How to Call Portugal from the US?

Placing an international call to Portugal from the USA can be a pretty hectic task. 😖

No matter whether you are a business owner trying to call your Portuguese clients or an individual looking to connect to friends in Portugal, you may have encountered several difficulties.

But don’t worry;  this blog here is a simple solution to all your problems regarding making a phone call to Portugal from the US.

In this article, you’ll find a step-by-step guide on how to call Portugal from the US with dialing format, things to consider before calling, alternative methods of calling, and many more.

Let’s get started. 👇

 How to call Portugal from the US? 

To call Portugal from the US, follow these simple steps:

1. Dial the US exit code 011

2. Dial Portugal’s country code for international calls, i.e., 351

3. Now, dial the 9-digit Portugal phone number

For example, if you call a Portuguese landline, your number should look like 011 351 21 763 1278,

👀 Where

• 011 is the US exit code
• 351 is the Portugal Country code. 
• 21 is the Area code for Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal.
• And, 763 1278 is a dummy landline number.

The dialing format before calling Portugal from the US should look like this:

• 011 – 351- Area Code- Landline Number (For Portugal landline numbers)
• 011 – 351- 9 Digits Mobile Number ( For Portugal mobile phone)
• 011 – 351- 800 – Subscriber’s Number (For Portugal toll-free number)

For example 👇

Phone Number Type	Dial String	Example Number
Landline Number	011-351-Area Code- XXXXXXXX	011 351 21 673 8712
Mobile Number	011-351-9XXXXXXXX	011 351 9156 12763
Toll-free Number	011-351-800-XXXXXX	011 351 800 20 30 80

How to call Portugal landline numbers from the US?

To call any Portugal landline number from the US, you can follow this simple step-wise guide. 

1. Dial the US exit code 011. 

2. Enter the Portugal Country Code 351. 

3. Add the area code of the Portuguese city you’re calling. (You can check the cities and their area codes below to resolve any confusion.)

4. Finally, call the landline.

The format of calling a Portuguese landline from the US is 011-351-Area Code- XXXXXXX.

For example, if you are reaching a hospital landline number in Lisbon, Portugal, you would dial 011 351 21 123 4567, where 21 is the Area Code of Lisbon and 123 4567 is the actual subscribed number of the hospital. 

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How to dial a Portuguese mobile number?

To dial a Portuguese mobile number, dial Exit Code (011) – Country Code (351) – Mobile Phone Number.

Go through the following simple steps for a detailed process. 

1. Enter the US exit code 011 or use the cross sign (“+”)

2. Dial the Portugal Country Code, i.e., 351. 

3. Dial the 9 digits Portuguese mobile phone number

For example, if you are calling your friend Francisco in Lisbon, Portugal, you would dial +351 91567 8232, where +351 is Portugal’s dialing code, and the rest is Francisco’s personal mobile number. 

Note: All Portuguese mobile numbers begin with “9” followed by 8 unique digits.

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How do I call Portugal toll-free number from US?

To call a Portugal toll-free number from the US, Dial US exit code (011) – Portugal Country Code (351) – Toll free prefix (800/808) – Subscriber’s number. 

Here are the detailed steps to call Portugal’s toll-free number from the US:

1. Enter the US exit code 011

2. Dial 351; Portugal’s Country Code for international calling

3. Dial the toll-free prefix code for Portugal’s toll-free numbers; generally, it is 800 or 808. 

4. Add the Subscriber’s number and press the call button. 

For example, if you are calling the toll-free number of Banco Santander Portugal from the US, you would dial 011 351 808 20 88 98, where 011 is the US exit code, 808 is the toll-free code, and the rest is the actual toll-free number of Banco Santender Portugal. 

⚠️Remember: Portuguese toll-free numbers aren’t always reachable and free from the US. Due to service provider restrictions, some may only be available within Portugal.

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What are the things to consider before dialing Portugal from the US?

Before placing any calls to Portugal, you have to take various things into consideration to avoid encountering challenges, some of them are as follows:

Types of Portuguese phone numbers 

There are generally three types of user-based phone numbers that you can expect to find in Portugal. These include:

• Landline Numbers: Portuguese landline numbers are 9 digits, including the area code. 

