Key points
For a two-week trip, first check whether your French plan includes data in Canada: if it does, there’s nothing to do. If it doesn’t, or you’re away one to four weeks, a travel eSIM costs less than roaming and keeps your French number active. If you’re staying more than a month, a Canadian prepaid SIM cost C$25 to C$35 a month in October 2026, plus tax.
- Canada isn’t in the EU, so roaming isn’t free by default, but several French plans now include data in Canada. Check yours before you leave.
- For a one- to four-week trip, a travel eSIM installs before you fly and keeps your French number active for bank text messages.
- If you’re staying more than a month, a Canadian prepaid SIM from a budget brand cost C$25 a month (about 5 GB) to C$35 (around 30 GB) in October 2026, plus tax.
- If you’re moving, get a Canadian plan without a phone: your employer and your landlord will both ask for a local number.
- A Canadian contract with early cancellation fees comes with a 15-day trial under the CRTC’s Wireless Code.
For a two-week trip, check your French plan first: several carriers now include data in Canada, in which case there’s nothing to do. If yours doesn’t, or you’re staying longer, a travel eSIM or a Canadian prepaid SIM costs far less than pay-as-you-go roaming. And if you’re moving to Canada, get a Canadian number in your first few days.
Does your French plan work in Canada?
Don’t assume your plan will work the way it does in Spain or Italy. Roaming inside the EU is regulated, so your plan works just as it does in France; Canada is outside the EU, so each carrier sets its own terms.
Before you leave, log in to your account and look for the “from abroad” or “included destinations” section. What you find there decides your next move:
- Canada is included with a data allowance: that’s the simplest option for a short trip. Note the amount, since it’s often smaller than what you get in France.
- There’s a Canada add-on or pass: compare its price with an eSIM for the same length of stay.
- Nothing is included: turn off data roaming before you land, or the bill climbs very fast.
Travel eSIM or prepaid SIM: which one?
A travel eSIM is a virtual SIM card you buy online and install by scanning a QR code. It usually gives you data only, with no Canadian number, but that’s often all you need for messaging apps, maps and bookings.
| Option | Best for | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| French plan including Canada | A few days to two weeks | How much data you can use in Canada |
| Travel eSIM | One to four weeks, road trips | That your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked |
| Canadian prepaid SIM | A month or more, or when you need a local number | Coverage outside cities if you’re heading to the parks |
The advantage of an eSIM is that it sits alongside your French SIM instead of replacing it: you keep receiving your bank’s text messages, which matters for approving online payments. Install it before you leave, but only activate it on arrival if its validity starts on activation.
If you’re staying more than a month, a Canadian prepaid SIM makes more sense, and it gives you a local number. For example, in October 2026 Chatr (on the Rogers network) and Lucky Mobile both listed prepaid plans at C$25 a month for about 5 GB and C$35 for around 30 GB, counting the auto top-up bonus. Those prices are for new customers, and tax is extra.
Moving to Canada: switching to a Canadian carrier
Whether you’re coming on a Working Holiday or a work permit, or moving for good, you’ll be asked for a Canadian number almost everywhere, from your employer to your landlord. Keep your French number too if you need it for two-factor authentication on French accounts, even if that means moving it to a cheap plan. Then:
- Arrive with an unlocked phone. That lets you pick a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) plan, meaning a plan with no phone attached. Without a Canadian credit history, carriers may refuse to finance a phone for you, so bringing your own sidesteps the problem. If you do get a phone from the carrier, it has to come unlocked.
- Compare the budget brands. The big carriers (Bell, Rogers, Telus) each run cheaper brands on their own networks, often with no contract. Chatr, for instance, uses the Rogers network.
- Check what’s included, then sign up: calls and texts to France, data in the US if you’re heading there, and coverage where you’ll live.
If you sign a contract with early cancellation fees, the Wireless Code from the CRTC (Canada’s telecom regulator) gives you a trial period of at least 15 days to cancel, as long as you haven’t used more than half of the plan’s monthly limits.
What’s different from France
Canadian plans generally cost more than French ones for less data. Don’t expect a €20 unlimited plan; size yours to what you actually use. Prices are also shown before tax, as everywhere in Canada, so add your province’s sales tax, explained in our guide to sales tax and tipping.
