By Alexey Spasskiy · Published March 24, 2026 · Updated June 18, 2026 · 7 min read
Quick Answer: To fax to Canada from the US, dial 1 + area code + fax number — the same as any US long-distance call. No international exit code (011) needed. The fastest option is mFax.to, which includes Canada faxing at no extra charge.
Faxing to Canada from the US trips people up because it looks like international faxing, but it isn't — not really. Canada and the United States are both members of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), a shared telephone system that makes cross-border calls work exactly like domestic long-distance. No 011 prefix. No country code lookup. Just 1 + the area code + the number, and you're done.
This guide covers the exact dialing format, a full table of Canadian area codes by province, what it costs to fax to Canada, and a step-by-step walkthrough for sending from your phone today.
What Makes Faxing to Canada Different?
Canada Shares the +1 Country Code with the US
Most countries have a unique country code you must dial before the local number. Faxing to the UK requires +44; Germany requires +49. Canada is the exception: its country code is +1, identical to the United States.
This is because both countries joined the North American Numbering Plan when modern telephony was designed in the 1940s. The NANP covers 25 regions across 20 countries and territories — including Canada, the US, Puerto Rico, and 17 Caribbean nations — all sharing country code +1. For a full overview of international fax dialing, see our complete guide to international faxing.
No International Exit Code Required
When dialing a truly international number from the US (say, the UK or Germany), you first dial 011 — the international exit code — then the country code and local number. With Canada, you skip the 011 entirely. Dialing 011-1-416-555-0100 is wrong. Dialing 1-416-555-0100 is correct.
The Key Rule
Canada = no 011. Just dial 1 + area code + number. If you've ever called a Canadian cell phone from the US, you already know how to fax there.
The Correct Dialing Format
The format for faxing to Canada from the US is:
1 + [3-digit area code] + [7-digit fax number]
Total digits dialed: 11
| Component | Digits | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Country prefix | 1 | 1 |
| Area code | 3 | 416 |
| Local fax number | 7 | 555-0100 |
| Full number | 11 | 1-416-555-0100 |
When writing the number in international format (e.g., in a document header or email signature), use the +1 notation: +1-416-555-0100. Both 1-XXX-XXXXXXX and +1-XXX-XXXXXXX route to the same destination.
Major Canadian Area Codes by Province
Canada has 47 area codes across 13 provinces and territories. Ontario has the most (19 codes), followed by Quebec (12). Below are the codes you're most likely to encounter:
| Province / Territory | Area Codes | Major City |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | 416, 437, 647, 905, 289, 519, 226, 613, 343, 705, 807 | Toronto, Ottawa |
| Quebec | 514, 438, 263, 450, 579, 581, 819, 873 | Montreal, Quebec City |
| British Columbia | 604, 778, 236, 250, 672 | Vancouver, Victoria |
| Alberta | 403, 587, 780, 825, 368 | Calgary, Edmonton |
| Manitoba | 204, 431 | Winnipeg |
| Saskatchewan | 306, 639 | Saskatoon, Regina |
| New Brunswick | 506, 428 | Fredericton |
| Nova Scotia & PEI | 902, 782 | Halifax |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | 709, 879 | St. John's |
| Yukon, NWT & Nunavut | 867 | Whitehorse |
When You See a Number Starting with +1
Any Canadian fax number written as +1-XXX-XXXXXXX is already in the correct format. Just replace the + with nothing and dial the 11-digit string directly: 1XXXXXXXXXX.
How to Fax to Canada from a Traditional Fax Machine
If you're using a physical fax machine:
- Lift the handset (or press the fax/send button to get a dial tone).
- Dial 1, then the 3-digit area code, then the 7-digit fax number.
- Wait for the handshake tone from the recipient's machine.
- Feed your document and send.
Costs to be aware of: Traditional fax machines use the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Faxing to Canada counts as a long-distance call — typically $2–$3 for the first page and $1 per additional page, depending on your carrier. If you fax to Canada regularly, online fax services are dramatically cheaper. See our international fax rates comparison for a full breakdown.
How to Fax to Canada Using an Online Service (Fastest Method)
Online fax services are far simpler and cheaper for US-to-Canada faxing. Canada is treated as domestic by most providers — meaning no international surcharge.
Open mFax.to or the mFax App
Visit mFax.to in any browser, or download the mFax app on iOS or Android. No hardware required.
Upload Your Document
Tap the upload button and select your PDF. You can also take a photo of a physical document directly in the app.
