How to Switch to Public Mobile and Keep Your Number

Updated 2026-07-14 · fact-checked against official Public Mobile sources

1. Check that your phone will work Start the activation at publicmobile.ca and run the compatibility (IMEI) check. Public Mobile runs on the TELUS network, and any phone sold in Canada since December 2017 is unlocked by law, so most phones pass.
2. Get your account number and transfer PIN from your old carrier Find your account number on a recent bill or in your old carrier's app. Then ask your carrier for a transfer PIN (also called a port-out or porting authorization PIN) — most let you generate one in their app or by texting a shortcode.
3. Keep your old service active Do not cancel your old plan. A number can only be transferred while it's active. Cancelling first can mean losing the number for good.
4. Pick a plan and SIM type on publicmobile.ca Choose any plan — the referral credit works on all of them. eSIM is $0 and instant; a physical SIM is about $10 at Walmart or Amazon. Stay on publicmobile.ca and ignore any Koodo 'Fast Switch' ads in the flow.
5. Enter the referral code at Step 4 (Payment) Type the code into the Referral Code field — the separate field next to it is for promo codes, and you can use both. This is what gets you the one-time $10 credit within 72 hours.
6. Request the number transfer during activation Choose to keep your existing number, then enter your old carrier's account number and transfer PIN. Your old carrier may text you to confirm the transfer — approve it right away so the port doesn't stall.
7. Wait for the port to finish, then test Most mobile ports complete within a few hours. When your old SIM loses service, the port is done — restart your phone, test a call and some data, and your old plan on that number closes automatically.

What you need before you switch

Public Mobile has no stores and no phone support — the whole switch happens online at publicmobile.ca, and it usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. Before you start, have these ready:

• Your old carrier account number. It’s on any recent bill, or in your old carrier’s app under account details. This is not your phone number.
• A transfer PIN (porting authorization). Most Canadian carriers now require a port-out PIN to release your number. You can usually generate one in your old carrier’s app or by texting a shortcode — search “[your carrier] transfer PIN” or ask their support.
• An unlocked phone. Every phone sold in Canada since December 2017 is unlocked by law, so this is rarely a problem. The activation flow runs a compatibility (IMEI) check anyway.
• The referral code on this page. It’s worth a one-time $10 credit, applied within 72 hours of activation. Every referral code gives the identical $10 — there’s no “better” code anywhere.
• A credit card or Visa Debit for the payment step.

And one thing you should not do yet: cancel your old plan. More on that below, because it’s the single most expensive mistake people make when switching.

Never cancel your old service before the port completes

Your number can only move to Public Mobile while it’s active with your old carrier. The transfer request itself is what ends your old service on that number — that’s how porting works in Canada.

If you cancel first, the number goes back into your old carrier’s pool. Sometimes they can reactivate it if you act fast; often they can’t, and the number is gone. So the safe order is:

1. Activate with Public Mobile and request the transfer.
2. Wait until your old SIM stops working (that means the port finished).
3. Only then contact your old carrier — and only if you have other things on that account to sort out, like extra lines or a device balance.

Expect one final, possibly prorated bill from your old carrier. If you’re leaving a prepaid provider, any leftover balance usually isn’t refunded, so time your switch near the end of a cycle if you want to use it up.

How long the port takes

• Mobile to mobile: usually within a few hours during business hours, often under an hour. Activating on a weekday morning is the fastest path.
• Landline or VoIP to mobile: slower — typically a few business days.

During the wait, your old SIM keeps working. Your old carrier (or a porting system) may text you to approve the transfer — reply as instructed right away, because the port sits frozen until you do. When your old SIM drops service, swap to your Public Mobile SIM or eSIM, restart the phone, and test a call, a text, and some data.

If your plan is active but something looks off after the port, our after-activation checklist covers the usual fixes.

Using a referral code while you switch

Porting and the referral credit are handled in the same activation flow, so switching is actually the ideal time to use a code:

1. Start from Public Mobile’s plans with the code pre-applied, or copy the referral code on this page.
2. Pick any plan — $22 talk and text up to the $50/150GB 5G tier, the $10 credit applies on all of them. (The lineup changes almost monthly; see our plans overview.)
3. At Step 4 (Payment), make sure the code is in the Referral Code field. It’s a separate box from “Promo code” — and yes, you can fill in both. They stack.
4. Finish payment. The $10 credit lands on your account within 72 hours of activation.

The code must be in place before you pay. If you get an error, the fix guide covers the common causes. If you only remember after activating, all is not lost — an agent can add it retroactively by support ticket.

Full walkthrough with screenshots of the field: how to use a referral code.

Watch out: the Koodo “Fast Switch” ads

Since spring 2026, TELUS has been showing “Fast Switch” ads for Koodo inside the Public Mobile signup and login pages. Some people click one mid-activation and end up on Koodo’s checkout without noticing.

Two problems with that:

• Referral codes don’t work on Koodo. There is no field for them, and no $10 credit.
• Koodo is a different (postpaid) brand with different plans and pricing.

Koodo is a fine carrier — but if you came for Public Mobile’s prices and the referral credit, check that the address bar still says publicmobile.ca on every step, especially the payment page. If you’ve been bounced to koodo.com, close the tab and start again from the plans page.

After the switch

Once your number is live on Public Mobile, the $10 shows up within 72 hours — check Payment or Transaction history in My Account. You’ll also get your own 6-character referral code (top of My Account, under the “Sharing is caring” banner), which earns you 1 Public Point per 30 days for each friend you refer. Details on that in our refer-a-friend guide and Public Points explainer.

Frequently asked questions