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The short answer
With no Canadian credit history, the simplest start is a prepaid plan, which you pay for before you use it and which needs no credit check. If you want a monthly postpaid plan, a carrier may ask for a security deposit; the CRTC Wireless Code says it must tell you why, put the conditions for return in the contract, review it at least yearly and return it with interest (CRTC, modified June 2026). Bringing your own unlocked phone avoids a device subsidy and with it any early cancellation fee.
Why credit matters for a phone
A postpaid phone plan is a form of credit: the carrier provides service first and bills you later, and on a financed handset it lends you the value of the phone. With no Canadian history, carriers have little to go on. Many newcomers are surprised to be asked for a deposit or offered only a basic plan. The good news is that Canada's national rules for wireless contracts, the CRTC's Wireless Code, protect you in several ways.
Your three options
| Option | How it works | What to weigh |
|---|---|---|
| Prepaid | You pay in advance; service runs while there is balance or an active period | No bill, no deposit; check what happens to unused balance and how long you have to top up |
| Postpaid with a deposit | Monthly bill; the carrier holds a security deposit | Deposit is returned with interest under the Code; you build a payment record with the carrier |
| Bring your own phone on a plan | Use an unlocked phone you already own; no financed handset | Without a subsidised device, the Code says no early cancellation fee may be charged |
Carriers and their flanker brands set their own prepaid prices, plans and deposit policies, and these change. Compare them on their own sites and in store; the rules below are what all of them must follow.
What the Wireless Code says about deposits
- If a provider requires a deposit, it must tell you the reasons, keep a record of them and set out in the written contract the conditions for getting it back.
- It must review whether keeping the deposit is still appropriate at least once a year.
- It must return the deposit with interest, keeping only any amount you owe, within 30 calendar days of the contract ending or the return conditions being met.
- Interest is based on the Bank of Canada's overnight rate in effect at the time plus at least 1%.
- It may apply the deposit to amounts past due and ask you to top it back up.
Ask at sign-up what the return conditions are, for example a period of on-time payments, and write the date in your calendar so you can ask for the review.
Prepaid rules worth knowing
The Code says a provider must tell you all conditions and fees that apply to your prepaid balance. When your period ends, it must give you at least seven calendar days to top up at no charge, and topping up keeps the account active with any existing balance. That matters if you travel to Nigeria for a few weeks: know your plan's expiry before you fly.
Trials, cancellation and disconnection
- Trial period. Where a contract has an early cancellation fee, the provider must offer a trial of at least 15 calendar days from the date service begins (30 days if you identify as having a disability). You can cancel without penalty if you used less than the permitted usage and return any device in near-new condition.
- Cancelling. You can cancel at any time by notifying the provider, and cancellation takes effect the day it receives notice. The early cancellation fee cannot exceed the device subsidy and must reduce each month; without a subsidised device, no early cancellation fee is allowed.
- Disconnection. A postpaid service can be cut off for non-payment only if the past-due amount is over $50 or more than two months old, and with at least 14 calendar days' notice. Failing to provide a reasonable deposit when asked can also lead to disconnection.
Watch for fake carrier calls
New customers are a target for impersonation. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre warns about unexpected calls, texts or emails offering a discount, an upgraded plan or a new device, often with pressure to act quickly. Its advice: if someone says they are from your service provider, end the call and contact the company directly, and never share passwords, PINs, security codes or multi-factor codes.
Keeping your Nigerian number
Your Canadian number is for Canada; your Nigerian number is still how many Nigerian banks send one-time codes and how family reach you on WhatsApp. Plan how you will keep it alive: see keeping a Nigerian SIM active from Canada and moving your Nigerian number to an eSIM.
What to check first
- Is your current phone unlocked and compatible with Canadian networks?
- Would prepaid cover you until you have a few months of history?
- If a deposit is asked for, what are the written return conditions?
- Do you know your trial period end date?
- How will you keep receiving Nigerian bank codes?
Where Pryme fits
Pryme does not use SMS codes. Security runs on an authenticator app and a transaction PIN, so your account does not depend on which SIM is in your phone that week (security). That is useful when your Nigerian line is on a different device or briefly lapsed. For the rest of your settling-in list, see your first 90 days of money in Canada.
Questions people ask
Can I get a phone plan in Canada without a credit history?
Yes. Prepaid plans need no credit check, and carriers may offer postpaid plans with a security deposit.
Do I get my phone deposit back in Canada?
Under the CRTC Wireless Code, the deposit must be returned with interest, less anything you owe, within 30 days of the contract ending or the return conditions being met.
Is there a trial period for Canadian phone contracts?
Where a contract has an early cancellation fee, the provider must offer a trial of at least 15 calendar days.
What happens to my prepaid balance if I forget to top up?
The Code requires at least seven calendar days to top up at no charge after the period ends, keeping your existing balance.
Sources
- CRTC: The Wireless Code (modified 15 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre: Service fraud, including cellphone service provider fraud (modified 23 Jul 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.