Moving abroad? Keep your US number, get a local number & save money
If you’re moving to Europe from the United States, porting your phone to Google Voice and then buying a SIM card is cheap, easy, and allows you to keep access to your beloved U.S. mobile number. By the end of this post, you’ll be able to leave your current provider and have your first 5GB of data in your new country for about $30.
The process described below is best for people actually moving to another country and still want access to the U.S. number. If you’re going on a quick trip, it won’t be necessary to transfer your number as you’ll likely want to easily return to your number upon arrival home.
IMPORTANT: I highly recommend creating your Google Voice account and beginning the porting process described below 24-48 hours before your departure time. This gives you enough time to complete the necessary U.S. based verification.
Keep in mind that once you port your number, your mobile agreement with Verizon, ATT, etc. will terminate. If you have not paid off your phone (as is the case for most newer plans) you will be billed for the remaining balance on your final bill.
Now, let’s dive in.
1. Create a Google Voice account.
Let me first explain what Google Voice will and will not allow you to do with your current mobile number in a foreign country.
Google Voice WILL allow you to…
- keep your mobile number without paying for a recurring parking cost
- set up a new voicemail for anyone that calls your U.S. number
- access voicemails you receive while you’re abroad
- receive and make calls via Google Hangouts (desktop)
- receive and send text messages sent to your U.S. number
- have one app (Google Voice) that allows you to manage your phone calls, voicemails, and messages.
Google Voice WILL NOT allow you to…
- forward calls to a number outside of the U.S. (although in reality you probably won’t need this)
- use your built-in message/phone apps
- get notifications/accept real-time phone calls through the Google Voice mobile app
- accept or make phone calls without wifi, paying for minutes through Google Voice, or setting up another data service.
The benefits of using Google Voice totally outweigh minor disadvantages and is way cheaper than keeping an expensive U.S. mobile international plan.
Now that you have a basic understanding of what to expect, get started by creating your Google Voice account. Be careful to choose the correct email in the beginning and go through the process of creating a Google Voice number (this will be replaced automatically once your current mobile number is ported).
Then, download the Google Voice app on your mobile device and any other devices that will have access to WiFi while you’re abroad.
2. Port your U.S. mobile number to Google Voice.
This part of the process will cost you $20 and will require that you know your current mobile plan’s account number, billing information, and pin/last 4 digits of your social.
This information helps Google connect to your provider, verify you have the privilege to make this change, and then port the number.
- Once you’re logged into Google Voice on your desktop, at the top left, click the Menu icon > Legacy Google Voice. Google Voice will look different, but you’re in the right place.
- At the top right, click the Settings icon > Settings.
- Click the “Phones” tab. If you do not see a “Phones” tab, you will need to create a number for the account. Any number will do, you will replace this with the ported number.
- Next to your current number, click Change / Port.
- Select I want to use my mobile number. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your new number and pay. Check the status of your number porting. Numbers take from 24 to 96 hours to port. However, if there’s an error with your request, like you entered the wrong pin, you will immediately see an error in red text and receive an email. If you encounter this, keep refreshing the page until you’re prompted to re-enter your information. This part was the most fuzzy and had little documentation, but somehow my frantic clicking and reloading allowed me to discover this. Once your information is correct, the status page will give you an estimated time of completion.
Once your number is ported, all phone calls and SMS messages will be sent to your Google Voice account.
It’s important to note some nuances about Google Voice. When you’re using the mobile app and someone calls you, you will only receive a notification for a missed call and/or voicemail (assuming you set the optional notifications to on).
This was confusing to me at first because on desktop you can actually hear a ring and pick up a phone call via Google Hangouts. For me, it’s enough to see a missed call/voicemail and then can call the person back. Not the end of the world.
3. Create a new voicemail letting your U.S. friends know how to reach you.
Now that you’ve ported your number, time to let those calling you know what the deal is. I’d keep in mind the range of people calling you… family, friends, doctors, employers, etc. and write a script accordingly.
