How to Make International Calls: A Complete Guide

There’s nothing like hearing a friend’s voice when they’re thousands of miles away. But calling someone in another country can seem complicated. You might also wonder how to make sure you reach the right person, and whether there are carrier rules you have to follow. Fortunately, making international calls is easy once you understand things like country codes and dialing formats.

In our guide below, we’ll show you how to stay in touch with friends and family all over the world. Learn how to make international calls from the USA, plus alternative methods that can help reduce your costs.

And when you need more than a phone call to show your support, you send money with Western Union to more than 200 countries.

Key takeaways

• To make an international call from the US, dial 011 from a landline (or press 0 to get the plus sign on a mobile phone), then enter the country code and phone number.
• Many carriers charge per minute for international calls, but you can usually save money by signing up for an international calling plan or using a prepaid calling card.
• Other ways to make international calls include using social media messaging, direct messaging apps, and video calling apps.

What are international calling codes?

Before your call can reach another country, you need to “dial out” of the country you’re in. You can think of international calling codes as a sort of exit code, or international calling guide. It tells the phone system that the call you’re about to make is an international one.

It’s similar to making a long-distance phone call on a landline. In the US, calling long distance requires you to dial “1,” then the area code and phone number. That tells the phone system you’re placing a call outside of your local area. The difference is that when you’re placing a call outside of the US, you’ll dial your country’s international calling code instead of “1.”

International calling codes are sometimes called International Direct Dialing (IDD) codes.

How to make an international telephone call

Here’s how you would go about making an international call:

1. Dial the international calling code, which is 011 for the U.S. If you’re on a mobile phone, you can hold down 0 to get the + sign, which works the same as dialing 011.
2. Next, dial the country code for the country you’re calling. Each country has its own unique country code.
3. Then, you dial the area code (or city code) and phone number and wait for the call to connect.

If you’re in the US and you were to call someone in Barcelona, Spain, for example, you would dial 011 34 93 and then the local number. The international code is 011, the country code for Spain is 34, and the area code for Barcelona is 93.

A few countries don’t require you to enter the international calling code first if you’re dialing from the US. These include Canada and several places in the Caribbean, like Jamaica, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda. For these countries, you’ll just dial 1 first, as though you were making a domestic long-distance call. If you’re unsure whether to dial 1 or the IDD code, you can contact your carrier.

Common international calling codes

The international calling code you’ll use depends on the country you’re in. If you’re making a call from the US, you’ll use 011 to dial internationally. In the United Kingdom (and many other countries), you’ll dial 00. In Australia, you’ll dial 0011 to make an international call. Some countries, like Brazil, Cambodia, and Finland, have multiple IDD codes for making international calls.

You’ll also need the country code to complete your call. For instance, the country code for India is 91, Mexico is 52, Vietnam is 84, and Zambia is 260.

Tips to save money while calling abroad

Local calls may be free, but international calls tend to cost money: usually between a few cents and a few dollars per minute. In the US, phone companies are required by law to post their basic rates for international calls on their website.

Signing up for an international calling plan could be one way to save money making international calls. Instead of a basic rate, you might pay a low monthly fee to receive a set number of minutes for direct-dial international calls, or a higher fee for unlimited calls. Check whether your plan limits the minutes you can use or the countries you can call. If your mobile phone plan has roaming, you may be able to save costs by using WiFi calling.

Another way to save money is to use a prepaid calling card instead. These cards let you buy minutes or a subscription plan to place international calls for a low price. With a prepaid calling card, you dial a special access number to place your call for the discounted rate.

Alternative communication options

Talking to someone in another country can get expensive, especially if you have a lot to say or make frequent calls. But there are other ways to stay connected, too.

• Social media: Many social media apps let you send and receive direct messages, including photos and videos. Some also let you make audio or video calls right in the app. These calls use WiFi or cell data, not phone minutes.
• Messaging apps: Messaging apps are hugely popular for keeping in touch with international friends and family. Telegram and WhatsApp are two services that offer text, voice, and video messaging between countries.
• Video calling: Video conferencing platforms like Zoom and video calling apps like FaceTime use the internet to enable video calls almost anywhere you have a WiFi signal.

Managing connections and support overseas

For global families, staying close and connected despite distance means everything. Knowing how to make international calls helps you communicate, while knowing how to send money can help you provide financial support, too.

Use the Western Union app to send money quickly to bank accounts, digital wallets, or cash pickup locations around the world.