To dial out of the United States and connect to landlines and cell phones in Mexico, you’ll need to dial the U.S. exit code and Mexico’s country code before dialing the number you want to call. In addition to using an international long-distance calling plan, you can also pay for your calls to Mexico using online credit, Skype, Viber, Google Voice, or a calling card. You might find it helpful to look up area codes for the regions of Mexico, or to get the phone numbers for some of the important government agencies, societies, and institutions in Mexico.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Dialing the Number

  1. 1
    Dial the exit code, 011. 011 is the exit code for the United States and Canada. You will be able to dial any foreign number after you dial 011, including Mexico.[1]
    • If you have an internet connection phone, it is possible that you do not have to dial 011 to call out. If you have an international calling option turned on, you can leave off the 011.
  2. 2
    Dial Mexico's country code, 52. After dialing the exit code, dial 52 to call Mexico. You can call any landline or cell phone in Mexico with this code.

    Did you know? As of August 3rd, 2019, you no longer need to dial a 1 after the country code when calling a cellular phone in Mexico.[2]

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  3. 3
    Dial the 2 to 3-digit area code. For example, 55 is the area code for Mexico City. Use the area code index in the last method to find an area code.[3]
    • If you see the prefix 01, 044, or 045 in front of the area code of the number you want to call, leave it off. These prefixes were only to be used when calling within Mexico, and have been dropped altogether as of August 3rd, 2019.[4]
  4. 4
    Dial the 7 to 8-digit phone number. Altogether, the number you dial should have a format similar to this number: 011 52 55 XXXX XXXX. Some phone carriers give the option to block international calls, so if your call does not go through, make sure you are capable of making international calls from your phone.[5]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Paying for Your Call

  1. 1
    Buy credit online to call Mexico. There are companies that provide transparent policies, inexpensive rates, and easy to use services that allow you to call Mexico from your cell phone or landline. Simply do an online search using terms like “buy credit to call Mexico”. Click on the option that makes the most sense for your needs. Once you do, sign up, download an app on your computer or smartphone, and buy credit for as little as $5.[6]
    • These services often have much more transparent policies and fees and cost less than calling cards.
  2. 2
    Avoid using calling cards. The majority of calling cards have unclear terms and fees. It is more affordable to use web-based calling like Google Voice or to buy phone credit through an online company, because the services are less costly and more transparent.[7]
    • If you do have to use calling cards, use cards with lower cost per minute rates and an inexpensive connection fee unless you are going to be using all of your minutes in one phone call.
    • Find cards that advertise specifically for Mexico. These cards can be less expensive than buying international calling cards.
    • Buy your cards from stores that let you look at the card before you buy it. Check to see what the rates are and whether there are service fees. Compare cards and find the best deal for your needs.
  3. 3
    Use Skype, Viber, or Google Voice to call or text phones in Mexico. You can either call landlines or cell phones directly from Skype or Google Voice, or you can make calls while both of you are online. Go to Skype or Gmail and open up an account and download their app on your computer or your phone. Have the person you need to talk to do the same if you want to call for free.
    • Google Voice advertises rates of 5 cents per minute to Mexico.
    • You can pay as you go from Skype for 1 cent a minute to landline phones and for 3.5 cents a minute to cell phones.
    • You can buy an unlimited calling pack from Viber on Viber Out's website and call landlines and mobiles for only $0.99/month.
    • You can send text messages to phones through Skype for 31.2 cents a text.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Finding Area Codes and Phone Numbers

