Passport Service

If you are a frequent international traveler, or you are traveling for a longer period of time, then the Passport service is for you.

You get both a Global and a USA phone number that works in over 140 countries and you save up to 90% on international roaming costs!

Benefits:

  • Includes bonus call credit
  • Use in over 140 countries
  • Rates from USD 49c per minute (including the United States and Canada)
  • FREE to receive calls in more than 60 countries (on your Global number)
  • FREE for family and friends to call you (USD 39c per minute surcharge applies)
  • FREE to receive text messages (on your Global number)
  • Receive a Free online Travel Journal and Map of your Trip
  • Connection fee of USD 35c
  • Prepaid Data services
  • Easy to use voicemail and call-forwarding
  • Easy to set up forwarding of your existing number
  • 24/7 Customer Service
  • Send international text messages from USD 69c each
  • Recharge minutes anytime via the phone or web, or enable auto-recharge
  • It is prepaid, so no contracts, no credit checks and no monthly fees
  • View call records and receipts online
  • Receive a Global +44 (United Kingdom) phone number and a United States +1 phone number


User guide | Rates | Coverage | Features | Prepaid Data | Getting started | Making calls | Receiving calls | Recharge | Customer service | Service life | Handset compatibility | Tips

User guide

Download a print-friendly version of the user guide.

User guide (950KB PDF file)

Top

Rates

To find the rates for a single country, please use our Rate Finder

Top

Coverage

Make calls from over 140 countries

Cruise ship coverage (select ships only and coverage on 1900MHz GSM frequency band only)

Top

Features

Voicemail
Voicemail is automatically enabled. An inbound caller will be directed to voicemail if the call is not answered within 30 seconds, if the phone is switched off or if there is no coverage. A text message will be sent to notify you of a new voicemail.

To listen to voicemail, dial 121 from your phone and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen). The messages will be played in order of last received.
Charges apply.

To change your greeting message, dial 732 from your phone and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
To disable voicemail, dial 866 from your phone and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
To enable voicemail, dial 869 from your phone and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).

Balance inquiry
Dial 187 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen). The account balance will be sent in a text message.
No charge applies.

Recharge minutes
Dial 191 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
You will be connected to the Self service recharge menu. Have your credit card handy.
No charge applies.

Customer service
Dial 154 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
You will be connected to 24/7 Customer Service.
Charges apply.

Toll-free calling
This feature can be used to let your family and friends call you at no charge to themselves, saving them the cost of a call. To call you, they just need to dial a toll-free number, provided by you, and enter your phone number. You will be charged a USD$0.39 per minute surcharge to receive the call, in addition to the incoming per minute call rate for the country where you are.

To enable, dial 373 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
To disable, dial 282 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
Please note a call is not made. You will receive a message saying Toll-free calling is either enabled or disabled.

Auto-recharge
Auto-recharge automatically recharges your account with USD$30 when your balance falls below USD$5. The automatic recharge is instantaneous and you receive a text message when it occurs.

Enable or disable Auto-recharge at any time by signing into your account online or by calling Customer service. You can also change the minimum balance and the charge amount.

To enable, dial 171 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
To disable, dial 393 and press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
Please note a call is not made. You will receive a message saying Auto Recharge is either enabled or disabled.

Call forwarding
Calls to your phone number may be forwarded to any other number. You will be charged the standard rate for zone 1 landline or mobile, depending on whether the call is forwarded to a landline or mobile phone, and if a surcharge applies.

To enable, dial 102+ followed by the country code and number you wish to forward to (for example 102+18582742686), then press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).
To disable, dial 103, then press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen).

Top

Prepaid Data services

Prepaid Data is available for customers with applicable phones who wish to read and send emails and access the Internet using their mobile phone while traveling. Find out more

Prepaid Data is enabled for all existing and new customers.

Top

Getting Started

Your phone numbers and PIN are printed on the enclosed letter. Please read the letter carefully and keep in a safe place. Your Global service is already active for you. When you receive your package, you should:

  1. Check that the SIM card is correctly inserted and secure.
    * The SIM card is already inserted into your phone if you ordered one. The SIM card is the small chip card located in the back of the phone. It allows you to connect to the network.

