Will My iPhone Bought in Canada Work in Another Country?

If you bought your iPhone in Canada and you’re headed to the US, the UK, Europe, India (or basically anywhere else), the good news is that it will usually work just fine. Modern iPhones support a huge range of LTE and 5G bands around the world, and Apple actively maintains compatibility with most carrier networks internationally.

The two things that most often determine whether you’ll have a smooth experience abroad are:

Whether your iPhone is carrier-unlocked
How you plan to get service overseas (roaming vs local SIM vs travel eSIM)

Let’s break it down in a way that’s actually useful before you travel.

Step 1: Make Sure Your Canadian iPhone Is Unlocked

In Canada, the Wireless Code requires that new phones be provided unlocked (and carriers must unlock phones for free). This has been the rule since December 1, 2017.

Still, don’t rely on assumptions. Check the phone itself (especially if it was purchased second-hand, through a business plan, or bundled through a carrier).

How to check on iPhone:

Settings
General
About
Scroll to Carrier Lock
If it says No SIM restrictions, your iPhone is unlocked

If it is locked, Apple’s guidance is to contact your carrier to unlock it.

Step 2: Understand What “Working” Abroad Really Means

When people ask if a Canadian iPhone “works” in another country, they usually mean:

Can it connect to cellular data?
Can it make calls and texts?
Will it get 4G/LTE or 5G speeds?

In most countries, you’ll get service without issues, especially on LTE. 5G availability can vary more based on your iPhone model and the bands used in that country. Apple notes cellular compatibility is tied to your specific iPhone model number/configuration, and you can confirm support using Apple’s cellular resources and your model’s technical specs.

Even if 5G isn’t perfect everywhere, LTE is widely supported and is usually the reliable fallback.

Using Your iPhone Abroad With a Physical SIM

If your iPhone has a SIM tray (most Canadian iPhones do), you can use a local physical SIM in many countries. Apple specifically notes that if your iPhone has a SIM tray, you can use both a physical SIM and an eSIM while travelling internationally.

How it typically works:

You arrive in the country
You buy a prepaid SIM from a local carrier (often at an airport kiosk or carrier shop)
You insert it, activate it, and you’re online

Benefits of a physical SIM (especially for travel):

Simple availability in places where eSIM isn’t common (or where your preferred eSIM provider has weak coverage)
Easy to move between phones (swap the SIM into another unlocked phone if needed)
Local carrier plans can be very cost-effective for longer stays

Things to watch for:

Some countries require ID/passport registration to buy a SIM
You can lose your home SIM if you remove it and don’t store it carefully. Keep it somewhere safe!
If you want to keep receiving Canadian SMS (like bank codes), removing your Canadian SIM can be inconvenient

Using Your iPhone Abroad With an eSIM

For many travelers, eSIM is the easiest option, especially for short trips or multi-country travel across the UK + Europe, or hopping between countries in Asia (including India, Japan, Thailand, and many others).

Apple’s guidance on travel eSIM is straightforward: you can add an eSIM plan for where you’re visiting, and on supported models you can keep two eSIMs active (for example, your home line and a travel line).

You can also use Dual SIM in a few flexible ways:

One physical SIM + one eSIM
On supported iPhones, two eSIMs active at once

Benefits of eSIM (especially for travel):

No SIM swapping (nothing to lose, nothing to fiddle with)
More secure if your phone is lost or stolen (an eSIM can’t be physically removed the way a SIM card can)
Set it up before you fly (so you land with data ready)
Great for multi-country trips (many travel eSIMs offer regional bundles)

A common “best of both worlds” setup:

Keep your Canadian line as your primary (for iMessage/FaceTime and receiving texts when available)
Use a travel eSIM for data
Turn Data Roaming off on your Canadian line, and set Cellular Data to the travel eSIM

Apple’s Dual SIM guidance also notes that for Dual SIM to work smoothly, your iPhone generally needs to be unlocked (or both plans must be from the same carrier).

Travel eSIM or Local SIM vs Roaming: Why It’s Usually Better

Roaming is convenient, but it’s often the most expensive way to stay connected. A travel eSIM or a local physical SIM usually wins on:

Cost control (you buy a fixed package instead of risking surprise charges)
Better local rates for data
More flexibility (switch plans/providers if coverage isn’t great)

When roaming might still make sense:

Very short trips (1–2 days) where convenience matters more than cost
You need your Canadian number active constantly for voice calls/SMS and don’t want to manage Dual SIM
Your carrier offers a reasonably priced daily travel pass

For most travelers, a travel eSIM is the “easy mode”: set it up once, keep your Canadian line for your identity/number, and use the travel line for data.

Physical SIM vs eSIM: Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re deciding what to use abroad, consider the following guideline:

Choose a travel eSIM if you want to land with data instantly, you’re visiting multiple countries (US + UK + Europe), or you don’t want to hunt for a SIM shop.
Choose a local physical SIM if you’re staying longer in one country, want the best local pricing, or you’re in a place where eSIM options are limited.

Many Canadian travelers end up using both over time - eSIM (or roaming with their Canadian carrier) for quick trips, physical SIM for longer stays.

Quick Pre-Trip Checklist

Before you leave Canada, do this once:

Check Carrier Lock shows No SIM restrictions
Plan your connectivity (roaming vs travel eSIM vs local SIM)
If using eSIM, install/activate while on Wi-Fi (Apple notes Wi-Fi is commonly needed for eSIM setup)
Bring a plug adapter for charging abroad (your iPhone power adapter supports a wide range of voltages—commonly 100–240V—so you typically only need the plug shape adapter, not a voltage converter)

In most cases, yes, your iPhone bought in Canada will work in another country, including the US, UK, Europe, India, and beyond. The biggest roadblock is whether the phone is unlocked, and the biggest opportunity is choosing a smarter option than roaming (usually a travel eSIM or local SIM).

If you take 60 seconds to confirm your iPhone is unlocked and decide whether you want a physical SIM or an eSIM for data, you’ll avoid the most common travel headaches. You’ll also likely save a lot of money in the process.