How to Call India from the UK, US and Canada

Need to call someone back home in India?

Maybe your parents are in Delhi, a friend has moved to Mumbai, or you've been putting off a call to your relatives in Punjab for weeks.

Whatever the reason, getting through shouldn't be difficult. You just need the right number format.

To call India from the UK, US or Canada, dial +91 followed by the Indian phone number. If you're using a traditional landline, start with 00 from the UK or 011 from the US and Canada, then enter 91.

For mobiles, it's usually easier to save the number with +91.

There's one detail worth remembering. If the Indian number includes a zero at the beginning, leave it out when dialling internationally.

The rest depends on whether you're calling a mobile or landline and which calling service you're using.

What Is the Country Code for India?

India's international country code is +91.

It stays the same whether you're calling from London, New York, Toronto or anywhere else.

The exit code is what changes.

That's the prefix used to place a traditional international call from your country.

If you save someone's Indian number with +91, you won't have to worry about remembering different exit codes.

It's also helpful if you travel. Your contacts stay in the same international format regardless of where you happen to be.

How Do You Call India from the UK?

Let's say you're in Birmingham and need to call your brother in India.

His mobile number is 98765 43210.

From a UK landline, you'd dial 00 91 98765 43210.

The 00 starts the international call, 91 identifies India, and the remaining ten digits are your brother's mobile number.

If you're using your smartphone, enter +91 98765 43210 instead.

That's an illustrative number, but the dialling format is correct.

Before calling, have a look at your UK mobile plan.

You might have unlimited minutes for UK calls, but that doesn't mean calls to India are included.

If you're regularly on the phone to family, checking the international rate beforehand could save you an unpleasant surprise.

How Do You Call India from the US?

The main difference when calling India from America is the exit code.

The US uses 011 for traditional international dialling.

So, if you're calling the same illustrative Indian mobile number, enter:

011 91 98765 43210

On a smartphone, +91 98765 43210 is usually all you need.

Don't add +1 at the beginning. That's the country code used by the US and other countries in the North American Numbering Plan.

One other thing: international calls aren't always covered by standard American mobile plans.

Some providers have calling bundles for India, while others charge for every minute. It's worth checking which applies to your account, particularly if your calls tend to run long.

How Do You Call India from Canada?

Calling India from Canada works the same way as calling from the US.

You can dial 011 91 98765 43210 through a traditional international phone service.

Or save the number as +91 98765 43210 on your mobile.

That's the format whether you're in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary or Montreal.

Where things can differ is the cost.

Canadian networks set their own international calling tariffs, and some plans include overseas calling add-ons.

If you're planning a long conversation, check your provider's rates first. The same number might cost very different amounts depending on how you're calling.

How Do You Dial an Indian Mobile Number?

Indian mobile numbers normally contain 10 digits, generally starting with 6, 7, 8 or 9.

You don't need a city code when calling one.

Just enter +91 followed by the ten digits.

These numbers are illustrative examples showing how the format works.

Sometimes you'll see a mobile number written with an extra zero, such as 09876543210.

That zero is a domestic dialling prefix. It isn't part of the actual ten-digit mobile number.

When calling from abroad, use +91 98765 43210, not +91 09876543210.

And if someone has already shared their number in international format, you can save it exactly as it is.

No need to add another country code.

Can You Call an Indian Landline from Abroad?

Yes. You just need to know the correct area code.

Indian landlines use geographic codes, so a number in Delhi won't have the same prefix as one in Mumbai.

Some common area codes are:

Suppose you're calling an office in Delhi. Its illustrative landline number is 011 2345 6789.

From the UK, dial 00 91 11 2345 6789.

From the US or Canada, dial 011 91 11 2345 6789.

The first zero disappears, but the Delhi area code, 11, stays.

One thing that sometimes confuses people is the length of Indian landline numbers.

Unlike mobiles, landlines don't always have eight-digit subscriber numbers. Some areas use longer geographic codes with shorter local numbers.

