Despite advancements in digital technology, faxing remains a prevalent tool in international business communications. The ability to send and receive documents securely and reliably, especially sensitive information, still sees faxing as a preferred choice. If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide on navigating the international faxing process, you’re in the right place. From learning the basics to avoiding commonly made errors and choosing the right platform, we cover it all here.
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Introduction to International Faxing
Fax machines were first introduced in the 1960s and became popular in the 1980s as a way to quickly send and receive documents over phone lines. While email and other digital communication methods have largely replaced faxing in many areas, it’s still a common way of sending documents in certain industries, especially in legal and healthcare fields where security and privacy are paramount.
Sending a fax internationally is much like sending a domestic fax, but there are some additional steps and considerations to keep in mind. One of the most important things to remember is the country code, which is necessary to include when dialing an international fax number. This code tells the phone system which country the fax is being sent to and is required for the fax to be delivered correctly.
Why International Faxing is Still Relevant?
While email and other digital communication methods are widely used, there are still many situations where faxing is the preferred method of sending documents, especially for legal and healthcare industries. One of the main reasons for this is security – faxing is considered more secure than email because the recipient must physically receive the document in order to access it. This is especially important when sending confidential or sensitive information.
Another reason why faxing is still relevant is its reliability. Unlike email or other digital methods, faxing does not rely on an internet connection, which can be unreliable or slow in some areas. Additionally, faxing provides a paper trail that can be useful in legal or regulatory situations.
Understanding the International Faxing Process
Before sending an international fax, it’s important to understand the process and have all the necessary information. The first step is to determine the correct country code for the fax recipient’s location. This code is usually a one to three-digit number that is assigned to each country by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In some cases, the country code may be preceded by an additional code, such as the exit code for the country the fax is being sent from.
Once the correct country code is determined, the international dialing code must be added. This is a code that is used to indicate that the call is being made to a foreign country. The international dialing code varies depending on the country the fax is being sent from. After the country and international dialing codes have been added, the recipient’s fax number can be dialed, including any additional codes or prefixes that may be required.
How to Send a Fax Internationally?
Sending a fax internationally can be done either through a traditional fax machine or an online fax service. If using a fax machine, the process is similar to sending a domestic fax. The user simply needs to add the correct country and international dialing codes before dialing the recipient’s fax number. If the fax machine has a setting for international faxes, this should be enabled to ensure that the fax is sent correctly.
Alternatively, an online fax solution can be used to send international faxes. These services allow users to send and receive faxes through an online portal or mobile app, eliminating the need for a physical fax machine. To send an international fax through an online fax service, the user simply needs to enter the recipient’s fax number and any necessary codes or prefixes. The document can then be uploaded and sent through the service’s portal.
Tips for Successful International Faxing
To ensure that an international fax is sent and received correctly, there are several tips that should be followed. First, it’s important to double-check the recipient’s fax number and country code to ensure that they are correct. Additionally, the user should verify that their fax machine or online service is set up correctly for international faxes.
Another important tip is to be aware of any special services that may be required for the fax to be delivered. For example, some countries may require a special prefix or code for certain types of faxes or for faxes sent to certain areas. It’s important to research any special requirements for the recipient’s location before sending the fax.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Faxing Internationally
There are several common mistakes that can occur when sending international faxes. One of the most common is using the wrong international prefix or country code. This can cause the fax to be sent to the wrong location or not be delivered at all. Another mistake is failing to include any necessary special services or codes, which can also result in the fax not being delivered.
It’s also important to ensure that the document being faxed is in the correct format and is legible. If the document is too dark, too light or has any other issues that make it difficult to read, the recipient may not be able to use it. Finally, it’s important to be aware of any time zone differences between the sender and recipient to ensure that the fax is sent at an appropriate time.
Best Practices for International Faxing
To ensure the smoothest possible international faxing experience, there are several best practices that should be followed. First, it’s important to research the recipient’s country and any special requirements or codes that may be necessary. Additionally, the document being faxed should be properly formatted and legible.
Another best practice is to use an online fax service, which can eliminate many of the issues associated with traditional fax machines. Online fax services offer a more streamlined and efficient way of sending and receiving faxes, and they can also provide additional security features such as encryption and password protection.
Choosing the Right International Faxing Service
When choosing an international faxing service, there are several factors to consider. One of the most important is the service’s reputation for reliability and security. It’s important to choose a service that has a proven track record of delivering faxes quickly and securely.
Another factor to consider is the service’s pricing and features. Some online fax services offer additional features such as encryption and password protection, which can provide an extra layer of security. Additionally, it’s important to choose a service that offers competitive pricing and a user-friendly interface.
List of Country Codes to Send a Fax Internationally
Here is a list of telephone codes by country that must be added at the beginning of the fax number according to the country.
