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So you need to fax something overseas—maybe a contract to Germany, medical records to Japan, or a customs form to Brazil. You’re not alone! International faxing is still a go-to for businesses, law firms, and even regular folks who need to get documents across borders securely and reliably.
But let’s be honest: figuring out how to do it can feel like a maze of country codes, weird number formats, and confusing pricing. Don’t worry. Here’s how to actually get it done, with tips you won’t find in a generic help article.
Faxing is still widely accepted by banks, courts, and government offices—especially for international transactions. It’s also a secure way to send documents, since faxes are hard to intercept and online fax services use encryption. And, unlike email, you get instant delivery and a confirmation receipt, even if you’re sending something halfway around the world.
If you only fax occasionally, skip the subscriptions. Onetime Fax lets you send anywhere in the world for $5, no account needed. If you fax a lot, compare per-page rates on services like eFax or RingCentral. The key is to match your usage to the right service so you don’t overpay.
This is where most people mess up. The formula is simple: start with a plus sign, then the country code, then the area code (without any leading zero), and finally the local number. For example, if you’re faxing to London, you’d use +44 20 1234 5678 instead of 020 1234 5678. For Tokyo, it’s +81 3 1234 5678 instead of 03-1234-5678.
Always start with + and the country code, drop any leading zero from the area code, and don’t worry about spaces or dashes—most online services ignore them, but they can help with readability.
PDF is your best bet for faxing, since it keeps your formatting consistent. If you’re faxing a photo or scan, make sure it’s high-contrast and easy to read. Stick to standard paper sizes—A4 is the norm outside the US, while Letter is standard in the US and Canada. A little attention to detail here can save you from transmission errors or unreadable faxes.
Upload your document to your chosen service, enter the international fax number (double-check the format!), add your email for a delivery receipt, pay, and send. Then watch for confirmation—save it for your records. That’s it!
Here are some of the most common country codes you’ll need:
Let’s make this concrete. If you’re faxing to the UK, a London number like 020 1234 5678 becomes +44 20 1234 5678. For Berlin, 030 12345678 turns into +49 30 12345678. In Tokyo, 03-1234-5678 becomes +81 3 1234 5678. And for Sydney, (02) 1234 5678 is formatted as +61 2 1234 5678. The key is always to remove the leading zero from the area code and add the country code at the front.
Traditional fax machines can be shockingly expensive for international faxes—sometimes $2 to $15 per minute! Online services are much more reasonable, usually charging $0.05 to $1 per page, or a flat $5 with Onetime Fax (unlimited pages, any country).
For example, sending a 5-page contract to the UK might cost $15–$25 with an old-school fax, $3–$5 with eFax, or just $5 flat with Onetime Fax. If you’re sending a big document, always check if your service charges per page or per fax so you don’t get surprised.
If you want your fax seen right away, try to send it during the recipient’s business hours. For Europe, that’s 9am to 6pm local time (which is 3am to 12pm EST). In Asia, it’s 9am to 6pm local (6pm to 3am EST), and in Australia or New Zealand, it’s 9am to 5pm local (5pm to 2am EST). That said, most offices have fax machines running 24/7, and online services deliver instantly, so don’t stress too much if you’re off by a few hours.
A lot of international faxes fail for the same reasons. The most common? Using the wrong number format—always use the full international format, and never include leading zeros. Another big one is sending at the wrong time, so double-check the recipient’s local time if it’s urgent. Make sure your documents are clear and high-contrast, especially if you’re faxing a scan or photo. And for anything important—legal, medical, or business—use a reputable, encrypted service, not a free one. Finally, always save your delivery receipt for proof.
If you’re faxing medical records, make sure your service is HIPAA-compliant. For legal documents, courts often require a timestamped confirmation, so save it! In finance, use encrypted services and double-check recipient info for sensitive docs. And if you’re faxing to the EU, remember that GDPR rules may apply—don’t include unnecessary personal info.
If your fax fails, double-check the number format (country code, no leading zero) and try sending during business hours in the recipient’s country. Make sure your document is a supported file type—PDF is always a safe bet. If it fails repeatedly, try a different service or contact support. Sometimes, a small tweak is all it takes.
International faxing doesn’t have to be a headache. With the right service and a few simple tips, you can send documents anywhere in the world—quickly, securely, and with total peace of mind. Ready to send? Double-check your number, upload your doc, and you’re good to go!