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How to Call Canada From China? A Detailed Guide

a beautiful young women calling from china with a boy in Canada

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Canada and China have established a strong and enduring relationship, particularly in the trade sector. According to Global Affairs Canada, over 1.8 million Chinese nationals are residing in Canada, further solidifying the deep ties between the two nations.

Over the years, millions of international calls have been made between these two countries, either for business or personal purposes. Many Chinese people still struggle to connect calls due to their lack of knowledge of calling formats and the best time to call Canada.

Let’s learn how to call Canada from China, including dialing tips, the time zone difference, and calling costs.


Calling Canada From China: Dialing Instructions

Firstly, you must understand the Canadian international dialing formats before calling from China to Canada. This includes China’s exit code “00”, Canada's country code “1”, a 3-digit Canadian area code, and a 7-digit phone number.

Here, the Canadian phone number has 11 digits, including country and area codes. For calling Canada from China, both landline and mobile phone numbers follow the same dialing format.

For instance, The complete dialing format for Toronto (416) from China is 00 1 416 NXX XXX.

Here,
00” is China’s exit code
1” is Canada’s calling code.
416” is the Toronto area code
NIX XXX” is a 7-digit Canadian phone number

Navigating Calls to Canada from China: Key Steps

To call Canada from China, follow these simple steps for particular calling methods:

Dialing Canadian Landline Number

Step 1: Start by dialing China exit code “00”.
Step 2: Dial Canada’s country code “1” after the exit code.
Step 3: Next, enter the 3-digit Canadian area code you want to call. 
Step 4: At the end, dial a 7-digit Canadian phone number (XXX XXX).

The complete dialing format for Toronto seems like 00 1 416 XXX XXX.

Lists of Popular Area Codes in Canada

Currently, Canada has 41 area codes in use. Among these, the most popular ones are listed below:
 

Area Code

Major Cities

902Halifax, Dartmouth, Sydney, Truro
613Ottawa, Kingston, Belleville, Cornwall
604Vancouver, Surrey, Burnaby, Richmond
514Montreal, Laval, Longueuil
418Quebec City, Lévis, Saguenay, Rimouski
416, 437, 647Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton
403Calgary, Lethbridge, Red Deer
306Saskatoon, Regina
204Winnipeg, Brandon, Steinbach, Thompson

Dialing Canadian Mobile Number

Step 1: First, dial China exit code “00”.
Step 2: Press Canada’s country code “1” after the exit code.
Step 3: Next, enter a 3-digit Canadian area code (e.g., 647 for Ontario).
Step 4: At last, dial the 7-digit Canadian mobile number (XXX XXX).

For example, if you want to call a business or individual in Ontario with a mobile number of 123 4567 from China, you must dial 00 1 647 123 4567 or +1 647 123 4567.

Dialing Toll-Free Number

Calling a Canadian toll-free number can be a bit confusing since they use various 3-digit special codes instead of area codes. The toll-free prefixes include 800, 833, 844, 855, 877, and more. Canadian toll-free numbers also follow the same 10-digit format like dialing a Canadian mobile or landline number. Follow these simple steps to connect with Canadian toll-free numbers.

Step 1: Enter the China exit code - ‘011’.
Step 2: Dial the Canada country code - ‘1’.
Step 3: Enter the toll-free number prefix code (800).
Step 4: Dial the Canada toll-free number.

So, you must dial 00-1-800-123-4567 or +1-800-123-4567.

 

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Things To Consider Before Calling Canada From China

Understanding the best tips and considerations before calling Canada from China or making international calls is crucial for efficient and qualitative communication at a low cost. Here are some of the tips for calling Canada from China:
 

  • Consider using international calling cards, offers, or plans through a service provider to reduce calling fees.
  • Consider using VoIP services for secure, reliable, and cost-effective global communication since they use the Internet as their communication platform.
  • Be knowledgeable about the time difference between Canada and China for effective communication and avoid inappropriate international calls.
  • Ensure your number complies with national and international regulations, such as the Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules (UTR), the National Do Not Call List (DNCL), the Telemarketing Rules, and more, for smooth and legal communication.
  • Checking network connectivity and fixing poor connections ensures clear and qualitative international calls.

Time Zone Difference Between Canada and China

The time difference between Canada and China differs according to their respective time zones. Generally, the time difference ranges from 10.5 to 16 hours, with China being ahead of Canada. For instance, when it's 10:00 AM on Sunday in Ottawa, it would be 10:00 PM on Sunday in Beijing.

The table below provides the required information, clearly showing the time zones, descriptions, UTC offsets, and time differences with China.
 

Time Zone

Description

UTC Offset

Time Difference with China

China Standard Time (CST)Standard time across mainland China    UTC +8No time difference in China
Newfoundland Standard Time (NST)    Standard time in Newfoundland    UTC -2:3010.5 hours behind China
Atlantic Standard Time (AST)    Standard time in Atlantic provinces    UTC -3    11 hours behind China
Eastern Standard Time (EST)    Standard time in Ontario, QuebecUTC -4    12 hours behind China
Central Standard Time (CST)    Standard time in Central CanadaUTC -5    13 hours behind China
Mountain Standard Time (MST)    Standard time in AlbertaUTC -6    14 hours behind China
Pacific Standard Time (PST)Standard time in British ColumbiaUTC -715 hours behind China

Best Time To Dial Canada From China

The best time to phone Canada from China depends on the time zones in both countries and your purpose, i.e., business or personal. Generally, the most convenient time for business calls is typically in the evening in China, which corresponds to morning or early afternoon in Canada. This aligns with business hours in Canada, ensuring timely communication. 

How Much Does it Cost To Call Canada From China?

The calling cost to Canada from China varies between communication providers, as they use different calling methods and technologies. The international rates for calling Canada in general, as of 2024, are as follows:

 

Methods

Calling Rate 

Landline$0.27 to $0.94 CAD (1.4 to 4.98 CNY) per minute
Mobile$1.34 CAD (7 CNY) per minute
VoIP Services$0.13 to $0.27 CAD (0.4 to 1.4 CNY) per minute


These rates can fluctuate depending on the provider and any ongoing offers. Whether you are using traditional landlines, mobile services, or modern VoIP platforms, it's advisable to confirm the exact charges with your provider before making an international call.

Conclusion

Knowing the Canadian calling code, the international dialing format, and the time zone difference is crucial for successful calls from China to Canada. The international dialing format includes an exit code, a country code, an area code, and the receiver's phone number. 

As mentioned above, utilizing a VoIP platform can minimize the cost of calling from China to Canada. Consider choosing Calilio, which provides a free Canadian local number integrated with robust VoIP features for better communication. Sign up now to start making your business call to Canada.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it free to call Canada from China?

No, calling Canada from China is generally not free. The cost depends on your method, such as traditional landlines, mobile networks, or VoIP services. While international calling rates apply for landlines and mobiles, VoIP services like Skype or Calilio may offer more affordable rates.

What is the best way to call Canada from China?

Compared to traditional phone systems, VoIP is the better choice since it operates on the internet, which is more reliable, cost-effective, and secure. This ensures a better calling experience with clear, high-quality international calls. 


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