Access To A US Phone Number While Living Abroad

Here’s practical guide for the main ways a U.S. person can keep or obtain a U.S. phone number while living overseas, with pros, cons, and best-fit use cases.

There are several ways this can be accomplished. Ongoing costs and reliability vary.

1. Keep a U.S. Mobile Number via Wi-Fi Calling (Traditional Carriers)

How it works:

You keep your existing U.S. mobile plan and use Wi-Fi calling (and sometimes cellular roaming) while abroad.

Common carriers: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile

Pros

• Keeps your original U.S. number (important for banks, IRS, SSA, 2FA)
• Works with SMS short codes (critical for financial accounts)
• Familiar setup

Cons

• Can be expensive (monthly fees, roaming risks)
• Some carriers throttle or terminate accounts used mostly overseas
• Requires careful settings to avoid accidental roaming charges

Best for:

People who must keep their original number and rely heavily on U.S. banks or government services.

Tip: T-Mobile historically tolerates overseas use better than Verizon/AT&T, but policies change.

2. Port Your U.S. Number to a VoIP Service (Most Popular Expat Option)

You port your existing U.S. number (or get a new one) to an internet-based phone service.

Common Providers

• Google Voice
• NumberBarn
• VoIP.ms
• Callcentric
• OpenPhone (more business-oriented)

How it works

Calls and texts come through an app or web browser over the internet.

Pros

• Very low cost (often $0–$20/month)
• Works anywhere with internet
• No roaming
• Easy call forwarding and voicemail management

Cons

• Some U.S. banks block VoIP numbers for SMS 2FA
• Short codes may not work reliably
• Emergency services (911) are limited or separate

Best for:

Long-term expats who want a stable U.S. presence number and don’t rely on SMS-only bank authentication.

Important: Before porting, verify which of your banks/services accept VoIP numbers.

3. Dual-SIM Phone: U.S. Number + Local SIM

How it works:

Use a phone with dual SIM or eSIM, keeping:

• A U.S. SIM (for calls/texts)
• A local SIM (for data and local calls)

Pros

• Best of both worlds
• Real U.S. mobile number (not VoIP)
• Works with most SMS-based authentication
• Local data is cheap and fast

Cons

• U.S. SIM may still incur monthly charges
• Requires compatible phone
• Needs careful management to avoid roaming charges

Best for:

Expats who want maximum compatibility with U.S. services and don’t mind paying to keep a U.S. line active.

4. U.S. Virtual Number Services (New Number, Not Ported)

If you don’t need your original number:

• Providers
• Google Voice (new number)
• TextNow
• Skype Number
• Burner (temporary)

Pros

• Quick setup
• Cheap or free
• No U.S. residency required (sometimes)

Cons

• New number (not ideal for banks)
• Frequently blocked for financial SMS
• Numbers can be recycled if inactive

Best for:

General calling, business contacts, friends/family — not critical authentication.

5. Business-Grade Cloud Phone Systems (Heavy Users)

Examples

• RingCentral
• Zoom Phone
• 8x8
• Dialpad

Pros

• Very reliable
• Excellent call quality
• Multiple devices
• Professional appearance

Cons

• Overkill for personal use
• More expensive
• SMS support varies

Best for:

Remote workers, consultants, or business owners who need a serious U.S. phone presence.

6. Emergency & Government Considerations (Important)

IRS, SSA, banks, and brokerages often require:

• A U.S. phone number
• SMS authentication
• Many do not accept VoIP numbers
• Some allow voice call verification instead of SMS — ask.

Best practice for expats:

• Keep one real U.S. mobile number (even minimally used) for:
  • Banking
  • Government
  • Account recovery

Then use VoIP or local SIMs for everything else.

Recommended Setups (Real-World)

• Conservative / Low Risk
  • Keep a U.S. mobile line
  • Enable Wi-Fi calling
  • Use local SIM for data
• Balanced (Most Expats)
  • Port U.S. number to Google Voice
  • Keep one backup U.S. SIM for banks that reject VoIP
  • Use local SIM for daily use
• Cost-Minimizer
  • VoIP number only
  • Accept that some banks/services may be unavailable

Bottom Line

There is no single perfect solution — the right setup depends on:

• How many U.S. financial institutions you use
• Whether SMS short codes are critical
• Your tolerance for monthly costs
• Whether you need your original number

Lowest-Cost vs. Highest-Reliability Options for Expats

• Lowest-Cost vs. Highest-Reliability: Best Options for Expats
• Lowest-Cost Option — Affordable With Limitations

Option: Port Your U.S. Number to Google Voice

How it works

Move your existing U.S. number into Google Voice.

