diff --git a/cmd/config.go b/cmd/config.go
index ba258900..8a04a219 100644
--- a/cmd/config.go
+++ b/cmd/config.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package main
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 
-	"github.com/abhinavxd/libredesk/internal/countries"
 	"github.com/abhinavxd/libredesk/internal/envelope"
 	"github.com/zerodha/fastglue"
 )
@@ -62,9 +61,3 @@ func handleGetConfig(r *fastglue.Request) error {
 
 	return r.SendEnvelope(publicSettings)
 }
-
-// handleGetCountries returns the static country reference list (dial code, name, emoji, ISO-2) used by phone inputs.
-func handleGetCountries(r *fastglue.Request) error {
-	r.RequestCtx.Response.Header.Set("Cache-Control", "private, max-age=86400")
-	return r.SendEnvelope(json.RawMessage(countries.JSON()))
-}
diff --git a/cmd/handlers.go b/cmd/handlers.go
index 42c318af..0e9f4068 100644
--- a/cmd/handlers.go
+++ b/cmd/handlers.go
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ func initHandlers(g *fastglue.Fastglue, hub *ws.Hub) {
 	g.GET("/api/v1/config", handleGetConfig)
 
 	// Static country reference list for phone inputs.
-	g.GET("/api/v1/countries", auth(handleGetCountries))
 
 	// Media - supports both authenticated access and signed URLs.
 	g.GET("/uploads/{uuid}", authOrSignedURL(handleServeMedia))
diff --git a/cmd/upgrade.go b/cmd/upgrade.go
index a1fdfb72..38a48f3b 100644
--- a/cmd/upgrade.go
+++ b/cmd/upgrade.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ var migList = []migFunc{
 	{"v2.5.0", migrations.V2_5_0},
 	{"v2.6.0", migrations.V2_6_0},
 	{"v2.7.0", migrations.V2_7_0},
-	{"v3.0.0", migrations.V3_0_0},
+	{"v2.8.0", migrations.V2_8_0},
 }
 
 // upgrade upgrades the database to the current version by running SQL migration files
diff --git a/frontend/apps/main/src/api/index.js b/frontend/apps/main/src/api/index.js
index cb80349f..23549107 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/main/src/api/index.js
+++ b/frontend/apps/main/src/api/index.js
@@ -132,7 +132,6 @@ const createOIDC = (data) =>
     }
   })
 const getConfig = () => http.get('/api/v1/config')
-const getCountries = () => http.get('/api/v1/countries')
 const getAllOIDC = () => http.get('/api/v1/oidc')
 const getOIDC = (id) => http.get(`/api/v1/oidc/${id}`)
 const updateOIDC = (id, data) =>
@@ -706,7 +705,6 @@ export default {
   createOIDC,
   getAllOIDC,
   getConfig,
-  getCountries,
   getOIDC,
   updateOIDC,
   deleteOIDC,
diff --git a/frontend/apps/main/src/features/conversation/WhatsAppConversationForm.vue b/frontend/apps/main/src/features/conversation/WhatsAppConversationForm.vue
index 7611c881..28bbf4b2 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/main/src/features/conversation/WhatsAppConversationForm.vue
+++ b/frontend/apps/main/src/features/conversation/WhatsAppConversationForm.vue
@@ -169,9 +169,8 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup>
-import { ref, computed, watch, onMounted, onUnmounted } from 'vue'
+import { ref, computed, watch, onUnmounted } from 'vue'
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
-import { storeToRefs } from 'pinia'
 import { IdCard } from 'lucide-vue-next'
 import { Button } from '@shared-ui/components/ui/button'
 import { Input } from '@shared-ui/components/ui/input'
@@ -193,7 +192,7 @@ import { useInboxStore } from '@main/stores/inbox'
 import { useUsersStore } from '@main/stores/users'
 import { useUserStore } from '@main/stores/user'
 import { useTeamStore } from '@main/stores/team'
-import { useCountriesStore } from '@main/stores/countries'
+import { countryCallingOptions as allCountries } from '@shared-ui/constants/countries.js'
 import { useWhatsAppTemplatePicker } from './useWhatsAppTemplatePicker.js'
 import WhatsAppTemplatePicker from './WhatsAppTemplatePicker.vue'
 import api from '@/api'
@@ -206,8 +205,6 @@ const inboxStore = useInboxStore()
 const uStore = useUsersStore()
 const userStore = useUserStore()
 const teamStore = useTeamStore()
-const countriesStore = useCountriesStore()
-const { allCountries } = storeToRefs(countriesStore)
 
 const {
   selectedTemplate,
@@ -237,7 +234,6 @@ const lastName = ref('')
 const phoneCountryCode = ref('')
 const phoneNumber = ref('')
 
