As I prepared for my long-term travel adventure, one question that caused me quite a bit of confusion and stress was how to keep my Canadian phone number while being abroad.
Now, having navigated this process successfully, I aim to share valuable information on how to keep your Canadian phone number intact while travelling abroad for an extended period.
Now before I go over my current method of how I maintain my number I will say I did heavily look into other VOIP services such as Google Voice (only available for the US), and other apps.
From what I understand you can transfer your number from your current cell provider to one of these VOIP services which cost wayy less than other options.
I found this a bit confusing and I wanted to stick with a company I was familiar with which had a reliable customer care center in case I needed assistance.
What I do to keep my Canadian number and pay for
Here is what I did keeping my Canadian number while being abroad long-term
- I chose Freedom Mobile’s “Nationwide Talk + Text 1.5GB” plan, which costs about $20 CAD per month. This plan includes 1.5 GB of data, unlimited texts, and 100 minutes of talk within Canada, with affordable options for additional data and international calling. For the most current plan details and pricing, please refer to Freedom Mobile’s official website.
This particular plan allows me to keep my Canadian phone number active at a relatively low cost, which is essential for receiving SMS texts abroad—vital for two-factor authentication and maintaining access to Canadian services. It’s important to note that while receiving SMS texts is typically free, sending messages or making calls can incur additional charges.
- Receiving was free, but sending or calling will incur charges so this plan has worked well for me for when I need to verify using SMS.
Tip: Opt for an eSIM if possible! This allows you to maintain your home number and easily switch between data plans abroad without swapping physical SIM cards.
- Additionally, I use(d) Skype for unlimited calling to Canada and the U.S. This service costs approximately $4 per month and includes the ability to display my Canadian phone number as the caller ID. This feature is especially useful for making official calls back home while abroad. Check out Skype’s subscription plans for more details. Skype has now discontinued as of May 2025.
The cost in total to keep my phone number and receive texts for two-way verification is roughly $24 CAD per month which includes my Freedom Mobile plan as well as Skype.
How to get data in other countries
As I travel, I use the Airalo App to buy data plans for the countries I travel to or I buy physical sims depending on the cost.
I usually check the data plans and cost before I land at my next destination and purchase and download the E-sim through Airalo before my flight so that I can turn on the new data plan as soon as I land.
This has saved me a lot of hassle trying to connect to the free wifi offered at airports that sometimes ask you to enter your email address or other information.
If you’re planning a trip through Asia or Europe, purchasing data for each individual country on Airalo tends to be more cost-effective than opting for regional eSIMs.
When this method didn’t work
The only time this method hasn’t worked for me was in Malaysia where Freedom Mobile wasn’t able to ping to any towers.
During this time I was unable to do any two-way verification.
Summary
Adopting this method gave me peace of mind and a smooth process for handling two-way verification without relying on third-party applications.
It offered the convenience of easily making calls or sending texts in case of emergencies using my Freedom Mobile plan while travelling, giving me a reassuring sense of security throughout my solo journey.
Once I arrive back in Vancouver I plan to upgrade my plan to something that offers more calling and with a higher data plan.
Of course, this is only what’s worked for me and what I’ve been doing but if you have a better option or plan, leave me a comment below! 💛
Naomi
4 Responses
Thanks for the insight, Naomi! I just wanted to ask if you are also paying extra roaming charges for the Freedom number on top of the CAD 20.
Hi! I only used the Freedom plan mainly to maintain my Canadian number and to receive texts abroad for any verification texts 🙂 Hope this helps, cheers!
Hi
May I ask which area of the world you were travelling around and for how long? And did receiving any sms texts work flawlessly?
I only ask because I plan on going away for minimum 1 year, I just wonder if Freedom is able to detect I’m gone for that long and then they would suspend the phone number.
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