Zone 1 – North American Numbering Plan Area
Area codes are issued to nations inside NANP (North American Numbering Plan) governed territories as if they were all a single nation. The area code XXX within the +1 NANP zone is represented by the codes below in the format +1 XXX; they do not correspond to a separate country code.
- +1 Canada
- +1 United States of America, including U.S. territories:
- +1 340 U.S. Virgin Islands
- +1 670 Northern Mariana Islands
- +1 671 Guam
- +1 684 American Samoa
- +1 787 / 939 Puerto Rico
- +1 Some Caribbean nations:
- +1 242 Bahamas
- +1 246 Barbados
- +1 264 Anguilla
- +1 268 Antigua and Barbuda
- +1 284 British Virgin Islands
- +1 345 Cayman Islands
- +1 441 Bermuda
- +1 473 Grenada
- +1 649 Turks and Caicos Islands
- +1 664 Montserrat
- +1 721 Sint Maarten
- +1 758 Saint Lucia
- +1 767 Dominica
- +1 784 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- +1 809 / 829 / 849 Dominican Republic
- +1 868 Trinidad and Tobago
- +1 869 Saint Kitts and Nevis
- +1 876 Jamaica
Zone 2 – Africa (but also, for example Aruba, Faroe Islands and Greenland)
- +20 Egypt
- +211 South Sudan
- +212 Morocco
- +212 5288 / 5289 Western Sahara
- +213 Algeria
- +216 Tunisia
- +218 Libya
- +220 Gambia
- +221 Senegal
- +222 Mauritania
- +223 Mali
- +224 Guinea
- +225 Côte d’Ivoire
- +226 Burkina Faso
- +227 Niger
- +228 Togo
- +229 Benin
- +230 Mauritius
- +231 Liberia
- +232 Sierra Leone
- +233 Ghana
- +234 Nigeria
- +235 Chad
- +236 Central African Republic
- +237 Cameroon
- +238 Cape Verde
- +239 São Tomé and Príncipe
- +240 Equatorial Guinea
- +241 Gabon
- +242 Republic of the Congo
- +243 Democratic Republic of the Congo
- +244 Angola
- +245 Guinea-Bissau
- +246 British Indian Ocean Territory
- +247 Ascension Island
- +248 Seychelles
- +249 Sudan
- +250 Rwanda
- +251 Ethiopia
- +252 Somalia
- +253 Djibouti
- +254 Kenya
- +255 Tanzania
- +255 24 Zanzibar
- +256 Uganda
- +257 Burundi
- +258 Mozambique
- +260 Zambia
- +261 Madagascar
- +262 Réunion
- +262 269 / 639 Mayotte
- +263 Zimbabwe
- +264 Namibia
- +265 Malawi
- +266 Lesotho
- +267 Botswana
- +268 Swaziland
- +269 Comoros
- +27 South Africa
- +290 Saint Helena
- +290 8 Tristan da Cunha
- +291 Eritrea
- +297 Aruba
- +298 Faroe Islands
- +299 Greenland
Zones 3/4 – European Union Countries
To make up for their typically longer domestic numbers, larger nations like the United Kingdom or France were initially given two-digit codes, while smaller nations like Iceland were given three-digit codes. However, since the 1980s, all new assignments have been three-digit regardless of the population of the nation.
- +30 Greece
- +31 Netherlands
- +32 Belgium
- +33 France
- +34 Spain
- +350 Gibraltar
- +351 Portugal
- +352 Luxembourg
- +353 Ireland
- +354 Iceland
- +355 Albania
- +356 Malta
- +357 Cyprus
- +358 Finland
- +358 18 Åland
- +359 Bulgaria
- +36 Hungary
- +370 Lithuania
- +371 Latvia
- +372 Estonia
- +373 Moldova
- +373 2 / 5 Transnistria
- +374 Armenia
- +374 47 / 97 Nagorno-Karabakh
- +375 Belarus
- +376 Andorra
- +377 Monaco
- +377 44 / 45 Kosovo
- +378 San Marino
- +379 Vatican City (but uses +39 Italy).
- +380 Ukraine
- +381 Serbia
- +381 28 / 29 / 38 / 39 Kosovo for landlines but +377 Monaco and +386 Slovenia for mobile phones.