-onMounted(() => countriesStore.fetchCountries())
 onUnmounted(() => clearTimeout(timeoutId))
 
 watch(inboxId, (id) => fetchTemplates(id))
diff --git a/frontend/apps/main/src/features/conversation/sidebar/ConversationSideBarContact.vue b/frontend/apps/main/src/features/conversation/sidebar/ConversationSideBarContact.vue
index 91fe5c7e..b302ad99 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/main/src/features/conversation/sidebar/ConversationSideBarContact.vue
+++ b/frontend/apps/main/src/features/conversation/sidebar/ConversationSideBarContact.vue
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ import {
 } from 'lucide-vue-next'
 import { Tooltip, TooltipContent, TooltipTrigger } from '@shared-ui/components/ui/tooltip'
 import WhatsAppIcon from '@main/components/icons/WhatsAppIcon.vue'
-import { useCountriesStore } from '@/stores/countries'
+import countries from '@shared-ui/constants/countries.js'
 import { useEmitter } from '@/composables/useEmitter'
 import { EMITTER_EVENTS } from '@/constants/emitterEvents.js'
 import { useConversationStore } from '@/stores/conversation'
@@ -152,14 +152,13 @@ const emitter = useEmitter()
 const conversation = computed(() => conversationStore.current)
 const { t } = useI18n()
 const userStore = useUserStore()
-const countriesStore = useCountriesStore()
 
 const phoneNumber = computed(() => {
   const countryCodeValue = conversation.value?.contact?.phone_number_country_code || ''
   const number = conversation.value?.contact?.phone_number || t('conversation.sidebar.notAvailable')
   if (!countryCodeValue) return number
 
-  const country = countriesStore.countries.find((c) => c.iso_2 === countryCodeValue)
+  const country = countries.find((c) => c.iso_2 === countryCodeValue)
   if (!country) return number
   return `${country.calling_code} ${number}`
 })
@@ -167,7 +166,7 @@ const phoneNumber = computed(() => {
 const countryName = computed(() => {
   const code = conversation.value?.contact?.country
   if (!code) return ''
-  const c = countriesStore.countries.find((c) => c.iso_2 === code)
+  const c = countries.find((c) => c.iso_2 === code)
   return c ? c.name : code
 })
 
@@ -192,7 +191,6 @@ const contextLinks = ref([])
 const loadingAppId = ref(null)
 