I used the following script to indicate how I want others to communicate with me while I’m out of the U.S. Feel free to use this directly (assuming you have iMessage and Facebook) or edit it however you’d like.
“Hi, you’ve reached <your name here>.
I’m currently traveling in Europe and no longer have access to a U.S. based phone line.
If you’d like to get in contact, please send me an iMessage or email to <email address here>, or you can find me on Facebook.Thanks, bye.”
Once you have your script ready, navigate to your Google Voice account. Click the Menu icon > Settings > Scroll down to Voicemail > Record a greeting.
4. Buy a local SIM card.
Before you leave the U.S. I recommend checking whether or not the mobile device is unlocked and compatible with foreign SIM cards. Most mobile devices are compatible, but if you have an older phone, you may need to upgrade, and if your phone isn’t unlocked your provider will tell you what you need to do.
Once you get to your destination, go to your local electronics shop (mine was less than a kilometer away) and ask for a SIM card. I got a 5 GB SIM card for €9,95 or about $11.30. This is in Amsterdam… prices and availability may vary depending on where you are in Europe.
Take the SIM card home, pop out your old SIM card with a safety pin or something similar and replace it with the new SIM card. You’ll have to activate your card by calling a number and pressing a button. The SIM card packaging will have this info or you can try calling someone and listen to the prompt on how to activate your SIM card.
Once you run out of data, you’ll just have to reload your SIM card, which you can now do through apps that you download on your mobile device. Simple!
5. Remember all of the ways you can communicate.
While you may lose the access for someone to call you immediately on your U.S. mobile number, you still have SO many free options to communicate with others around the world. I’ll list a few below in the event you need some inspiration.
Free Apps to communicate world-wide:
- Google Hangouts (free video calling)
- FaceTime & iMessaging (video calling and text messaging for Apple users)
- Skype (free video calling)
- WhatsApp (free messaging)
- Facebook (free messaging & video calling)
- Slack (free messaging & video calling)
Lastly, remember you’re in a foreign place with different traditions and culture. Embrace this by not living on your phone. Talk to a stranger, go to meetup events, and phone home only when you need to. I hope this information helps and that you have a fantastic trip!
May 14, 2019 @ 7:58 pm
This is wonderfully helpful. It’s bananas trying to figure out all the details of moving abroad and you’ve really soothed my phone-related anxieties. Thanks!
September 3, 2019 @ 8:22 am
Hi Erin,
Happy to help. It was confusing when I went through it, so figured I’d share for others looking to do the same. In the last 8 months the combination of WhatsApp, Google Voice, and FaceTime have made it very easy to communicate internationally.
Best of luck!
Dani
June 4, 2020 @ 7:29 am
Hello Dani:
After you port the number, can you still use your U.S. number on WhatsApp and Telegram? Also, does it cost a total of only $20 for the whole process? It sounded like it might cost $20 to port the number, and then another $20 to replace the Google Voice number with the U.S. number you have just ported?
Thank you.
July 17, 2019 @ 1:33 pm
Do I have to pay every time I reload my SIM card? Is this really the cheapest option? Also, what happens to my phone when I come back to the US for winter break/summer etc.
September 3, 2019 @ 8:25 am
Hi Grace,
It totally depends on what country you go to. Also, if you’re going to Europe, a lot of times you can cross country borders with the same sim card. I used a TMobile SIM card and reloaded it weekly, but there are alternatives out there that are monthly.
I just returned to the States and bought a TMobile prepaid monthly unlimited SIM card for less than $40. Now my Google Voice number forwards to my new phone number. I now use Google Voice for texting instead of the phone’s native app. It looks the same to everyone else calling me or being called by me (through GV).
Hope this helps!
Dani
July 19, 2019 @ 8:40 pm
Hi
Thank you so much for the detailed post re GV !
I am thinking of doing the same when I am moving to India next month..
However a confusing issue is re . whatsapp.. thats my primary mode of communication with friends abroad.. Have you been able to use whatsapp once you have ported the mobile number to GV? ( using the old number)
Thank you!
August 26, 2019 @ 8:15 pm
Hi Gopan
I have the same question. Did you ever find out an answer?
