Omari Gates
Australia's country code is +61, and its area code for mobile phones is 04. When calling a mobile phone from outside Australia, you would dial +61 4, followed by the 8-digit mobile number. If you're moving abroad but want to keep your Australian mobile number, you can choose a low-cost, 365-day prepaid SIM and port your phone number to this plan. Alternatively, you can look into whether your phone has dual SIM capabilities or is eSIM compatible, allowing you to use both your Australian and local numbers in the same phone. You can also purchase an Australian virtual phone number, which operates over the internet, to make and receive calls without needing a physical presence in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country code | +61 |
| Area code | 02 for Central East Australia, including Sydney and Canberra |
| Area code for mobile phones | 04 |
| International call prefix | Varies depending on where you're calling from |
| Ways to save your Australian number when moving overseas | Choose a low-cost, 365-day prepaid SIM and port your phone number to it; use dual SIM or eSIM capabilities to use both your Australian and local number in the same phone |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Use a 365-day prepaid SIM plan
A 365-day prepaid SIM plan is a long-expiry prepaid plan that is valid for 365 days or a year. This means you can pay for a year of phone usage upfront. These plans are offered by several providers in Australia, including Optus, Vodafone, Telstra, amaysim, Boost, and OnePass Mobile.
The benefits of a 365-day prepaid plan include the convenience of only having to think about your phone plan once or twice a year. Additionally, these plans can offer better value for money if you consistently use less than 16GB of data per month, which is the average monthly data usage for Australians.
When choosing a 365-day prepaid plan, it is important to consider your data needs. Some plans offer a large amount of data, such as 200GB or 300GB, while others offer unlimited data with speed caps. It is also worth considering whether you want a plan with data banking or rollover, which allows you to carry over unused data to the next plan period.
To sign up for a 365-day prepaid plan, you can purchase a SIM card from one of the providers mentioned above. For example, with amaysim, you can buy a regular SIM card from a retail partner and choose an unlimited plan during activation, or purchase the SIM card online. You can also link a payment method, such as a credit/debit card or PayPal, to your account to enable automatic recharges.
It is important to note that 365-day prepaid plans do not include international roaming by default. If you require international roaming, you may need to purchase a separate plan or add-on.
Massive Australian Bushfires: Understanding the Scale and Impact
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Know the country code (+61)
When calling Australia from another country, you will need to know the country code. Australia's country code is +61. This code is dialled after your country's exit code, followed by the area code and then the local number.
For example, if you are calling a landline number in Sydney, which is in Central East Australia, you would dial your country's exit code, then +61, then the area code 02, and then the local number. So, the full number would be your country's exit code, followed by +61 2 xxx xxxx.
If you are calling a mobile phone number in Australia, you would dial your country's exit code, then +61, then 4, and then the 8-digit mobile number. So, the full number would be your country's exit code, followed by +61 4 xxxxxxxx.
It is important to note that when calling from outside Australia, you should leave off the "0" in the area code. So, for example, if the number you are calling is 04XX XXX XXX, you would dial +61 4XX XXX XXX.
Additionally, if you are calling a foreign country from a landline, you may not be able to dial the "+" before the country code. In this case, you would use an international call prefix instead. These vary depending on where you are calling from.
Finally, if you are using an app like WhatsApp or Skype to call an Australian number, you will still need to enter the number in the correct international format, which includes the country code.
Sanrio's Shipping to Australia: All You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![LENCENT Multiple USB Wall Charger, [22W/4.4A] 4 Port USB Travel Power Adapter, All in One Worldwide Cell Phone Charger With UK US EU European Australia, International Block Cube Plug for iPhone & IPad](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51FtUbifz7L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Use WhatsApp or Skype
Using WhatsApp to Save an Australian Number
To save an Australian number on WhatsApp, you must first ensure that the number has the correct international prefix. For Australia, the international prefix is +61 or 0061.
Once you have confirmed the correct prefix, open WhatsApp and select 'Chats' from the top of the screen. Then, click on the button for a new message in the bottom-right corner. Start a chat with the Australian number, and click on the three dots in the top-right corner. From there, you can select 'Add to contacts'.