 onMounted(async () => {
-  countriesStore.fetchCountries()
   try {
     const resp = await api.getActiveContextLinks()
     contextLinks.value = resp.data.data || []
diff --git a/frontend/apps/main/src/stores/countries.js b/frontend/apps/main/src/stores/countries.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 81da3ebb..00000000
--- a/frontend/apps/main/src/stores/countries.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,48 +0,0 @@
-import { ref, computed } from 'vue'
-import { defineStore } from 'pinia'
-import { handleHTTPError } from '@shared-ui/utils/http.js'
-import { useEmitter } from '../composables/useEmitter'
-import { EMITTER_EVENTS } from '../constants/emitterEvents'
-import api from '../api'
-
-export const useCountriesStore = defineStore('countries', () => {
-  const countries = ref([])
-  const emitter = useEmitter()
-
-  const allCountries = computed(() =>
-    countries.value.map((country) => ({
-      label: country.name,
-      value: country.iso_2,
-      emoji: country.emoji,
-      calling_code: country.calling_code
-    }))
-  )
-
-  const countryOptions = computed(() =>
-    countries.value.map((country) => ({
-      label: country.name,
-      value: country.iso_2,
-      emoji: country.emoji
-    }))
-  )
-
-  const fetchCountries = async () => {
-    if (countries.value.length) return
-    try {
-      const response = await api.getCountries()
-      countries.value = response?.data?.data || []
-    } catch (error) {
-      emitter.emit(EMITTER_EVENTS.SHOW_TOAST, {
-        variant: 'destructive',
-        description: handleHTTPError(error).message
-      })
-    }
-  }
-
-  return {
-    countries,
-    allCountries,
-    countryOptions,
-    fetchCountries
-  }
-})
diff --git a/frontend/shared-ui/constants/countries.js b/frontend/shared-ui/constants/countries.js
index f26e03d0..233e61ff 100644
--- a/frontend/shared-ui/constants/countries.js
+++ b/frontend/shared-ui/constants/countries.js
@@ -1,243 +1,4 @@
-const countries = [
-    { calling_code: '+93', name: 'Afghanistan', emoji: '🇦🇫', iso_2: 'AF' },
-    { calling_code: '+355', name: 'Albania', emoji: '🇦🇱', iso_2: 'AL' },
-    { calling_code: '+213', name: 'Algeria', emoji: '🇩🇿', iso_2: 'DZ' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-684', name: 'American Samoa', emoji: '🇦🇸', iso_2: 'AS' },
-    { calling_code: '+376', name: 'Andorra', emoji: '🇦🇩', iso_2: 'AD' },
-    { calling_code: '+244', name: 'Angola', emoji: '🇦🇴', iso_2: 'AO' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-264', name: 'Anguilla', emoji: '🇦🇮', iso_2: 'AI' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-268', name: 'Antigua and Barbuda', emoji: '🇦🇬', iso_2: 'AG' },
-    { calling_code: '+54', name: 'Argentina', emoji: '🇦🇷', iso_2: 'AR' },
-    { calling_code: '+374', name: 'Armenia', emoji: '🇦🇲', iso_2: 'AM' },
-    { calling_code: '+297', name: 'Aruba', emoji: '🇦🇼', iso_2: 'AW' },
-    { calling_code: '+61', name: 'Australia', emoji: '🇦🇺', iso_2: 'AU' },
-    { calling_code: '+43', name: 'Austria', emoji: '🇦🇹', iso_2: 'AT' },
-    { calling_code: '+994', name: 'Azerbaijan', emoji: '🇦🇿', iso_2: 'AZ' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-242', name: 'Bahamas', emoji: '🇧🇸', iso_2: 'BS' },
-    { calling_code: '+973', name: 'Bahrain', emoji: '🇧🇭', iso_2: 'BH' },
-    { calling_code: '+880', name: 'Bangladesh', emoji: '🇧🇩', iso_2: 'BD' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-246', name: 'Barbados', emoji: '🇧🇧', iso_2: 'BB' },
-    { calling_code: '+375', name: 'Belarus', emoji: '🇧🇾', iso_2: 'BY' },
-    { calling_code: '+32', name: 'Belgium', emoji: '🇧🇪', iso_2: 'BE' },
-    { calling_code: '+501', name: 'Belize', emoji: '🇧🇿', iso_2: 'BZ' },
-    { calling_code: '+229', name: 'Benin', emoji: '🇧🇯', iso_2: 'BJ' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-441', name: 'Bermuda', emoji: '🇧🇲', iso_2: 'BM' },
-    { calling_code: '+975', name: 'Bhutan', emoji: '🇧🇹', iso_2: 'BT' },
-    { calling_code: '+591', name: 'Bolivia', emoji: '🇧🇴', iso_2: 'BO' },
-    { calling_code: '+387', name: 'Bosnia and Herzegovina', emoji: '🇧🇦', iso_2: 'BA' },
