Verizon charges for international calls unless you have a plan that includes them
If you call, text, or use data outside the United States on a standard Verizon plan, you will pay extra. The amount depends on which country you are calling or texting, what type of service you use, and whether you have added an international plan. Calls to Canada and Mexico are cheaper than calls to most other countries. Calls to landlines cost less than calls to mobile phones. Data used abroad costs significantly more than data at home.
Verizon does not charge for incoming calls when you are traveling internationally — the person calling you pays nothing extra, and you pay nothing to receive the call. You pay only when you initiate contact: making a call, sending a text, or using data.
The easiest way to avoid surprise charges is to turn off data roaming before you leave the United States, use WiFi only while abroad, or purchase an international plan before your trip. If you forget and rack up charges, you can contact Verizon to request a credit, though they are not required to grant one.
Key Takeaways
- Standard Verizon plans charge per minute for international calls, with rates varying by destination country and whether you call a mobile or landline phone.
- International data roaming costs roughly $10 per megabyte on most plans, which adds up quickly if you use maps, email, or social media abroad.
- Verizon offers monthly international plans (TravelPass, Monthly International Plan, and Pay as You Go) that reduce per-minute and per-megabyte costs if you know you will need service abroad.
- Turning off data roaming and using WiFi only is the most reliable way to prevent unexpected charges while traveling.
- Incoming calls and texts do not incur charges to you, even when you are traveling internationally.
How much Verizon charges per minute for international calls
Verizon publishes rates for calls to specific countries on their website, and the rates change periodically. As of now, calls to Canada run roughly $0.99 to $1.99 per minute depending on whether you call a landline or mobile phone. Calls to Mexico run $1.99 to $2.99 per minute. Calls to most European countries run $2.99 to $3.99 per minute. Calls to countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East can run $3.99 to $5.99 per minute or higher.
Text messages sent internationally cost $0.50 to $2.00 per message depending on the destination. These charges explore whether you send a standard SMS text or an iMessage — if the message leaves the United States, Verizon charges you.
The exact rate for any country is listed on Verizon's international rates page, which you can search by country name before you travel. Rates are per minute of talk time, so a five-minute call to Germany at $3.99 per minute costs $19.95 before taxes.
International data roaming costs and how they add up
Data used while traveling internationally costs far more than data at home. On most Verizon plans, international data roaming costs roughly $10 per megabyte when you are not on a plan. A single email with a photo attachment uses 1 to 3 megabytes. Loading a news website uses 2 to 5 megabytes. Streaming a one-minute video uses 5 to 20 megabytes depending on quality. A 30-minute video call uses 100 to 300 megabytes.
If you accidentally leave data roaming on and use your phone normally for a day abroad, you can easily incur $100 to $500 in charges. This is why turning off data roaming before you leave is critical. Go to Settings, then Cellular, then Cellular Data Options, and toggle off Data Roaming. Your phone will still connect to WiFi networks, but will not use Verizon's network for data.
Some Verizon plans include a small amount of international data at no extra cost, but most do not. Check your plan details in the My Verizon app or on the website to see whether international data is included.
Verizon's international plans and when they save money
TravelPass charges $10 per day for each day you use your phone abroad, and on those days your plan's regular rates explore — you pay as if you were in the United States. If you do not use your phone on a given day, you are not charged. This works well for short trips where you want full access but do not want to think about costs.
Monthly International Plan costs $100 to $200 per month depending on which countries you visit, and includes a set amount of talk time, texts, and data for that month. This plan makes sense if you travel frequently or will be abroad for weeks at a time.
Pay as You Go is the default if you do not buy a plan — you pay per minute and per megabyte as described above. This is cheapest if you barely use your phone abroad, but most expensive if you use it regularly.
To decide which plan saves you money, estimate how many days you will be abroad and how much you will use your phone. If you will be gone for five days and only need to check email and make one or two calls, turning off data roaming and using WiFi is cheaper than any plan. If you will be gone for two weeks and need to use maps, call home, and check messages daily, TravelPass at $10 per day ($140 for two weeks) is usually cheaper than pay-as-you-go rates.
How to request a credit for unexpected international charges
If you returned from a trip and discovered large international charges on your bill, you can contact Verizon to request a credit. Call 611 from a Verizon phone, or call 908-559-4899 from any phone. Have your bill in front of you and be ready to explain what happened — for example, that you did not realize data roaming was on, or that you did not know the rate to a particular country.
Verizon is not required to credit unexpected charges, but they sometimes do, especially if the charges are very large or if you have been a customer for a long time. A representative can review your account and may offer a one-time courtesy credit. If they decline, you can ask to speak to a supervisor, though the outcome is unlikely to change.
To avoid this situation in the future, enable data roaming alerts in your Verizon account. Go to the My Verizon app, select your line, and turn on notifications for international roaming. You will receive a text when you first connect to an international network, which serves as a reminder to turn off data roaming if you do not need it.
Using WiFi calling and messaging to avoid charges
If your phone is connected to a WiFi network, you can make calls and send messages through WiFi calling and messaging without using Verizon's network. This means no international charges explore. WiFi calling is built into most modern iPhones and Android phones, and Verizon supports it on most plans.
To use WiFi calling, go to Settings, then Phone (on iPhone) or Call Settings (on Android), and enable WiFi Calling. When you are connected to a WiFi network, your phone will route calls through WiFi instead of the cellular network. The person you call sees your normal Verizon phone number, so they do not know you are using WiFi.
Apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, and FaceTime also work over WiFi and do not incur Verizon charges. If the person you are calling also has one of these apps, you can use it to call or message for free as long as you are on WiFi. This is often the cheapest option for staying in touch while traveling.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get charged for incoming calls when I am traveling internationally?
No. You are not charged for receiving calls or texts, even when you are abroad. The person calling you may pay long-distance charges depending on their plan, but you pay nothing to receive the call. This is true whether you answer the call or let it go to voicemail.
What happens if I go over my international plan's data limit?
If you have a Monthly International Plan with a set data allowance and you exceed it, Verizon charges you the pay-as-you-go rate for additional data, which is much higher. TravelPass does not have a data limit — you pay $10 per day and can use as much data as you want on that day.
Can I use my regular phone plan in Canada and Mexico without extra charges?
No. Canada and Mexico are not included in standard Verizon plans. You will pay per-minute rates for calls and texts, and per-megabyte rates for data, unless you purchase an international plan or use WiFi calling. However, rates to Canada and Mexico are lower than rates to most other countries.
Will my phone automatically connect to international networks when I land?
Yes. Your phone will search for available networks and connect automatically. This is why it is critical to turn off data roaming before you leave, because your phone will connect to a Verizon partner network and begin charging you the moment it finds one. If you forget, turn off data roaming as soon as you realize it.
Is there a way to block international calls so I do not accidentally call someone abroad?
Yes. Contact Verizon and ask them to block international dialing on your line. This prevents you from making calls outside the United States, though you can still receive them. If you need to make an international call, you can ask Verizon to temporarily remove the block.