The Ultimate Guide to Calling Mexico from Canada

Senior Writer: Rohit Rajpal

Published : August 23, 2023

As business connections between Canada and Mexico grow, seamless communication is key. And understanding the best practices for business phone calls is essential for Canadian companies looking to connect with partners, clients, or suppliers in Mexico.

However, the cost and complexity of international calling can make it challenging for Canadian businesses to efficiently communicate with contacts in Mexico. Traditional landline providers often charge exorbitant per-minute rates for calls to Mexico phone number.

Calling plans advertised as “unlimited” frequently exclude international calls or come with hidden fees. As a result, many Canadian businesses struggle to afford quality phone communication south of the border.

But don’t worry. In this post, we’ll explain how to call Mexico from Canada, and that too in the most cost-effective way. Let’s get started.

Expert Advice

"Harness the power of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to seamlessly connect through platforms like CallHippo, leveraging their cost-efficient features for voice and video calls. Embrace the flexibility of VoIP to bridge the geographical gap, enabling real-time interactions that transcend borders and time zones."

How to Call Mexico from Canada?

Here’s how to dial a Mexican number.

• Dial the international access code: Begin by dialing the international access code for Canada, “011.”
• Dial Mexico’s country code: The country code for Mexico is “52.” Dial this after the international access code.
• Dial the area code: Enter the specific area code of the city or region you are calling in Mexico. This is typically a two or three-digit number.
• Dial the local landline number: Finally, dial the local landline number, which is usually an 8-digit number.

Example: Let’s say you’re calling a landline number in Monterrey with the area code “33” and the local number “12345678.” The complete dialing sequence would be

011-52-33-12345678

How to Call Mexico Mobile Number from Canada?

To call a Mexican mobile phone from Canada, use the following steps:

• Dial the international access code: Start by dialing the international access code for Canada, “011.”
• Dial Mexico country code: Enter Mexico’s country code, which is “52.”
• Dial the mobile number: Dial the complete 10-digit mobile number, including the area code and the local number.

Example: If you’re calling a mobile number with the area code “33” and the local number “9876543210,” the dialing sequence would be:

011-52-33-9876543210

You May Also Read : Mexico Phone Number Example With Calling Codes

How to Call the Mexico Toll-free Number from Canada?

To call a toll-free number in Mexico from Canada, follow these steps:

• Dial the international access code: Begin by dialing the international access code for Canada, “011.”
• Dial Mexico’s country code: Enter the country code for Mexico, “52.”
• Dial the toll-free number: Mexican toll-free numbers usually start with “800” or “888,” followed by the remaining digits of the number.

Example: If the toll-free number is “800-123-4567,” the complete dialing sequence would be:

011-52-800-123-4567

What is the Best Time to Call Mexico Number from Canada?

The best time to call to Mexico from Canada depends on a few factors, including the time zone difference, typical working hours, and whether you want to avoid peak calling times. Mexico spans multiple time zones, with most of the country observing Central Time (GMT-6) and some regions in Mountain Time (GMT-7). Here are some tips.

• Mexico is 1-3 hours behind most of Canada, depending on location.
• Avoid early morning hours in Mexico, which could be very early in Canada.
• 10 am to 3 pm Eastern Time is a good time to reach Mexico when people are likely awake and in the office.
• Schedule important calls between 11 am-2 pm Canadian time, the core business hours of 9 am-12 pm in Mexico City.
• Confirm the person’s local time zone if you need to schedule an exact time. Parts of Mexico also observe Daylight Saving Time on different dates than Canada.

Tip: Planning calls during mutually convenient overlapping hours will improve your chances of reaching your party and avoid disruptively early or late call times.

International Call to Mexico

You must follow a specific dialing sequence when making a call to Mexico from Canada. This sequence includes the exit code, Mexico’s country code, area code, and the mobile phone number you wish to reach. Remember that calling rates may vary depending on your phone service provider and the type of number you’re dialing.

Traditional landline providers often charge very high per-minute rates for calls to Mexico, sometimes $1 or more per minute. However, VoIP and internet telephony can drastically reduce the cost of calls to Mexico from Canada.

VoIP systems transfer calls as data packets over the Internet rather than traditional telephone networks. This significantly lowers the cost of international calling to Mexico and other countries. VoIP providers offer affordable monthly international calling plans or per-minute rates of around 1 to 5 cents per minute.

Types of Phone Numbers in Mexico

Mexico uses a 10-digit numbering system for phone numbers, consisting of a two to three-digit area code followed by a seven to eight-digit local phone number.

There are four main types of phone numbers in Mexico.

