Verizon International Calling: The Ultimate Guide to Plans, Rates & Costs

Staying connected with family, friends, and colleagues across the globe is more important than ever. For Verizon customers, making international calls can be simple and affordable, but it requires understanding the different international calling plans Verizon offers. The verizon international calls cost can vary dramatically, from being included in your plan to incurring significant pay-per-minute fees. Many users ask, “how much does Verizon charge for international calls?” The answer depends entirely on your plan and where you’re calling.

This guide will demystify Verizon international calling. We will break down every international calling plan Verizon has, from Verizon Global Choice to Global Calling Plus. You’ll learn the difference between calling from the U.S. and using your phone abroad, how to avoid surprise charges, and exactly how to make international calls on your Verizon wireless phone. By the end, you’ll have all the information you need to choose the right plan and save money.

The Core Explanation: Understanding Verizon’s International Options

The single most important thing to understand about international calling with Verizon is that it’s divided into two distinct services. Confusing them is the most common reason for unexpected bills. To manage the cost of international calls on Verizon, you must first know which service you need.

The Two Worlds of International Calling: At Home vs. Abroad

• International Long Distance: This service is for when you are physically in the United States and want to call international Verizon numbers. The plans for this, like the Verizon Global Calling plan, are designed to lower the Verizon international calling rates per minute for these calls.
• International Roaming: This service is for when you are traveling outside the United States and use your phone to make calls, send texts, or use data. Plans like TravelPass are designed for this scenario to prevent high roaming fees.

The Deep Dive: Choosing the Right Verizon International Plan for You

Selecting the best international call plan Verizon offers depends entirely on your specific needs—how often you call, which countries you’re calling, and whether you’re at home or away.

Calling Internationally from the U.S. (Long Distance)

When you need to make international calls from the US with Verizon, you have several options. Without a plan, the Verizon international call rates can be very high.

Option 1: Pay-Per-Minute (The Default and Most Expensive)

If you don’t have a specific international calling plan for Verizon, any call you make to another country will be billed at standard Verizon international calling rates without a plan. This is the default setting and can lead to major bill shock. The Verizon international rates per minute can range from $0.49 to over $2.99, depending on the country. A single 30-minute call could cost over $75. This answers the question “do international calls cost money on Verizon?” with a resounding yes if you don’t have a plan.

Option 2: Monthly International Calling Plans (The Smart Choice)

For anyone who regularly makes international calls on Verizon, adding a monthly plan is the most cost-effective strategy. These plans dramatically reduce the Verizon international long distance rates.

• Global Calling ($5/mo): This basic plan provides unlimited calling to Mexico and Canada (if not already included in your plan) and discounted Verizon international calling rates to over 220 countries.
• Global Calling Plus ($15/mo): The Global Calling Plus Verizon plan is for heavy users. It offers unlimited calls to landlines in over 60 countries and mobile phones in over 30 countries, plus discounted rates to many other destinations. This is a great option if you need to make frequent long distance calls with Verizon.
• Global Choice ($10/mo): The Verizon Global Choice plan is perfect for users who primarily call one specific country. It gives you a monthly bundle of minutes to one of over 140 selectable countries. The number of minutes varies by country.

Option 3: Included Calling to Mexico & Canada

For many customers, a key benefit of their Verizon unlimited plan is international calling to Mexico and Canada. All modern myPlan Unlimited plans include unlimited talk and text from the U.S. to both countries. This means Verizon calls to Canada and Mexico are often free, eliminating the need for a separate plan for North American calls.

Using Your Verizon Phone While Traveling Abroad (Roaming)

Using your phone outside the U.S. without a specific travel plan is extremely risky financially. The default international roaming Verizon rates are very high.

Option 1: Pay-As-You-Go Roaming (The Warning)

If you travel without a plan, you’ll face steep charges. Voice calls can be up to $2.99 per minute, and data is a staggering $2.05 per megabyte. This can lead to a bill of hundreds or even thousands of dollars from a single trip.

Option 2: TravelPass (The Daily Plan)

TravelPass is Verizon’s most popular solution for short-term travel. For a flat daily fee, it lets you use your domestic talk, text, and data allowances in over 210 countries.

• $6 per day in Mexico and Canada.
• $12 per day in most other countries. The daily charge only activates when you use your phone, making it a flexible option.

