Is Verizon In The UK?

Hi, UK bound travelers and movers!  You’re probably wondering “Is Verizon in the UK?” Or “Do US phones work in UK?” These are great questions to ask before you move to the UK or take that dream trip to London you’ve been planning.

“Is Verizon in the UK?”

The answer is, No. There is no Verizon in the UK.

“Do US phones work in UK?”

The answer is an emphatical Yes!

In order to use your US phone in the UK, it’s really important to know your options before you leave the USA.

How American Phones Work In The UK

An American phone will work in the UK but the duration of your stay will determine what makes the most financial sense for you to use it.

If you’re moving to the UK…

If you’re moving to the UK and want to keep your Verizon phone number while living abroad, follow the steps here on how to port your mobile number.

So even though there is no Verizon in the UK, you can still use your Verizon phone number and make calls through Google Voice. The exact steps are HERE.

If you’re traveling to the UK for a short visit…

If you’re traveling for a short period of time and want to ensure your US phone will work in the UK, here are some tips.

1 – In order to avoid charges for international rates, which can be quite high, keep your phone in Airplane mode and use Wi-Fi only.

2 – I repeat, use Wi-Fi only.

For example, prior to porting my US mobile number from Verizon to Google Voice, I had to call Chase in the USA to report fraudulent use.  That one 15-minute call cost me $26.

3 – Before you leave the USA, activate international settings.

• Contact Verizon or go onto your profile to set the International Travel Service.
• You need to turn on the international setting BEFORE you start using data in the UK.
• If you activate international service AFTER you’ve already been using it, you will be charged.

4 – Before you leave the USA, download FREE apps.

• Ask friends, family members, and colleagues you need to stay connected with to install WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger. Most likely your friend, family member, or colleague will have both.

5 – If you do call someone, add a +1 before the phone number.

• To call the US from the UK, add +1 prefix.  Example: +1-555-555-5555

Final Tips On Verizon In The UK

And there you have it. There is no Verizon in the UK, but you can use your Verizon phone in the UK. Either set your phone to airplane mode and rely on Wi-Fi, activate international usage before leaving the USA, or perhaps cancel your Verizon service and use Google Voice instead (recommend for long-term UK stays only).

If you’re moving and want to keep your Verizon mobile number but not the service, get the detailed instructions on how to do it here.  And don’t worry, you can always port it back!

If you’re curious what other things you should keep vs. cancel before moving to England, be sure to download this moving to England guide which covers all things Verizon-ish.

Looking for more expat resources?  Try these.

• • Is Target In The UK?
  • Living Abroad: How To Make Expat Life Easier
  • Looking to move to the UK?  Download the FREE MOVING TO THE UK GUIDE.

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