Worker guide
Phone plans for people arriving in Canada to work: a short guide
Why does a Canadian number matter in your first week?
Your employer needs a local number for payroll and shift messages. Your bank texts a code to it to open the account your pay goes into. Landlords and rental sites expect one too. Having the number before you land means you can set all of that up from home instead of in a queue at arrivals.
Which plan should a worker choose?
Fido 75 GB for $35 a month is enough for maps, messaging and daily video calls home. Rogers 100 GB for $40 adds a mobile hotspot, handy if you work from a laptop before your home internet is installed. Rogers 120 GB for $50 includes US calling and roaming, which suits jobs near the border or trips across it.
All three are month to month with no contract, so you can change plans once you know your routine.
Do I need a Canadian credit history or a SIN?
No. These plans are ordered before you arrive, with no credit check and no SIN. You order with your name, email, arrival date and the plan you want. If the carrier needs to see your passport or permit, your advisor asks you for it.
What about home internet when you find a place?
When you have an address in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba or Saskatchewan, the same advisor can book home internet with free installation and no upfront payment, usually within about 3 days of your call.
