getting phone number before getting the physical sim card

[linhha55]

Hi! so I am  currently not in Canada right now but I will travel soon and I dont have a canada phone number and it need it for ArriveCAN. I saw that public mobile has the option to buy sim card online and if I purchase it before going to canada will it give me a phone number or i will have to activate the sim card with my phone ? Is there any way to get a phone number before physically have the sim card ? 

I need my real number since they have to call me everyday and I can not change the information after 

[hTideGnow]

I am using TextNow, too.  So far it's good. 

For receiving call for ArriveCAN purpose, I am pretty sure it will for well.   Would they send you text?  regular text should be find.  Not sure if those activation/2FA type will work on TextNow or not

[BKNS27]

@linhha55 

Unfortunately you can order one from Amazon.ca but most likely seller will not ship out of Canada.

You can get a family member or friend in Canada to purchase one for you.

You can also use WhatsApp to people in your contact list or suggested by others that you can download TextNow or TextMe through wifi.

[BKNS27]

@linhha55 

Unfortunately you can order one from Amazon.ca but most likely seller will not ship out of Canada.

You can also use WhatsApp to people in your contact list or suggested by others that you can download TextNow or TextMe through wifi.

[kselmak]

You should consider TextNow, totally free calls and texts. If you are in USA you can get their sim too, the calls are still free.

[darlicious]

@linhha55 

As you can see by the linked post you can get up to 6 months service for between $30-$40 and you may just need the 10.5gb of data for that first month you are here and then you can settle into a lower data plan that better suits your needs.

You may want to look into getting a koho bank account when you first arrive as it issues a no fee visa/debit card that is very easy to qualify for that suits newcomers to Canada. This will give you a way to purchase certain services that do not take non canadian/american credit/debit cards. It is also accepted by pm for autopay and earns you an additional 2% cashback on pm payments.

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Paying-for-your-service/Alternative-autopay-payment-o...

[linhha55]

oh thanks thats smart !!

[darlicious]

@linhha55 

As you prepare to travel to Canada keep checking the Community announcements for the next flash sale so you can register your email address for the promotion (usually a free third month credit) that you can then stack with the CCS bundles offer. If you don't have a friends referral code for the $10 bonus referral credit just private message any of the community members and ask them for theirs...they will happily oblige. 

Welcome to the community! Welcome to public mobile! Welcome to Canada!

More info on stacking promotions.....

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Announcements/FLASH-SALE-Get-one-month-of-service-for...

[darlicious]

@linhha55 

Another option would be to download the fongo app that will also give you a Canadian phone number but will work on both wifi and mobile data. You can arrange to have a pm sim card shipped to the address that you must self isolate at....preactivated sim cards can be purchased thru Canadian Cell supplies who ship via Canada post in 5 business days.

[Nezgar]

@linhha55If you have a friend in Canada that can purchase a PM SIM card, they can send you the SIM card number and you can complete the activation online. Then, the SIM card should immediately work for them, or when you arrive if they can get it to you.

Depending how much time until your arrival, having a friend (or one of us!) mail one to you could work too so you have it beforehand. Just remember it will not work at all outside of Canada or US.

[softech]

@linhha55  as suggested about, you can try TextNow.  It is a good choice to getting a phone number as well as free text.

Alternatively, you can also try Fongo.ca, but they charge you for outgoing text. (incoming and outgoing calls as well as incoming text are still free).

[benfatto]

@linhha55  PM doesn't mail SIMs outside Canada. Let us know when you need it and your country. A member may have one they can send you. 

[hairbag1 · Accepted solution]

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@linhha55 wrote:

Hi! so I am  currently not in Canada right now but I will travel soon and I dont have a canada phone number and it need it for ArriveCAN. I saw that public mobile has the option to buy sim card online and if I purchase it before going to canada will it give me a phone number or i will have to activate the sim card with my phone ? Is there any way to get a phone number before physically have the sim card ? 

I need my real number since they have to call me everyday and I can not change the information after 

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Nope...you'll get a PM number when you actually "activate" a PM account.

Try getting a free TextNow number...works with wifi and you get a CDN number.