Independent · Canadian rules and data only · Reviewed November 10, 2026

    6 min read
    Credit

    How to Get Your Free Credit Report in Canada (and What Hard vs. Soft Inquiries Mean)

    Quick Answer

    Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada each give you a free copy of your credit report on request, and checking it yourself never affects your score. Your file can differ between the two. Next step: request both reports and check names, addresses and accounts for errors.

    You're entitled to a free report from both bureaus

    Canada and Canada each give you a free copy of your when you ask. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada () says you can get one free from both (page modified November 4, 2026). You can ask by mail or phone, or use each bureau's free online portal. Some apps, like Borrowell, also show a free score and report, but they use data from only one bureau. Your file can differ between the two bureaus, so check both.

    How to get each report

    Request one report from Equifax and one from TransUnion. Choose the free report or Consumer Disclosure route, not a paid monitoring subscription. A score app using one bureau does not replace checking both reports.

    Way to askEquifax CanadaTransUnion Canada
    OnlineEquifax online report (opens in a new tab)TransUnion consumer disclosure (opens in a new tab)
    By mailEquifax mail steps (opens in a new tab)TransUnion mail steps (opens in a new tab)
    In personOnly in some provinces and territories, at a bureau office. Bring at least 2 valid pieces of ID.
    By phone1-800-465-71661-800-663-9980
    1. Get your Equifax report. Use the Equifax online report link above, or follow its mail steps or phone route. Follow the bureau's identity checks on its own site. Save or print your report.
    2. Get your TransUnion Consumer Disclosure. Use the separate TransUnion link above, or its mail steps or phone route. Save or print this report too.
    3. Compare both files. Check names, addresses, unfamiliar accounts and incorrect late payments against your records. If you find an error, use the dispute guide below for the bureau showing it.

    A report is not a score. A report lists your accounts and payment history. A score is one number based on that report. The Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says Equifax gives scores free in every province and territory, and TransUnion gives its free score only to people in Quebec and Ontario. That also applies to scores ordered by phone or mail.

    What to have ready. By mail, the FCAC says to send the request form with photocopies of 2 valid pieces of ID. By phone, you answer identity questions. The FCAC says the online report is updated monthly, so a report you download today may not show this week's changes.

    Phone numbers, ID rules and links come from the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada page, last changed November 4, 2026, checked November 10, 2026.

    For the official overview of online, mail and phone access, read FCAC: getting your credit report and credit score (opens in a new tab).

    What changes by province

    The rules about your right to a free report are the same everywhere, but what you get with it is not. Here is what the FCAC page says:

    • Free score, Equifax: every province and territory.
    • Free score, TransUnion: Quebec and Ontario only, as part of the Consumer Disclosure.
    • In-person requests: only in some provinces and territories. The FCAC page does not list which ones, so ask the bureau.
    • Some banks: the FCAC says some federally regulated banks may show a free score in their apps.

    Source: Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, last changed November 4, 2026, checked November 10, 2026. How long items stay on a report also differs by province for some items, such as bankruptcy. Our guide to how long negative information stays lists the times.

    Soft inquiries: no effect at all

    A happens when you check your own score or report. It also happens when a company checks you for a pre-approved offer, or when your own lender reviews your account. Soft inquiries do not change your score. Other lenders cannot see them.

    Hard inquiries: small, temporary dips

    A happens when you apply for a card, loan, or and the lender checks your full report. It can cause a small, short dip in your score. Several in a short time can add up. If a mortgage is coming, avoid applying for lots of credit back to back.

    What to actually check for when you get your report

    When you get your report, look for four things. First, accounts you do not recognize, which can mean fraud or a mistake. Second, late payments that are wrong. Check the dates against your own records. Third, old items that should be gone. Most negative items drop off after about six years, but a depends on your province ( lists the times). Fourth, the on each account. Our R-rating guide explains how to read them.

    If you find an error

    Both bureaus have a formal dispute process. You submit the error along with any supporting documentation, and the bureau is required to investigate. If the information can't be verified as accurate, it must be corrected or removed. Read our step by step dispute guide, then use our Equifax dispute letter or TransUnion dispute letter templates to put it in writing.

    How often should you actually check

    There's no rule requiring a specific frequency, but checking at least once a year, and always before a major application like a , is a reasonable habit. Since it's a , there's no downside to checking more often than that.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is it really free to check my credit report in Canada?

    Yes. Canada and Canada each give you a free copy of your when you ask, by mail, by phone or online. You never have to pay a bureau just to see your own file.

    Does checking my own credit report hurt my score?

    No. Checking your own report is a with zero effect on your score, and it's invisible to other lenders. Only hard inquiries, from formal applications, can cause a small, temporary dip.

    Should I check Equifax, TransUnion, or both?

    Both. Not every lender reports to both bureaus, so your file can differ between them. Free third-party apps typically pull from only one bureau, which means they may show you an incomplete picture.

    What ID do I need to order my credit report?

    By mail, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada says to send the request form with photocopies of 2 valid pieces of ID. By phone or online you answer identity questions. In-person requests, where offered, also need at least 2 valid pieces of ID.

    Do I get a free score in every province?

    gives a free score in every province and territory. gives its free score only in Quebec and Ontario, according to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. The free report itself is available to everyone.

    How many hard inquiries is too many?

    There is no fixed number. Several hard inquiries in a short time can turn a small dip into a bigger one, which matters before a . Space out your applications and skip products you do not need.

    Try it with your numbers