Dialing from a Cell Phone or Landline
Dial "+" (mobile) or "011" (landline). If you're calling internationally from your cell phone, open the dial pad, then press + (the key is shared with the 0). On a landline, dial 011, which is the International Direct Dialing (IDD) number for the U.S and Canada, also known as an exit code. This signals that the phone number you will dial next is outside of the United States. A plus sign, which is the same key as 0 on mobile phones, tells your phone to automatically use the IDD for the country from which you are calling.
Enter the country code. Find the country code for the country you are calling to. This number will vary depending on what the country of origin is for the number you wish to dial, but it will always have 1-3 digits. For example, if you were calling a phone number in Australia, the country code is 61. So, if you're using a mobile phone, you'd dial + 61. On a landline, you'd dial 011 61. You do not need to enter a country code if you're calling any of the following countries from the United States, as they all share the same country code of 1: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guam, Jamaica, Montserrat, Northern Territory, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, or the US Virgin Islands. Some other common country codes: Australia: 61 Brazil: 55 China: 86 Colombia: 57 Cuba: 53 Egypt: 20 El Salvador: 503 Eritrea: 291 Ethiopia: 251 France: 33 Germany: 49 Ghana: 233 Guatemala: 502 Haiti: 509 Hong Kong: 852 India: 91 Iran: 98 Israel: 972 Italy: 39 Kenya: 254 Korea: 82 Mexico: 52 Netherlands: 31 Nigeria: 234 Pakistan: 92 Palestine: 972 Philippines: 63 South Africa: 27 UK: 44 Vietnam: 84
Dial the city/area code, if applicable. After the international dialing code and country code, you will dial the city code or area code, typically given to you as part of the local number. This narrows down the phone number to a specific city or region within the country you’re calling to. The city/area code can be a number between 1-3 digits long. Note that smaller countries may not use city or area codes at all, in which case you will dial whatever phone number is given. If a city/area code is not included in the number you have, ask the phone number's owner for the code instead of looking it up based on location. If the phone number you're dialing starts with a 0, drop that leading 0. This is called the trunk 0 and is never needed when making international calls.
Enter the remaining digits. If you're dialing from a landline, the call will be placed once you've entered the correct number of digits. On a mobile phone, press the Call button to place the call. Phone numbers from other countries may have more or fewer digits than the standard 7 numbers in a domestic U.S. phone number. If a "0" is given before the phone number you are meant to call, omit this, and dial the following phone number. The zero is a "trunk code" meant for domestic calls within many countries but is not used for placing international calls. For a complete example, say you are calling the British Museum in the United Kingdom. To call from the U.S. landline, you use the IDD number "011." The country code for the UK is 44, and the area code for London is 20. The rest of the phone number is "7323 8000." So, in total, you would dial 011 44 20 7323 8000 to place your call.
Calling Online
Download a VoIP service. VoIP refers to Voice Over Internet Protocol, which can be used to place international calls over the internet. Popular VoIP apps and services include WhatsApp, Discord, and Google Voice. WhatsApp is popular outside of the US. We recommend downloading the app, adding the number you want to call to your contacts, and searching for them on WhatsApp. If you are trying to call a mobile number, the odds are decent that they are on WhatsApp! Calling another WhatsApp user through the app is completely free and does not affect your mobile plan unless you are using data outside of the U.S. without an international data plan. Skype was a popular VoIP option, but has since been discontinued.
Use an online messaging app. Apps like Facebook Messenger or Google Meet do not rely on VoIP technology, but you can still use them to voice or video chat with someone overseas. Just make sure both you and the person you are calling are connected to a reliable internet connection before placing the call. Data rates still apply for using any app on your mobile device unless connected to Wi-Fi.
FaceTime, if you have an Apple device. If both you and the person you're calling have an Apple device, you can FaceTime for free without paying any international calling charges. However, both you and the person you're calling need to be on Wi-Fi or have a steady cell signal to complete the FaceTime call.
Determining the Cost
Find out if the international phone number is mobile. Determine if the foreign phone number you are given is a landline or a mobile phone. This can affect the rates you are charged for calling it from the U.S. and may change how you place the call. International calls to cell or mobile phones are often charged at higher rates than those to fixed or landline phones. You may want to determine what type of phone it is you are calling beforehand and dial a landline phone if you have the option to.
Ask your phone carrier about international call rates. Talk to the service provider for the phone you will use to make an international call before you dial. Ask both the provider for your landline and for your cell phone (if applicable) as the rates may differ. If you plan to make calls abroad often, talk to the provider about their international calling plans. Otherwise, inquire about the one-time rates you would be charged to place a single call to another country. Note that there are often added fees or overage charges that may make the package cost-effective only if you plan to make a certain number of calls per month. Some phone service providers may give you other specific instructions for dialing an international number. You should also remember that when dialing from any internal business line, you may need to dial "9" to reach any external line.
Learn more about international calling plans and cards. Investigate all the fees associated with international calling plans, prepaid calling cards, and other calling options. You should know exactly what you will be charged for an international call, especially if you plan to make them frequently. Calling cards are prepaid, so you pay only for what you use. Internet-based services may be free or have other flexible pricing options.
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