September 3, 2019 @ 8:21 am
Hi Gopan,
Yes, my original number is still in use for WhatsApp. I downloaded Google Voice to my cell phone and now I receive all text messages intended for the original number to the Google Voice app. Really handy for authentication.
Hope this helps!
Dani
August 12, 2019 @ 10:41 am
When do you cancel your US phone plan? After Porting?
Thanks!
September 3, 2019 @ 8:31 am
Hi Sonja,
Yes, cancel AFTER porting. Most providers will automatically cancel once they see your number has been ported to another provider.
Enjoy your travels!
Dani
July 24, 2021 @ 12:51 pm
If you port your phone number 24-48 hours before departure, does this mean you will not have access to cell phone service/data during your travel? This seems like a major disadvantage to have your phone be disconnected from service right before your travel, in terms of not being able to navigate all of the logistics around the actual travel (i.e. calling ubers, contacting airbnb host, checking flight status, getting boarding pass, etc.). What do you advise so that you are still able to have cell phone service and data during the travel period?
August 14, 2019 @ 6:13 am
Hi, thanks for the idea! Just to clarify though…this only works half way. I just recently relocated to Europe and wanted to keep my US number for when I return and use my old number if I have to call my bank…
1. You can port your US number to google Voice ($20)
2. You cannot link your new, shiny local number to google voice. If you want to make calls using your old number you will need to link a US phone number. Google voice will not allow you to use numbers that are not from the US.
3. Despite being unable to link a number I can receive texts fine but I’m not able to respond to them.
So essentially, my number is being preserved but you will not be able to forward calls to your local number. You will be able get them via google voice if you are connected to data and can see your missed calls should you be out of data service for a while.
September 3, 2019 @ 8:30 am
Hi Grasshopper,
Looks like we may have had a different experience.
Regarding #2/3, did you try downloading the Google Voice app? I played around with the Google Voice settings and was able to make phone calls through the app using my original number (and not linking a new US number) as long as I was connected to data or wifi. The only thing I wasn’t able to do was to receive calls on my cell (I could on my laptop), but I always got a missed call and could return the call through GV.
You’re definitely right about not being able to forward the number to a new local number, but in my experience I never needed to do that because I got everything through the GV app.
Seems like there’s some variance on experiences across the board. I wonder if the phone model or original number have to do with anything…
Good luck with everything!
Dani
January 30, 2020 @ 6:19 pm
If you do not set up GV on your mobile device while it still has a US number, you will not be able to use the app on the device. When setting up the app, it will ask for a US phone number to send an SMS or phone call to that number with a code. You cannot use your GV phone number; it has to be a different US number that you have access to.
August 25, 2019 @ 11:00 pm
Hi there,
I am about to move from the US to the UK. My current US iPhone is locked with T-Mobile. So I will be turning it in for a brand new, unlocked iPhone from Apple just before I fly out. Waiting for me when I land will be my husband who has purchased a Sim card for me with a UK number.
My end goal is to be using my unlocked iPhone with a UK sim card and UK phone number, with my US number ported to Google Voice.
However I am bit confused at the set up process when you involve purchasing a new phone.
Should I set up Google Voice on my current, US phone before I get rid of it? Because I am guessing when I turn in my current phone to Apple to then get a new phone, my T-Mobile plan might automatically get cancelled.. not sure though.
And when I set up Google Voice, I know the first step is choosing a Google Voice number that’ll later get replaced by the one I’d like to port. But then when it asks me next to “Verify your existing phone number” should I verify my current T-Mobile number from the US? Or do I verify my new UK phone number that is currently in my husbands hands in England?
PLEASE HELP! I am moving very soon and am nervous I am going to put in the wrong information and mess up the whole Google Voice set up process!
September 3, 2019 @ 8:51 am
Hi Shannon,
You’ll want to port the number before you cancel the TMobile account, because otherwise your number will automatically be assigned to someone else or locked with tmobile. You’ll want to verify the US number. You cannot port your number to a non-US number, unfortunately. So once you get the new phone, download the Google Voice app and you’ll be able to at least text to and from your original number as long as you’re connected to wifi or data.