  2. Attach the fully charged battery to the phone.

  3. Turn the phone on.
    * Refer to your handset user guide on how to turn it on.

  4. If you are going to be making calls or using an Easy Dial number in the United States and Canada, you must activate US Calling:
    • Visit www.rechargeminutes.com and follow the prompts
    • Dial the following toll free number of the country you are in (using a landline or payphone), and follow the prompts of our self-service menu
      US & Canada - 1-888-513-8804
      UK - 0800-376-2370
      Australia - 1800-795-252
    • If outside the United States or Canada (and about to enter the United States or Canada), dial the Easy Dial number 870

  5. In the United States and Canada, enter 2 followed by the 4-digit PIN and press OK.
    In the rest of the world, enter 1 followed by the 4-digit PIN and press OK.
    * When the phone registers with an available network (this will take 30-120 seconds) it is ready for use.
    * Your PIN code is a four digit code printed on the plastic credit card sized SIM card and on the enclosed letter.
    * Please enter the PIN correctly. The service will be blocked if the PIN is entered incorrectly 3 times. If your SIM is blocked you will have to contact Customer service to unblock it.

Top

Making calls

Using this service is a little different from normal calling but so easy!

How to make a call in the US or Canada

  1. Activate US Calling if you haven’t already done so (refer to Getting Started).
  2. Turn your phone on and when prompted for the PIN, enter 2 followed by the 4-digit PIN and press OK. When the phone registers with an available network it is ready for use.
  3. Dial the country code (+1 for the US and Canada, +44 for the United Kingdom, +61 for Australia), area code and phone number.
    Example: To call (213) 337-5555 in the United States you need to dial +12133375555
  4. Press the call key. The call will be connected normally.

How to make a call in Europe and other countries (other than the US or Canada)

  1. Turn your phone on and when prompted for the PIN, enter 1 followed by your 4-digit PIN and press OK.
  2. Dial the country code (1 for the US and Canada, 44 for the United Kingdom, 61 for Australia), area code and phone number.
    Example: To call (213) 337-5555 in the United States you need to dial 12133375555
  3. Press the call key and please wait. Ignore any messages shown on your screen. You will be disconnected for 10 to 30 seconds, and then your phone will call back.
  4. Answer the call normally. Your call will be connected after a few seconds.

^ If the call back does not happen, please refer to the following section on Prefix dialing.


Prefix dialing (how to make a call when call back does not occur)

If you are trying to make a call outside the United States and Canada, and the call back does not occur or if you hear a message saying the call cannot be completed, please do the following:

Dial *126* followed by the country code (1 in the United States), area code and phone number, followed by #.
If you wish to call 03 9010 0225 in Australia, dial *126*61390100225#
If you wish to call 0207-943-2772 in the UK, dial *126*442079432772#
If you wish to call 213-337-5555 in the US, dial *126*12133375555#

Top

Receiving calls - plus how family and friends can call you toll free

How to receive a call

Just like at home…when your phone rings simply answer the call.

Family and friends can call you for free (Toll-free calling)

You're about to travel, but your family and friends think that since you are traveling the world it will be too hard and too expensive to call you. Toll-free calling is the answer! Toll-free calling makes it easy for family and friends to call you at no charge to them.

Here's what to do:

  1. Give your family and friends your Passport service phone number.
  2. They dial our toll free numbers from a landline or payphone

    US & Canada - 1-866-305-6462
    Australia - 1-800-261-038
    France - 0805-101-177
    Germany - 0800-000-6485
    United Kingdom - 0800-376-5637

  3. They listen to the prompts and enter your number.
  4. Your phone will ring and you're chatting away - at no cost to your family or friends. And if you don't answer, they can leave you a voicemail.

Your family or friends will not be charged. You will be charged a USD$0.39 per minute surcharge to receive the call, in addition to the incoming per minute call rate for the country where you are.

