Business phone numbers in Canada

Canada shares the North American Numbering Plan with the US. That means 10-digit local numbers, shared 800/888/877/866/855/844/833 toll-free ranges, and no separate mobile prefix. Most VoIP providers issue numbers to foreign businesses with no Canadian entity required.

Number types in Canada

Type	National format	E.164	Notes
Local	(416) 555 0142	+1 416 555 0142	10-digit NANP number: 3-digit area code plus 7-digit line number. Mobile and landline share the same format, as of July 2026.
National	N/A	N/A	Canada has no separate national non-geographic range distinct from area-coded numbers.
Mobile	(604) 555 0198	+1 604 555 0198	No dedicated mobile prefix. A 10-digit number can be a mobile or landline line, as of July 2026.
Toll-free	1-800 555 0123	+1 800 555 0123	800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 and 833 ranges are shared NANP-wide, not Canada-specific, as of July 2026.

Porting

The CRTC regulates porting through the Canadian Local Number Portability Consortium (CLNPC), which runs the NPAC database of every ported number. Simple local-exchange-to-local-exchange ports have a standard interval of 2 business days under Telecom Decision CRTC 2005-72, as of July 2026.

Ports involving multiple lines or non-standard setups take longer, with no single published regulatory ceiling. Complex business ports commonly run 5 to 10 business days in practice.

Do not cancel your old service before the port completes, or the number can be lost permanently. Account name and address must match the losing provider's records exactly, or the port is rejected and restarts the clock.

Requirements

·VoIP providers must register with the CRTC as a reseller (no owned network) or a CLEC (facilities-based), as of July 2026.
·No CRTC rule requires the end customer to hold a Canadian legal entity or address to get a local or toll-free number. Commercial VoIP providers routinely issue Canadian numbers to foreign businesses instantly online.
·Providers carrying international traffic typically also need a Basic International Telecommunications Services licence, which is a provider-level requirement, not a customer one.

Compliance notes

·Emergency number is 911. CRTC Decision 2007-44 requires all VoIP providers to offer 911 routed correctly to the local PSAP, and to disclose service limitations (no service in a power or internet outage) at sign-up, as of July 2026.
·Call recording is federal one-party consent under Criminal Code s.184(2)(a): legal to record if you are a participant. Quebec's privacy law (Law 25) layers extra purpose-limitation and transparency duties on top of the federal rule.
·Next-generation, IP-based 911 networks must be in place by 31 March 2027 under Telecom Regulatory Policy CRTC 2025-67.

Regulatory details verified July 2026 and re-checked quarterly. wlur offers numbers in Canada; add one from the app in about a minute.

Frequently asked questions

Can a US company get a Canadian phone number?

Yes. Canadian numbering rules do not require a Canadian legal entity. Most VoIP providers issue local or toll-free Canadian numbers to foreign businesses with no local address needed, as of July 2026.

How long does porting a business number take in Canada?

Simple ports have a 2 business day regulatory standard. Multi-line or complex business ports commonly take 5 to 10 business days, as of July 2026.

Do Canadian mobile numbers look different from landlines?

No. Canada has no separate mobile prefix. A 10-digit NANP number can belong to either a mobile or a landline line.

Are Canadian toll-free numbers Canada-specific?

No. 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, 844 and 833 ranges are allocated across the whole North American Numbering Plan. They are shared with the US and other NANP members.

Is call recording legal in Canada without telling the other party?

Federally, yes, under one-party consent. Quebec adds privacy-law obligations around purpose and transparency that apply on top of the federal rule.