-    { calling_code: '+267', name: 'Botswana', emoji: '🇧🇼', iso_2: 'BW' },
-    { calling_code: '+55', name: 'Brazil', emoji: '🇧🇷', iso_2: 'BR' },
-    { calling_code: '+246', name: 'British Indian Ocean Territory', emoji: '🇮🇴', iso_2: 'IO' },
-    { calling_code: '+673', name: 'Brunei', emoji: '🇧🇳', iso_2: 'BN' },
-    { calling_code: '+359', name: 'Bulgaria', emoji: '🇧🇬', iso_2: 'BG' },
-    { calling_code: '+226', name: 'Burkina Faso', emoji: '🇧🇫', iso_2: 'BF' },
-    { calling_code: '+257', name: 'Burundi', emoji: '🇧🇮', iso_2: 'BI' },
-    { calling_code: '+855', name: 'Cambodia', emoji: '🇰🇭', iso_2: 'KH' },
-    { calling_code: '+237', name: 'Cameroon', emoji: '🇨🇲', iso_2: 'CM' },
-    { calling_code: '+1', name: 'Canada', emoji: '🇨🇦', iso_2: 'CA' },
-    { calling_code: '+238', name: 'Cape Verde', emoji: '🇨🇻', iso_2: 'CV' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-345', name: 'Cayman Islands', emoji: '🇰🇾', iso_2: 'KY' },
-    { calling_code: '+236', name: 'Central African Republic', emoji: '🇨🇫', iso_2: 'CF' },
-    { calling_code: '+235', name: 'Chad', emoji: '🇹🇩', iso_2: 'TD' },
-    { calling_code: '+56', name: 'Chile', emoji: '🇨🇱', iso_2: 'CL' },
-    { calling_code: '+86', name: 'China', emoji: '🇨🇳', iso_2: 'CN' },
-    { calling_code: '+61', name: 'Christmas Island', emoji: '🇨🇽', iso_2: 'CX' },
-    { calling_code: '+61', name: 'Cocos (Keeling) Islands', emoji: '🇨🇨', iso_2: 'CC' },
-    { calling_code: '+57', name: 'Colombia', emoji: '🇨🇴', iso_2: 'CO' },
-    { calling_code: '+269', name: 'Comoros', emoji: '🇰🇲', iso_2: 'KM' },
-    { calling_code: '+242', name: 'Congo', emoji: '🇨🇬', iso_2: 'CG' },
-    { calling_code: '+243', name: 'Congo, Democratic Republic of the', emoji: '🇨🇩', iso_2: 'CD' },
-    { calling_code: '+682', name: 'Cook Islands', emoji: '🇨🇰', iso_2: 'CK' },
-    { calling_code: '+506', name: 'Costa Rica', emoji: '🇨🇷', iso_2: 'CR' },
-    { calling_code: '+225', name: "Côte d'Ivoire", emoji: '🇨🇮', iso_2: 'CI' },
-    { calling_code: '+385', name: 'Croatia', emoji: '🇭🇷', iso_2: 'HR' },
-    { calling_code: '+53', name: 'Cuba', emoji: '🇨🇺', iso_2: 'CU' },
-    { calling_code: '+599', name: 'Curaçao', emoji: '🇨🇼', iso_2: 'CW' },
-    { calling_code: '+357', name: 'Cyprus', emoji: '🇨🇾', iso_2: 'CY' },
-    { calling_code: '+420', name: 'Czech Republic', emoji: '🇨🇿', iso_2: 'CZ' },
-    { calling_code: '+45', name: 'Denmark', emoji: '🇩🇰', iso_2: 'DK' },
-    { calling_code: '+253', name: 'Djibouti', emoji: '🇩🇯', iso_2: 'DJ' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-767', name: 'Dominica', emoji: '🇩🇲', iso_2: 'DM' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-809', name: 'Dominican Republic', emoji: '🇩🇴', iso_2: 'DO' },
-    { calling_code: '+593', name: 'Ecuador', emoji: '🇪🇨', iso_2: 'EC' },
-    { calling_code: '+20', name: 'Egypt', emoji: '🇪🇬', iso_2: 'EG' },
-    { calling_code: '+503', name: 'El Salvador', emoji: '🇸🇻', iso_2: 'SV' },
-    { calling_code: '+240', name: 'Equatorial Guinea', emoji: '🇬🇶', iso_2: 'GQ' },
-    { calling_code: '+291', name: 'Eritrea', emoji: '🇪🇷', iso_2: 'ER' },
-    { calling_code: '+372', name: 'Estonia', emoji: '🇪🇪', iso_2: 'EE' },
-    { calling_code: '+268', name: 'Eswatini', emoji: '🇸🇿', iso_2: 'SZ' },
-    { calling_code: '+251', name: 'Ethiopia', emoji: '🇪🇹', iso_2: 'ET' },
-    { calling_code: '+500', name: 'Falkland Islands', emoji: '🇫🇰', iso_2: 'FK' },
-    { calling_code: '+298', name: 'Faroe Islands', emoji: '🇫🇴', iso_2: 'FO' },
-    { calling_code: '+679', name: 'Fiji', emoji: '🇫🇯', iso_2: 'FJ' },
-    { calling_code: '+358', name: 'Finland', emoji: '🇫🇮', iso_2: 'FI' },
-    { calling_code: '+33', name: 'France', emoji: '🇫🇷', iso_2: 'FR' },
-    { calling_code: '+594', name: 'French Guiana', emoji: '🇬🇫', iso_2: 'GF' },
-    { calling_code: '+689', name: 'French Polynesia', emoji: '🇵🇫', iso_2: 'PF' },
-    { calling_code: '+241', name: 'Gabon', emoji: '🇬🇦', iso_2: 'GA' },
-    { calling_code: '+220', name: 'Gambia', emoji: '🇬🇲', iso_2: 'GM' },
-    { calling_code: '+995', name: 'Georgia', emoji: '🇬🇪', iso_2: 'GE' },
-    { calling_code: '+49', name: 'Germany', emoji: '🇩🇪', iso_2: 'DE' },
