🇬🇧 🌍Dialling abroad

How to dial international from the UK

Start with 00 or the + sign, add the country code, then the number with its leading zero removed. For example, +33 1 23 45 67 89 for France. Do it from your browser, with no app or SIM.

What you get

  • Use 00 or the + sign to start the call
  • Add the country code, then drop the leading zero
  • Dial from the browser, first call free
How it works
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How it works

1

Open StartACall

Open it in your browser and create an account in under a minute.

2

Type + and the number

Use the + sign, the country code, then the number without its leading zero.

3

Press call

The call connects in seconds, in HD voice. Your first call is free.

Why people use StartACall

Instant setup

Start calling in seconds from any browser. Nothing to install.

Pay as you go

Per minute pricing, no monthly plan, and your credit never expires.

No app, no SIM

Works in Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox on desktop and mobile.

Ready to make your first call?

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How to dial international from the UK

In short

To dial abroad from the UK, start with the + sign or 00, then add the country code, then the phone number with its leading zero removed. For example, +33 1 23 45 67 89 for France. With StartACall you do this from the browser, with no app or SIM, and your first call is free.

The three steps of an international call

Dialling abroad always follows the same shape. First comes the international access part, which is the + sign or 00. Then comes the country code, such as 49 for Germany or 1 for the USA. Last comes the local number with its national leading zero dropped.

Putting it together, a German Berlin number 030 1234567 becomes +49 30 1234567, and a US number becomes +1 followed by the area code and number. Once you know these three pieces you can build any international number, no matter which country you are calling.

Why the leading zero comes off

The leading zero you see in national numbers, like the 0 in 030 or 020, is a trunk prefix used only inside that country. When you add the country code you replace that zero, so it must not be dialled twice. Think of the country code as taking the zero's place.

Dialling +49 030 instead of +49 30 is the most common mistake, and it usually means the call will not connect. Remove the single leading zero and keep the rest of the number exactly as it is, including any spaces you might use to make it readable.

00 or the plus sign

You can start an international call with either 00 or the + sign, and they do exactly the same job. On a landline keypad you usually type 00, while on a mobile or in a browser dialler the + sign is the natural choice.

The + sign has one big advantage: it works from any country without you needing to know the local international access code. That is why saving numbers in international format with a + at the front is a good habit, since they then work wherever you happen to be. In a browser dialler like StartACall the + is built in, so you only type the digits of the country code and the number, and the call is placed without you having to remember whether the country you are in uses 00, 011 or something else to start an international call.

Doing it the simple way with StartACall

Rather than juggling access codes, you can let the browser handle the mechanics. Open StartACall in Chrome, Safari, Edge or Firefox, type the + sign, the country code and the number, then press call.

There is no app to download and no SIM needed, and it works on desktop or mobile. The first call is free with no card, and after that you pay per minute with credit that never expires, plus a small $0.004 connection fee per call. The person you call simply answers their normal phone. Because the dialler accepts the full international number, you can save a contact once in plus format and call them again later without rebuilding the number, which removes the chance of dropping or doubling the leading zero on future calls.

Frequently asked questions

What do I dial first for an international call from the UK?+

Start with the + sign or 00. Both signal an international call. Then add the country code and the number without its leading zero.

Do I keep the leading zero of the foreign number?+

No. Drop the single national leading zero once you add the country code. For example, German 030 becomes +49 30, not +49 030.

Is 00 the same as the + sign?+

Yes, they do the same job at the start of an international number. The + sign is convenient because it works from any country and any device.

Can I dial international numbers from my browser?+

Yes. StartACall lets you type the full international number and call straight from the browser, with no app and no SIM, on desktop or mobile.

Is the first international call free?+

Yes. Your first call is free with no card required, so you can test the connection before adding credit. After that you pay per minute.

Last reviewed June 2026Reviewed by the StartACall calling teamDialing rules cross checked against ITU international dialing procedures
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