How to Make International Calls

Last updated on April 24th, 2024 at 03:57 pm

The term “international phone calls” refers to calls made to a country outside the one you’re currently in.

These long-distance calls usually cost more than others and require dialing special codes.

Whether you need to place international calls to stay in touch with people back home, book arrangements for travel, or conduct business, this guide will teach you how to do it easily and affordably.

Can I make an international call on my cell phone?

Whether you can call a number in a foreign country on your cell phone depends on your plan. Most carriers in the U.S. and Canada provide plans that include international calling. However, you should check your plan information or contact your cell phone provider to double-check.

Even if your cell phone plan doesn’t allow for international calls to be placed as phone calls, you can download and use international calling apps to contact phone numbers in other countries.

What’s the best way to make international calls?

The best way to make long-distance calls to foreign countries comes down to personal preference. When choosing between options, you’ll need to consider cost, convenience, and availability.

Landlines and mobile phones are the traditional ways to make international calls, but there is another option: Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP). This technology uses a broadband Internet connection rather than telephone lines to place and receive calls.

In many areas, you can replace conventional phone services with VOIP service. To use VOIP, you’ll need a Wi-Fi router, modem, and either a special phone or software that you install on a computer or mobile device. The person or organization you’re calling doesn’t need VOIP equipment or software to receive your call.

Some residential VOIP service providers in the U.S. or Canada include:

• Ring Central
• VOIP.ms
• Voiply
• AXVoice
• VOIPO
• Ooma
• CallCentric
• Google Voice

VOIP is usually less expensive than using a landline to place international calls.

What’s a country code?

A country code is a set of numbers before a phone number. It signals you’re placing a call to a foreign country and allows the call to be routed properly. If you don’t place the country code at the beginning, your call won’t go through.

How do I know what country code to use when making an international call?

Sometimes, the person who provided you with an international phone number may include the country code. Otherwise, visit our Complete Guide to International Calling Codes.

How to dial international numbers

The procedure for dialing international numbers depends on where you’re calling. Here are a few countries and how to call them.

How to call Canada from the U.S.

1. Dial 1 (the country code for Canada).
2. Dial the three-digit area code for the phone number.
3. Dial the seven-digit phone number.

 

Calling the U.S. from Canada

1. Dial 1 (the country code for the U.S.).
2. Dial the three-digit area code for the phone number.
3. Dial the seven-digit phone number.

How to call Mexico from the U.S. or Canada

Before you call Mexico, you need to know whether you’re dialing a landline or a cell phone. You’ll also need to determine if the phone number includes a trunk code. Three trunk codes are used in Mexico: 01, 044, and 045. These numbers were only necessary for placing domestic phone calls in Mexico. Ignore the trunk code when calling from the U.S. or Canada.

However, these prefixes were only to be used when calling within Mexico, and have been dropped altogether as of August 3rd, 2019.

To call a landline telephone in Mexico from the U.S. or Canada:

1. Dial 011. This signals that you’re calling an international number.
2. Dial 52 (the country code for Mexico).
3. Dial the two- or three-digit area code.
4. Dial the phone number without the trunk code.

To call a cell phone in Mexico from the U.S. or Canada:

1. Dial 011. This step lets the phone carrier know you’re dialing an international number.
2. Dial 52 (the country code for Mexico).
3. Dial the two- or three-digit area code.
4. Dial the phone number without the trunk code.

As of August 3rd, 2019, you no longer need to dial a 1 after the country code when calling a cellular phone in Mexico

Calling Europe from the U.S. or Canada

Calling Europe from the U.S. or Canada is fairly simple.

1. Dial 011 to signal to the phone carrier that you’re calling internationally.
2. Dial the country code for the country.
3. Dial the area or city code for the phone number.
4. Dial the phone number.

How to call a Caribbean country from the U.S. or Canada

Before placing an international call to a country in the Caribbean, look up the country code. Many Caribbean countries like Bermuda, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Antigua, and Barbuda signed onto the North American Number Plan and share +1 as their international country code. To call one of these countries:

1. Dial 1 (the international code).
2. Dial the area code or city code.
3. Dial the full phone number.

For countries that don’t share the +1 international country code, follow these steps:

1. Dial 011 for global call access.
2. Dial the country code.
3. Dial the area code or city code.
4. Dial the full phone number.

