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Updated : January 21, 2026

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Let’s assume your last call to Lisbon cost $23 for twelve minutes. The connection was terrible. Your client asked you to repeat yourself before you both gave up.

Calling Portugal from the US requires you to dial 011 + 351. But cost, timing, and call quality depend heavily on the method you use.

The dialing code is easy: 011-351+ the phone number. But to get Portuguese people to actually answer, make calls at times that work for them, and pay reasonable rates. And that requires a different approach entirely. Let’s see how you can call Portugal from the US.

Quick Guide: How to Call Portugal from the US?

• Dial 011 (the US exit code)
• Dial 351 (Portugal’s country code)
• Remove any leading zeros from the local number
• Dial the remaining digits

How to Call Portugal from the US (Step-by-Step Guide)

Look, once you’ve done it a couple of times, it becomes simple:

Step 1: Dial 011, the international access code or the exit code you need when dialing from the USA to out of North America.

Step 2: Add 351 for Portugal. It is the country calling code used for international phone calls.

Step 3: Drop any leading zeros from the area code for Portugal. See a number starting with 021 Just dial 21.

Step 4: Dial the rest of the number exactly how you see it.

For Example:

• Lisbon landline: 011-351-21-530-8890
• Portuguese mobile: 011-351-91-850-7850

Mobile numbers always start with 9, which makes them easier to spot. Landlines have city codes: 21 for Lisbon, 22 for Porto, and so on. According to major US carriers, international calls from the United States require dialing 011 before the country code.

Pro-Tip

On most smartphones, you can press and hold the 0 key until a “+” symbol appears. Then you just need to dial +351 , followed by the number.

Call Portugal at lower rates with CallHippo

Set up a Portugal-enabled calling account in about 3 minutes, with no long-term contracts.

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Portugal Phone Number Format Explained

Let’s understand the different Portugal phone number formats:

1. Calling Local Numbers in Portugal

In Portugal, phone numbers are always nine digits long. It doesn’t matter if you call from a landline or a mobile.

This format is used nationwide, including mainland Portugal, Madeira, and the Azores. For landlines, the first two digits show the geographic area, and when calling from the US, you simply drop the lead zero used for local dialing.

The local Lisbon number appears as 21 630 9001 in Portugal.
From the US, you dial: 011-351-21-980-0035.

2. Calling Mobile Numbers in Portugal

Mobile numbers in Portugal always start with 9. The complete mobile number has 9 digits and follows patterns such as 91, 92, 93, 96, or 99. Major US carriers generally price international mobile calls higher than landline calls because mobile networks are terminated at international gateways.

From the US, you need to dial 011-351-90-858-9703.

3. Calling Toll-Free Numbers in Portugal

Portuguese toll-free numbers begin with 800. The format is 800-898-090. International telecom guidelines state that toll-free numbers are free only within the country where they are registered.

From the US, dial: 011-351-800-909-899

Warning

Toll-free numbers are free for callers within Portugal. When calling from the US, you pay international calling plan rates. The toll-free designation doesn’t apply to international callers.

Popular Portugal Area Codes

Some of the popular area calling codes of Portugal are:

Affordable Ways to Call Portugal from the US for Business

Traditional methods fail businesses in three ways: cost, reliability, and features.

Cost breakdown: A sales team making 50 calls weekly to Portugal spends $6,000- $ 7,800 annually with traditional carriers. That same usage costs under $100 yearly with VoIP.

Reliability issues: Carrier international calls route through multiple switches. Each handoff adds latency and increases the potential for drops. VoIP providers use direct IP routing over undersea fiber-optic cables, significantly reducing the number of connection points.

Feature gaps: Carriers provide dial tone. VoIP systems include call recording, analytics, CRM integration, and local caller ID, all of which improve answer rates.

Traditional international calling rates published by major US carriers typically range from $2 to $3 per minute for calls to Portugal, depending on the plan.

A. Using VoIP Business Phone Systems

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) converts your voice into data packets that travel through the internet infrastructure. This eliminates expensive international trunk lines that carriers control.

VoIP providers such as CallHippo allow US businesses to place calls to Portugal over the internet rather than traditional phone networks. These systems can display a local Portuguese caller ID, which often improves answer rates compared to calling from a US number.

For businesses calling Portugal regularly, VoIP systems offer a few practical advantages:

1. Local caller ID: Calls can display a Portuguese phone number instead of a US number. This makes the call look local, which often leads to higher answer rates.

2. Call recording: Calls can be recorded automatically. It helps teams review conversations, train new staff, or resolve disputes later.

3. Analytics dashboard: Call data, such as duration, connection quality, and peak calling times, is available in one place. This makes it easier to spot patterns.

