The Challenge.
We wanted to keep our current US phone numbers after moving to Portugal. We did not want to pay a ton of money to do so.
The Solution.
Use Google Fi, Google Voice, and a Portuguese mobile carrier. Stay with me…
Google Fi is needed to replace AT&T, providing data for Google Voice so that we can continue to make/receive calls and send/receive texts to our current US phone numbers, per usual.
Once we had a Portuguese carrier and phone number (Vodafone), we replaced Google Fi with that Vodafone carrier and canceled Google Fi. Then, we used our new Vodafone plan for local calls and texts and it will provide the data necessary to use our US phone numbers via Google Voice.
IMPORTANT NOTE.
For this method to work, you must start the process before leaving the US. If you’re already outside of the US, you may be able to replicate the same outcome but you’ll need to ship your US SIM back to someone in the US to complete the setup process then ship it back to you abroad.
Here’s how we did it…
- Take care of all the important stuff that will require SMS before the number is ported from AT&T to Google Voice.
- While still in the US, start this process at least 4 days prior to departing the US.*
- Purchase a Google Fi SIM card.
- Download Google Fi and Google Voice on mobile devices.
- Port current US phone number from AT&T to Google Voice. You need to request a Transfer PIN from AT&T. You can do this from your account page. The porting process took one day.
- Signup for Google Fi on your desktop, that’s it, just wait.*
- When Google Voice and AT&T notified us via email that our US number had been ported to Google Voice…
- Remove the US carrier SIM card.
- Insert Google Fi SIM card.
- Follow the instructions provided via email to set up Google Fi first, then Google Voice.
- Use Google Fi number as a “Linked Number” in Google Voice.
- Set up a voice greeting on Google Voice.
- On mobile device, go to Settings > CALLS > Make and receive calls > and select Prefer Wi-Fi and mobile data
- Make calls and send texts from Google Voice app on your mobile device.
- Upon arrival in Portugal, signup for a Portuguese phone plan (Vodafone). Turn on data roaming.
- Remove our Google Fi number from the Google Voice “Linked Number”.
- Cancel Google Fi plan.
- Continue to use Google Voice as the “provider” for your US phone number. The only limitation I’ve found is that we can’t send videos via Google Voice’s message feature. Otherwise, my family/friends can still call and text my US number and I receive them via Google Voice in Portugal just fine.
*Porting your number to Google Voice AND signing up for Google Fi prior to leaving the US is critical. You cannot do either action from outside the US.
Did It Work?
We arrived in Lisbon and quickly acquired a Vodafone bundle including unlimited data SIM cards, unlimited high-speed fiber internet, and cable TV. Once we had our new Vodafone SIMs working, we removed our Google Fi phone numbers from our Google Voice “Linked Number” and did not replace it with anything. We then canceled our Google Fi plans and waited to see what would happen next. SUCCESS! Google Voice is working great on our Vodafone wifi at home and data while away from home. We continue to receive all 2FA SMS texts from banks, websites, etc. The best parts are 1. we can keep our US phone numbers and 2. it’s free to use Google Voice on wifi and mobile data.
Potential Hiccup.
We’ve heard from more than one person who was using Google Voice abroad for some time, then suddenly GV required them to link an eligible US phone number to their account. BLERG! If this happens to us, we’ll ask a family member in the States to play this part for us. Let’s hope we never have to cross that bridge. #fingerscrossed #knockonwood We could’ve prevented this by keeping our Google Fi plans, but then it ain’t free. Stay tuned!
