Canada: SMS delivery facts
SMS to Canada uses calling code +1. Alphanumeric sender IDs are not supported and not reliably delivered; A2P traffic typically runs over long codes or short codes instead. Charset is GSM-7 with extension caveats: French accents like é fit GSM-7 while œ does not, yielding 160-character single segments or 153 concatenated.
| Country calling code | +1 (ITU-T E.164 assigned country codes, retrieved 2026-07-27) |
|---|---|
| E.164 format | +1 followed by the national subscriber number, no leading trunk zero, 15 digits maximum overall (ITU-T E.164) |
| Alphanumeric sender ID | not supported (per Canadian carrier A2P messaging practice, retrieved 2026-07-26) |
| Registration regime | carrier-specific practice |
| Dominant language(s) | English/French |
| Native-text charset | GSM-7 (with caveats) — 160 characters per single SMS, 153 per concatenated segment (GSM 03.38 default alphabet vs script analysis, retrieved 2026-07-27) |
| Published smsroute rate | USD 0.016 per message, dated snapshot (source, retrieved 2026-07-27). Current rate and send path: rate card for Canada |
Sender-ID rules
Alphanumeric sender IDs are not reliably delivered; A2P traffic typically runs over long codes or short codes instead. (per Canadian carrier A2P messaging practice, verified 2026-07-26)
Alphanumeric sender IDs are classed under an other regime per Canadian carrier A2P messaging practice and are not reliably delivered, so traffic typically uses long codes or short codes. Primary languages English/French map to GSM-7 with extension caveats. French accents like é fit GSM-7; œ does not, preserving standard GSM-7 segment sizes.
Character set and message length
Native English/French text is classed as GSM-7 (with caveats) here: 160 characters fit a single SMS and 153 per segment once a message is concatenated.
French accents like é fit GSM-7; œ does not.
To count segments for a concrete message, use the UDH segment surgeon; to compare all 40 countries side by side, the country requirements explorer reads the same open dataset (CC-BY 4.0).
Every figure above is maintained by SMSRoute guides with a named source and retrieval date - the machine-readable copy for Canada lives in api/v2/countries.json (CC-BY), field-level provenance included.
Frequently asked
- Are alphanumeric sender IDs allowed for Canada SMS?
- Alphanumeric sender IDs are not-supported and not reliably delivered; A2P traffic typically runs over long codes or short codes instead.
- What charset and segment lengths apply to Canada?
- Charset class is GSM-7 with extension caveats. French accents like é fit GSM-7; œ does not. Segments are 160 single / 153 concatenated.
- What is the calling code and published rate for Canada?
- Calling code is +1. Published rate is 0.016 USD (retrieved 2026-07-27).
- How do I test SMS delivery to Canada without a local SIM?
- Delivery-testing services send messages to real local Canadian numbers so you can confirm handset delivery. SMSRoute accounts include free test credits that prove delivery without needing your own SIM in Canada.
- Can I use my company name as the sender for SMS to Canada?
- Alphanumeric sender IDs (such as a company name) are not reliably delivered; A2P traffic in Canada typically runs over long codes or short codes instead.
Related
- DLR status codes behind Canada delivery reports
- Metrics to check before trusting a Canada route
- Czechia: SMS delivery facts
- Denmark: SMS delivery facts
- Egypt: SMS delivery facts
- Sender ID (glossary)
- GSM-7 (glossary) · UCS-2 (glossary)
- All 40 country fact sheets
Facts on this page are dated snapshots with named sources; rates change — the linked rate card is authoritative. Corrections: ops@smsroute.cc. Last verified 2026-07-27.