4. CRM integration: Many VoIP systems integrate with CRMs like Salesforce, HubSpot, or Zoho. Contact details and call notes appear automatically when someone calls back.

5. Number portability: Keep your existing business number. Forward international calls through the system to maintain your caller ID on outbound calls.

Once the setup is complete, you can place calls to Portuguese numbers using the app or web dashboard.

1. Create an account with CallHippo
2. Choose a Portuguese virtual number
3. Select your plan
4. Add team members
5. Install the app
6. Configure the caller ID to display your Portuguese number.

Advanced VoIP Features for US-Portugal Calling

Here are some of the advanced VoIP features for US-Portugal calling:

1. Call queuing: When your Portugal contact is busy, the system queues your call and tries again automatically. Traditional carriers make you dial manually.

2. Voicemail transcription: Portugal contacts leave voicemails in Portuguese. The system transcribes them to text, which you can translate instantly with browser tools. Read the message before listening to prioritize callbacks.

3. Call scheduling: Schedule calls to Portuguese contacts for specific times. The system dials automatically when scheduled.

4. Conference calls: Add multiple Portuguese participants to one call. Host client meetings simultaneously from your Lisbon office, Porto warehouse, and Faro retail location.

5. Call analytics: Review metrics including average answer time, call duration trends, and connection failure rates.

6. API access: Developers can integrate Portugal calling directly into custom software.

Suggested Read : How To Call US From Portugal?

Cost Comparison: Traditional Carriers vs VoIP Calling

US-Portugal Time Zone Difference (Best Time to Call Portugal)

Portugal operates on Western European Time (WET) and Western European Summer Time (WEST). The United States and Portugal observe daylight saving time on different transition dates. And this temporarily changes the time difference each spring and fall. The time difference varies by US time zone:

Standard time difference:

• Eastern Time: Portugal is 5 hours ahead
• Central Time: Portugal is 6 hours ahead
• Mountain Time: Portugal is 7 hours ahead
• Pacific Time: Portugal is 8 hours ahead

The US and Portugal change to daylight saving time on different dates. For 2-3 weeks in March and October, the time difference shifts by one hour. Make sure you always double-check the current time in Portugal before important calls.

CallHippo’s DST Time Zone Dialing Feature: Never Miss the Window Again

Manually tracking these time shifts costs deals. CallHippo’s automated DST-aware dialing eliminates the guesswork by automatically adjusting to real-time daylight saving time changes in both the US and Portugal, including the tricky 2-3 week transition periods. The system schedules your calls during optimal Portuguese business hours without you needing to calculate anything.

Automate Call Timing
Across Portugal’s Time Zones

• 1Adjusts for Portugal’s local time
• 2Handles daylight saving changes automatically
• 3Calls during proper business hours
• 4Fewer missed or mistimed calls.

Best Calling Windows

For business calls, Portuguese business hours run 9 AM–6 PM. For personal calls, steer clear of 8-10 PM Portugal time. You should try calling between 3-7 PM or early in the morning, around 7-9 AM from the US.

Common Mistakes When Calling Portugal from the US

Even when you know the dialing code, small details can still ruin a call. These are the mistakes people make most often:

1. Keeping the leading zero

Portuguese numbers usually start with a zero when dialed locally. That zero has to go when you’re calling from the US, or the call won’t connect.

2. Calling during lunch breaks or public holidays

Many offices slow down around lunchtime, and Portugal has national holidays that don’t match the US calendar. Calling at the wrong time often means voicemail or no answer.

3. Using toll-free numbers from outside Portugal

Portuguese 800 numbers are only free inside the country. From the US, they’re treated like regular international calls and can be surprisingly expensive.

4. Assuming mobile and landline calls cost the same

With traditional carriers, mobile calls usually cost more than landlines. If you don’t check this upfront, your bill will soar high.

Quick takeaway

Drop the zero, check local time and holidays, and avoid toll-free numbers. You can expect higher rates when calling mobile phones.

Improve Your Connect Rates Across Portugal

Connect rates measure how often your calls reach a live person. Standard US-to-international connect rates hover around 15-22% for cold calls and 45-60% for warm contacts. Industry benchmarks for international outbound calling show significantly lower connect rates than domestic calls, especially when using foreign caller IDs.

5-10%

Average B2B Connect Rate

9:00 AM–12:30 2:00 PM–5:00 PM

Optimal Calling Time

Tuesday–Thursday

Best Day

What Actually Works:

Show a Portuguese number when you call. People are more likely to answer if it looks local. Keep introductions short and friendly. Leaving a voicemail in Portuguese helps. Stick to normal business hours and avoid lunchtime around 12:30–2:00 PM.

