# Can I set international phone numbers as the sender number?

International phone numbers can generally be set as caller IDs. However, if a number is set as the caller ID from outside the European Economic Area (EEA), calls and SMS to the German mobile network **as well as calls to the German landline network** are unfortunately not possible. This also applies to **forwarding from this phone number to the German mobile and landline network.** However, you can still be reached at numbers in your account that are located outside the EEA. Fax messages can also not be received or sent with international phone numbers.

If you have set up forwarding to a German or EU mobile number, calls from numbers outside the European Economic Area will not reach the forwarding destination. This also applies when using a German or EU mobile number set up as an "external phone." Because technically, this function is nothing other than parallel forwarding.

For outgoing calls with an international phone number, special-rate numbers (0800, 0900...) cannot be reached.

There is a special case if, with a Swiss caller ID, you cannot reach certain destinations in Switzerland. Background: Various Swiss telephone providers block incoming calls from abroad when these are transmitted with a Swiss phone number.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Important:** This only applies if you booked your Swiss phone number through sipgate before August 2025.
{% endhint %}

To work around this, you can set a German number as the caller ID or call anonymously.

{% hint style="info" %}
Tip: The person being called in Switzerland can have the corresponding call blocking deactivated by their telecommunications provider.
{% endhint %}

Further information on the legal situation can be found in the[ Telecommunications Act](https://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?startbk=Bundesanzeiger_BGBl\&start=//*%5b@attr_id=%27bgbl104s1190.pdf%27%5d#__bgbl__%2F%2F*%5B%40attr_id%3D%27bgbl104s1190.pdf%27%5D__1664955655004) as well as in the [Federal Network Agency's order 44/2022 on the Telecommunications Act.](https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/Sachgebiete/Telekommunikation/Verbraucher/Rufnummernmissbrauch/Amtsblattverfuegungen/Vfg10_2022.pdf?__blob=publicationFile\&v=3)


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