Hope this helps. Good luck with the move!
All the best,
Dani
September 4, 2019 @ 6:02 pm
Hi, thanks for this guideline. Do you know if you’ll be able to reactivate the old US phone number with any US carrier once you move back to the states? Is porting it to GV an irreversible action? Since my goal is to preserve my phone number and be able to use it again once I’m back, is the GV method still suitable for me?
September 10, 2019 @ 8:25 am
Hi Joy,
According to Google’s support, you’re able to port your number out of GV to another mobile carrier. https://support.google.com/voice/answer/1065667?hl=en
I decided to go the route of getting a new sim card with a new number and redirect my original number that’s on GV to the new number.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Dani
August 11, 2020 @ 10:42 am
I wonder if I can receive calls right away or text from USA by keeping the us Mobil phone no. On Google voice when I was in other country? plan to move a few months later for long time.
October 23, 2019 @ 8:26 am
Hi! I’m moving to Europe next year and have been reading up on porting my phone number. My plan was port my number, and then keep my iphone and install the google voice and google hangout apps on that phone, and use that primarily for my US number for my friends and family to call and text using wifi only (no data plan). Can you clarify – I know from your article that I will not be able to answer a phone call in real time that I receive through google voice, but could I then return the call via google voice with a wifi connection?
I’ll then buy a cheap prepaid phone when I arrive in the new country and have a local phone number for local uses.
Does this make sense? THANK YOU!!!
October 23, 2019 @ 8:43 am
Hi Sara,
How exciting! I had a Google Pixel phone throughout the process and was able to make calls directly from my phone using Google Voice and wifi or local sim card. That being said, I’m not 100% sure about the iPhone’s compatibility with making calls from Google Voice. I did make and receive (ringing) calls from Google Voice on my MacBook.
If I were you I’d download another app, whether it’s Skype or WhatsApp to use as a backup in the event Google Voice doesn’t work for some strange reason. Google Voice doesn’t have much in terms of support, so it’s difficult to troubleshoot any problems.
Also, you should be able to keep your phone and just buy a local sim card. That will save you money on buying a second phone for local uses. I think Greece is the most expensive place to buy a prepaid sim card, but other countries are super affordable and can usually work across all countries in Europe.
Bon voyage!
Dani
November 3, 2019 @ 2:07 pm
Hi Dani,
I’ve spent a while researching this and your article has been the most helpful, thorough and practical by far. Thanks so much for writing it!
I’m planning on a year of living in/visiting a number of countries. I want to make sure I got this right before I set anything up. My objectives are to
* Keep my us cell phone # to use it again when I get back
* Be reachable if my US bank, credit card etc. calls/texts me or if I need to access accounts to do authentication through text
* Keep my US number as my contact for banks/credit cards/online accounts and apps like Whatsapp, if possible
I will follow your advice and port my US mobile number to Google Voice and not link any other number to it (no forwarding-correct?). Then buy local SIM in whatever country I’ll be in. Is the following correct?:
1. I will be able to receive and make phone calls to/from this US number (now Google Voice #) through wifi on laptop in Hangouts app (or GV app?), but not on my smartphone (Android), where I’ll only receive missed call notification through text in GV app and have to call back from laptop
2. I will be able to call from the US number only through Hangouts on laptop
3. I will be able to receive and reply to any texts from the US number while on data/wifi on my phone through Hangouts – Important QUESTION: did this work for you for authentication to access US bank account, credit card account, PayPal or similar?
4. I will be able to keep using Whatsapp and Skype under my US number and make voice/video calls and chat when on data/wifi. Do I need to do anything for this to work?
5. I will make local calls and use the data for the above through local SIM
One additional question: To port the number to GV takes 24-96 hours per Google Voice. If I set up GV account and initiate the porting 4 days before departure, will my phone number stop working during the transition? Will I be essentially without a phone the last few days in the US and until I reach the destination country and buy a local SIM card?