Use the number via the Google Voice app over Wi-Fi or data.

Make/receive calls and texts through the app.

Cost

• One-time porting fee (usually ~$20)
• Free ongoing use over Wi-Fi/data
• No monthly carrier bill

Pros

• ✔ Very low ongoing cost (effectively free)
• ✔ Works anywhere with internet
• ✔ SMS and calls in a single app
• ✔ Easy on multiple devices (phone + computer)

Cons

• ⚠ Some financial institutions reject VoIP numbers
• ⚠ Short-codes and some SMS may fail
• ⚠ Emergency calling (911) not supported in the traditional way

Best For

• General communications
• Messaging with contacts in the U.S.
• Low budgets

Suitability

• ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Cost
• ⭐ ⭐ ☆ Reliability overall
• ⭐ ☆ ☆ Bank/official 2FA compatibility

Quick Setup

• Grab a U.S. mobile number you want to keep.
• Port it into Google Voice (one-time fee).
• Install the app and sign in with your Google account.

🛡️ Highest-Reliability Option — Works With Banks & Critical Services

Option A: Keep a Minimal U.S. Mobile Line + Local SIM / eSIM

How it works

• Maintain a real U.S. mobile plan with a carrier (like T-Mobile or AT&T)
• Use Wi-Fi calling to reduce roaming charges abroad
• Add a local SIM (or eSIM) for daily connectivity and local data

Cost

• Minimal basic plan (e.g., voice + text; can be very cheap on prepaid).
• Local data plan (varies by country).

Pros

• ✔ Accepted by ALL banks/government SMS 2FA
• ✔ Works with short codes
• ✔ Works offline too (voice/SMS on network)

Cons

• ⚠ Monthly carrier bill required
• ⚠ Need to manage roaming/Wi-Fi calling settings
• ⚠ Some carriers enforce usage conditions

Best For

• Bank & broker SMS authentication
• Government account verification
• Security-sensitive services

Suitability

• ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reliability
• ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Bank/eGov compatibility
• ⭐ ⭐ ☆ Cost

Option B: Dual-SIM / eSIM With US + Local Plan

How it works

• Phone supports two SIMs/eSIMs
• One SIM stays with a U.S. carrier
• One is a local SIM (data & calls in country of residence)

Pros

• ✔ Strongest compatibility with U.S. SMS auth
• ✔ Local SIM keeps your daily costs low
• ✔ Avoid roaming data charges

Cons

• ⚠ Must pay two lines (one small U.S. line + local plan)
• ⚠ Device must support dual SIM or eSIM

Best For

Expats who need:

• Best 2FA reliability
• Local service convenience
• Backup international number

Suitability

• ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Reliability
• ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Compatibility with banks / 2FA
• ⭐ ⭐ ☆ Cost (mid)

Decision Rules: What to Choose

Priority	Best Setup
Lowest monthly cost	Google Voice
Best for bank/2FA compatibility	U.S. carrier + local SIM
Balanced reliability + cost	Dual-SIM with basic U.S. line + local SIM

Tips for Expats

1. If You Need Bank Authentication

Many U.S. banks refuse verification codes to VoIP numbers (like Google Voice). Keeping a real U.S. mobile number (even on the cheapest plan) dramatically increases reliability with:

• ✔ Bank account 2FA
• ✔ Brokerage/trading account alerts
• ✔ Tax/IRS notices
• ✔ Government services (SSA, IRS, VA, etc.)

2. Lower Your Carrier Cost

You don’t need full data on your U.S. line. You can often downgrade to:

• Voice + text only plan
• Prepaid plan with minimal monthly fee

Then use Wi-Fi calling or your local SIM for data.

3. Dual-SIM Devices Are Your Friend

Modern phones with dual SIM (physical + eSIM) make managing two numbers easy. You can:

• Use your U.S. line for SMS/voice verification
• Use your local line for WhatsApp, local calls, and data

Quick Recommendation Summary

Setup	Works With Bank SMS?	Works Abroad Without Internet?	Cost
Google Voice (VoIP)	❌ limited	❌	Lowest
U.S. Mobile Plan + Local SIM	✔ Yes	✔ Yes	Moderate
Dual SIM with U.S. Line	✔ Yes	✔ Yes	Moderate

Final Advice

If you must interact with:

• U.S. banks
• Government portals
• Brokerages
• Official SMS-auth systems

Tip: you should keep a U.S. number on a real mobile line, even at minimal cost.

Google Voice can be a great secondary number for messaging and casual use, but it shouldn’t be your primary number for 2FA unless you’ve confirmed all services you use accept it.

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Photo by Egor Litvinov on Unsplash