Moving to Canada for Extended Period - How to Keep My Aussie Number for The Lowest Cost?

mubd1234 on 20/01/2020 - 13:14

So I'm going to be moving over to Canada for a working holiday soon, and I'd like to keep my Australian number active for when I return home. My visa will be valid for 24 months from when I arrive, so it could be that long before I return home.

I'm currently on a post-paid plan with Telstra.

Would anyone be able to recommend any services I can port over to which can keep my number active for the lowest price? Having a SIM which can roam in Canada and allow me to receive texts (for verification SMSes) would be a bonus :)

Mobile

Comments

  • dcep on 20/01/2020 - 13:21
    +10

    aldi $5 sim 1st year

    $15 recharge subsequent year

    • mubd1234 on 20/01/2020 - 14:06

      So once the credit expires 365 days after I activate the service, does the service immediately get cancelled because of a zero balance? Or is there a grace period or something? Just want to know just in case. I'll certainly be topping up with $15 before the 365 days.

    • crentist on 20/01/2020 - 17:27

      a good thing about aldi is that the PAYG credit is separate to the added value packs, which are purchased using the same credit.
      meaning that you can top up the PAYG credit you extend the sim life, and then use that PAYG credit to purchase a 30 day value pack that won't reduce the sim life to 30 days.

      Even better, if you dont use the initial $5 credit and return home for a visit, topping it up with another $15 to bring it to $20 will extend the expiry by 365 days, and still let you use that $15 to pay for a value pack during your stay. Then you'd still have $5 credit left with a full year before expiry.
      So if you return home sometimes, you get convenient & cheap phone plans on visits, without spending extra to maintain the life of the sim beyond that original $5

      But I'm not sure if this works if you don't use a value pack, ie if you top up to $20 to extend the sim life but stay in Canada, would it remain at $20 the whole time or would the original $5 be removed at the original expiry? If the whole balance remains, it would mean you could stay away for years, essentially preloading the sim for months of usage on return.

  • Presence on 20/01/2020 - 13:40
    +2

    Get ready for super expensive mobile services in Canada btw. I found 7/11 the best value.

    • mubd1234 on 20/01/2020 - 14:05

      Yup, my anus is ready. Crazy prices!

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 20/01/2020 - 14:29
    +5

    Is that you Harry?

    • mbck on 20/01/2020 - 14:35

      No, it's Patrick

    • mubd1234 on 20/01/2020 - 15:46

      That's your highness to you

      • Bargain80 on 20/01/2020 - 15:57
        +1

        not allowed to use that title anymore

  • Magic Mirror on 20/01/2020 - 14:57
    +2

    amaysim is another option to look at. $10 credit lasts 365 days with pay-as-you-go plan, so the same cost as Aldi over 2 years.

    • aussie222 on 20/01/2020 - 14:59

      I'll second Amaysim because they'll allow you to receive SMS's on romaing for free

      • eug on 20/01/2020 - 15:05

        Is there a carrier that charges you to receive SMSes on roaming?

        • aussie222 on 22/01/2020 - 02:28

          I'm not sure, but there are definitely MVNO's that don't do roaming e.g. Vaya, before Amaysim bought them

          • eug on 22/01/2020 - 02:39

            @aussie222: Yeah there are MVNOs that don't do roaming, but I've never heard of a carrier or MVNO that charges to receive SMSes while roaming, hence my question.

    • sk0rpien on 22/01/2020 - 15:34

      can I get one of these and wait for my current plan to expire then transfer number while im overseas in 2 months or do they have to be activated within a certain time? i only want to receive sms for banking etc. while im in London.

      • aussie222 on 22/01/2020 - 18:12
        +1

        I think a lot of them have 12 months expiry, especially if you're buying the card at Coles/Woolworths

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