What Doesn’t Work:

Using a U.S. number or leaving long messages in English. Calling very early in the morning or late in the evening. Starting with a long pitch or too many details. People usually hang up before you get to the point.

When to Actually Call:

Mid-morning (9:00 AM–12:30 PM) and mid-afternoon (2:00 PM–5:00 PM) are the safest windows. Tuesday through Thursday tend to be better times to call. Double-check Portugal’s local time and daylight saving shifts before dialing. .

Quick Guide: How to Call Portugal from the US?

• Dial 011 (the US exit code)
• Dial 351 (Portugal’s country code)
• Remove any leading zeros from the local number
• Dial the remaining digits

Conclusion

To call Portugal from the US, you need more than the 011-351 dialing sequence. You need cost-effective infrastructure, timing strategies, and features that improve connection quality.

Traditional carriers charge more and provide basic dial tone. But, VoIP systems cost less and include caller ID customization, call recording, analytics, and CRM integration. These features directly impact your success rate for Portuguese calls.

Once you understand how Portuguese numbers are dialed and what affects international call costs, the next step becomes fairly obvious. Businesses that call Portugal regularly often move away from carrier-based plans and switch to VoIP platforms like CallHippo, where local caller ID, consistent call quality, and predictable pricing come standard. Even a single call is usually enough to notice the difference.

FAQs

1. How do I call Portugal from the US?

To call Portugal from the US, dial 011, then 351, then the number. Telecom numbering rules in Portugal require you to remove the domestic leading zero when you dial internationally.

2. How can I call from the US to Portugal using the correct dialing code?

To call from the US to Portugal, you need to dial 011 (international) + 351 (Portugal) + the local number without the zero. If you call Portugal, it follows a fixed sequence. Once you understand that the local zero is dropped, the rest of the number is the same.

3. What does +351 mean on a phone number?

+351 is the international country code for Portugal. The plus sign replaces the international exit code. From the US, dialing +351 works the same as dialing 011-351 and tells the phone network the call is made to Portugal.

4. What is an example of a Portuguese phone number?

A common example of a Portuguese phone number is +351 912 345 678. From the US, you would dial 011-351-912-345-678. Portuguese phone numbers always have nine digits after the country code.

5. What is the area code format for Portuguese phone numbers?

Landlines use geographic area codes, while mobile numbers do not. Cities like Lisbon use 21, Porto uses 22, and Coimbra uses 239. These codes indicate location. Mobile numbers start with 9 and are not tied to any city or region.

6. Does Portugal use the same dialing format for mobile and landline numbers?

No, mobile and landline numbers follow different patterns. Landlines include a city or regional code at the start, while mobile numbers always begin with 9.

7. Is calling Portugal cheaper on mobile or landline?

With traditional carriers, landline calls are usually cheaper than mobile calls. US carriers often charge higher rates for Portuguese mobile numbers. VoIP services typically charge the same rate for both, and that removes the cost difference.

8. What is the cheapest way to call Portugal from the USA?

Using a VoIP service is the cheapest option. Traditional carriers charge around $2–3 per minute. VoIP services usually cost a few cents per minute and work for both landlines and mobile numbers in Portugal.

9. Can I call Portugal for free from the US?

You can call Portugal for free from the US only if both people use an internet-based app. Apps like WhatsApp, Skype, or FaceTime allow free calls if both parties have the app and internet access. Calling actual Portuguese phone numbers requires a paid service.

10. Can I call Portugal from the US using WhatsApp?

Yes, if both users have WhatsApp and an internet connection. WhatsApp calls do not work with landlines or business phone numbers. They are best for personal calls, not for reaching hotels, offices, or customer support lines.

11. Do Portuguese toll-free numbers work from the US?

Yes, but they are not free when called internationally. Portuguese toll-free numbers starting with 800 are only free within Portugal. When you call them from the US, international calling charges apply.

12. Do I need a special plan to call Portugal from my cell phone?

Yes, unless you want to pay high per-minute rates, you need a special plan to call Portugal. Without an international plan, most US carriers charge $2–3 per minute. International add-ons reduce the cost, but VoIP apps are usually far cheaper and don’t require a contract.

13. Can I call Portuguese landlines and mobiles using VoIP?

Yes, VoIP services can help you make calls to both landlines and mobiles. You don’t need the other person to install anything.

Published : January 13, 2026

Priya Naha is an experienced technical content writer who focuses on VoIP and telephony technologies.  Her expertise in telecommunication and content marketing allows her to simplify complex topics with real-world knowledge, making her writing relatable, informative, and easy-to-read.  Her direct involvement with VoIP products and solutions makes her a reliable voice in the field.

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