Canada Calling Code: +1
Complete guide to calling Canada — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.
How to Call Canada from Abroad
📞 Step-by-Step Dialing Guide
- Dial your country's exit code (e.g. 011 from US, 00 from most countries, + from mobile)
- Dial +1 — the country calling code for Canada
- Dial the local phone number (area code + subscriber number)
About Canada Calling Code
To reach Canada from another country, first dial the international calling code +1 — assigned by the ITU — followed by the local number. Canada is located in North America, in Northern America.
The +1 prefix comes from ITU-T E.164, the numbering standard that keeps Canada's phone network addressable from anywhere in the world. Because Canada sits in Northern America, its code is grouped with the surrounding countries rather than shared randomly.
Where the +1 Calling Code Is Used
The country code +1 is assigned to Canada, located in Northern America, with the capital Ottawa. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to Canada from outside the country.
When a number is written as +1 …, the +1 prefix directs your call to the Canada national network. After the prefix, dial the area code without its leading zero, then the subscriber number — the same pattern for landlines and mobiles.
ITU-T E.164 groups calling codes by world region; codes beginning with 1 cover the part of the world that includes Canada, in Northern America. Storing numbers with +1 and omitting the domestic leading zero keeps contacts dialable from anywhere.
The country code +1 is shared with United States, American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guam, Jamaica, Montserrat, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands. After dialing +1, the following digits (area code + subscriber number) route the call to the correct country, so you must always include the full national number.
Canada Phone Number Formats
The ITU E.164 format for Canada numbers is +1 + area code + subscriber number, used for landlines and mobiles alike. Here is the general structure:
📱 Number Structure
- International format: +1 [area code] [subscriber number]
- From abroad: exit code + +1 + local number (drop the trunk prefix 0)
- Within Canada: dial the local number directly
Numbering plans come in two shapes: open plans allow variable-length numbers with a trunk prefix, closed plans fix the length everywhere. Canada follows the published pattern +1 (XXX) XXX-XXXX. Either way the rule for calling in from abroad is identical: replace the trunk prefix with +1.
Time Zone in Canada
The local time in Canada follows the America/Toronto time zone (UTC-05:00 UTC). Check the time difference before you dial so your call arrives during waking hours.
Time differences matter when calling Canada: if it is UTC-05:00 there, a morning call from Europe may reach Ottawa in the afternoon, while callers in the Americas should check the offset to avoid late-night calls.
If Canada observes daylight saving time, its UTC offset shifts by an hour twice a year. Double-check the current offset before time-sensitive calls, especially in spring and autumn.
Best Time to Call Canada
Business hours in Canada run roughly 09:00–18:00 local time. Because Canada sits at UTC-05:00, the window in which it is polite to call lands at a different hour for every caller. The table below converts Canada's working day into your own clock — and shows the hours to avoid so you do not wake anyone up.
| If you are in | Call Canada between | Avoid calling between |
|---|---|---|
| London | 14:00–23:00 | 04:00–12:00 |
| New York | 09:00–18:00 | 23:00–07:00 |
| Los Angeles | 06:00–15:00 | 20:00–04:00 |
| Sao Paulo | 11:00–20:00 | 01:00–09:00 |
| Dubai | 18:00–03:00 | 08:00–16:00 |
| Mumbai | 19:30–04:30 | 09:30–17:30 |
| Singapore | 22:00–07:00 | 12:00–20:00 |
| Sydney | 00:00–09:00 | 14:00–22:00 |
Times shown are standard time and ignore daylight saving, which shifts the clock by one hour in countries that observe it — around the clock change, add or subtract an hour from every figure above.
Emergency Numbers in Canada
If you need urgent help while in Canada, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside Canada.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 911 |
| Fire | 911 |
| Ambulance | 911 |
Example: Calling Canada Numbers in Practice
Here is how a typical call to Canada works, depending on where you are calling from:
🌍 From the United States or Canada
- Dial the US/Canada exit code 011
- Dial the Canada country code +1
- Dial the local number (area code + subscriber number, without the trunk prefix 0)
Example: 011 +1 [area code] [number]
🌍 From the United Kingdom or Europe
- Dial the international access code 00 (or use the + symbol on mobile)
- Dial the Canada country code +1
- Dial the local number
Example: 00 +1 [area code] [number], or +1 [area code] [number] from any mobile phone
If the local number begins with a trunk prefix (commonly 0), remove it when dialing internationally — +1 takes its place. The remaining digits are dialed exactly as written.
Calling Canada from Major Countries
International exit codes differ by country. These are the ones most often used to reach Canada (+1):
| Calling From | Exit Code | Full International Dialing |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 011 | 011 1 [local number] |
| Mexico | 00 | 00 1 [local number] |
| United Kingdom | 00 | 00 1 [local number] |
| Brazil | 00 | 00 1 [local number] |
| Germany | 00 | 00 1 [local number] |
| India | 00 | 00 1 [local number] |
| Philippines | 00 | 00 1 [local number] |
On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +1 followed by the local number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the calling code for Canada?
The international calling code for Canada is +1.
How do I call Canada from the United States?
Dial 011 (US exit code), then +1, then the local phone number.
How do I call Canada from the United Kingdom?
Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +1, then the local phone number.
Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?
Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +1 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.
How do I call within Canada?
If you're already in Canada, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +1 for domestic calls.
What is the capital of Canada?
The capital of Canada is Ottawa. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +1 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.
What are the emergency numbers in Canada?
Police: 911, Fire: 911, Ambulance: 911. These numbers are only valid inside Canada.
Which other places use the calling code +1?
The code +1 is shared with United States, American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guam, Jamaica, Montserrat, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands. The digits after the country code route the call to the right destination.
Is Canada a country?
Yes — Canada is a sovereign state, whose capital is Ottawa, and +1 is its international calling code.
Canada Mobile Phone Prefixes & Domestic Dialing
Mobile phone numbers in Canada typically use the following prefixes:
- Most Canadian mobile numbers share area codes with landlines
- No dedicated mobile prefix
Canada City / Area Codes
Major cities in Canada and their local area codes (dial these after the country code +1 when calling from abroad):
| City | Area Code(s) |
|---|---|
| Toronto | 416, 437, 647 |
| Vancouver | 604, 236, 672, 778 |
| Montreal | 438, 514 |
| Calgary | 403, 587, 825, 368 |
| Ottawa | 343, 613, 753 |
| Edmonton | 780, 587, 825, 368 |
| Winnipeg | 204, 431, 584 |
| Quebec City | 367, 418, 581 |
| Halifax | 782, 902 |
| Victoria | 236, 250, 672, 778 |
Note: Drop any leading "0" when dialing from abroad. Example: Toronto 416 becomes +1 416 + local number.
From the United States, a call to Toronto is dialed as 011 +1 416 [local number].
Other Countries in North America
Nearby countries and their calling codes:
Calling Canada from United States or Anguilla works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +1, then the local number. Within North America, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.