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How to send an international fax

To send an international fax, you need three things: the recipient's country code, the local fax number, and an online fax service that supports international destinations. Faxend works from any country with internet access. Select the destination country, enter the local fax number, and pay per fax. No special setup, account, or US phone line required.

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What you need to send international fax

Three essentials:

  1. Recipient's country code: 1 to 4 digit international dialing prefix (see our country codes list)
  2. Local fax number: The recipient's fax number without the country code
  3. Online fax service: Faxend or similar that supports international destinations

You don't need:

  • A fax machine in either country
  • A phone line in either country
  • An account in the destination country
  • Special international fax credit or prepaid plan

Step-by-step

1

Get the country code and local fax number

Country code is the international prefix (e.g., +44 for UK, +49 for Germany). Local number is what's on the recipient's letterhead or business card. Drop any leading 0 from the local number.

2

Open faxend.com/send

Works in any browser, any country with internet access.

3

Upload your document

PDF or scanned image. Mobile camera scan available.

4

Select destination country

Country dropdown shows all supported destinations. Country code auto-fills.

5

Enter local fax number

Without leading 0, without country code (Faxend prepends).

6

Add cover sheet info

Sender name, contact, recipient details. Cover sheet auto-formatted.

7

Pay per fax and send

International rates apply, varies by destination. Save the transmission confirmation.

International dialing format

The standard international dialing format is:

ComponentExample
Plus sign (+) or international access code (011 from US, 00 from Europe)+ or 011
Country code+49 (Germany)
Area or city code (without leading 0)30 (Berlin)
Local fax number1234567
Complete international number+49 30 1234567

Faxend's country dropdown handles the + and country code automatically. You enter only the area code and local number.

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Time zone considerations

Even though faxes work 24/7, recipients process them during local business hours. Time zone differences can be significant:

  • US to Asia: 12+ hour difference
  • US to Europe: 5 to 9 hour difference
  • US to Australia: 14 to 17 hour difference
  • UK to Asia: 7 to 9 hour difference

For deadline-sensitive faxes (court filings, contract deadlines, government applications), schedule transmission so the fax arrives during the recipient's business hours, or at least so the recipient can acknowledge same-day.

Cross-border data regulations

International fax often involves transferring personal data across borders, which triggers data protection laws:

  • EU GDPR: Transfers from EU to non-EU countries require adequate safeguards (SCC, BCR, or adequacy decision)
  • UK GDPR: Similar to EU GDPR with UK-specific provisions
  • China PIPL: Strict cross-border transfer requirements
  • India DPDPA: 2023 law with consent and adequacy requirements
  • US: No comprehensive federal law; sectoral (HIPAA, GLBA, COPPA)
  • Brazil LGPD: Permits transfers with safeguards

For business communications without personal data, regulations are less restrictive. For PHI, financial data, or other sensitive personal data, ensure compliance with both jurisdictions' rules.

Common mistakes

Including leading 0. Most countries use leading 0 for domestic dialing. Drop it when adding country code.

Wrong country code. Verify with our country codes list or the recipient's website.

Sending during recipient holidays. National holidays differ. Check the recipient's holiday calendar for time-sensitive faxes.

Forgetting time zone. A fax sent at midnight in your time zone may arrive at 3pm in the recipient's time zone, but vice versa is also true.

Not translating documents. Send in the language the recipient expects (typically English for international business).

Sources

Frequently asked questions

How do I send an international fax?
Three steps: 1) Get the recipient's country code and local fax number; 2) Open faxend.com/send and select the destination country; 3) Enter the local fax number, upload your document, and pay per fax. Faxend handles country code formatting and international routing automatically.
What is the international format for fax numbers?
International format is + followed by country code, area code (without leading 0), and local number. Example: +49 30 1234567 for a Berlin number. Faxend formats this automatically when you select the country from the dropdown.
Do I need a fax machine to send international fax?
No. Online fax services like Faxend let you send international fax via web browser or mobile app. No physical fax machine required at either end. The recipient's fax service receives normally.
How much does international fax cost?
Faxend pricing varies by destination and page count. Major destinations (US, Canada, UK, Germany) are typically lowest cost. Some less common destinations are more expensive. Pay per fax with no subscription.
Is international fax secure?
Yes when using a service with TLS 1.3 encryption (Faxend) and T.38 secure protocol. The full chain from sender to recipient is encrypted. Fax is generally considered as secure as certified mail for international communications.
Do I need to dial 011 before the country code?
From a US traditional phone, you dial 011 then the country code. With online fax services like Faxend, you don't need 011. Just select the country from the dropdown, and Faxend handles all dialing prefixes.
Can I send international fax for free?
Most online fax services charge per international fax (typically $0.50 to $5 per fax depending on destination). Some services advertise free trials but limit usage. Faxend's pay-per-fax pricing starts at $2.99 with no subscription.
Why is international fax more expensive than domestic?
International fax involves cross-border voice/IP routing through multiple carriers. Each carrier in the routing chain charges a transit fee. The aggregate cost is higher than domestic where a single network handles the call.
Can I send the same fax to multiple international destinations?
With Faxend, you send one fax per destination. Some enterprise plans support broadcast fax (one document to multiple recipients), but each transmission is billed separately based on destination.
Can I receive international faxes?
Yes, with a Faxend inbound number. International senders fax your number using your country code (e.g., +1 if you have a US Faxend number). You receive in your Faxend inbox accessible from anywhere.
Is international fax legal?
Yes. International fax is legally recognized in virtually all countries. Most government agencies, courts, and businesses accept fax regardless of where the sender is located. Specific legal requirements may apply to specific document types (contracts, government forms, etc.).
What if my international fax fails?
Wait 15 minutes and retry; recipient lines can be busy. Verify the country code and local number. Some destinations have unreliable fax service, especially during local holidays. If failures persist, try a different time of day or use mail as backup.

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Country code auto-applied. Pay per fax with no subscription. Works from any country.

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