling services without steep international charges.

Benefits beyond calling: data plans for Canadian travel

We offer flexible eSIM data plans that suit different travel durations and needs. Since Canada is covered under our global and North American plans, you have the flexibility to use data across multiple regions if you plan on visiting the US or other nearby areas.

• Our global eSIM: for customers travelling across North America and beyond, a North America or global eSIM plan might offer the most flexibility
• Our regional eSIM for Canada: if you're only exploring Canada, a local eSIM plan may be more cost-effective

Sending and managing money in Canada from the UK

Managing money across 2 continents can be challenging, especially given the distance between the UK and Canada and the difference in currency (CAD).

International money transfers: sending CAD seamlessly

If you need to send money to a Canadian bank account for accommodation, tuition, or supporting family, we simplify the process with international transfers. You can execute transfers directly from your Revolut account, with competitive exchange rates. This helps you easily manage your money across borders, ensuring your recipient receives the money from you as efficiently as possible.

Exchanging and spending: using your Revolut card in Canada

Canada is expensive, so it's important to get the best exchange rate you can on the Canadian dollar. Using a Revolut card can help you manage your budget effectively.

You can hold and exchange CAD at competitive exchange rates in-app. When you spend using your card in Canada, we automatically use the best available rate, so you aren't hit with the excessive fees that traditional banks often charge for foreign transactions.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What's the difference between +1 and 001?

Both +1 and 001 represent the country code of Canada. The difference is in how you dial them: 00 is the international exit code specifically for a UK landline, while the + symbol is the universal international access code for mobiles. For ease, always use +1 on a mobile phone.

Can I text a Canadian phone number using +1?

Absolutely. Text messaging follows the same format as voice calls. You must begin the number with +1 followed by the 10-digit number (3-digit area code and 7-digit local number).

What about calling small Canadian territories?

All Canadian territories and provinces, including the sparsely populated Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories, fall under the main +1 country code and operate using standard 3-digit area codes.

How to get started with Revolut

Ready to simplify your international travel and spending? Here's how you can use Revolut to stay connected and manage your money across the globe:

1. Sign up: open your account in minutes through the app
2. Order your card: get your physical card and instantly access global spending power with competitive exchange rates
3. Activate your eSIM: purchase and install your Revolut eSIM digitally to get data in Canada and over 100 countries, helping you avoid unexpected roaming charges
4. Send money seamlessly: make fast, cost-effective international transfers in CAD and many other currencies in-app

You can learn more about how Revolut is helping customers connect with our other regional calling guides, such as the calling code for Australia, the calling code for France, and the calling code for India.

Other guides are available for the calling code for Ireland, the calling code for Malaysia, the calling code for Mexico, the calling code for Nigeria, the calling code for the UK, and the calling code for US.

The information provided is accurate as of 10 October 2025.

Exchange fees, remittance fees, fair usage limits, and T&Cs apply.