- +382 Montenegro
- +385 Croatia
- +386 Slovenia
- +386 43 / 49 Kosovo
- +387 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- +389 Macedonia
- +39 Italy
- +39 06 698 Vatican City
- +40 Romania
- +41 Switzerland
- +420 Czech Republic
- +421 Slovakia
- +423 Liechtenstein
- +43 Austria
- +44 United Kingdom
- +44 1481 Guernsey
- +44 1534 Jersey
- +44 1624 Isle of Man
- +45 Denmark
- +46 Sweden
- +47 Norway
- +47 79 Svalbard
- +47 79 Jan Mayen
- +48 Poland
- +49 Germany
Zone 5 – Latin America
- +500 Falkland Islands
- +500 x South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- +501 Belize
- +502 Guatemala
- +503 El Salvador
- +504 Honduras
- +505 Nicaragua
- +506 Costa Rica
- +507 Panama
- +508 Saint-Pierre and Miquelon
- +509 Haiti
- +51 Peru
- +52 Mexico
- +53 Cuba
- +54 Argentina
- +55 Brazil
- +56 Chile
- +56 32 Easter Island
- +57 Colombia
- +58 Venezuela
- +590 Guadeloupe (including Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin)
- +591 Bolivia
- +592 Guyana
- +593 Ecuador
- +594 French Guiana
- +595 Paraguay
- +596 Martinique
- +597 Suriname
- +598 Uruguay
- +599 Former Netherlands Antilles, now grouped as follows:
- +599 3 Sint Eustatius
- +599 4 Saba
- +599 5 formerly Sint Maarten – Now included in NANP as code +1-721 (see Zone 1, above)
- +599 7 Bonaire
- +599 9 Curacao
Zone 6 – Southeast Asia and Oceania
- +60 Malaysia
- +61 Australia (see also +672 below)
- +61 8 9162 Cocos Islands
- +61 8 9164 Christmas Island
- +62 Indonesia
- +63 Philippines
- +64 New Zealand
- +64 xx Pitcairn Islands
- +65 Singapore
- +66 Thailand
- +670 East Timor – formerly Northern Mariana Islands which is now included in NANP as code +1-670 (See Zone 1, above)
- +671 – formerly Guam – Now included in NANP as code +1-671 (See Zone 1, above)
- +672 Australian External Territories (see also +61 Australia above)
- +672 1x Australian Antarctic Territory
- +672 3 Norfolk Island
- +673 Brunei
- +674 Nauru
- +675 Papua New Guinea
- +676 Tonga
- +677 Solomon Islands
- +678 Vanuatu
- +679 Fiji
- +680 Palau
- +681 Wallis and Futuna
- +682 Cook Islands
- +683 Niue
- +684 formerly American Samoa – Now included in NANP as code +1-684 (See Zone 1, above)
- +685 Samoa
- +686 Kiribati
- +687 New Caledonia
- +688 Tuvalu
- +689 French Polynesia
- +690 Tokelau
- +691 Federated States of Micronesia
- +692 Marshall Islands
Zone 7 – Eurasia
- +7 Russia
- +7 6xx / 7xx Kazakhstan
- +7 840 / 940 Abkhazia – see also +995 44
Zone 8 – East Asia and Special Services
- +800 International Freephone (UIFN)
- +808 reserved for Shared Cost Services
- +81 Japan
- +82 South Korea
- +84 Vietnam
- +850 North Korea
- +852 Hong Kong
- +853 Macau
- +855 Cambodia
- +856 Laos
- +86 China
- +870 Inmarsat “SNAC” service
- +878 Universal Personal Telecommunications services
- +880 Bangladesh
- +881 Global Mobile Satellite System
- +882 International Networks
- +883 International Networks
- +886 Taiwan
- +888 Telecommunications for Disaster Relief by OCHA
Zone 9 – Central, South and Western Asia
- +90 Turkey
- +90 392 Northern Cyprus
- +91 India
- +92 Pakistan
- +93 Afghanistan
- +94 Sri Lanka
- +95 Myanmar
- +960 Maldives
- +961 Lebanon
- +962 Jordan
- +963 Syria
- +964 Iraq
- +965 Kuwait
- +966 Saudi Arabia
- +967 Yemen
- +968 Oman
- +970 Palestinian territories
- +971 United Arab Emirates
- +972 Israel
- +973 Bahrain
- +974 Qatar
- +975 Bhutan
- +976 Mongolia
- +977 Nepal
- +979 International Premium Rate Service
- +98 Iran
- +991 International Telecommunications Public Correspondence Service trial (ITPCS)
- +992 Tajikistan
- +993 Turkmenistan
- +994 Azerbaijan
- +995 Georgia
- +995 44 Abkhazia – see also +7 840, 940.
- +995 xx South Ossetia
- +996 Kyrgyzstan
- +998 Uzbekistan
- +999 reserved for future global service
The Bottom Line
Faxing may seem like an outdated technology, but it’s still widely used in many industries, especially for international communication. To ensure that international faxes are sent and received correctly, it’s important to understand the process and follow best practices.
Using an online fax service can provide a more secure and efficient way to send and receive faxes, while also eliminating many of the issues associated with traditional fax machines. By following these guidelines, anyone can master the art of international faxing and enjoy a more streamlined and efficient communication experience.