Use the complete number you've been given rather than adding digits to make it look right.

Do You Need Internet to Call India?

It depends on how you're making the call.

If you're using your regular mobile network or a landline, you don't need an internet connection.

The person receiving the call doesn't need one either.

WhatsApp and similar app-to-app calling services are different. Both people need the relevant app and a working internet connection.

That might be fine when you're calling someone who has reliable Wi-Fi.

But say you're trying to reach your grandparents on their home landline, or someone who's still using a basic keypad phone.

A WhatsApp voice call won't reach their ordinary telephone number.

What About International Calling Apps?

Some international calling apps connect directly to regular mobile and landline numbers.

The person you're calling doesn't need to use the same app.

Talk Home App offers international calling to Indian mobile and landline numbers.

You can make calls using Wi-Fi or mobile data, with local access calling available where supported.

Your family in India can answer on their regular phone without downloading Talk Home App or connecting to the internet.

It's worth checking which calling methods are available for your location before buying credit.

For a clearer explanation of the difference, read Can Someone Receive International Calls Without Internet?.

How Much Does It Cost to Call India from Abroad?

There's no single calling rate for India.

The cost depends on your country, provider, calling method and whether you're ringing a mobile or landline.

Some providers charge per minute. Others offer calling bundles, and certain services add a connection fee.

Before purchasing credit, check:

• Per-minute rates: What will a ten-minute or half-hour call cost?
• Connection charges: Are there additional fees?
• Number coverage: Does the service support Indian mobiles and landlines?
• Bundle expiry: How long do purchased minutes remain valid?
• Billing increments: Are partial minutes rounded up?
• Renewal conditions: Will the offer renew automatically?

It's easy to focus on the advertised price and miss the smaller details.

For example, a bundle might look cheaper than standard calling credit but expire before you've used all the minutes.

Talk Home App's India calling page provides information about its available calling credit and offers.

Some introductory offers also have specific expiry or renewal conditions, so check those before purchasing.

For more on how overseas calling costs work, see A Complete Guide to Affordable International Calls.

Why Isn't Your Call to India Connecting?

If your call doesn't go through, check the number before trying anything else.

Even one extra digit can cause problems.

Have you included a leading zero?

When dialling an Indian mobile internationally, use +91 followed by its ten-digit number.

Is the landline area code correct?

Check the code for the city you're calling. Delhi and Mumbai, for example, use different prefixes.

Does your provider support international calls?

Some plans restrict overseas calling or require you to enable it.

Have you run out of credit?

Check your balance and whether your calling bundle has expired.

Is your connection stable?

Poor mobile signal can affect regular calls. If you're using an internet-based service, weak Wi-Fi or mobile data can also cause problems.

If everything looks correct, confirm the number with the recipient. Your provider may also be able to tell you whether that destination or number type is supported.

What Time Should You Call India?

India follows Indian Standard Time (IST), which is UTC+5:30.

The whole country uses the same time zone, so it's the same time in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru.

India doesn't observe daylight saving time, although the UK, US and much of Canada do.

That means the time difference changes during the year.

For example, if it's 10 AM in London during winter, it's already 3:30 PM in India.

You don't need to work out the time difference every time, though.

Add New Delhi or Mumbai to your phone's World Clock, and you can check the time before calling.

It might save you from waking someone up in the middle of the night.

A Few Things to Remember Before You Call

The easiest way to avoid dialling problems is to save your Indian contacts with +91 from the beginning.

For mobile numbers, that's +91 followed by the ten digits. For landlines, include the correct area code without its opening zero.

You can use your regular phone service, an internet calling app or a service that connects to ordinary telephone numbers.

If you're calling someone who doesn't use internet calling apps, Talk Home App is one option to explore, subject to the available calling methods and destination coverage.

Check the current rates, make sure it's a sensible time to ring, and you're ready.

No need to make something as simple as calling home more complicated than it needs to be.