International Calls: Staying Connected Abroad

You can call almost any country in the world from your UK SIM. International calls are not included in standard UK allowances and are charged using Airtime Credit.

To dial internationally, use the format +[country code][number], or 00[country code][number]. For example, to call a French number, dial +33 followed by the number (without the leading zero).

International calls are charged per minute, with rates varying based on the destination country.

Charges are deducted from your Airtime Credit balance. If you don’t have enough credit, the call will not connect.

Rates can change over time, so we recommend checking the current rate for your destination before making a long call.

Here are typical rates for some of the most-called countries (indicative, subject to change):

• Spain, France, Germany, Italy: 11p per minute
• Ireland: 11p per minute
• United States, Canada: 11p per minute
• Australia, New Zealand: 11p per minute
• India: 15p per minute
• Poland, Romania: 11p per minute
• Nigeria, Ghana: 25–40p per minute

Call rates to mobile numbers are usually higher than to landlines.

Sending a text message to an international number costs 20p per SMS, regardless of the destination.

MMS (picture messages) sent abroad are charged at 40p per message.

Receiving texts from abroad is free, whether you’re in the UK or overseas.

• Use Wi-Fi calling apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal or Telegram — they’re free over Wi-Fi or data.
• Compare the cost of a direct call vs calling apps before long calls.
• Consider an international calling add-on if you call the same country regularly.
• Always check the rate for your destination before dialling, especially for less common countries.

Messaging and VoIP apps now offer free or extremely cheap international communication:

• WhatsApp, FaceTime, Signal: free calls over Wi-Fi or mobile data
• Skype, Google Voice: low-cost calls to landlines and mobiles worldwide
• Zoom, Microsoft Teams: free video calls for longer conversations

These apps require both parties to have the same service, or the caller to have an account with credit.

If you’re travelling, making calls from abroad is different from making international calls from the UK. See our Roaming guide for details on how charges work while you’re overseas.

In short: EU destinations are usually included at no extra cost, while destinations outside the EU often incur much higher roaming charges.

International calls don’t have to break the bank. With a bit of planning — and by using apps for casual chats — you can stay connected with friends and family abroad without worrying about your bill.

For regular callers to the same country, an international add-on can offer excellent value compared to per-minute charges.