Option 3: International Monthly Plan (The Long-Trip Plan)

For longer trips, the $100 International Monthly Plan is a better value. It includes 250 minutes, unlimited texts, and 20 GB of high-speed data for a full month.

Clearing Up Confusion: Common Verizon International Calling Myths

The complexity of Verizon plans for international calling leads to many misconceptions. Let’s clear them up.

Myth: “My Verizon Unlimited plan includes free international calling to any country.”

• Fact: This is false. Most Unlimited plans only include free calls to Mexico and Canada. Calling internationally with Verizon to any other country, like the UK or Germany, requires an add-on plan like Global Choice or Global Calling Plus to avoid high per-minute charges.

Myth: “I will be charged extra if I receive an international call in the U.S.”

• Fact: False. You will not be charged if you are in the U.S. and receive an international call. The person calling you pays their carrier’s rate. So, does Verizon charge for incoming international calls? No, it does not.

Myth: “The Verizon Global Choice plan covers me when I travel internationally.”

• Fact: This is a critical and costly mistake. Global Choice and Global Calling are for making calls from the U.S. They offer no protection from high roaming charges when you are outside the U.S. For travel, you need TravelPass or an International Monthly Plan.

Myth: “Wi-Fi Calling lets me call any country for free.”

• Fact: Dangerously false. When you are abroad, using Wi-Fi Calling to call back to a U.S. number is free. However, if you use it to call a number in the country you’re visiting (e.g., a local restaurant), you will be billed at standard Verizon international long distance rates, just as if you were calling from home.

Practical & Actionable Advice: How to Manage Your International Plan

Now that you know the options, here is how to get international calling on Verizon and use it correctly.

How to Activate (and Deactivate) Your Plan

• My Verizon App/Website: The easiest way is to log in to your account, navigate to “Manage Plan” for your line, and select the international plan you want to add or remove.
• Text to 4004: For quick activation, you can send a keyword to 4004. Text TRAVEL for TravelPass, GLOBAL for Global Calling, or the country’s keyword (e.g., UK, INDIA) for Global Choice. This is a simple way to add international calling to your Verizon account.

How to Make an International Call

The correct Verizon international dialing format is essential.

• From a Smartphone (Recommended): Press and hold the “0” key to get the + symbol. Then, dial the country code, followed by the city code and local number. For example, to call the UK, you would dial +44 followed by the number. This is the simplest way for making international calls with Verizon.
• Standard Dialing: Dial 011 (the U.S. exit code), then the country code and phone number.

How to Get Help

• In the U.S.: Call *611 from your Verizon mobile or (800) 922-0204.
• Abroad: Call Verizon’s international support line at +1 (908) 559-4899. This call may be charged, so it’s best to use a landline or Wi-Fi if possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How much does Verizon charge for international calls without a plan? Without a plan, the Verizon international call cost is based on high pay-per-minute rates that vary by country but can easily exceed $1.99 per minute. This is the most expensive way to make an international call on Verizon.
2. Does Verizon charge for incoming international calls? No. If you are physically in the U.S., you are not charged for receiving an international call or text.
3. How do I activate international calling on my Verizon phone? You can activate international calling on Verizon through the My Verizon app, on the Verizon website, or by texting a keyword like TRAVEL or GLOBAL to 4004.
4. Are calls to Canada and Mexico free with Verizon? Yes, for most customers on modern Unlimited plans, Verizon calls to Canada and Mexico are included at no extra cost.
5. What is the difference between Verizon Global Choice and TravelPass? Global Choice is a long-distance plan for making cheaper calls from the U.S. to one specific country. TravelPass is a roaming plan for using your phone’s domestic allowances while traveling outside the U.S. for a daily fee. They serve completely different purposes.

Conclusion

Mastering Verizon international calling comes down to understanding a few key ideas. First, always distinguish between calling from the U.S. (long distance) and using your phone abroad (roaming). Second, proactively add a plan before you call or travel to avoid the default high-cost Verizon international calling charges.

For calls from home, the Verizon Global Choice plan is ideal for connecting with one country, while Global Calling Plus is best for those calling multiple destinations. For travel, TravelPass offers unmatched flexibility for short trips, and the International Monthly Plan provides better value for extended stays. With this knowledge, you can confidently manage your international calls with Verizon, staying connected globally without the fear of a shocking bill.