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Sharing the open border, the US and Canada have a unique and close relationship. Today, over 1 million Americans live in Canada . They frequently use telephone calls to connect with friends and families across the border.


Despite frequent use, many people still struggle when calling Canada from the US, as it involves different unique phone prefixes and codes. Even a small mistake can lead to connectivity issues.


Steps By Steps Guidelines to Call Canada from the US

To call Canada from the US, simply dial the Canada country code (1), the relevant Canadian area code, and your recipient’s phone number.
 

  1. Dial 1, the Canadian Country Code
    Enter the Canada country code, which is 1. It routes your phone calls to Canada.

     

  2. Enter the 3-digit Area Code
    Enter the 3-digit area code of the place where you desire to make a phone call. It directs your call to the specific region within Canada.

     

  3. Dial the 7-digit Phone Number
    Finally, dial the 7-digit phone number of the recipient you are calling. These are the unique numbers for the person or business you are calling.
     
Note: Generally, you need to dial the country exit code to make international calls from the US. This rule is not applied when dialing Canada from the US, as both are part of the NANP (North American Numbering Plan).

What are things to consider before Calling Canada from the US?

Before calling Canada from the US, consider the time zone differences and ensure you have the correct area codes of the area where you are calling.

Area Codes

Area codes are the first three-digit code of a phone number that identifies the specific geographical area of your call destination. You need to have the correct area code of the desired place where you want to make a phone call to ensure an accurate connection.

There are 40 geographic area codes and two non-geographic area codes, making a total of 42 area codes in Canada. Listed are the few popular area codes from all provinces of Canada.

 

S.N.

Province

Popular Area Codes

1Alberta825, 780, 587, 403
2British Columbia778, 604, 250, 236
3Manitoba431
4New Brunswick506
5Newfoundland and Labrador709
6Nova Scotia782
7Ontario905, 807, 705, 647, 613, 519, 437, 416, 365, 343, 289, 226, 249, 204
8Prince Edward Island902
9Quebec873, 819, 581, 579, 514, 450, 438, 418
10Saskatchewan639, 306

Cost

The cost of making calls from the US to Canada depends on different factors, including the service providers you are using. Most service providers charge high prices when making international calls. So, consider their costs before selecting your service carrier to avoid overcharge.
 

How do we reduce costs when calling Canada from the US?
 

You can use the internet calling or VoIP phone service to reduce call costs when calling Canada from the US.

 

  1. Use the VoIP Phone Number.
    Use the virtual phone numbers from Calilio to make economical international calls. These virtual numbers facilitate communication through the Internet, which makes it more affordable and cost-effective than the traditional phone line. Moreover, you can also get a free Canadian virtual number from Calilio as well as other reputable providers,  making them an ideal choice for both personal and business use.

     

  2. Download the free Messaging App.
    Different online messaging apps are available to facilitate free online calls. However, to make a call through a free messaging app, both the caller and receiver need to have the same messaging app. Examples of free messaging apps include WhatsApp, Viber, and Messenger.

Time Zone Differences

Canada and the US operate in distinct time zones. You need to understand these differences to ensure you connect with your Canadian friends or family at an appropriate time.

 

Canada spans 6 main time zones, each covering different regions. Among these, it shares the four time zones with the US.  Here are the different time zones followed by some popular cities in Canada and their relation to popular cities in the US.
 

  • Eastern Standard Time (EST): Major cities in both Canada (Toronto, Montreal, Quebec) and the US (New York City, Washington D.C., Philadelphia) follow EST, making no difference in time.
  • Central Standard Time (CST): Regions in Canada, such as Manitoba and Saskatchewan, along with the US cities like Houston, Dallas, and Chicago, follow the same CST.
  • Mountain Standard Time (MST):  Canadian provinces like Alberta share the MST time zone with the US states like Arizona and Colorado.
  • Pacific Standard Time (PST): Canadian cities like Columbia and Yukon share the PST time with the US cities like Washington and California.
  • Atlantic Standard Time (AST): The AST time zone covers the four Canadian states, including New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador. AST time zone is 1 hour ahead of the New York time (EST).
  • Newfoundland Standard Time (NST): Newfoundland and Labrador are the only cities that use the NST. The NST is 1.5 hours ahead of the New York (EST).

Conclusion

Unlike for other international calls, you don’t need to enter the US exit code when calling Canada from the USA. You only need to dial the Canadian phone prefixes - country code, area code, and local phone number in the correct sequence. This will accurately connect you to your desired recipient in Canada. However, be careful, as international call costs are typically high. So, consider using the virtual phone numbers from Calilio to call Canada from the US. Using our Canada phone numbers, you can make international calls to Canada from the USA at local cost.

You may also like: How to Call UK from the US?

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Canada country code 001 or 011?

The Canada country code is ‘+1’. Many countries use 00 as the exit code, so these countries dial 001 to connect to Canada.  Likewise, 011 is used by North American countries to call other countries.

Can I call Canada from a US phone?

Yes, you can call Canada from a US phone. Simply dial Canada’s country code ‘1’, the area code of your call destination, and the phone number of your desired recipient. 

What is Canada's country code for phones?

The country code for Canada is +1.

How do I make an international call to Canada?

To make an international call to Canada, dial your country’s exit code followed by the Canada country code, area code, and phone number.

How can you call Canada from the US for free?

You can use internet-based apps like WhatsApp or Skype to call Canada from the US for free.


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