How to Add Contacts from Other Countries in WhatsApp for Android

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Learn how to add international contacts in WhatsApp on Android

Written by Hannah Dillon

Last Updated: August 21, 2025 Fact Checked

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Adding Contacts

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FAQ

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Q&A

This wikiHow teaches you how to add a WhatsApp contact with an international phone number to an Android phone or tablet. Since WhatsApp pulls your contacts from your Android's regular Contacts app, you'll just need to create a new contact that includes your friend's international phone number preceded by a plus (+) symbol.

Adding Contacts from Another Country

Add the person you want to message as a new contact in your phone to message them on WhatsApp.
Make sure you have entered their full international number. This will include a + symbol, the country code, and then the rest of the phone number.
Once they are added to your phone, you can message them on WhatsApp using the same method you would for a domestic contact.

Section 1 of 2:

Adding Contacts

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Look for an app called "Contacts" in your app drawer. It's usually a blue, red, or orange icon with a white outline of a person's head.
It's usually a plus (+) sign.^{[1]
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Research source} Depending on what type of phone you have, this button will be in the bottom corner or near the top of the screen.

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Select a storage location. Depending on your contacts app, you'll usually be asked to select an account and/or a storage location (internal storage or SIM card). This is where WhatsApp will save your new contact.
- Samsung phones will ask where to save a new contact, while Google Pixel will not.^{[2]
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  Research source} If you aren't asked where to save the contact, you can skip this step and move to the next one.
- You may not be asked where to save a contact, but you will instead choose the contact's save location via a dropdown.
This is how the contact will appear in your Contacts app, as well as your WhatsApp contact list.
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Enter the contact's international phone number. In the phone number blank, start by typing the "+" (plus) symbol, followed by the country code (e.g., 44 for UK), and then the rest of the person's phone number.^{[3]
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- For example, a UK phone number would look something like this: +447981555555.
- Phone numbers in Mexico must have a 1 after the country code (+52).
- Phone numbers in Argentina (country code +54) must have a 9 between the country code and the area code. Remove the "15" prefix from this number so the phone number has 13 digits.
  - If you're not sure what the country code is for the person you're adding, check countrycode.org or ask the person you're adding for the information.
The location varies by version. Your contact is now added to your Android's phone book, which means you can now chat with them in WhatsApp.^{[4]
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Section 2 of 2:

FAQ

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Is it possible to contact someone in another country through WhatsApp? Yes, you can send someone in another country WhatsApp messages as long as you have them added as a contact in your phone.
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Does it cost money to message someone in another country through WhatsApp? Thankfully, it doesn't cost any money to message someone in another country through WhatsApp! You can send messages or make calls to anyone around the world without fear of international texting charges if you use WhatsApp. However, you may see charges on your phone bill if you use WhatsApp while roaming or if you go over your monthly data usage, since WhatsApp uses mobile data (when not connected to the internet).^{[5]
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Question

I cannot add any international numbers into my WhatsApp. What can I do?

Community Answer

I had this problem, and it was because I had included the country code, but forgot to add the plus (+) sign in front of the number.

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