Calling another country from the U.S. or Canada

1. Dial 011 to signify you’re making an international call.
2. Dial the country code.
3. Dial the area code or city code.
4. Dial the full phone number.

How to call Canada or the U.S. from Europe

1. Dial 00 or enter + on your mobile phone. This step lets phone carriers know you’re making an international call.
2. Dial 1 for the country code.
3. Dial the area code.
4. Dial the full seven-digit phone number.

Calling the U.S. or Canada from another country

1. Dial the international access code. The phone provider can tell you what it is. In a hotel, ask the front desk or see if the code is printed on the room phone.
2. Dial 1 for the country code.
3. Dial the area code.
4. Dial the full seven-digit phone number.

Call toll-free numbers from outside the U.S. or Canada

Toll-free numbers allow people in the U.S. and Canada to make calls without paying long-distance charges. Unfortunately, this service doesn’t apply to incoming international calls. International calling rates will apply if you dial a toll-free number.

Usually, you can dial a toll-free number by:

• Entering your international access code (00 or + on a mobile phone in Europe).
• Dialing 1 for the country code.
• Dialing the first three numbers of the phone number, such as 800 or 888.
• Dialing the full seven-digit phone number.

What are the rates for international calls?

International calling rates are generally pricier than local and long-distance domestic rates. How much more it costs to dial internationally depends on your phone provider.

Landline and mobile phone providers may assess fees for international calls based on how long you remain on the line. The amount charged per minute is known as the base rate and may vary by country. For example, the per-minute cost of calling China from the U.S. on an AT&T basic plan in 2020 was $5, but calls to Canada cost only $1.55 per minute.

Some landline and cellular service providers offer international calling plans. If you sign up for this type of plan, you typically pay a monthly fee but can make international calls at a rate closer to what you pay for domestic long-distance. Most providers place a limit on the number of minutes you can use for international calls every month. If the month’s call time exceeds the limit, you’ll pay a higher rate for the overage.

Let’s look at an example. Imagine, your international calling plan allows you to call India for $0.75 per minute with a limit of 300 minutes per month. After 300 minutes, you get the base rate of $2.50 per minute. If you talked for 350 minutes, you would pay:

• $225 for the first 300 minutes (300 minutes x .075)
• $125 for the additional 50 minutes (50 minutes x $2.50)
• A total of $350 plus the monthly fee for having the international calling plan

What’s an international calling card?

An international calling card is a way to pay upfront for a set number of international calling minutes. The cost per minute is sometimes cheaper than you’d pay via landline or mobile phone, and some cards are disposable. Once you use up the minutes, you can either buy a new card or reuse your current card, depending on your card type.

Purchase international calling cards online, at many drugstores, grocery stores, convenience stores, and big box stores. If you buy one, protect your calling card number carefully, as scammers sometimes try to obtain the number to steal the minutes.

As a rule, never share your calling card number with anyone. If you receive a phone call, text, or email about your calling card, don’t click links or reply to any unfamiliar messages.

Is there a way to make international calls for free?

Certain apps and services allow you to make international calls for free or at reduced rates. These include:

• Skype: A software program available for mobile devices and computers. All Skype-to-Skype calls are free. You can use Skype to dial other phone numbers, but charges may apply for international calls.
• WhatsApp: With Voice calling, you can call any of your contacts on the WhatsApp messaging app for free, even if they’re in another country.
• FaceTime: If you have an iMac, MacBook, iPhone, iPad, or a later generation iPod and the person you’re calling does, too, you can use FaceTime to make free international video calls. People with Android or Windows phones can receive FaceTime calls with FaceTime links in iOS 15 and macOS Monterey
• Viber: Viber allows you to make international calls and send international texts to other people with Viber accounts.
• LINE: Line is a free app that allows calls or texts to other users.
• Messenger: Part of the Meta family, Messenger is a chat service that you can access through Facebook or a separate app. You can use Messenger to make international video calls to other users.
• WeChat: This Chinese messaging app allows users to make free international calls to one another.

Additional guides for your international calls:

• What is an International SIM Card?
• Canada Calling Codes: A Complete Guide