Dialing the Phone Number
Dial your country’s exit code. The exit code differs from country to country, so look your code up online if you’re unsure what it is. You need to dial this code in order to begin an international call. The most common exit codes are 011 and 00. The exit code for the U.S. and Canada, for instance, is 011. Many countries in Europe and Asia use the 00 exit code. If your phone has has a + key, press it to input the exit code automatically. You do not need to type the code manually afterwards.
Type 371 to route the call to Latvia. Each country has a unique calling code, and 371 is Latvia's. No matter where you are calling in Latvia, type 371 before the phone number. Check the country code carefully so that you don’t end up calling the wrong country.
Press 6 to call a landline or 2 to call a mobile phone. Latvian phone numbers all consist of 8 digits. The first digit indicates what type of number you want to call. Most landlines start with a 6, but all mobile phone numbers currently begin with a 2. For example, you need to dial 011-371-6 if you’re calling a landline from the U.S. Very few landlines start with 5 instead of 6. Look up the number online to see if it is legitimate. It will look like 5xxx-xxxx. Payphone numbers all start with a 7.
Dial the city code to reach a specific part of Latvia. The city code is the same as an area code in the U.S. and some other countries. The city code will be the same whether you call a landline or a mobile number. Type in the code corresponding to the part of Latvia you wish to reach. You can search online for a list of Latvian city codes or view them at http://dialcode.org/Europe/Latvia/. For instance, the city code for Latvia’s capital city, Riga, is 6. To reach Ventspils, type in 36. To reach Daugavpils instead, press 54.
Enter the phone number you wish to call. Latvian phone numbers are all 8 digits long. You will need to type in 5 more digits, or 6 if you’re using a single-digit city code like for Riga. Afterwards, hit the call button to put the call through. The finished number may look like 011-371-67xx-xxxx, which connects to a landline in Riga.
Choosing a Calling Time and Method
Note the time difference before making a call. Latvia is under Eastern European Time. This is 2 hours ahead of the Coordinated Universal Time (UCT). In addition, Latvia shifts to Eastern European Summer Time in spring, putting it 3 hours ahead of the UCT. The Summer Time zone, or daylight savings in Latvia, runs from late March to October. Search online for time zone converters if you need to check the time in Latvia before you call.
Buy prepaid international phone cards to save money. You can buy these cards directly from phone service providers or at retail locations like general stores. The cards come loaded with a set number of minutes. These minutes are charged at a fixed rate, which is also printed on the card. The rate is typically cheaper than what you would get by using a data plan from a cell phone company. Read the card carefully to find out how much it costs, how many minutes you get, and if any hidden fees are included.
Call using a mobile VoIP to reduce service charges. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. As the name suggests, calls through this sort of service use Internet data. This is way cheaper than making a regular phone call and can be done through a phone or another device, such as a computer. The best-known VoIP service is likely Skype, but other apps, such as Facebook Messenger, have integrated VoIP and are also free to use. VoIP calls are free unless you call a landline. To call landlines, you have to purchase minutes from whatever service you use. Some phone companies sell VoIP phones or packages. You may want to check with your provider for this option.
Use video messaging apps to call mobile numbers for free. Both you and the other person need to download the same app. Log in, then locate the other person on the app. If you are connected to an Internet network, the call won’t cost you anything at all. If you use a phone app while not connected to Wi-Fi, be aware of any data fees charged by your phone provider. Skype and Facebook Messenger have these options as well as other apps like WhatsApp. Landlines are not equipped for video messaging, so you cannot call them this way.
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