• Mobile Numbers: All the mobile numbers in Portugal are of 9-digit length, and start with “9”.

• Toll-free Numbers: Toll-free numbers in Portugal usually start with 808 and 800, followed by a 6-digit subscriber’s number. 

Additionally, emergency numbers are also operated in Portugal.

• 112 – European Emergency Service
• 1414 – Drug Abuse Support

Portugal Dialing Code

Dialing care country-specific codes, and every country has its own dialing code, just like the Dialing code for Portugal is 351. 

Dialing code is the key thing to consider while making an international call, as this is the code that determines in which country your call is going to be placed. 

Exit Code 

Exit codes are the codes that you have to specify first in the international dialing format. Since 011 is the exit code for the USA, enter it when making an international call from the US.

Portugal area codes

Area codes specify that your call is routed to the desired city of Portugal. Some of the area codes of popular cities in Portugal are as follows. 

City	Area Code
Lisboa	21
Porto	22
Santiago do Cac	269
Moncorvo	279
Ponta Delgada	296

Time Zone differences

Portugal uses two time zones, Western European Time (WET), which is UTC + 00, and Western European Summer Time (WEST), UTC + 1, during daylight saving time. Similarly, the US uses six time zones. Here’s a clear time zone difference between the US and Portugal. 

Time Zone	Difference from Portugal
Eastern Standard Time (EST)	5 hours behind
Central Standard Time (CST)	6 hours behind
Pacific Standard Time (PST)	8 hours behind
Mountain Standard Time (MST)	7 hours behind
Alaska Standard Time (AKST)	9 hours behind
Hawaii Standard Time (HST)	10 hours behind

What is the best time to call Portugal from the US?

In Portugal, most offices are open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, so call according to your time zone and the time difference between Portugal and your US time zone. 

For some time zone reference, you might want to consider calling during the late morning or early afternoon in the US, which corresponds to the early afternoon or early evening in Portugal, respectively, so that you don’t call too early or too late.

International Calling Rates

Remember to take into account the international call rates as well. American landlines and mobile numbers are charged high roaming rates when calling French numbers from an American landline. Thus, to avoid high roaming fees, consider using calling cards, VoIP apps, and virtual French numbers from KrispCall.

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How much does it cost to call Portugal from the USA? 

The exact calling cost for placing calls to Portugal from the US varies significantly and depends on various factors such as network service provider, it may also differ based on whether you are using a landline, mobile phone, or internet-based calling service (such as VoIP).

Generally, for most service providers, calling Portugal from the USA can cost around $0.2 to $1 per minute. However, using monthly calling plans and VoIP services, you can lower your call cost substantially. 

Tips to save money while calling Portugal from the USA

You can use several techniques and strategies to lower your international cost to Portugal and save some bucks. Some of them are as follows:

• Go for subscription-based monthly or yearly plans rather than per-minute charges. 

• Use a Portugal virtual number to save on international charges.

• Utilize the internet by choosing VoIP services and Wi-Fi-calling over traditional calling

• Make calls during off-peak hours as call rates are often lower during these periods. 

Challenges while calling Portugal from the US

Despite learning everything about making calls from the US to Portugal, there are still some challenges you need to overcome. Here are a few of them:

• Time Zone Difference: On average, Portugal is about 7 hours ahead of the US, making it difficult to connect during work hours. 

• Dialing Code Errors: Incorrectly dialing the country code for Portugal, the Area code, or the phone number itself can lead to call failure or connection issues. Make sure you’re entering the correct digits, including any necessary prefixes.

• Language Barrier: The official language of Portugal is Portuguese. It’s likely that if you’re calling a Portuguese-speaking individual or business, they won’t speak English, making it difficult to communicate.

• High calling Cost: Additionally, you may have to pay more if you don’t have an international calling plan, app, or any other VoIP service.

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3 Alternative Ways to Make International Calls to Portugal 

1.  Using Virtual Portuguese Numbers 

When it comes to making international calls, virtual numbers are the best option as they are cost-effective, flexible, and business-oriented.

