Virtual Phone Number for Expats: Keep Your Home Number

A virtual number lets an expat keep a home-country phone number that works over the internet from anywhere. People back home call a normal US, UK or Canadian number, and it rings in your browser or phone app wherever you live, with no roaming and no home SIM to keep alive. LimePhone includes one US, UK or Canadian number on every plan from $9 a month, and you can usually transfer your existing number to it.

Key points

• A virtual number keeps you reachable for family, clients, doctors and government offices back home.
• Calls to and from the US, Canada and the UK use your plan minutes; incoming calls and texts are unlimited.
• You can usually port your existing home number to a virtual service instead of losing it.
• Some banks and apps will not send verification codes to virtual numbers. Check before you rely on one for two-factor sign-in.

Why expats keep a home number

• Family and friends call a local number instead of paying international rates.
• Clients and employers back home see a familiar number on invoices and email signatures.
• Doctors, schools, landlords and government agencies often only call domestic numbers.
• Continuity: the number you have had for years stays on every account and contact list.

Options for keeping a number abroad

• Keep your home mobile plan. Simple, but you pay a monthly bill plus roaming, and long-term roaming is often restricted after a few months.
• Park the number on a cheap prepaid plan. Cheaper, but the SIM must stay active, and calls only ring when that SIM is in a phone.
• Port it to a virtual phone service. The number rings over the internet on any device, with no SIM or roaming.

How to set up a virtual number as an expat

1. Decide whether you want a new number or to keep your current one.
2. For a new number, pick a US, UK or Canadian number on the number checker.
3. To keep your current number, start a transfer (port) from your existing carrier. Do not cancel the old plan until the transfer is complete.
4. Sign in on your browser or install the Android app. Your number now rings wherever you have internet.
5. Update your number with family, clients and any accounts that need it.

What it costs

Plans start at $9 a month with one number, unlimited incoming calls and texts, 2,000 outbound minutes to the US, Canada and the UK, and 500 outbound texts. Calls to your new country of residence are charged per minute; for example $0.032 a minute to Mexico, $0.0356 to Spain and $0.0374 to France. All rates are on the rates page.

Things to check before you rely on a virtual number

• Verification codes: some banks and apps block virtual numbers for two-factor codes. Keep one SIM-based number registered for those.
• Emergency calls: use a local mobile or landline in your country of residence.
• Address requirements: numbers in some countries need proof of address. US numbers and many UK and Canadian numbers do not; the number checker shows what each one needs.

How we checked

LimePhone prices and per-minute rates in this article come from the live LimePhone rate table and plan list, checked on October 24, 2026. Rates change; the current figures are always on the rates page and pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep my US phone number while living abroad?

Yes. Port it to a virtual phone service such as LimePhone, and it will ring over the internet wherever you are, without a US SIM or roaming.

What is the best virtual number for expats?

One in the country your family, clients and accounts are in, with calling, texting and voicemail on the same number. LimePhone offers US, UK and Canadian numbers from $9 a month.

Can I receive texts on a virtual number abroad?

Yes. Incoming texts are unlimited on every LimePhone plan, and they arrive in your browser or app over the internet.

Will a virtual number work for bank verification codes?

Not always. Some banks refuse to send codes to virtual numbers, so keep a SIM-based number registered with them.

Do I need an address in the US or UK?

Not for a US number. Requirements for other numbers vary; check the number checker before you buy.

About the author

Vincent Hawley writes LimePhone's guides to business phone numbers, international calling and calling over the internet.

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