How to Call an International Number

Quick Answer: The Dialing Format

From the United States, use this format: exit code + country code + area or city code + local number.

On a landline, the exit code is usually 011. On a mobile phone, you can usually enter the plus sign instead. The basic formats are:

• Landline: 011 + country code + area or city code + local number
• Mobile phone: + + country code + area or city code + local number

If you are asking, “How can I call international?” start by checking that the number includes a country code. Do not dial a domestic long-distance prefix from the destination country unless reliable dialing instructions tell you to keep it.

Step-by-Step: Dialing an International Number

1. Pick up the landline handset or open the phone app on your mobile device.
2. Confirm that you have the complete international number. It should identify the destination country and may also contain a city, area, or mobile network code.
3. Enter 011 if you are calling from a US landline. On a mobile phone, press and hold the zero key until the plus sign appears, if your phone supports that method.
4. Enter the destination country code immediately after 011 or the plus sign.
5. Enter the area, city, or mobile code in the form required for calls from outside that country. A leading zero used for domestic calls may need to be removed, but this varies by country.
6. Enter the remaining local number in the same order shown by a reliable international dialing guide.
7. Review the digits before tapping the call button or waiting for the landline to connect. Remove spaces, parentheses, or dashes only if your device rejects them; they normally serve as visual separators.

This is the standard answer to “How do I call an international number?” The exact number of digits is not the same in every country, so do not add digits just because the finished number looks too short.

Exit Code vs the Plus (+) Sign

The exit code tells the telephone network that the following digits form a number outside the United States. Federal Communications Commission consumer guidance identifies 011 as the international dialing prefix used when calling abroad from the United States.

The plus sign is a portable replacement for an exit code on mobile devices. The phone or mobile network translates it into the appropriate international prefix. This makes a number stored in international format easier to use while traveling.

Use 011 when a US landline, office phone system, or calling service requires digits. Use the plus sign on a smartphone when the dialer and carrier support it. If the plus sign does not work, check the carrier’s official support instructions instead of repeatedly changing the number.

Finding the Country and Area Code

Before you call an international number, identify the country where the person or organization receives calls. Find its country code through the destination country’s telecommunications regulator, the International Telecommunication Union’s published numbering resources, or your carrier’s official international dialing guide.

Next, check whether the destination uses an area, city, or mobile network code. Use the official contact page of the organization you are calling, or ask the recipient to send the number in full international format. A number beginning with a plus sign should already place the country code first.

Do not guess a country code from the recipient’s location or language. Also check whether a domestic trunk prefix, often displayed at the start of an area code, must be omitted for calls from abroad. Rules differ, and some countries keep digits that others remove.

Calling from a Mobile Phone vs a Landline

A mobile phone usually accepts numbers beginning with the plus sign. To enter it, press and hold zero in many dialer apps. You may then save the contact in that format for consistent dialing. Availability can depend on the device, carrier, account settings, and current network.

A landline normally requires 011 before the country code. A workplace, hotel, or shared phone system may first require a digit to reach an outside line. That digit belongs before the international dialing sequence and is set by the local phone system, not by the destination country.

If you want to know how to call international numbers through Wi-Fi calling or an internet-based phone service, check that service’s official help section. Its dialing behavior may differ from ordinary mobile or landline calling.

Common Mistakes That Cause Failed Calls

• Wrong code order: Enter the exit code or plus sign first, followed by the country code, destination area code, and local number.
• Missing exit code: A landline may treat the digits as a domestic call if 011 is absent.
• Using both 011 and plus: Choose one international prefix, not both.
• Keeping or dropping the wrong zero: Do not automatically remove every leading zero. Follow current instructions for that country and number type.
• Repeating the country code: If the number is already written with a plus sign and country code, do not add the code again.
• Using an incomplete local number: Recheck the number with the recipient or the organization’s official contact page.
• International calling is blocked: The number can be correct while the carrier or phone account prevents the call.

If the call drops after connecting, check your signal and try another location. If it fails before connecting, verify the format and account settings first.

Checking Your Carrier's International Calling Setup

Go to your carrier’s official website or app and find the Support, Help, International Calling, or Calling Abroad section. Look for instructions covering calls placed from the United States, not instructions for using a phone while traveling.

Confirm that international dialing is enabled for your line and that no account-level or device-level calling restriction is active. If you use a business, family, or managed account, the account administrator may control that setting.

Also check whether the carrier requires a special prefix or provides different instructions for mobile, landline, Wi-Fi, or assisted calls. Use only the prefix shown in current official guidance. If you still cannot call an international number, contact the carrier through the support method listed on its official site and provide the destination country, the dialing format you tried, and the exact error message.