-    { calling_code: '+233', name: 'Ghana', emoji: '🇬🇭', iso_2: 'GH' },
-    { calling_code: '+350', name: 'Gibraltar', emoji: '🇬🇮', iso_2: 'GI' },
-    { calling_code: '+30', name: 'Greece', emoji: '🇬🇷', iso_2: 'GR' },
-    { calling_code: '+299', name: 'Greenland', emoji: '🇬🇱', iso_2: 'GL' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-473', name: 'Grenada', emoji: '🇬🇩', iso_2: 'GD' },
-    { calling_code: '+590', name: 'Guadeloupe', emoji: '🇬🇵', iso_2: 'GP' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-671', name: 'Guam', emoji: '🇬🇺', iso_2: 'GU' },
-    { calling_code: '+502', name: 'Guatemala', emoji: '🇬🇹', iso_2: 'GT' },
-    { calling_code: '+44-1481', name: 'Guernsey', emoji: '🇬🇬', iso_2: 'GG' },
-    { calling_code: '+224', name: 'Guinea', emoji: '🇬🇳', iso_2: 'GN' },
-    { calling_code: '+245', name: 'Guinea-Bissau', emoji: '🇬🇼', iso_2: 'GW' },
-    { calling_code: '+592', name: 'Guyana', emoji: '🇬🇾', iso_2: 'GY' },
-    { calling_code: '+509', name: 'Haiti', emoji: '🇭🇹', iso_2: 'HT' },
-    { calling_code: '+379', name: 'Vatican City', emoji: '🇻🇦', iso_2: 'VA' },
-    { calling_code: '+504', name: 'Honduras', emoji: '🇭🇳', iso_2: 'HN' },
-    { calling_code: '+852', name: 'Hong Kong', emoji: '🇭🇰', iso_2: 'HK' },
-    { calling_code: '+36', name: 'Hungary', emoji: '🇭🇺', iso_2: 'HU' },
-    { calling_code: '+354', name: 'Iceland', emoji: '🇮🇸', iso_2: 'IS' },
-    { calling_code: '+91', name: 'India', emoji: '🇮🇳', iso_2: 'IN' },
-    { calling_code: '+62', name: 'Indonesia', emoji: '🇮🇩', iso_2: 'ID' },
-    { calling_code: '+98', name: 'Iran', emoji: '🇮🇷', iso_2: 'IR' },
-    { calling_code: '+964', name: 'Iraq', emoji: '🇮🇶', iso_2: 'IQ' },
-    { calling_code: '+353', name: 'Ireland', emoji: '🇮🇪', iso_2: 'IE' },
-    { calling_code: '+44-1624', name: 'Isle of Man', emoji: '🇮🇲', iso_2: 'IM' },
-    { calling_code: '+972', name: 'Israel', emoji: '🇮🇱', iso_2: 'IL' },
-    { calling_code: '+39', name: 'Italy', emoji: '🇮🇹', iso_2: 'IT' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-876', name: 'Jamaica', emoji: '🇯🇲', iso_2: 'JM' },
-    { calling_code: '+81', name: 'Japan', emoji: '🇯🇵', iso_2: 'JP' },
-    { calling_code: '+44-1534', name: 'Jersey', emoji: '🇯🇪', iso_2: 'JE' },
-    { calling_code: '+962', name: 'Jordan', emoji: '🇯🇴', iso_2: 'JO' },
-    { calling_code: '+7', name: 'Kazakhstan', emoji: '🇰🇿', iso_2: 'KZ' },
-    { calling_code: '+254', name: 'Kenya', emoji: '🇰🇪', iso_2: 'KE' },
-    { calling_code: '+686', name: 'Kiribati', emoji: '🇰🇮', iso_2: 'KI' },
-    { calling_code: '+383', name: 'Kosovo', emoji: '🇽🇰', iso_2: 'XK' },
-    { calling_code: '+965', name: 'Kuwait', emoji: '🇰🇼', iso_2: 'KW' },
-    { calling_code: '+996', name: 'Kyrgyzstan', emoji: '🇰🇬', iso_2: 'KG' },
-    { calling_code: '+856', name: 'Laos', emoji: '🇱🇦', iso_2: 'LA' },
-    { calling_code: '+371', name: 'Latvia', emoji: '🇱🇻', iso_2: 'LV' },
-    { calling_code: '+961', name: 'Lebanon', emoji: '🇱🇧', iso_2: 'LB' },
-    { calling_code: '+266', name: 'Lesotho', emoji: '🇱🇸', iso_2: 'LS' },
-    { calling_code: '+231', name: 'Liberia', emoji: '🇱🇷', iso_2: 'LR' },
-    { calling_code: '+218', name: 'Libya', emoji: '🇱🇾', iso_2: 'LY' },
-    { calling_code: '+423', name: 'Liechtenstein', emoji: '🇱🇮', iso_2: 'LI' },
-    { calling_code: '+370', name: 'Lithuania', emoji: '🇱🇹', iso_2: 'LT' },
-    { calling_code: '+352', name: 'Luxembourg', emoji: '🇱🇺', iso_2: 'LU' },
-    { calling_code: '+853', name: 'Macao', emoji: '🇲🇴', iso_2: 'MO' },
-    { calling_code: '+389', name: 'North Macedonia', emoji: '🇲🇰', iso_2: 'MK' },
-    { calling_code: '+261', name: 'Madagascar', emoji: '🇲🇬', iso_2: 'MG' },
-    { calling_code: '+265', name: 'Malawi', emoji: '🇲🇼', iso_2: 'MW' },
-    { calling_code: '+60', name: 'Malaysia', emoji: '🇲🇾', iso_2: 'MY' },
-    { calling_code: '+960', name: 'Maldives', emoji: '🇲🇻', iso_2: 'MV' },
-    { calling_code: '+223', name: 'Mali', emoji: '🇲🇱', iso_2: 'ML' },
-    { calling_code: '+356', name: 'Malta', emoji: '🇲🇹', iso_2: 'MT' },
-    { calling_code: '+692', name: 'Marshall Islands', emoji: '🇲🇭', iso_2: 'MH' },