Please note: Family and friends will need to have international text messaging enabled on their cell phone accounts in order for them to send a text message to your Global +44 number. However they can send a text message to your US +1 number as per normal.

Top

Recharging your account

Buying more calling time is simple. Use your American Express, Mastercard or VISA card to add USD $30, $50, $100, $150 or $200 to your account.

There are five easy ways to recharge your account.

Using the website

Recharge online now!

Using a landline, hotel or payphone (toll free call)

  1. Dial the toll free access number for the country you are in.
  2. Enter your phone number then press the hash key.
  3. Press 1 to recharge using the Self-service phone menu.
  4. Follow the voice prompts to recharge your account.

Note: a per minute rate applies to call a toll-free access number from your mobile phone.

Using your Passport service phone (the call is free)

  1. Dial 191 from your phone
  2. Press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen), and wait for the call back.
  3. Answer the call normally.
    After 10-15 seconds your call will be connected.
  4. Follow the voice prompts to recharge your account.

Via 24/7 Customer Service (charges apply)

  1. Dial 154 from your phone
  2. Press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen), and wait for the call back.
  3. Answer the call normally.
    After 10-15 seconds your call will be connected.
  4. Follow the voice prompts to speak with Customer Service.

Using Auto-Recharge

Auto-recharge automatically recharges your account with USD $30 when your balance falls below USD $5.

Enable or disable Auto-recharge at any time by signing into your account online, by calling Customer Service or by dialing a short number on your phone (refer to Features). You can also change the minimum balance and the charge amount.

The automatic recharge is instantaneous and you receive a text message when it occurs.

Top

Contacting Customer service

From landlines, hotels and payphones:

  1. Dial the access number for the country you are in.
  2. Press 0# to speak to Customer Service.
    Press 0 for English
    Press 1 for French
    Press 2 for German
    Press 3 for Portuguese
    Press 4 for Spanish
    Press 5 for Japanese
    Press 6 for Italian

Note: a per minute rate applies to call a toll-free access number from your mobile phone.

From your mobile phone (charges apply):

  1. Dial 154 from your phone
  2. Press the call, send or OK key (ignoring any messages on the screen), and wait for the call back.
  3. Answer the call normally.
    After 10-15 seconds your call will be connected.
  4. Follow the voice prompts to speak with Customer Service

Top

Service life

You must use a charged service (such as making a call, or sending a text message), or recharge within any 9 month period, otherwise your remaining credit will expire and your US number will be removed. You can restore the expired credit by contacting Customer Service and recharging your account by a minimum of USD$30.

You must recharge minutes at least once every 15 months or your SIM card will be permanently deactivated. Access to your online account and travel journal will not be blocked.

Please note:
* Your ability to make outbound calls in the US and Canada is hibernated 7 days after your last call in the US or Canada, however the +1 number remains active and will receive calls and text messages for up to four months after the last use of the service. You can reactivate the ability to make calls in the United States and Canada in three ways: online at www.rechargeminutes.com, over the phone using our self-service menu, or over the phone with a Customer service representative.

* You can retain your US number indefinitely by paying 50c per month by signing into your account online, clicking on "Account Details" under "My account", and then clicking on the option to extend the life of the US number (otherwise after 4 months of inactivity your US number may be changed when you go to use it again; you will receive the new US number via text message).

Top

Handset compatibility

This service works with virtually all handsets. If you have difficulty using the service in your handset, please see our Buying Tips for information on handset frequencies and how to unlock your handset.

Top

Tips

Making calls

  • Before you go, enter all your phone numbers into the address book of your new mobile handset for quick and easy dialing when you are traveling.
  • Enter all phone numbers in the international format, starting with the country code (1 for the US), area code (without the leading 0) and phone number.
    For example 12133375555, if the number is(213)337-5555 in the US; 61390100225 if the number is 03-9010-0225 in Australia; etc.
  • If you are using Prefix dialing, make sure you enter # at the end of the number.
    For example to call 0207-943-2772 in the UK, you would dial *126*442079432772#.
Top