• Geographic numbers: Tied to a specific region, begin with area codes like 33, 55, 81, etc.
• Mobile numbers: Beginning with 044 or 045 and are associated with mobile carriers like Telcel.
• Toll-free numbers: Starting with 800, these numbers allow customers to reach out to you for free. Often used for business customer service.
• Premium-rate numbers: used for pay-per-call services, beginning with 900.

You May Also Read : How To Call Mexico Phone Number From The US

Mexico Telephone Codes

Mexico has several regions, with each having a separate area code. When dialing Mexico from Canada, you must use the area code to connect to the right person. Here is a table of major area codes in Mexico.

Alternative Ways to Dial Mexico from Canada

While using the 011 international calling format is the standard way to dial Mexico, some alternative methods can be more affordable or offer additional flexibility. Here’s how to dial Mexico from Canada using different methods.

1. Mobile Apps 

Apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime Audio, and Skype allow free or cheap calls over data. As long as both parties have the app and an internet connection, calls between Canada and Mexico can be free. Skype also offers very low per-minute calling rates to a Mexican cell phone. Apps provide great flexibility for individuals.

2.  Local Virtual Numbers

Virtual phone system service providers like CallHippo offer virtual local Mexican numbers to forward calls. A Canadian business could use this Mexican number on marketing materials and have calls forwarded to their Canadian office. This gives the appearance of a local presence in Mexico. This significantly reduces the phone bills as you’re charged per the local rates.

3. SIP Trunking

PBXs and phone systems can connect to Mexican DIDs and numbers using SIP Trunking and the internet. This allows for integrating Mexico calling into an existing business voice system at very low rates. However, the initial setup costs are often high.

Guide to Dial Mexico Through CallHippo

CallHippo provides enterprise-grade VoIP features like call forwarding, queues, IVR, voicemail, and more, allowing you to set up an efficient and professional phone system.

At the same time, CallHippo offers highly competitive per-minute calling rates to Mexico, starting at just $0.023 per minute. This is significantly lower than traditional long-distance providers. And with powerful analytics and robust reporting, CallHippo provides in-depth insights into call traffic, response times, and agent performance.

That said, here’s how to get a Mexico number from CallHippo.

Step 1: Signup with CallHippo for free
Step 2: Choose Mexico from the list of countries
Step 3: Select the type of number you want (local, toll-free, or vanity)
Step 4: Configure your number and add users

And you’re ready to use the number.

Here’s how to dial Mexico from Canada with the number in hand.

• Enter the country code (52)
• Enter the area code
• Dial the number

So, if you’re dialing Mexico City, the number would look like

52-55-1234-5678

You don’t have to enter the international access code for Canada. Your customers would see as if someone is calling them from Mexico, increasing the chances of calls getting picked up.

You May Also Read : How To Dial An 800 Number From Mexico? A Quick Guide

Conclusion

Dialing Mexico from Canada isn’t difficult. However, you must enter the right code (exit code: 11, Mexican country code: 52, and the area code) followed by the seven or eight-digit phone number. Ensure you use VoIP providers like CallHippo to reduce long-distance call charges. You can even get a Mexican phone number to strengthen your presence in the country and build rapport with customers.

FAQs

1. Do I need to dial 011 to call Mexico?

Yes, 011 is the international access code required when calling Mexico from Canada. After dialing 011, dial 52 (Mexico’s country code), the area code, and the phone number.

2. How much does it cost to call Mexico from Canada?

With traditional landline providers, expect to pay $1 or more per minute to call Mexico. However, VoIP services can lower the per-minute cost to as low as 1 to 5 cents per minute. VoIP international calling plans bring the cost down significantly.

3. Can I call Mexico from Canada on WhatsApp?

Yes, you can call Mexico for free using WhatsApp as long as both parties have the app and an internet connection. WhatsApp uses your phone’s data or WiFi to route the call.

4. Can I make video calls instead of regular calls to Mexico?

Absolutely, apps like FaceTime, Skype, and WhatsApp Messenger allow you to make video calls to Mexico. You can conduct video calls if both parties have a smartphone, front-facing camera, and internet connection.

5. Can I use a calling card to call Mexico?

Yes, calling cards from providers like Net10 and Lyca Mobile allow you to call Mexican landlines and mobiles at decent rates. Calling cards provide an alternative to VoIP services but may have higher per-minute charges.

Updated : September 2, 2024

Rohit Rajpal

Rohit Rajpal is a technical content writer with hands-on experience in the VoIP and telephony space. His expertise comes from closely collaborating with product teams to craft clear, technical documentation and user guides for telecommunication software. Rohit’s deep knowledge of VoIP technology allows him to address complex technical issues and provide insightful solutions.

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