-    { calling_code: '+596', name: 'Martinique', emoji: '🇲🇶', iso_2: 'MQ' },
-    { calling_code: '+222', name: 'Mauritania', emoji: '🇲🇷', iso_2: 'MR' },
-    { calling_code: '+230', name: 'Mauritius', emoji: '🇲🇺', iso_2: 'MU' },
-    { calling_code: '+262', name: 'Mayotte', emoji: '🇾🇹', iso_2: 'YT' },
-    { calling_code: '+52', name: 'Mexico', emoji: '🇲🇽', iso_2: 'MX' },
-    { calling_code: '+691', name: 'Micronesia', emoji: '🇫🇲', iso_2: 'FM' },
-    { calling_code: '+373', name: 'Moldova', emoji: '🇲🇩', iso_2: 'MD' },
-    { calling_code: '+377', name: 'Monaco', emoji: '🇲🇨', iso_2: 'MC' },
-    { calling_code: '+976', name: 'Mongolia', emoji: '🇲🇳', iso_2: 'MN' },
-    { calling_code: '+382', name: 'Montenegro', emoji: '🇲🇪', iso_2: 'ME' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-664', name: 'Montserrat', emoji: '🇲🇸', iso_2: 'MS' },
-    { calling_code: '+212', name: 'Morocco', emoji: '🇲🇦', iso_2: 'MA' },
-    { calling_code: '+258', name: 'Mozambique', emoji: '🇲🇿', iso_2: 'MZ' },
-    { calling_code: '+95', name: 'Myanmar', emoji: '🇲🇲', iso_2: 'MM' },
-    { calling_code: '+264', name: 'Namibia', emoji: '🇳🇦', iso_2: 'NA' },
-    { calling_code: '+674', name: 'Nauru', emoji: '🇳🇷', iso_2: 'NR' },
-    { calling_code: '+977', name: 'Nepal', emoji: '🇳🇵', iso_2: 'NP' },
-    { calling_code: '+31', name: 'Netherlands', emoji: '🇳🇱', iso_2: 'NL' },
-    { calling_code: '+687', name: 'New Caledonia', emoji: '🇳🇨', iso_2: 'NC' },
-    { calling_code: '+64', name: 'New Zealand', emoji: '🇳🇿', iso_2: 'NZ' },
-    { calling_code: '+505', name: 'Nicaragua', emoji: '🇳🇮', iso_2: 'NI' },
-    { calling_code: '+227', name: 'Niger', emoji: '🇳🇪', iso_2: 'NE' },
-    { calling_code: '+234', name: 'Nigeria', emoji: '🇳🇬', iso_2: 'NG' },
-    { calling_code: '+683', name: 'Niue', emoji: '🇳🇺', iso_2: 'NU' },
-    { calling_code: '+672', name: 'Norfolk Island', emoji: '🇳🇫', iso_2: 'NF' },
-    { calling_code: '+850', name: 'North Korea', emoji: '🇰🇵', iso_2: 'KP' },
-    { calling_code: '+47', name: 'Norway', emoji: '🇳🇴', iso_2: 'NO' },
-    { calling_code: '+968', name: 'Oman', emoji: '🇴🇲', iso_2: 'OM' },
-    { calling_code: '+92', name: 'Pakistan', emoji: '🇵🇰', iso_2: 'PK' },
-    { calling_code: '+680', name: 'Palau', emoji: '🇵🇼', iso_2: 'PW' },
-    { calling_code: '+970', name: 'Palestine', emoji: '🇵🇸', iso_2: 'PS' },
-    { calling_code: '+507', name: 'Panama', emoji: '🇵🇦', iso_2: 'PA' },
-    { calling_code: '+675', name: 'Papua New Guinea', emoji: '🇵🇬', iso_2: 'PG' },
-    { calling_code: '+595', name: 'Paraguay', emoji: '🇵🇾', iso_2: 'PY' },
-    { calling_code: '+51', name: 'Peru', emoji: '🇵🇪', iso_2: 'PE' },
-    { calling_code: '+63', name: 'Philippines', emoji: '🇵🇭', iso_2: 'PH' },
-    { calling_code: '+64', name: 'Pitcairn Islands', emoji: '🇵🇳', iso_2: 'PN' },
-    { calling_code: '+48', name: 'Poland', emoji: '🇵🇱', iso_2: 'PL' },
-    { calling_code: '+351', name: 'Portugal', emoji: '🇵🇹', iso_2: 'PT' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-787', name: 'Puerto Rico', emoji: '🇵🇷', iso_2: 'PR' },
-    { calling_code: '+974', name: 'Qatar', emoji: '🇶🇦', iso_2: 'QA' },
-    { calling_code: '+40', name: 'Romania', emoji: '🇷🇴', iso_2: 'RO' },
-    { calling_code: '+7', name: 'Russia', emoji: '🇷🇺', iso_2: 'RU' },
-    { calling_code: '+250', name: 'Rwanda', emoji: '🇷🇼', iso_2: 'RW' },
-    { calling_code: '+590', name: 'Saint Barthélemy', emoji: '🇧🇱', iso_2: 'BL' },
-    { calling_code: '+290', name: 'Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha', emoji: '🇸🇭', iso_2: 'SH' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-869', name: 'Saint Kitts and Nevis', emoji: '🇰🇳', iso_2: 'KN' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-758', name: 'Saint Lucia', emoji: '🇱🇨', iso_2: 'LC' },
-    { calling_code: '+590', name: 'Saint Martin', emoji: '🇲🇫', iso_2: 'MF' },
-    { calling_code: '+508', name: 'Saint Pierre and Miquelon', emoji: '🇵🇲', iso_2: 'PM' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-784', name: 'Saint Vincent and the Grenadines', emoji: '🇻🇨', iso_2: 'VC' },
-    { calling_code: '+685', name: 'Samoa', emoji: '🇼🇸', iso_2: 'WS' },