Enter the Canadian Fax Number
Type the number in +1-XXX-XXXXXXX format (e.g., +1-416-555-0100 for Toronto). mFax accepts both +1 and 1 formats.
Send and Receive Confirmation
Tap Send. mFax delivers the fax and sends you a delivery receipt. The whole process takes under 2 minutes.
Why mFax for Canada
mFax includes faxing to Canada at no extra charge — the same rate as domestic US faxing. Over 5 million users rely on mFax for a 98% delivery success rate. Try it free at mFax.to.
How Much Does It Cost to Fax to Canada?
Online Fax Services
Because Canada is part of the NANP, most online fax providers treat it identically to a US fax. There is typically no surcharge or international rate applied.
| Service | Monthly Plan | Canada Included? | Overage |
|---|---|---|---|
| mFax | Pay-per-fax or subscription | Yes — domestic rate | — |
| eFax Plus | $18.99/mo (170 pages) | Yes | Included in plan |
| HelloFax | $9.99/mo (300 pages) | Yes | $0.05/page |
| RingCentral Fax | $12.99/mo (750 pages) | Yes | $0.059/page |
| CocoFax Lite | $4.99/mo (60 pages) | Yes | $0.05–$0.20/page |
Traditional Fax Machine (Long-Distance)
| Method | First Page | Additional Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional fax machine | $2–$3 | $1.00 |
| Online fax (overage) | $0.03–$0.20 | Same rate |
Bottom line: For anyone faxing to Canada more than a few times per year, an online fax service pays for itself on the first transmission.
Common Mistakes When Faxing to Canada
1. Dialing 011 Before the Number
This is the most common error. Dialing 011-1-416-555-0100 is incorrect and will fail. Canada does not require the international exit code. Dial 1-416-555-0100 directly.
2. Dialing Only 10 Digits (Missing the Leading 1)
Some US callers omit the 1 prefix when dialing domestic calls. For Canadian numbers, the 1 is required — without it, the call won't route correctly.
3. Using an Outdated Fax Number
Canadian businesses — particularly in Ontario and Quebec — have added new area codes as population grew. A number you have on file may be in an overlay area. Always confirm the fax number directly with the recipient before sending sensitive documents.
4. Wrong Area Code for the City
Toronto alone uses five area codes (416, 437, 647, 905, 289). If the number you have looks like a Toronto number but uses an unfamiliar code, don't assume it's a typo — it may simply be a newer overlay.
Verify Before Sending PHI or Legal Documents
For healthcare records, contracts, or any sensitive material, call the recipient first to confirm their fax number is active. A misdirected fax to an unintended party can have serious legal consequences.
Tips for a Successful Transmission
- Use a cover sheet. Include the recipient's name, your name, the date, and the total page count. This helps front desks route the fax even if the top page shifts in the tray. Generate one free at mFax.to/fax-cover-sheet/.
- Send a test fax first. If it's your first time faxing a particular Canadian number, send a single-page test before transmitting a multi-page document.
- Send as PDF. PDF preserves formatting and font spacing across transmission. Scanned images and Word documents can shift during encoding. Our free document converter converts any file to fax-ready PDF.
- Check the time zone. Canada spans six time zones. A fax sent at 9 AM Eastern lands at 6 AM Pacific — the machine may be unattended. Match your send time to the recipient's business hours.
- Use an online service for reliability. Traditional fax machines on VoIP lines often fail on long-distance calls. Online services route over the internet and handle the PSTN handshake for you, improving delivery rates significantly. Learn more in our guide to faxing internationally.
How Canada Compares to Other International Fax Destinations
| Destination | Country Code | Dial Prefix | Drop Leading Zero? | Extra Cost? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | +1 | 1 | No | Usually no |
| UK | +44 | 011-44 | Yes | Often yes |
| Germany | +49 | 011-49 | Yes | Often yes |
| Mexico | +52 | 011-52 | No | Often yes |
Canada is the easiest international destination to fax — no exit code, no leading-zero rule, and no pricing premium on most services. Compare that to faxing to the UK from the US or faxing to Germany, which each require the 011 exit code and dropping a leading zero from the local number.
Send Your Fax to Canada Now
Faxing to Canada is as straightforward as any US long-distance call: dial 1 + area code + number, attach your document, and send. The fastest way to do it is from your phone — no fax machine, no long-distance charges, no trip to a store.
Start sending with mFax.to — upload a PDF or snap a photo, enter the Canadian fax number, and your document arrives in minutes. Over 5 million users have made the switch. Join them and skip the machine.