The Complete Guide to International Calling Codes

Last updated on March 7th, 2024 at 11:47 am

You’ve likely heard of country codes when calling abroad, but have you heard of international calling codes? These are the prefixes or international dialing codes required when calling internationally and must be used in order for the number to leave the country you’re in. They come before the country code and indicate the required international telephone circuit.

To help you make international calls more easily, our team here at Remitly put together this guide to what they are, when to use them, and how they work.

How to make a call from one country to another

Every country has its own calling code and separate country code. The calling code is the two- to three-digit number you dial at the beginning of the phone number sequence to indicate you’re calling out of the country you’re in. This is followed by the country code telling the phone system what country you’re now calling to.

Country codes vs. international calling codes

Country codes and international calling codes are two very different things. A country code is specific to each country. For example, Guatemala’s country code is 502.

The international calling code can often be the same in other countries. The most common codes are 00 or 011.

You should also note that the code for your country is the code you use to call out of the country. It is similar to when you are in a hotel and need to use the phone to call outside the hotel.

In these cases, you have to press something like 9 in order to get out of the hotel. The dial-out number for a country is very much the same.

If you are in the United States, you will call any other country by first dialing 011, which is the exit code for the U.S. If you were to call Guatemala, for example, you would dial:

• 011
• then the country code 502
• and then the actual phone number

Another identifier is the area code, which is used for specific areas. For example, Vancouver, Canada, uses 604 as an area code before the local number. If a country uses area codes, this would be the order for international dialing.

• The international access code (see the table below for a complete list of international calling codes)
• The country code
• The area code
• The local phone number

When to Use the ‘+’ Sign

If you are in the United States, you may be required to skip the international calling codes and use the + symbol instead. In this case, you will dial:

• +
• then the country code
• and then the actual number

When should you use this symbol instead of the number? If you are calling from a Global System for Mobiles (GSM) country to another country, you can use the + sign. However, this may only work for calling mobile phones, whereas an international phone call via landline may still require the usual dial-out code.

Making an international call

In order to make an international call, you will need to know all these numbers, including the international calling code, the country code, the area code, and the local number. Dialing codes from Canada to Mexico may look something like this:

011-52-555-333-3333

As long as you know what dial-out code to use in the country you’re in and the country code for the country you’re trying to call, you can make the phone call.

For quick reference, here is a list of the country and calling codes for large and smaller countries throughout the world. The country name appears on the left, and the list is in alphabetical order.

Calling code and country code FAQs

Still have questions about making international calls? Read on for answers.

What is the US country code?

The country code for the US is 1. Its calling code is 11.

Do country calling codes work differently on mobile phones?

On cell phones, you typically dial + and then the country code.

Do you need to use country calling codes to text message?

Yes, to send a text message through a mobile satellite service on your mobile phone, you typically need to enter the same international dialing codes you do when placing an international phone call.

What is the North American Number Plan?

The North American Numbering Plan or NANP is a scheme that makes it easy to place international calls between countries in the U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and most countries in the Caribbean.

Through the NANP, all participating countries use the same calling code at the beginning of a telephone number. As a result, you don’t need to dial an exit code if you’re placing an international call to an international number in another NANP country.

What are country calling zones?

Calling code zones allow people within a certain region to call phone numbers in surrounding foreign countries without dialing an exit code. There are nine zones:

• Zone 1: North America, all countries included in the NANP
• Zone 2: Africa, Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Aruba
• Zones 3 and 4: Europe
• Zone 5: Central and South America
• Zone 6: Southeast Asia and Oceania
• Zone 7: Russia and neighboring regions
• Zone 8: Japan, China, Taiwan, and other East Asian nations

Do you need to use international dialing codes for domestic calls?

How you place a domestic call depends on which country you are in. There may be dialing codes that you need to enter before the phone number. However, you shouldn’t have to dial an international access code or country code to place a domestic call.

Who oversees international dialing rules?

The International Telecommunication Union oversees issues related to telephone communications, including international calling standards. It is a specialized agency of the United Nations.

Stay in touch with loved ones using telephone country codes

Now that you know how to make long-distance calls abroad, you can keep in touch with your loved ones. Remember that the first digit or digits you dial is the calling code. Then, you dial the country code and the phone number.