  1. 1
    Find the area code for the city, town, or region you are calling. Area codes in Mexico are 2-3 digits. If your area code is not on this list, check here for a complete list of area codes: http://apacheco.itch.edu.mx/docs/lada.txt
    • Acapulco 744[8]
    • Aguascalientes 449
    • Cabo San Lucas 624
    • Campeche 981
    • Cancun 998
    • Celaya 461
    • Cd. Juarez 656
    • Cd. Lazaro. Cardenas 753
    • Cd. Oregon 644
    • Cd. Sahagun 791
    • Cd. Valles 481
    • Cd. Victoria 834
    • Coatzacoalcos 921
    • Colima 312
    • Cuernavaca 777
    • Culiacan 667
    • Chetumal 983
    • Chihuahua 614
    • Chilpancingo 747
    • Durango 618
    • Fresnillo 493
    • Guadalajara 33
    • Guadalupe Victoria 676
    • Guamuchil 673
    • Guanajuato 473
    • Guasave 687
    • Guaymas 622
    • Hermosillo 662
    • Huatabampo 647
    • Iguala 733
    • Isla Mujeres 998
    • Ixtapan de la Sal 721
    • Jalapa 228
    • La Paz 612
    • Leon 477
    • Manzanillo 314
    • Maravatio 447
    • Matamoros 868
    • Mazatlan 669
    • Merida 999
    • Mexicali 686
    • Mexico City 55
    • Minatitlan 922
    • Monclova 866
    • Monterrey 81
    • Morelia 443
    • Nuevo Laredo 867
    • Oaxaca 951
    • Orizaba 272
    • Pachuca 771
    • Patzcuaro 434
    • Poza Rica 782
    • Puebla 222
    • Puerto Vallarta 322
    • Queretaro 442
    • Saltillo 844
    • San Felipe 686
    • San Luis Potosi 444
    • Tampico 833
    • Tapachula 962
    • Taxco 762
    • Tehuacan 238
    • Tepic 311
    • Tequisquiapan 414
    • Texcoco 595
    • Teziutlan 231
    • Tlaxcala 246
    • Toluca 722
    • Torreon 871
    • Tulancingo 775
    • Tuxpan 783
    • Tuxtla Gutierrez 961
    • Valle de Bravo 726
    • Veracruz City 229
    • Villahermosa 993
    • Zacatecas 492
  2. 2
    Use the Yellow Pages online to search for business phone numbers. Using the yellow pages, you can look up commercial and professional information about businesses, including hotels, restaurants, hospitals and schools. You can find the yellow pages for Mexico online here: https://www.seccionamarilla.com.mx/. Type in what you are looking for and where in the search box at the top of the page.
  3. 3
    Call Mexican and American government offices, agencies, and national associations in Mexico. Below is a list of some of the important phone numbers you can use to contact officials in Mexico. Use this information to get in touch with the American Society of Mexico or the United States Embassy, for example.[9]
    • American Society of Mexico: 011-52 (55) 5277-5875
    • Association of Mexican Banks: 011-52 (55) 5722-4300
    • Mexican Automotive Industry Association: 011-52 (55) 5272-1144
    • Canacintra: 011-52 (55) 5482-3000
    • United States Embassy: 011-52-(55)-5080-2000
    • FONATUR: 011-52 (55) 5090-4200
    • Mexican Association of Realtors - AMPI: 011-52 (55) 5566-4260
    • Mexican Franchise Association: 011-52 (55) 5661-2040
    • Missing Persons Hotline in Mexico (Províctima): 011-52 (55) 1000-2000
    • National Museum of Anthropology: 011-52 (55) 4040-5300
    • PROFECO (Consumer Protection): 011-52 (55) 5568-8722
    • PROMEXICO: 011-52 (55) 5447 7070
    • SEMARNAT: 011-52 (55) 5490-0900 Secretary of the Environment & Natural Resources.
    • World Trade Center of Mexico City: 011-52 (55) 9000-6000
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    What are some reasons that someone would need to call Mexico?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    People often call Mexico if they have friends or family living there, and would like to keep in touch. Some people might also call Mexico to schedule vacations or get information about a job or college that is located there.
  • Question
    What is the area code for Ensenada?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    646 is the area code for Ensenada. If you are calling from the US, add that before your number.
  • Question
    How do I call a US cell phone that is located in Mexico from the USA?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    If the US cell has coverage in Mexico through its provider, the number will not change. Dial the number as you normally do and it will work.
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About This Article

wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 47 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 1,439,754 times.
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Co-authors: 47
Updated: May 6, 2021
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Article SummaryX

To call Mexico from the United States, start by entering the exit code, which is 011. Next, dial Mexico’s country code, 52, followed by a 1 if you’re calling a cell phone. Then, leave out the trunk code, which is 01, 044, or 045, and enter your 10 digit phone number. For a cheaper way to call Mexico, try using apps like Skype and Google Voice, which allow you to call landlines and cell phones for a fee, or talk for free while both of you are online. For tips on how to find Mexican area codes, keep reading!

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