Compliance · Canada
SMS Compliance in Canada
A practical overview of the rules that affect SMS messaging and marketing in Canada, with a checklist before you launch.
Key Rules for SMS in Canada
Commercial electronic messages in Canada, including SMS, are governed by Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). You need express or implied consent, must identify the sender and must include a working unsubscribe mechanism.
In North America, business texting is shaped by carrier rules as well as law: in the US, application-to-person messaging on standard numbers generally requires brand and campaign registration (10DLC), and the TCPA requires appropriate consent. Other countries in the Americas have their own consumer protection and data laws.
Data Protection
Canadian websites should follow PIPEDA (and provincial laws where applicable) for collecting personal information, with a clear privacy policy and meaningful consent.
Keep a record of how each contact was collected, what they agreed to and when, and make it easy for them to withdraw consent.
Practical Checklist
- Collect and record consent (or confirm an existing customer relationship) before sending, with the date and source.
- Use a registered sender ID or number that recipients can recognise as your business.
- Identify your business in every message and keep promotional and service messages separate.
- Give a simple way to opt out of marketing and process opt-outs quickly across all your systems.
- Send in the recipient's local daytime hours and keep frequency reasonable.
Contact data
Format numbers in international E.164 format with the +1 country code, remove duplicates and invalid numbers, and keep consent records linked to each number.
Timing and Language
Canada spans several time zones; the main business zone we plan around is the America/Toronto time zone (UTC-04:00 in October 2026). Schedule SMS campaigns for the recipient's local daytime hours, avoid public holidays and religious observances that matter to your audience, and convert send times from IST before scheduling.
In Toronto, customers commonly use English, with large Punjabi, Hindi, Tamil, Cantonese and Tagalog speaking communities. Messages in the customer's preferred language usually perform better, but check how local-language text affects character counts (for SMS) and template approval (for WhatsApp).
Advertising Alongside Messaging
Advertising should follow the Competition Act and Ad Standards' Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, including disclosure of influencer content.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reflects our understanding as of October 2026. Rules change, so we check current requirements for Canada before every launch.
Planning SMS campaigns for Canada?
We check the rules, set up sender requirements and run compliant campaigns.
SMS in Canada: FAQs
Do I need consent to send marketing SMS messages in Canada?
In most cases, yes, or at least an existing customer relationship and a clear opt-out. Commercial electronic messages in Canada, including SMS, are governed by Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL).
Do I need a registered sender ID for Canada?
Sender ID rules vary by country and operator. Some countries require pre-registration of alphanumeric sender IDs, others only allow numeric senders. We confirm the current requirement before launch.
Can DND Teams run SMS campaigns to Canada?
Yes. We are based in Bhopal, India, and run campaigns for international markets remotely, after checking the current rules, sender requirements and coverage for Canada.
Is this legal advice?
No. This guide is general information to help you plan. Regulations change and their application depends on your business, so take local legal advice for significant campaigns.
Related Guides and Services
Other channels in Canada
SMS rules in nearby markets
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