How to Make an Overseas Phone Call: International Calling Codes Explained

Whether its updating your closest friends back home with excellent news or having some paperwork sorted, making international calls for the first time looks like it would be headache. With our simple guide, however, you’ll be making international calls as if you were born doing it!

Read on to discover how to make international calls, learn what country code you need, and get some tips for ensuring your calls go through smoothly and cost-effectively.

How to Dial an International Number

Dialing internationally involves a few key steps that vary slightly depending on your location and the country you are calling. Below is an easy step-by-step guide on how to dial an international number to successfully make an overseas phone call.

1. Use a + symbol or dial your country’s international dialing prefix, also known as an exit code

2. Next, enter the international calling code for the destination you are trying to make a call to

3. Dial the area code area next (if applicable)

4. Finally, add the local phone numbers

Commonly Used Exit Codes for International Calling

The international dialing prefix or exit code allows you to connect to an international line. Here are some of the most commonly used exit codes:

• United States and Canada: 011

• United Kingdom and many other European Countries: 00

• Australia: 0011

• Japan: 010

How do You Dial International Calls from the US?

For Calls to Most Countries

To make an international call to most countries outside of the US, start by dialing the international exit code for the United States, which is 011. This code signals to your phone carrier that you are making a call outside the US. After dialing 011, you need to enter the country code of the destination you are calling.

Each country has a unique code that directs the call to the appropriate national telephone network. Finally, dial the local phone number of the person or business you are trying to reach. Ensure that you have the complete number, including any necessary area codes, to avoid connection issues.

Example: If you are calling Mexico City, Mexico, you would dial 011 (US exit code) + 52 (Mexico's country code) + 55 (Mexico City's area code) + the local number.

For Calls within the North American Numbering Plan (NANP)

For calls to countries that are part of the North American Numbering Plan, such as Canada, various Caribbean nations, and some other regions, the process is slightly different. Instead of the international exit code, you simply dial 1, which is the country code for the NANP.

Follow this with the area code and the 7-digit local number, just as you would for a regular long-distance call within the United States. However, it's important to note that even though the dialing procedure is the same as a domestic call, international charges will apply for these calls.

Example: To call Toronto, Canada, you would dial 1 (country code for NANP) + 416 (area code for Toronto) + the 7-digit local number.