Calling guides by country
In short
To call another country, dial your exit code, the country code, then the number without its first 0. From a mobile, type + instead of the exit code. Pick your call below for the exact digits, the time there right now and the local quirks that trip people up.
- Free
- No sign-up
- Exact digits
- Checked against ITU
Updated 3 October 2026 · SimVala editorial
Example guide
Calling Mexico from the US
- Landline011 52 33 xxxx xxxx
- Mobile+52 33 xxxx xxxx
- Number written33 xxxx xxxx
Pick your call
Local times update every hour
From the United States
16 guides · exit code 011- MexicoCall from the US011 52 + numberAs written 6:16 AM in Mexico City
- The United KingdomCall from the US011 44 + numberDrop the first 0 1:16 PM in London
- IndiaCall from the US011 91 + numberDrop the first 0 5:46 PM in Delhi
- The PhilippinesCall from the US011 63 + numberDrop the first 0 8:16 PM in Manila
- CanadaCall from the US1 + number10 digits 8:16 AM in Toronto
- GermanyCall from the US011 49 + numberDrop the first 0 2:16 PM in Berlin
- ItalyCall from the US011 39 + numberKeep the 0 2:16 PM in Rome
- ChinaCall from the US011 86 + numberDrop the first 0 8:16 PM in Beijing
- JapanCall from the US011 81 + numberDrop the first 0 9:16 PM in Tokyo
- IsraelCall from the US011 972 + numberDrop the first 0 3:16 PM in Tel Aviv
- NigeriaCall from the US011 234 + numberDrop the first 0 1:16 PM in Lagos
- PakistanCall from the US011 92 + numberDrop the first 0 5:16 PM in Karachi
- BrazilCall from the US011 55 + numberDrop the first 0 9:16 AM in Sao Paulo
- AustraliaCall from the US011 61 + numberDrop the first 0 11:16 PM in Sydney
- South KoreaCall from the US011 82 + numberDrop the first 0 9:16 PM in Seoul
- FranceCall from the US011 33 + numberDrop the first 0 2:16 PM in Paris
From the United Kingdom
3 guides · exit code 00From India
1 guide · exit code 00Calling somewhere else? The dial builder further down works for any two of 46 countries, the guide to calling another country explains every step, and the country code list has every code.
20
Step-by-step calling guides
17
Countries you can call
46
Countries in the dial builder
9
Different exit codes in use
How international dialling works
Every call to another country is three blocks of digits, always in the same order. Here is a London number, written 020 7946 0018 inside the UK, dialled from a landline in the US.
0114420 7946 0018
1Exit code
Tells your phone company the call leaves the country. It depends on where you are: 011 in the US and Canada, 00 in most other places.
2Country code
Picks the country you are calling. It never changes, whoever calls. The UK is 44, Mexico 52, India 91.
3The number
The local number without the 0 it starts with at home, in most countries. Italy keeps it.
On a mobile, + replaces the exit code. Type +44 20 7946 0018 and it works from any country. Hold the 0 key to get the +.
Exit codes and country codes for every guide
The exit code depends on where you are, the country code on where you are calling. 34 of the 46 countries in our list use 00 to dial out, but the US uses 011, Japan 010 and Australia 0011. The last column says what happens to the 0 at the start of a local number.
| Country | Exit code (calling out) | Country code (calling in) | The first 0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 0011 | +61 | Drop it |
| Brazil | 00 | +55 | Drop it |
| Canada | 011 | +1 | No 0: 10 digits |
| China | 00 | +86 | Drop it |
| France | 00 | +33 | Drop it |
| Germany | 00 | +49 | Drop it |
| India | 00 | +91 | Drop it |
| Israel | 00 | +972 | Drop it |
| Italy | 00 | +39 | Keep it on landlines |
| Japan | 010 | +81 | Drop it |
| Mexico | 00 | +52 | No 0 to drop |
| Nigeria | 009 | +234 | Drop it |
| Pakistan | 00 | +92 | Drop it |
| Philippines | 00 | +63 | Drop it |
| South Korea | 001 | +82 | Drop it |
| United Kingdom | 00 | +44 | Drop it |
| United States | 011 | +1 | No 0: 10 digits |
From the ITU dialling procedures list, checked 2026-09-28.
Dial any country in three steps
Start with + or the exit code
On a mobile, hold 0 to type +. On a landline, dial the exit code of the country you are in, like 011 in the US or 00 in the UK.
