diff --git a/.changeset/long-dragons-admire.md b/.changeset/long-dragons-admire.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cf50e54de
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/long-dragons-admire.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@lion/ui': patch
+---
+
+feat(input-tel): use first preferred region to set a default region
diff --git a/packages/ui/components/input-tel-dropdown/src/LionInputTelDropdown.js b/packages/ui/components/input-tel-dropdown/src/LionInputTelDropdown.js
index 82146194c..0cffb57cf 100644
--- a/packages/ui/components/input-tel-dropdown/src/LionInputTelDropdown.js
+++ b/packages/ui/components/input-tel-dropdown/src/LionInputTelDropdown.js
@@ -42,14 +42,6 @@ import { regionCodeToLocale } from './regionCodeToLocale.js';
  * `e164` format that contains all info (both region code and national phone number).
  */
 export class LionInputTelDropdown extends LionInputTel {
-  /**
-   * @configure LitElement
-   * @type {any}
-   */
-  static properties = {
-    preferredRegions: { type: Array },
-  };
-
   refs = {
     /** @type {DropdownRef} */
     dropdown: /** @type {DropdownRef} */ (createRef()),
@@ -214,11 +206,6 @@ export class LionInputTelDropdown extends LionInputTel {
   constructor() {
     super();
 
-    /**
-     * Regions that will be shown on top of the dropdown
-     * @type {string[]}
-     */
-    this.preferredRegions = [];
     /**
      * Group label for all countries, when preferredCountries are shown
      * @protected
diff --git a/packages/ui/components/input-tel/src/LionInputTel.js b/packages/ui/components/input-tel/src/LionInputTel.js
index 699f60241..adad7c182 100644
--- a/packages/ui/components/input-tel/src/LionInputTel.js
+++ b/packages/ui/components/input-tel/src/LionInputTel.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ export class LionInputTel extends LocalizeMixin(LionInput) {
     formatStrategy: { type: String, attribute: 'format-strategy' },
     formatCountryCodeStyle: { type: String, attribute: 'format-country-code-style' },
     activeRegion: { type: String },
+    preferredRegions: { type: Array },
     _phoneUtil: { type: Object, state: true },
   };
 
@@ -156,6 +157,12 @@ export class LionInputTel extends LocalizeMixin(LionInput) {
      */
     this.allowedRegions = [];
 
+    /**
+     * Regions that will be shown on top of the dropdown
+     * @type {RegionCode[]}
+     */
+    this.preferredRegions = [];
+
     /** @private */
     this.__isPhoneNumberValidatorInstance = new PhoneNumber();
     /**  @configures ValidateMixin */
@@ -326,13 +333,19 @@ export class LionInputTel extends LocalizeMixin(LionInput) {
       return;
     }
 
-    // 3. Try to get the region from locale
+    // 3. Get the first region in the list of preferred regions
+    if (this.preferredRegions?.length > 0) {
+      this._setActiveRegion(this.preferredRegions[0]);
+      return;
+    }
+
+    // 4. Try to get the region from locale
     if (this._langIso && this._allowedOrAllRegions.includes(this._langIso)) {
       this._setActiveRegion(this._langIso);
       return;
     }
 
-    // 4. Not derivable
+    // 5. Not derivable
     this._setActiveRegion(undefined);
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/ui/components/input-tel/test-suites/LionInputTel.suite.js b/packages/ui/components/input-tel/test-suites/LionInputTel.suite.js
index 391c1d6c1..efe7b2248 100644
--- a/packages/ui/components/input-tel/test-suites/LionInputTel.suite.js
+++ b/packages/ui/components/input-tel/test-suites/LionInputTel.suite.js
@@ -100,6 +100,20 @@ function runActiveRegionTests({ tag, phoneUtilLoadedAfterInit }) {
       expect(el.activeRegion).to.equal('NL');
     });
 
+    it('.modelValue takes precedence over .preferredRegions when both preconfigured and .modelValue updated', async () => {
+      const el = await fixture(
+        html` <${tag} .preferredRegions="${[
+          'DE',
+          'BE',
+        ]}" .modelValue="${'+31612345678'}" ></${tag}> `,
+      );
+      if (resolvePhoneUtilLoaded) {
+        resolvePhoneUtilLoaded(undefined);
+        await el.updateComplete;
+      }
+      expect(el.activeRegion).to.equal('NL');
+    });
+
     it('deducts it from value when modelValue is unparseable', async () => {
       const modelValue = new Unparseable('+316');
       const el = await fixture(html` <${tag} .modelValue=${modelValue}></${tag}> `);
@@ -122,7 +136,18 @@ function runActiveRegionTests({ tag, phoneUtilLoadedAfterInit }) {
       expect(el.activeRegion).to.equal('NL');
     });
 
-    // 3. **locale**: try to get the region from locale (`html[lang]` attribute)
+    // 3. **preferred-region**: get the first element in the preferred regions list
+    it('deducts it from the .preferredRegions when provided', async () => {
+      const el = await fixture(html` <${tag} .preferredRegions="${['DE', 'NL']}"></${tag}> `);
+      if (resolvePhoneUtilLoaded) {
+        resolvePhoneUtilLoaded(undefined);
+        await el.updateComplete;
+      }
+      // Region code for country code '+49' is 'DE'
+      expect(el.activeRegion).to.equal('DE');
+    });
+
+    // 4. **locale**: try to get the region from locale (`html[lang]` attribute)
     it('automatically bases it on current locale when nothing preconfigured', async () => {
       const el = await fixture(html` <${tag}></${tag}> `);
       if (resolvePhoneUtilLoaded) {