How to get a phone plan with no Canadian credit history

Why do phone companies check your credit?

On a postpaid (monthly) plan, you use the service first and pay later. Many people also pay off a phone over 24 months. The carrier is trusting you with money, so it checks your credit first.

Koodo says on its newcomer page that “a credit check is required for all new postpaid customers.” Freedom Mobile says you need to run a credit check to activate a new monthly account.

A newcomer has no Canadian credit file. That does not mean you have bad credit. It means the carrier has nothing to look at. Carriers handle this in different ways, explained below.

A prepaid plan is different. You pay before you use the service, so there is no credit check. Learn more in how credit scores work in Canada.

What are your options with no credit history?

Prices and rules are from each carrier’s website as of November 2026. Check the carrier’s site before you sign up.

Is prepaid the easiest way to start?

For most newcomers, yes. Koodo says “credit checks are not required for Koodo Prepaid customers.” Freedom Mobile says its prepaid plans have “no credit check and no contract.” chatr’s plan page also says “no credit checks.”

As of November 2026, chatr listed 30 GB for $35 a month with Auto-Pay in Ontario, for new activations. Public Mobile listed 5G plans from $35 a month.

With prepaid, you keep your phone number when you move to a monthly plan later. You move it with a number transfer. See how to port your number.

How do security deposits work?

The CRTC Wireless Code is a mandatory code for all mobile providers. Section H covers deposits. If a provider asks you for a security deposit, it must:

• tell you the reasons for the deposit;
• write the conditions for getting it back in your contract;
• review whether it still needs the deposit at least once a year;
• return it with interest, minus anything you owe, no more than 30 calendar days after the contract ends or after you meet the return conditions.

Interest is the Bank of Canada’s overnight rate plus at least 1%. A provider may use the deposit to pay an overdue amount and ask you to top it up.

Example: Freedom Mobile’s deposit account

Freedom says you can open a deposit account if you do not meet its credit rules. As of November 2026 the choices were:

If you pay every bill on time for the first 6 months, Freedom refunds the deposit in month 7. If you are late during that time, it adds 6 more months, with a refund in month 13 after on-time payments. Deposit customers cannot use international roaming or conference calling until the deposit terms are complete.

Worked example: Amir brings his own unlocked phone and pays a $50 deposit. He pays on time for 6 months. In month 7 he gets $50 back as a bill credit, or by cheque if he asks.

What is a prepayment, and how is it different?

Freedom also uses a prepayment after a credit check. It is an amount you pay up front, based on your credit result, to get the plan and phone you want. Freedom says it “isn’t extra.” It goes back onto your bill in equal parts over 24 months, which lowers each bill.

A deposit is held and returned. A prepayment is used up on your bills. If you cancel early, Freedom applies what is left of the prepayment to any amount you owe.

Before you finance a phone, compare the total cost in finance or buy a phone.

Do newcomer plans skip the credit check?

Some carriers have plans for newcomers and accept foreign ID. They do not all say the credit check is skipped.

• Rogers asks for your passport plus a work or study permit, a PR card, or a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). It says phone financing is “on approved credit.”
• TELUS says it accepts valid international ID, such as a passport or proof of landed immigrant status, shown in store.
• Koodo accepts your study or work permit and a valid passport in store, but still runs a credit check on postpaid plans.

Rogers also says its Rogers Red Mastercard can give you a credit limit based on your home-country credit history. That is a credit card, not a phone plan. For ways to use your foreign credit record, see transfer your foreign credit history.

Do you need a SIN for a credit check?

No. The Government of Canada says you do not have to give your SIN to request a credit report or to apply for credit. It also says “you cannot be denied a product or service for refusing to provide your SIN when it is not legally required.” You can offer other ID, such as a passport.

Some carriers list other choices. Koodo’s in-store credit check takes a Canadian driver’s licence, a SIN, or a Canadian credit card, plus photo ID. Online, Koodo asks for a Canadian credit card and your SIN or driver’s licence. If you have none of these yet, prepaid is the simple route. See the full ID checklist for phone plans.

Prepaid now, postpaid later: what does it cost?

Here is a simple 12-month comparison, before tax, using prices on carrier sites on November 5, 2026:

The postpaid plan has more data, 5G and US use, so it is not a like-for-like match. The point is that starting on prepaid costs less while you learn how much data you need. Try the prepaid vs postpaid calculator with your own numbers.

Common mistakes

• Applying for several postpaid plans in one week. Ask what ID and checks each carrier needs first.
• Paying a deposit without getting the return conditions in writing.
• Cancelling your prepaid line before your number moves to the new carrier.

Common questions

Sources

• CRTC: The Wireless Code, simplified
• CRTC: Postpaid versus prepaid services (your rights)
• Government of Canada: Protecting your SIN
• Koodo: Credit check requirements
• Koodo: Newcomers to Canada
• Freedom Mobile: How to activate Freedom service
• Freedom Mobile: About the deposit program
• Freedom Mobile: About prepayment
• Rogers: Welcome to Canada (newcomers)
• Rogers: Plans for newcomers
• TELUS: Newcomers to Canada
• chatr: Prepaid plans
• Public Mobile: Plans

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