Thank you!
November 14, 2019 @ 4:28 pm
Hi Monika,
Did you you use Google Voice to save your US #? How dud it work?
I’m leaving the states in a couple of weeks and racing to figure this all out.
Thank you!
August 1, 2020 @ 10:35 pm
Hi Dani
This information is very helpful for those on the up and up but I believe many scammers on other countries are doing this and getting US phone numbers for their phones…just a heads up. Is there any way to verify an actual US number with Google voice? Thanks
January 20, 2022 @ 12:10 pm
I also have this question. What was your experience with the phone right after porting your number?
Thanks!
December 8, 2019 @ 5:23 am
Hi Dani,
Super helpful article! I’m wondering about the timing of the switch from your carrier into Google Voice. You mentioned it’s important to do this 24-48hours before departure time so you can set up the necessary US based steps before you leave. What does that entail? I’m just wondering if I can do this after I leave the States when I’m in Europe for a least a few weeks. I will the have international plan activated to hold me over but will it be okay to complete the porting process while in Europe?
Thank you in advance for your help!
Liz
December 13, 2019 @ 2:51 pm
Wow, this is really the best posting I have found to give me info on how to use GV. I have an iphone and already have GV and plan to move to Mexico, let go of my plan here of course and get a new plan in Mexico which will allow me to call the US (and Canada). I am wondering if my already established GV number will still work (in the ways it does here which is mostly like a message service, and texting)? It seems since I have had it for a while I may not need to port my “actual” number? What do you think?
January 29, 2020 @ 11:33 am
Thanks for this! I am moving to Argentina in two weeks and have been so nervous about this process. However, what did you do during your travel time? Did you just simply not have access to making phone calls, or even having data on your phone until you got to your hotel room and popped in the new sim card? I am nervous about my 14 hour travel time there and not really having a phone with a data plan when I land until I am able to locate a SIM card…
February 12, 2020 @ 8:34 am
Hi, Dani – can I use an iPad instead of a laptop for the Google Voice to make and receive live calls? I prefer to carry an iPad mini rather than a laptop when I am out and about. I was able to use FaceTime from almost any wifi site last year while traveling in Spain, Israel, and Jordan for 5 weeks – but now I am getting ready to travel open ended and don’t want to pay a lot to keep my US number. Thanks.
February 17, 2020 @ 11:10 pm
Anyone try this recently? I just tried porting my US number and when entering in “check number eligibility” modal an error message pops up. When I look at the console there are CORS errors:
“2472122365-gc_prod.js:554 Failed to execute ‘postMessage’ on ‘DOMWindow’: The target origin provided (‘https://clients4.google.com’) does not match the recipient window’s origin (‘https://www.google.com’)”.
February 18, 2020 @ 1:43 pm
Hi Dani. Thanks for the detailed article on moving to GV. I bought a new cell plan in the US, swapped out the SIM and THEN ported my “real” cell number to Google. Porting worked perfectly. I then moved to Panama. However, in my Voice Settings (on the web) I see under “My Devices” that I have two devices. One is associated with the temporary SIM number I got before porting the real one. The other just says “web”. I’m nervous to remove the old SIM number because it says “remove Android device”. Can it just have “Web” and everything will work the same? When I click to remove the cell number it shows “This will sign you out of Google Voice on the device. Removing the device does not affect how calls are forwarded to the linked number”. It would seem I need to keep that number associated with the account even if I am not using it?
September 29, 2020 @ 6:43 pm
I’ve heard people say that they had trouble porting their number back to a standard carrier from Google once they returned back to the US. Do you have experience with porting numbers out of Google?
