Skip to main content

Canada (+1)

Your handy guide to sending in Canada

Updated over a week ago

You can send Two-Way SMS and MMS messages in Canada with a registered number.


Available Sender IDs

You can choose from a few Sender ID options when sending to Canada.

Registration and fees may apply.

Not sure which one to choose?

See our Sender ID guide or contact support — we're happy to help.

10-Digit Long Code (10DLC)

Send from a trusted, local number. Your messages will always come from a consistent Sender ID, which is perfect for establishing trust and recognition. 10DLCs are suitable for low to medium message volumes.

Purchase a dedicated number via our Dashboard by going to:

Sender IDs ➔ Buy a Number

10DLC registration usually takes 1-3 business days and costs do apply.

Registration requirements

  • A clear use case for your messaging campaign (e.g. appointment reminders, customer service, promotions)

  • Sample message content, including opt-out instructions

  • A compliant privacy policy and terms of service

  • Proof of opt-in or a detailed description of the opt-in process

  • Brand and company information (e.g. name, address, website)

  • Expected message volume and sending frequency

  • A Canadian Tax ID (e.g. SIN for individuals).

Toll-Free Number (TFN)

Toll-Free Numbers are 10-digit numbers (e.g. 888, 800, 877 prefixes) that support two-way messaging. Your messages will always come from a consistent Sender ID, which is perfect for establishing trust and recognition. TFNs are suitable for low to medium message volumes.

Purchase a dedicated number via our Dashboard by going to:

Sender IDs ➔ Buy a Number

TFN registration usually takes 1-7 business days and costs do apply.

Registration requirements

  • A clear use case for your messaging campaign (e.g. alerts, promotions)

  • Sample message content, including opt-out instructions

  • Proof of opt-in or a detailed description of the opt-in process

  • Brand and company information (e.g. name, address, website)

  • Expected message volume and sending frequency

Short Code

Short codes are 5-6 digits long and offer superior throughput — ideal if you plan to send a high volume of messages.

To purchase a short code, please contact support.

Short Code registration usually takes 8–12 weeks, and costs do apply.

Registration requirements

Your ClickSend account manager will contact you to guide you through the highly regulated short code application process. To complete registration, you’ll need to provide detailed information, including:

  • A clear use case for your messaging campaign (e.g. marketing, 2FA, customer alerts)

  • Sample message content that includes opt-out instructions

  • A compliant privacy policy and terms of service

  • Opt-in proof or a detailed description of the opt-in process

  • Brand and company information (e.g. name, address, website)

  • Expected message volume and frequency


Rules and best practices

  • You cannot use your own number or an alpha tag (e.g. “MyCompany”) due to network restrictions

  • A direct carrier connection is required — ClickSend provides a high-quality direct route to ensure delivery

  • Ensure recipients have opted in before sending

Always include a clear opt-out instruction such as Reply STOP to opt out


Content guidelines

Before sending SMS to Canada, please review our Sending Guidelines to understand prohibited message types. Additionally, you must adhere to the specific local regulations outlined below:

  • No cryptocurrency

  • No payday loans, student loans, or short-term high-interest loans

  • No mortgage or auto loan promotions (auto loan messaging is only permitted via dedicated short codes)

  • No work-from-home programs or multi-level marketing

  • No debt consolidation, debt forgiveness, or credit repair offers

  • No stock alerts, investment promotions, or lead generation

  • No gambling, betting, sweepstakes, or lotteries

  • No commercial URL shorteners such as Bit.ly or TinyURL — use ClickSend’s built-in URL shortener instead

Did this answer your question?