Using Skype to Save an Australian Number
To save an Australian number using Skype, you will need to purchase a Skype phone number. A Skype number is like any other phone number, except it is linked to your Skype account. You can buy a Skype phone number in 25 countries, including Australia.
To get a Skype number, go to the Skype online phone number website and click 'Get a Skype Number'. Select Australia as the country for your Skype number, and you will be assigned a random number from that country. You can choose to show other local numbers or select a different location to manually choose a local area and dialling code.
Please note that you will need to pay a recurring subscription fee for your Skype number, and this payment is required to activate the number. Additionally, you are only paying to receive calls; making calls from that number will cost extra through a Skype subscription or the purchase of Skype Credit.
UK's Governance of Australia: Who Really Rules Down Under?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Check your phone's compatibility
If you're moving overseas and want to keep your Australian phone number, you'll need to check that your phone is compatible with the local networks at your destination. Australian phones use Global System for Mobiles (GSM) technology, which is the standard in most countries worldwide. However, older phones purchased in Australia may not work on a network that uses Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology. Newer, high-end phones, including iPhones, should work in most parts of the US, UK, Europe, Asia, and New Zealand.
To avoid any issues, it's best to check with your intended overseas provider in advance to ensure your phone is compatible. Additionally, consider whether your phone has dual SIM capabilities or is eSIM compatible. This will allow you to use both your Australian and local phone numbers in the same phone without having to switch physical SIM cards.
If you plan to keep your Australian number for longer than a year, be aware that prepaid plans in Australia have a maximum expiry period of 365 days. After this period, you may need to recharge your plan if you're still overseas. Telcos may also deactivate your service if your credit balance reaches zero, so maintaining some credit on the plan is recommended to keep it active.
By considering phone compatibility, utilizing dual SIM or eSIM options, and managing your prepaid plan, you can effectively retain your Australian phone number while abroad.
Is Bailey's Gluten-Free in Australia?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Use dual SIM capabilities
If you have a dual SIM phone, you can use two phone numbers at the same time, allowing you to keep your Australian mobile number and use a local number when travelling abroad. This means you can make and receive calls and send and receive messages with both numbers on the same device, without needing to switch SIM cards.
Dual SIM phones can use either two physical SIM cards, or a combination of a physical SIM card and an eSIM, or two eSIMs. An eSIM is a digital SIM that is downloaded onto your device, rather than inserted physically. To use eSIM functionality, you will need to ensure your iPhone is running iOS 12.1 or better.
To set up dual SIM on your iPhone, insert the two nano-SIM cards into the SIM card tray, ensuring that you place each SIM card in the correct slot and orientation. If your SIM cards are protected by a PIN, you will need to enter this when prompted.
Once the SIM cards are inserted, go to Settings > Cellular or Settings > Mobile Data. From here, you can turn on Allow Mobile Data Switching, which will allow you to use mobile data from both plans, depending on coverage and availability. You can also choose a default line for voice calls and cellular data.
You can label each number as Business or Personal, for example, which will help when choosing which number to use for calls, messages, or mobile data. You can change or amend these labels at any time by going to Settings and tapping either Cellular or Mobile Data.
Please note that while you can have two active lines, your iPhone can only use one cellular data network at a time.
Earning SkyMiles for a Trip to Australia
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
To save an Australian phone number, you must first dial the country code, which is +61, followed by the 8-digit mobile number. For example, if the local number is (*02) 3456 7890, then you would dial +61 2 3456 7890.
On the WhatsApp chat page, click on the three dots on the top right corner and select 'Add to contacts'. You can also use the official WhatsApp API to open a chat with an unsaved Australian phone number. The link format is https://wa.me/xxxxxxxxxxxx, where the x represents the phone number.
You can port your Australian phone number to a 365-day prepaid SIM plan with minimal credit. Telcos may deactivate your service if your credit balance is $0, so remember to maintain some credit on the plan to keep it active.