-    { calling_code: '+378', name: 'San Marino', emoji: '🇸🇲', iso_2: 'SM' },
-    { calling_code: '+239', name: 'Sao Tome and Principe', emoji: '🇸🇹', iso_2: 'ST' },
-    { calling_code: '+966', name: 'Saudi Arabia', emoji: '🇸🇦', iso_2: 'SA' },
-    { calling_code: '+221', name: 'Senegal', emoji: '🇸🇳', iso_2: 'SN' },
-    { calling_code: '+381', name: 'Serbia', emoji: '🇷🇸', iso_2: 'RS' },
-    { calling_code: '+248', name: 'Seychelles', emoji: '🇸🇨', iso_2: 'SC' },
-    { calling_code: '+232', name: 'Sierra Leone', emoji: '🇸🇱', iso_2: 'SL' },
-    { calling_code: '+65', name: 'Singapore', emoji: '🇸🇬', iso_2: 'SG' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-721', name: 'Sint Maarten', emoji: '🇸🇽', iso_2: 'SX' },
-    { calling_code: '+421', name: 'Slovakia', emoji: '🇸🇰', iso_2: 'SK' },
-    { calling_code: '+386', name: 'Slovenia', emoji: '🇸🇮', iso_2: 'SI' },
-    { calling_code: '+677', name: 'Solomon Islands', emoji: '🇸🇧', iso_2: 'SB' },
-    { calling_code: '+252', name: 'Somalia', emoji: '🇸🇴', iso_2: 'SO' },
-    { calling_code: '+27', name: 'South Africa', emoji: '🇿🇦', iso_2: 'ZA' },
-    { calling_code: '+82', name: 'South Korea', emoji: '🇰🇷', iso_2: 'KR' },
-    { calling_code: '+211', name: 'South Sudan', emoji: '🇸🇸', iso_2: 'SS' },
-    { calling_code: '+34', name: 'Spain', emoji: '🇪🇸', iso_2: 'ES' },
-    { calling_code: '+94', name: 'Sri Lanka', emoji: '🇱🇰', iso_2: 'LK' },
-    { calling_code: '+249', name: 'Sudan', emoji: '🇸🇩', iso_2: 'SD' },
-    { calling_code: '+597', name: 'Suriname', emoji: '🇸🇷', iso_2: 'SR' },
-    { calling_code: '+47', name: 'Svalbard and Jan Mayen', emoji: '🇸🇯', iso_2: 'SJ' },
-    { calling_code: '+46', name: 'Sweden', emoji: '🇸🇪', iso_2: 'SE' },
-    { calling_code: '+41', name: 'Switzerland', emoji: '🇨🇭', iso_2: 'CH' },
-    { calling_code: '+963', name: 'Syria', emoji: '🇸🇾', iso_2: 'SY' },
-    { calling_code: '+886', name: 'Taiwan', emoji: '🇹🇼', iso_2: 'TW' },
-    { calling_code: '+992', name: 'Tajikistan', emoji: '🇹🇯', iso_2: 'TJ' },
-    { calling_code: '+255', name: 'Tanzania', emoji: '🇹🇿', iso_2: 'TZ' },
-    { calling_code: '+66', name: 'Thailand', emoji: '🇹🇭', iso_2: 'TH' },
-    { calling_code: '+670', name: 'Timor-Leste', emoji: '🇹🇱', iso_2: 'TL' },
-    { calling_code: '+228', name: 'Togo', emoji: '🇹🇬', iso_2: 'TG' },
-    { calling_code: '+690', name: 'Tokelau', emoji: '🇹🇰', iso_2: 'TK' },
-    { calling_code: '+676', name: 'Tonga', emoji: '🇹🇴', iso_2: 'TO' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-868', name: 'Trinidad and Tobago', emoji: '🇹🇹', iso_2: 'TT' },
-    { calling_code: '+216', name: 'Tunisia', emoji: '🇹🇳', iso_2: 'TN' },
-    { calling_code: '+90', name: 'Turkey', emoji: '🇹🇷', iso_2: 'TR' },
-    { calling_code: '+993', name: 'Turkmenistan', emoji: '🇹🇲', iso_2: 'TM' },
-    { calling_code: '+1-649', name: 'Turks and Caicos Islands', emoji: '🇹🇨', iso_2: 'TC' },
-    { calling_code: '+688', name: 'Tuvalu', emoji: '🇹🇻', iso_2: 'TV' },
-    { calling_code: '+256', name: 'Uganda', emoji: '🇺🇬', iso_2: 'UG' },
-    { calling_code: '+380', name: 'Ukraine', emoji: '🇺🇦', iso_2: 'UA' },
-    { calling_code: '+971', name: 'United Arab Emirates', emoji: '🇦🇪', iso_2: 'AE' },
-    { calling_code: '+44', name: 'United Kingdom', emoji: '🇬🇧', iso_2: 'GB' },
-    { calling_code: '+1', name: 'United States', emoji: '🇺🇸', iso_2: 'US' },
-    { calling_code: '+598', name: 'Uruguay', emoji: '🇺🇾', iso_2: 'UY' },
-    { calling_code: '+998', name: 'Uzbekistan', emoji: '🇺🇿', iso_2: 'UZ' },
-    { calling_code: '+678', name: 'Vanuatu', emoji: '🇻🇺', iso_2: 'VU' },
-    { calling_code: '+58', name: 'Venezuela', emoji: '🇻🇪', iso_2: 'VE' },
-    { calling_code: '+84', name: 'Vietnam', emoji: '🇻🇳', iso_2: 'VN' },
-    { calling_code: '+681', name: 'Wallis and Futuna', emoji: '🇼🇫', iso_2: 'WF' },
-    { calling_code: '+212', name: 'Western Sahara', emoji: '🇪🇭', iso_2: 'EH' },
-    { calling_code: '+967', name: 'Yemen', emoji: '🇾🇪', iso_2: 'YE' },
-    { calling_code: '+260', name: 'Zambia', emoji: '🇿🇲', iso_2: 'ZM' },
-    { calling_code: '+263', name: 'Zimbabwe', emoji: '🇿🇼', iso_2: 'ZW' }
-]
+import countries from '@countries'
 
