How to call Mexico from the US and the US from Mexico.

Although it seems like a very simple thing to do, dialing in Mexico can be a little more complicated than it needs to be.  Mexican phone systems are separated completely into Mobile Phones and Landline Phones, and dialing numbers vary depending on what system you need to call.

Firstly, the Mexican Country Code is 52  which is just first part of the equation.  If you wish to dial a mobile phone, you need to add a 1    ie.  521

From a Mobile Phone, dialing can be much more simple than a landline.

Dialing from a Cellular Phone

When using a cellular phone, there are a couple of important tricks that are good to know.  Mobile Phone systems allow for special characters and these characters are internationally recognized.

The + is a special character used by the cell phone networks and is the “International Dialing Prefix”.  The + symbol is typically obtained by holding down the 0 button.  You then just have to add the International country code, followed by the phone number you need.

example:

  • From the anywhere in the world to dial Mexico Landline, you dial +52 then the phone number
  • From the anywhere in the world to dial Mexico mobile, you dial +521 then the phone number
  • From the anywhere in the world to dial the USA or Canada, you dial +1 then the phone number

Dialing from a Landline

Now, of course if you’re using a landline, or a hotel phone, that’s a different story.  Following is a rough idea of numbers you may need to dial to get the reach the final destination you are looking for.

Dialing Numbers Within Mexico

Land line to local land line
dial the seven digit number (i.e. 143-1234)

Land line to long distance land line
dial 01 then the ten digit number (i.e. 01-612-123-1234)

Land line to local cell phone
dial 044 then the ten digit number (i.e. 044-624-122-1234)

Land line to long distance cell phone
dial 045 then the ten digit number (i.e. 045-612-123-1234)

Cell phone to local or long distance land line
dial the ten digit number (i.e. 624-143-1234)

Cell phone to local or long distance cell phone
dial the ten digit number (i.e. 612-122-1234)

Simple right!!??

Now let’s look at those of you trying to call someone in Mexico from the US

Dialing into Mexico

To dial a land line phone
Dial 011-52 then the ten digit number (i.e. 011-52-624-143-1234)

To dial a cell phone
Dial 011-52-1 then the ten digit number (i.e. 011-52-1-624-122-1234)

Dialing from your Cell phone To dial a land line phone

Dial +-52 then the ten digit number (i.e. +52-624-143-1234)

Dialing from your Cell phone To dial a land line phone

Dial +-52-1 then the ten digit number (i.e. +52-1-624-122-1234)

Dialing from Mexico to the US/Canada

Dial 001 then the ten digit number (i.e. 001-303-333-3333)

Dialing from Mexico to the rest of the world

Dial 00 then the Country Code and phone number

Dialing US Toll Free Numbers

For 800 numbers – dial 001-880 then the seven digit number
For 866 numbers – dial 001-883 then the seven digit number
For 877 numbers – dial 001-882 then the seven digit number
For 888 numbers – dial 001-881 then the seven digit number