International Calling Charges Explained

International calling charges apply when you ring a number outside the UK from your UK phone. They're separate from roaming, and they vary a lot by destination, network and call type. People are often caught out by how expensive these calls can be, especially to mobiles or non-geographic numbers.

This guide covers how international charges are put together, what drives the price, and how to keep it down.

This is general information about UK telecom services. It is not financial advice.

What counts as an international call

An international call is any call from the UK to a number registered outside the UK: the EU, the USA, Canada, Australia, Asia, Africa, anywhere, and overseas mobile numbers too. Ringing someone who happens to be abroad but is using their UK number is not an international call; you pay domestic rates. The charge follows the country code you dial, not where the person actually is.

Why they can be expensive

What you pay depends on the destination country, whether you're calling a landline or a mobile, your provider's wholesale agreements, and whether you hold a call add-on. Pay-as-you-go rates typically run from 5p–20p a minute for some EU landlines up to 30p–£1 or more for mobiles and non-EU destinations, and some places cost a good deal more. International calls to mobiles are usually dearer than to landlines because mobile termination fees are higher.

Add-ons and calling plans

Many UK providers sell international add-ons, offering discounted rates, inclusive minutes to specific countries, or a region-based bundle such as a Europe package. Check which countries are covered, whether the minutes apply only to landlines or include mobiles, and the rate once you go over the allowance. If you regularly call one country, a targeted add-on can cut the cost substantially.

Internet calling

Internet-based calls are often the cheaper route. WhatsApp, Skype, FaceTime Audio, Zoom and other VoIP apps run over WiFi or data, so if both people are online they can avoid international charges altogether. The trade-offs are that data charges may apply, quality depends on the connection, and emergency calling may not work. Some broadband providers now bundle international minutes into their digital landline (VoIP) packages.

Premium destinations

A handful of destinations are classed as "premium international" and charged at higher rates. The usual traps are calling overseas mobiles without checking the rate, dialling non-geographic international numbers, and calling satellite phones. Check your provider's rate table before dialling a country code you don't recognise.

Mobile against landline

Mobile international rates are usually higher than landline ones. Mobile plans tend to leave international calls out of the standard allowance, charge per minute, and offer a bolt-on add-on instead. Landline packages sometimes include a limited number of international minutes. It's worth comparing both before a long call.

When the bill is wrong

Unlike roaming, international calls don't always carry an automatic spending cap. Providers do have to publish clear tariff information, give you itemised billing, and handle complaints under Ofcom rules. If a charge looks wrong, check the itemised bill, confirm the number you dialled, and raise the dispute promptly.

Ofcom https://www.ofcom.org.uk Phone: 0300 123 3333