Add the country code
The code of the place you are calling: 52 for Mexico, 91 for India, 44 for the UK. Between the US and Canada, just dial 1.
Dial the number without its 0
Drop the 0 that starts most local numbers. Keep it for Italian landlines. Mexican and US numbers have no 0 to drop.
Six mistakes that stop international calls
Most failed calls come down to one wrong digit. These are the ones we see most, and each guide above warns you about the ones that apply.
- Keeping the 0 after the country code+44 020 is wrong, +44 20 is right. Your call either fails or reaches a recording. Italy is the only big country where the 0 stays.
- Old prefixes in saved contactsMexico dropped the 1 after 52 in 2019. Argentina is the opposite: mobiles need a 9 after 54. Contacts saved years ago may still carry the old form.
- Calling toll-free numbers from abroadFree numbers like 0800 in the UK or 800 in the US usually only work inside their own country. Look for a normal number for overseas callers.
- Thinking +1 always means the USCanada and much of the Caribbean share +1. A call from the US to Jamaica looks like a long-distance call but is billed as international.
- Getting the time gap wrongCountries change their clocks on different dates, and many never change at all. For a few weeks a year the gap is an hour off what you expect.
- Texting without the + formatTexts follow the same rules. A text sent to a local-format foreign number often never arrives, with no error message.
What a call to another country costs
Your phone plan sets the price of a direct call, not the country you call. Some plans include Mexico and Canada. Many charge by the minute for everywhere else, and some charge a connection fee on top. Check your plan before a long call.
App calls over WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime cost nothing beyond your data, but only work when the other person has the same app and a connection. They cannot reach a landline, a bank or a hotel front desk.
For those, prepaid internet calling is usually the cheapest. With SimVala calls you see the per-minute rate before you pay, top up with crypto, and call mobiles and landlines in most countries. The cheapest way to call abroad guide compares every option.
Build the digits for any other call
Not on the list? Pick any two of 46 countries and paste the number as it was written. The builder shows what to dial from a mobile and a landline.
From any mobile
+44 20 7946 0018
Type + by holding the 0 key. Works from any country.
From a landline in the United States
011 44 20 7946 0018
011 is the exit code from the United States.
Example numbers are from ranges reserved for fiction. Codes follow the ITU dialling procedures list.
Travelling rather than calling home? Your number still works abroad, but roaming can be costly. A travel eSIM gives you data for app calls, and a virtual number gives you a local number for calls and texts.
More free tools
All tools
CalculatorInternational dial builderThe exact digits to dial from any country to any other.
LookupCountry code lookupEvery calling code, and which country a code belongs to.
LookupPhone number lookupWhich country, mobile or landline, the area code and the local time.
CalculatorCall cost calculatorWhat a call abroad really costs, compared side by side.
Sources
- ITU: Dialling procedures (international prefix, national prefix, and national number)
- ITU: assigned country codes (E.164)
- NANPA: the North American Numbering Plan (+1)
Call prices depend on your plan. Check it before a long call.
Calling another country, answered
How do I call another country?+
Dial the exit code of the country you are in, then the country code of the place you are calling, then the number without its first 0. From a mobile, type + instead of the exit code.
What is an exit code?+
The digits that tell your phone company the call is going abroad. It is 011 from the US and Canada and 00 from the UK, India and most of Europe. A + on a mobile does the same job anywhere.
Should I drop the 0 when calling abroad?+
Usually, yes. Most countries write numbers with a 0 for calls at home, and callers from abroad leave it out. Italy is the big exception: Italian landlines keep their 0.
Why does my international call not connect?+
The most common reasons are a 0 left in after the country code, an old prefix like Mexico's 1 or 044, or a toll-free number that only works inside its own country.
Do I need an exit code to call Canada from the US?+
No. The US and Canada share +1, so you dial 1, the area code and the number, like a long-distance call at home. Your plan may still price it as international.
How do I save a foreign number so it always works?+
Save it with + and the country code, like +52 33 1234 5678. Your phone then dials it right from any country, and WhatsApp and Signal find the person too.
What is the cheapest way to call another country?+
App calls over Wi-Fi or data are free when both people have the same app. To reach a normal phone number, prepaid internet minutes usually cost far less than a carrier's per-minute rate.
Call any country for less
Prepaid minutes to mobiles and landlines in most countries, with the rate shown before you pay. Paid in crypto, no card, no email, no ID.