 export const countryCallingOptions = countries.map((country) => ({
     label: country.name,
@@ -252,4 +13,4 @@ export const countryOptions = countries.map((country) => ({
     emoji: country.emoji
 }))
 
-export default countries;
\ No newline at end of file
+export default countries;
diff --git a/frontend/vite.config.js b/frontend/vite.config.js
index 575c2f44..f13b294c 100644
--- a/frontend/vite.config.js
+++ b/frontend/vite.config.js
@@ -39,9 +39,10 @@ export default defineConfig(({ mode, command }) => {
     cacheDir: path.resolve(__dirname, `node_modules/.vite-${isWidget ? 'widget' : 'main'}`),
     server: {
       cors: { origin: "*" },
-      // Allow access to parent dir so shared-ui imports work in dev.
+      // Allow access to parent dir so shared-ui imports work in dev, and the
+      // repo root so the Go-embedded countries.json resolves.
       fs: {
-        allow: [path.resolve(__dirname)],
+        allow: [path.resolve(__dirname), path.resolve(__dirname, '..')],
       },
       port: isWidget ? 8001 : 8000,
       proxy: {
@@ -120,6 +121,7 @@ export default defineConfig(({ mode, command }) => {
         '@main': path.resolve(__dirname, 'apps/main/src'),
         '@widget': path.resolve(__dirname, 'apps/widget/src'),
         '@shared-ui': path.resolve(__dirname, 'shared-ui'),
+        '@countries': path.resolve(__dirname, '../internal/countries/countries.json'),
       },
     },
   }
diff --git a/internal/countries/countries.go b/internal/countries/countries.go
index 837c6610..8d5d1899 100644
--- a/internal/countries/countries.go
+++ b/internal/countries/countries.go
@@ -13,11 +13,6 @@ var dialDigitsReplacer = strings.NewReplacer("+", "", "-", "")
 
 var dialCodeByISO = buildDialCodes()
 
-// JSON returns the raw country reference list (calling code, name, emoji, ISO-2) embedded at build time.
-func JSON() []byte {
-	return countriesJSON
-}
-
 // DialCodeForISO returns the dialing-code digits for an ISO-2 country, "" when unknown.
 func DialCodeForISO(iso string) string {
 	return dialCodeByISO[iso]
diff --git a/internal/migrations/v3.0.0.go b/internal/migrations/v2.8.0.go
similarity index 98%
rename from internal/migrations/v3.0.0.go
rename to internal/migrations/v2.8.0.go
index 651e3407..5dda865d 100644
--- a/internal/migrations/v3.0.0.go
+++ b/internal/migrations/v2.8.0.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/knadh/stuffbin"
 )
 
-func V3_0_0(db *sqlx.DB, fs stuffbin.FileSystem, ko *koanf.Koanf) error {
+func V2_8_0(db *sqlx.DB, fs stuffbin.FileSystem, ko *koanf.Koanf) error {
 	_, err := db.Exec(`ALTER TYPE channels ADD VALUE IF NOT EXISTS 'whatsapp';`)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err