Staying in touch with friends, family, or business associates across the globe is easier than ever. For Verizon customers in the United States, making international calls Verizon offers is straightforward, but it’s helpful to understand the different options and potential costs involved.
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Defining International Calls Verizon (vs. Roaming)
When discussing international calls Verizon provides, we are specifically referring to calls placed from your Verizon phone while you are physically located within the United States to a phone number in another country.
This is distinct from international roaming, which involves using your Verizon phone (for calls, texts, or data) while you are traveling outside the United States. Roaming is typically covered by separate plans like TravelPass or an International Monthly Plan.
Pay-Per-Minute: The Standard for International Calls Verizon
If you don’t have a specific international calling plan or feature added to your Verizon line, any international calls Verizon connects for you will typically be billed on a pay-per-minute basis.
The rate per minute can vary significantly depending on the country you are calling. Factors like whether you’re calling a landline or a mobile number in the destination country can also affect the price. Because these rates differ widely, it is highly recommended to check the specific rate before you make your call to avoid unexpected charges.
You can find Verizon’s current pay-per-minute international rates by visiting their website and using their international calling rate lookup tool.
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Plans for Frequent International Calls Verizon
If you frequently make calls abroad, Verizon offers several monthly add-on plans that can provide better value than standard pay-per-minute rates:
- Check Your Base Plan First (Especially for Mexico & Canada): Many current Verizon Unlimited mobile plans automatically include unlimited calling from the US to Mexico and Canada at no extra cost. Always check your current plan details before adding a separate international plan solely for these countries.
- Global Calling ($5/month per line): This plan is often a good starting point.
- Includes unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada (if not already in your base plan).
- Provides discounted per-minute rates (starting as low as $0.05/min) when calling over 220 other countries.
- Global Calling Plus ($15/month per line): Offers more unlimited calling options.
- Includes unlimited calling from the US to landlines in over 60 countries and mobile numbers in over 30 countries (including Mexico and Canada).
- Provides discounted rates for calls to 160+ additional countries.
- Global Choice ($10/month per line): Best if you primarily call one specific country.
- You select one country from an eligible list (over 140 options).
- You receive a monthly allowance of minutes (up to 300, varies by country) to call that chosen nation.
- Also includes unlimited calling to Mexico/Canada and discounted rates to most other countries.
Managing Your International Calls Verizon Service
- Checking Rates: Use the online tool on Verizon’s international calling pages to find the most accurate and up-to-date per-minute rates for any country, whether using pay-per-minute or checking discounted plan rates.
- Adding/Removing Plans: You can typically add or remove these international calling plans through your My Verizon account (on the website or via the My Verizon app, usually in the “Add-ons” or “International” section) or by contacting Verizon customer service.
How to Dial International Calls Verizon
To make a direct international call from the US using Verizon, you typically dial:
011 (the US exit code) + Country Code + City/Area Code (if needed) + Local Phone Number
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Way to Make International Calls Verizon
Verizon provides robust options for making international calls from the US. Whether you make infrequent calls best suited for pay-per-minute rates (after checking the cost!) or require a monthly plan like Global Calling, Global Calling Plus, or Global Choice for frequent conversations, understanding your options is key. Always check your base plan for included Mexico and Canada calling and use Verizon’s online tools to verify rates before dialing internationally.
