By Calling a French phone number from the UK
- France's country code is 33, dialled as 00 33 from a UK landline or +33 from any mobile.
- Always drop the leading 0 of the French number — you dial the remaining 9 digits.
- The digit straight after +33 tells you the line type: 1 to 5 is a landline, 6 or 7 is a mobile.
- UK operators charge from 25p per minute to France — from 1p per minute with an international add-on.
- WhatsApp, FaceTime and Viber are free over WiFi, but only if the person you call uses the same app.
Only the exit code changes from one country to the next — the rest of the sequence is the same whenever you contact France from abroad, which is why calling from the US starts with 011 instead of 00.
Dial sequence — UK to France
00
UK exit
33
France
X XX XX XX XX
French number — drop leading 0
Example: 01 23 45 67 89 → 00 33 1 23 45 67 89 · On mobile: +33 1 23 45 67 89
Rather not work it out yourself? Our free French number converter does it for you — paste the number, get the sequence to dial.
France is 1 hour ahead of the UK in both winter (CET, UTC+1 vs GMT) and summer (CEST, UTC+2 vs BST, UTC+1). The gap stays at +1 h year-round — keep this in mind when planning calls.
France country code: +33 and 00 33 from the UK
France's country code is 33. Written 00 33 from a landline or +33 from a mobile — the 00 and the + do the same job, telling your network the call is leaving the UK.
The code 33 is assigned to France by the International Telecommunication Union under Recommendation E.164, the standard that allocates every country calling code. The digits that follow it — the area and mobile prefixes listed below — come from the French numbering plan managed by ARCEP, the French telecoms regulator.
| Written as | When to use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| +33 | From any mobile, in the UK or abroad — the safest format to save in your contacts | +33 1 23 45 67 89 |
| 00 33 | From a UK landline, where the + key does not exist. Often written 0033, without the space — same thing | 00 33 1 23 45 67 89 |
| 33 | The country code on its own — never dial it without 00 or + in front | — |
A common mix-up: +33 covers the whole of France, so there is no such thing as a "+33 area code" for a particular city. The digit that comes straight after +33 is what identifies the region or the line type — 1 to 5 for a landline (1 is Paris, 4 is Lyon and Marseille…), 6 or 7 for a mobile. You will find the full list in the area codes section below.
If you keep the leading 0 by mistake, the call simply fails to connect — most UK networks return an "unobtainable" or "number not recognised" message rather than an explicit error, which is why the fault is so often blamed on the French line. Delete the 0 and redial: nothing else needs changing.
Free French phone number converter
Selectra's free French number converter turns any French number into the exact sequence to dial from the UK, in one click and ready to copy. Paste it in any format (06 12 34 56 78, +33 1 23 45 67 89, 0033612345678) and it also tells you whether the line is a landline, a mobile, a service number or VoIP.
How to call France from UK for free?
Before calling, double check your mobile or landline plan. Some UK operators include free calls to France: either in a package or via unlimited EU minutes, while others bill by the minute. If you're unsure, log into your account or ask your operator.
If you want to call for free regardless of your plan, consider internet-based solutions. Voice over IP apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime or Viber make it possible to call anyone in France at no cost, as long as you both use the app and are on WiFi or a data connection.
The quality of calls over the internet depends heavily on the stability and speed of your connection. Low bandwidth, network congestion or poor WiFi signal can cause delays, echo, or even dropped calls. And since both parties must have the same app installed, these free calls won't work for conventional landline or mobile numbers.
What are French dialing codes from UK?
Landline and mobile codes
French landlines run from 01 to 05 depending on the region, mobiles always start with 06 or 07. Find the zone you are calling below — the last column is what you actually dial from the UK.
| Region | Main cities | Dial from the UK |
|---|---|---|
| Paris / Île-de-France | Paris | +33 1 … |
| Northwest, plus Réunion and Mayotte | Nantes, Rennes, Rouen, Caen, Brest, Tours | +33 2 … |
| Northeast | Lille, Strasbourg, Dijon, Nancy, Reims | +33 3 … |
| Southeast and Corsica | Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Grenoble, Montpellier | +33 4 … |
| Southwest, plus the overseas départements | Bordeaux, Toulouse, Bayonne, Limoges, Poitiers | +33 5 … |
| Mobiles, anywhere in France | — | +33 6 … / +33 7 … |
If so, it's worth signing up for a postpaid mobile phone plan. In the long run, these are cheaper than pay-as-you-go and offer better calling time/data allowances. Call our English-speaking customer service line at +33 9 77 55 72 27 (Mon–Fri 8am–9pm · Sat 9am–7pm · Sun 9am–5pm), or ask for a free callback to help you find a plan that meets your needs.