As Portuguese Virtual numbers do not have a physical location, you can purchase one while living in the USA. You can get virtual numbers from several trusted and reliable providers like KrispCall within just a few simple steps. 

Here’s what you need to do to make calls to Portugal from the US using KrispCall. 

Step 1: Sign up your account on KrispCall and log in using the same credentials. 

Step 2: Select a Portuguese virtual number from the list. 

Step 3: Place the number in the cart and make a payment to purchase. 

Step 4: Enjoy calling your Portuguese clients, partners, and friends from the US. 

2. Using VoIP Apps Like WhatsApp/Messenger

The use of VoIP applications offers a great option for international calling from the US to Portugal. These software applications use the Internet for voice communication. In both Portugal and the US, popular VoIP technologies include WhatsApp, Messenger, Skype, and Google Voice.

In many cases, the use of VoIP applications leads to a low call cost. To make international calls via VoIP applications both participants need to have their telephone number or username that is relevant.

3. Using Portugal Calling Cards 

With a prepaid calling card, one can make long-distance or international calls by punching in an access number and PIN. It acts as an affordable alternative to traditional phone subscriptions; it allows users to stay connected without incurring the cost of permanent phone service.

By using a calling card for US calls to Portugal, users can save their money on international charges. In addition to this, calling cards often come with features such as PIN-less dialing and automatic recharge facilities that improve convenience and user accessibility.

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Business Phone Call Etiquette in Portugal: Dos and Don’ts 

✅Dos

• Learn some Portuguese greetings: Starting your business call with some Portuguese greetings like Bom dia” (Good morning), “Boa tarde” (Good afternoon), or “Boa noite” (Good evening) gives the client a sense of trustworthiness.

• Speak Clearly and Professionally: Maintain a professional tone throughout the call, speaking clearly and articulately. Avoid using slang or overly casual language.

• Express Gratitude: At the end of the call, express gratitude for their time and insights. A simple “Obrigado” (Thank you) goes a long way.

❎Don’ts

• Assume English Fluency: While many Portuguese professionals speak English, don’t assume everyone does. It’s respectful to ask about language preferences and be prepared to communicate in Portuguese if necessary.

• Be Overly Direct: Portuguese communication style tends to be more indirect compared to Western cultures, such as in the US. Avoid being overly direct or blunt, as it can be considered impolite.

• Interrupt the Speaker: Interrupting someone while they are speaking is generally considered rude in Portuguese culture. Wait for the speaker to finish their thoughts before responding.

Final Words

Calling Portugal from the US is a bit challenging without knowing the correct information, such as dialing formats, country codes, and area codes. Therefore, make sure to follow the right steps and use proper dialing formats to get rid of any kind of problems. 

For calling Portugal from the US, you can also use several alternative ways like VoIP services, subscription-based pricing, calling cards, and virtual numbers to lower your international calling charge. 

Additionally, don’t forget to check out KrispCall to get Portugal virtual number and manage your business calls efficiently. 

Book a free KrispCall’s demo Now!

FAQs

What is an International Call to Portugal? 

An international call to Portugal is a phone call placed from outside Portugal to a phone number within Portugal’s territory.

What is the country code for Portugal?

The country code for Portugal is +351.

How do I call a +351 number?

To call a +351 number, you need to dial the country code (+351), followed by the local area code (if applicable), and then the subscriber number.

How many digits is a Portugal phone number?

Portugal phone numbers typically have nine digits after the country code (+351).

Can I make free calls to Portugal from the US?

Making free calls to Portugal from the US usually requires specific plans or services offered by telecommunications providers. Standard international calling rates may apply otherwise.

How to call Portugal from US cell phones

To call Portugal from US cell phones, dial the international access code (usually “011“), followed by Portugal’s country code (+351), and then the recipient’s phone number.

What is the cheapest way to call Portugal from the US?

The cheapest way to call Portugal from the US may vary depending on individual plans, but options include using international calling cards, VoIP services, or apps that offer low-cost or free international calls.