Many study-abroad guides still tell families to use Skype, which Microsoft shut down on May 5, 2025. Here is what works now, and exactly what to dial from a US phone for the countries American students go to most.
WhatsApp, FaceTime between Apple devices, and Microsoft Teams (where Skype accounts went) call each other for free. Both of you need the same app and a connection at the same time, which makes them best for calls you plan ahead.
Dial 011, the country code and their number. Many US plans charge by the minute for calls to foreign mobiles unless you add an international package, so ask your carrier what a call to that country costs before the first long one.
Call their local phone number from a laptop or phone browser, with nothing to install on either side. It rings their phone like any call, so it reaches them on signal alone, and you see the per-minute price before it rings.
Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom and France host nearly half of all US students abroad, and Japan is now fifth (Open Doors 2025). Each row shows a sample mobile number dialed from a US phone and the time difference with New York.
| Country | Dial from a US phone | US winter | US summer | From a browser |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | 011 39 312 345 6789written there as 312 345 6789 | 6 hours ahead | 6 hours ahead | $0.07/min |
| SpainMadrid time | 011 34 612 34 56 78written there as 612 34 56 78 | 6 hours ahead | 6 hours ahead | $0.25/min |
| United Kingdom | 011 44 7400 123456written there as 07400 123456 | 5 hours ahead | 5 hours ahead | $0.04/min |
| France | 011 33 6 12 34 56 78written there as 06 12 34 56 78 | 6 hours ahead | 6 hours ahead | $0.22/min |
| Japan | 011 81 90 1234 5678written there as 090-1234-5678 | 14 hours ahead | 13 hours ahead | $0.26/min |
| AustraliaSydney time | 011 61 412 345 678written there as 0412 345 678 | 16 hours ahead | 14 hours ahead | $0.10/min |
| Costa Rica | 011 506 8312 3456written there as 8312 3456 | 1 hour behind | 2 hours behind | $0.17/min |
| Czechia | 011 420 601 123 456written there as 601 123 456 | 6 hours ahead | 6 hours ahead | $0.21/min |
| Denmark | 011 45 34 41 23 45written there as 34 41 23 45 | 6 hours ahead | 6 hours ahead | $0.08/min |
| Germany | 011 49 1512 3456789written there as 01512 3456789 | 6 hours ahead | 6 hours ahead | $0.53/min |
| Greece | 011 30 691 234 5678written there as 691 234 5678 | 7 hours ahead | 7 hours ahead | $0.69/min |
| Ireland | 011 353 85 012 3456written there as 085 012 3456 | 5 hours ahead | 5 hours ahead | $0.13/min |
| MexicoMexico City time | 011 52 222 123 4567written there as 222 123 4567 | 1 hour behind | 2 hours behind | $0.07/min |
| Netherlands | 011 31 6 12345678written there as 06 12345678 | 6 hours ahead | 6 hours ahead | $0.39/min |
| PortugalLisbon time | 011 351 912 345 678written there as 912 345 678 | 5 hours ahead | 5 hours ahead | $0.69/min |
| South Korea | 011 82 10 2000 0000written there as 010-2000-0000 | 14 hours ahead | 13 hours ahead | $0.07/min |
Time differences are for mid-January and mid-July. For a week or two around the dates clocks change, the gap can be an hour different, because countries change on different dates. Prices updated October 31, 2026. Another country? Every country's code is on one page.
Get their new local number as soon as they have it, and save it with the + and country code (for example +39) so it dials from any phone, anywhere.
Agree on a regular time to talk. The time difference in the table above decides it: an evening call from the East Coast reaches most of Europe after midnight.
Make sure their phone is unlocked or supports an eSIM, so a local SIM or eSIM works there. A local number is far cheaper than roaming on a US plan.
Install one free app you both use, for the scheduled video calls, and keep a way to ring their actual number for the times they are off Wi-Fi.
Save the regular (not 1-800) numbers of their bank, card issuer and insurer, and the program's emergency contacts.
No. Microsoft retired Skype on May 5, 2025, and had already stopped selling Skype Credit, the part that let you call a regular phone number abroad. Skype accounts moved to Microsoft Teams, which handles free app-to-app calls but does not call phone numbers in other countries on a free account.
Dial 011, then the country code, then their number without the leading 0 if their country uses one. For a mobile in Italy written locally as 312 345 6789, you dial 011 39 312 345 6789. On a cell phone you can save the number as +39 312 345 6789 instead (press and hold 0 to type the +), which also works when you travel to visit them.
Calls between two apps over Wi-Fi or data (WhatsApp, FaceTime between Apple devices, Teams) are free. Calling their actual phone number is not: your US carrier charges international rates unless your plan includes that country, and a browser calling service charges per minute. Calling the number is what reaches them when they have signal but no Wi-Fi or data.
Usually not for free, and often not at all. Toll-free numbers are toll-free only inside the US, so banks, insurers and airlines with a 1-800 line also list a regular number for callers abroad. Save those regular numbers before they leave.
112 reaches emergency services in every European Union country, and in the UK both 999 and 112 work. Other countries have their own numbers, so check the emergency sheet from the study-abroad program and save the local number in their phone before they need it.
You are welcome to link to this page from a family or pre-departure guide. The dialing formats are generated from Google's libphonenumber data and the time differences from the time zone database, so the page stays current without anyone editing it. The calling codes for every country are also free to reuse under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Pick the country, type their number the way they gave it to you, and see the per-minute price before it rings. Nothing to install for either of you.
Make a call