How to Dial Internationally: Country Codes, E.164 and Common Mistakes

When a call or text to another country does not go through, the cause is often not the service but the way the number was typed. The good news is that there is one format that works from any phone and any app. This guide explains it step by step and lists the mistakes that cause most failures.

The universal format: plus, country code, number

Phone numbers around the world follow an international standard called E.164. A number written in this form looks like this:

+ [country code] [national number]

• The + stands for "the international access code of wherever you are". It replaces codes such as 00 (most of Europe) or 011 (the United States and Canada).
• The country code is one to three digits and identifies the country, for example 1, 44, 48 or 91.
• The national number is the rest, without the leading zero that people dial for domestic calls in many countries.

E.164 numbers have at most 15 digits in total, not counting the plus. Spaces, dashes and brackets are only for reading and can be ignored by the dialler.

Examples

• Country: Poland

  How people dial it at home

  123 456 789

  International format

  +48 123 456 789

• Country: United Kingdom

  How people dial it at home

  07123 456789

  International format

  +44 7123 456789

• Country: India

  How people dial it at home

  098765 43210

  International format

  +91 98765 43210

• Country: United States

  How people dial it at home

  (212) 555-0123

  International format

  +1 212 555 0123

• Country: Germany

  How people dial it at home

  0151 2345 6789

  International format

  +49 151 2345 6789

These examples use sample numbers only. The pattern is what matters: the plus, the country code and the number without its domestic zero.

The most common mistakes

1. Keeping the leading zero. Writing +44 07123 456789 or +49 0151… will fail on most networks. Drop the zero: +44 7123 456789.
2. Using the wrong exit code. From a mobile phone, the plus sign works everywhere. Typing 00 or 011 is only correct in the right country.
3. Doubling the country code. A saved number that already starts with +48 does not need 48 added again.
4. Using a local format for another country. The number a friend gives you on their home phone may be written without the country code. Ask for the full international form.
5. Mixing up mobile and fixed prefixes. Mobile prefixes cost more and may be priced differently. See how international call rates work.
6. Typing letters or extra characters. Some websites accept a plus and digits only. Remove brackets and dashes if a form rejects the number.

Exceptions you will meet

• Italy keeps the leading zero of landline numbers when dialled from abroad, for example +39 06… for Rome. Mobile numbers do not have one.
• The +1 zone covers the United States, Canada and a number of Caribbean countries. Prices differ between them even though the code is the same, so check the destination.
• Some countries use several code lengths, so do not guess a code from a similar-looking country. Search for "country code" followed by the country name.
• Short and service numbers (emergency numbers, 0800 numbers, premium lines) usually cannot be dialled from abroad in the same way.

A checklist before you press call

1. Start with +.
2. Add the country code.
3. Add the number without the domestic leading zero.
4. Check the total length; E.164 allows up to 15 digits.
5. Check the type of number (mobile or fixed) if the price matters.

The same format works for texts

When you send an SMS to another country the same E.164 format is used. A wrong prefix is the most common reason a text is never delivered. Read how to send a text from your browser in How to Send an SMS to a Mobile Phone From a Computer, or try Globfone Send SMS, where you choose the country and type the number.

Calling from a browser

With Globfone Free calls you pick the country and dial; with Globfone Premium you can enter a full number and check its rate before the call. If you want to understand what happens after you press the button, read VoIP explained.