What ID Do You Need for a Canadian Phone Plan?

Key takeaways

Prepaid: bring your passport. chatr says you “may need it” for SIM registration at the airport.
Monthly plans: photo ID plus something for the credit check. Koodo accepts a Canadian driver’s licence, SIN or Canadian credit card.
Rogers asks newcomers for a passport plus a permit, PR card or COPR.
Freedom’s credit check needs government photo ID and a major Canadian credit card.
You never have to give your SIN to a phone company. Offer other ID.

The short checklist

Passport (valid). Koodo, Rogers, TELUS and chatr name it on their pages. Freedom asks for valid government-issued photo ID.
Immigration document: work or study permit, PR card, or COPR. Rogers and Koodo ask for these from newcomers.
A way to pay: a credit card, Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard. Some sign-ups need a Canadian credit card.
A Canadian address. Freedom says you must live in its coverage area to open an account.
Your phone’s IMEI if you bring your own phone. Dial *#06# to see it.
Optional: a Canadian driver’s licence or SIN. These help with some credit checks, but are never required by law for a phone plan.

What each carrier asks for

From each carrier’s own pages, as of November 2026:

Carrier and plan type	Photo ID	For the credit check
Koodo postpaid, in store	One of: passport (Canadian or foreign), PR card, work visa, Canadian driver’s licence, provincial photo ID, and others	One of: Canadian driver’s licence, SIN card or letter, or Canadian credit card
Koodo postpaid, online	–	Canadian credit card, plus your SIN or Canadian driver’s licence
Koodo prepaid	–	No credit check
Freedom Mobile postpaid	Valid government-issued photo ID	A major Canadian credit card
Freedom Mobile prepaid	–	No credit check; visitors from outside Canada can join
Rogers (newcomers)	Passport plus a work or study permit, PR card or COPR	Financing is “on approved credit”
TELUS (newcomers)	Valid passport or proof of landed immigrant status, shown in store	–
chatr prepaid at Pearson airport	Passport or government ID; “you may need it”	No credit check

A dash (–) means the carrier’s page does not say. Ask the store before you go.

One Koodo rule surprises people: a driver’s licence cannot be used as both the photo ID and the credit check item. Bring a second document.

What to bring, by situation

You are	Bring
An international student	Passport and study permit; a Canadian bank card once you have one
A temporary worker	Passport and work permit
A new permanent resident	Passport and COPR, or your PR card when it arrives
A visitor	Passport; choose prepaid

Bring the original documents. TELUS and Koodo say international ID must be shown in store.

Should you give your SIN to a phone company?

You do not have to. The Government of Canada says businesses asking for your SIN is “strongly discouraged, but not illegal.” It also says you cannot be refused a product or service for not giving it when the law does not require it. Explain politely that it is not required, and offer a passport or driver’s licence.

Get your SIN for work and taxes, not for your phone. See how to get a SIN.

Which payment cards work?

Koodo online orders need a Canadian credit card.
Freedom’s credit check needs a major Canadian credit card.
chatr top-ups can be paid by credit card, Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard, or chatr top-up cards sold in stores.

If you only have a foreign card, a prepaid plan paid with top-up cards, or a store visit, is often easier. A newcomer bank account with a debit card helps. See the ID you need to open a bank account.

Other rules you may meet

Age: Freedom requires the age of majority in your province: 19 in British Columbia, 18 in Alberta and Ontario.
Where you live: Freedom says you must live in its coverage area to open an account.
Verification calls: Koodo says that if it needs to verify your order, it tries to reach you by phone over 3 days, then by email.
In store vs online: TELUS and Koodo say international ID must be shown in store. Online sign-up usually needs Canadian documents.

How to protect your ID when you sign up

Sign up in the carrier’s own store, at an authorized dealer, or on the carrier’s official website.
Never send photos of your passport or permit to someone who contacts you first by text, WhatsApp or social media.
Ask the store what they will copy or scan, and why.
Keep your account PIN private. Someone with your ID and PIN could move your number to their SIM.

Read about common tricks in banking scams that target newcomers.

If you do not have the right ID yet

Start with prepaid. It needs no credit check and you can keep the number later. Then move to a monthly plan once you have a Canadian bank account or credit card. Read how to get a phone plan with no credit history.

Common questions

Can I get a phone plan with just my passport?

Yes for most prepaid plans. For a monthly plan you usually also need a work or study permit, PR card or COPR, and something for the credit check.

Do I need a SIN for a phone plan?

No. You never have to give your SIN to a phone company. Koodo, for example, also accepts a Canadian driver’s licence or Canadian credit card for its credit check.

Can I use a foreign credit card?

Koodo online orders and Freedom credit checks need a Canadian credit card. Prepaid top-ups with chatr also accept Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard.

Do I need a Canadian address?

Freedom says you must live in its coverage area to open an account. Other carriers’ pages do not say, so ask the store before you go.

Can tourists or visitors get a Canadian SIM?

Yes. Freedom says visitors from outside Canada can join on prepaid, and chatr sells prepaid eSIMs for visitors.

Sources

Checked against these sources on November 5, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

What ID do you need to get a phone plan in Canada?