October 8, 2020 @ 7:37 am
Quick, possibly silly question. After porting your number, do you need a new mobile plan in the new country? Or does a sim card provide all of the necessary things to use your phone in your new country? I am a newbie to sim cards so it seems like a mystical thing to me. Thanks in advance
November 14, 2020 @ 9:58 am
I have seen it on a lot of websites that they recommend either using Google Voice when you spend longer time abroad, or park your number with a VoIP service. Sadly, these articles fail to mention that if you also want to maintain your bank account, many banks do not allow you to change the phone number that is associated with your account to a VoIP number. There are banks who do, but make sure you check with your bank. Of course you will find out soon enough because once you change our phone on our account page, it will want to text you a verification code. And once it recognizes that the number is a VoIP number (eg Google Voice) it will not let you change it on your account. As I said, I bank with multiple banks and some didn’t let me do it.
I am not affiliated with any company, but you can for example switch to a cheap plan, such as Ultra Mobile’s PayGo (https://www.ultramobile.com/paygo/). This costs only $3 bucks a month, so $36 for a year. You can hunt for similar plans at other carriers. For this price, you can maintain your number and have it on your bank account, too, since it’s a real mobile number (not a VoIP one). Of course you won’t be able to receive texts and calls, but once you’re back in the US, you just plug in your SIM and ready to go. In the country you are going to, you can get a local SIM.
December 31, 2020 @ 10:20 am
hi dani,
will google voice work for receiving text for bank authentication specially i believe BoA doesn’t allow voip.
since you have researched so much , which service will provide long time roaming on cheapest rates, for receiving text.
i need number only for banking purposes.
May 5, 2021 @ 6:41 am
Hello!
I am moving to Kigali, Rwanda this July (yay!).
I currently have a family plan with my mom, and will be following your steps to transfer my phone number to Google Voice. I am going to get data and all that when I arrive in Kigali. My only question that I have not quite been able to find an answer to is: what happens when I visit the United States again (or another country for that matter). Will I only be able to use my phone when connected to wifi? Is there anyway to access data when I return (because the plan will still exist through my mom, my phone number will just not be connected).
Please let me know if you need any clarification- that was quite a jumbled question and I am not even sure if I am asking the right thing.
Thank you for this!
July 24, 2021 @ 12:51 pm
If you port your phone number 24-48 hours before departure, does this mean you will not have access to cell phone service/data during your travel? This seems like a major disadvantage to have your phone be disconnected from service right before your travel, in terms of not being able to navigate all of the logistics around the actual travel (i.e. calling ubers, contacting airbnb host, checking flight status, getting boarding pass, etc.). What do you advise so that you are still able to have cell phone service and data during the travel period?
August 3, 2021 @ 12:40 pm
Your posts and information to others in the comments is truly a blessing to those of us in the US headed abroad. I’m headed to Cyprus for a year and will be going through this process to port our verizon numbers to Google Voice. My only question is whether we have to be in the US at the end of the 24-96 hour period when we cannot receive text messages. We leave next Wednesday. Can I initiate the port Wednesday morning or should we do it on Monday or Tuesday? Pros/Cons for this options?
THANK YOU!
August 5, 2021 @ 5:13 am
Your instructions on porting are TOP NOTCH and have been shared extensively with my MBA cohort that is moving from the US to Spain. Thank you so much!
September 17, 2021 @ 1:06 pm
I’m moving to Sweden soon. I’m hoping to keep my US number when we move there, but also get a regular Swedish phone number too. I don’t totally understand if I can do that on the same phone. Could I use google voice app for my US number, and then have the phone itself be connected to my new Swedish number?
December 3, 2021 @ 9:10 pm
Question. Since I have been living in Thailand for six years, I no longer have a USA cell phone number. Is it possible for me to use Google Voice and the phone system you describe?
January 5, 2022 @ 12:57 am
Hi,
Really hope you can help me with this. I have already moved to the UK from NY and I’m trying to keep my usa tmobile number active as I don’t want to lose it. So now that I’ve already moved to the UK still using my unlocked tmobile phone and sim, to stay in touch through whatsapp, how can I setup Google voice? I do have another phone with a UK sim that use for local calls in the uk. I have a few questions :
1. So i need to put my UK sim into my usa unlocked phone and then download the Google voice app,( as I’m already in the uk but usa service is still active) ?
2. I already have a few Gmail accounts can i use that?
3. Is it a one time fee to port my number, or monthly?