The French codes for other types of phone numbers
Aside from the typical fixed and mobile lines, you will also find other types of numbers, which can be identified by the second digit once again.
Here are the main ones:
- →Numbers starting with 08 are special service numbers. They can be free (0800 to 0805), standard rate (0806 to 0809), or premium rate (0810 to 0899).
- →Numbers starting with 09 are non-geographic VoIP numbers, charged at the same rate as a landline call.
- →Short numbers with 4 digits are used for various services and can be free or charged depending on the provider.
- →Numbers starting with 118 are directory enquiry services and are usually premium rate.
👉 French mobile operators' customer service numbers
If you need to contact a French operator from abroad, note that short numbers (like 1023 or 3244) only work in France. Use the international number instead (charged at international rates):
- →Orange: +33 9 69 39 39 00 ;
- →SFR: +33 9 70 83 10 23 ;
- →Free: +33 1 78 56 95 60 ;
- →Bouygues Telecom: +33 660 614 614.
To join a French utility service from the United Kingdom, such as energy or transport companies, the same +33 rule applies — dial the code, then the number without its leading 0. You can also follow the information in this other guide on how to contact emergency numbers in France, which are the one exception worth knowing before you travel.
How much will I pay to call France from the UK?
Expect to pay between 19p and 25p per minute if you call France on a standard UK plan without an international option — and as little as 1p per minute if you add one. A 20-minute call to a French landline therefore costs around £5 at standard rates, against roughly 20p with an add-on. Two very different bills for the same call, which is why it is worth checking your plan before you dial.
How much UK operators charge to call France
| UK operator | Standard rate to France | With an international add-on |
|---|---|---|
| EE | 25p/min to landlines and mobiles, 6p per text | 9p/min with the International Pass |
| O2 | 23p/min on Pay Monthly, 19.5p/min on Pay As You Go | From 1p/min with the International Bolt On |
| Three | Not published on its calling-abroad page — check the in-app cost checker | Call Abroad add-ons: £7 for 100 min, £12 unlimited, £5 for 200 min on Pay As You Go |
| Vodafone | Published only through its own charge checker, not as a public price list | Varies by plan — check before calling |
Rates read directly from each operator's own published price list and updated in August 2026. Sources: EE, O2, Three. Operators change their international pricing regularly — always confirm against your own plan.
If you travel to France: roaming after Brexit
The rates above apply when you call France from the UK. Using your UK phone while in France is billed separately: since the UK left the EU's single market, most UK operators have reintroduced roaming charges. The Roam Like At Home rule no longer covers UK SIM cards automatically — whether you pay, and how much, depends entirely on your plan and provider.
How the main UK operators handle France roaming — more detail in our guide to roaming charges in the EU goes further:
| UK operator | France roaming policy |
|---|---|
| EE | Daily add-on required on most plans |
| Vodafone | Roam Freely add-on, charged per day |
| O2 | Varies by plan — check My O2 |
| Three | Go Roam — France included on most plans |
| Sky Mobile | Roam Days — charged per day used |
| giffgaff | EU Roaming bolt-on required |
To keep costs under control when calling France from the UK, you have several options:
- →You can get hold of a pay-as-you-go phone, thanks to which you can stay in control of how much you pay for your communications;
- →Getting a French telephone number is also a good solution to call and text in France for relatively cheap, plus most of the providers have deals that specifically give you preferential rates to use your allowance abroad — our mobile guides compare the options, and the low-cost virtual operators are usually the cheapest way in;
- →An eSIM gives you a French or international line downloaded straight to your phone, with no physical SIM to collect — the quickest option if you are travelling within days;
- →International SIM cards, such as Flexiroam, can allow you a certain amount of calling time and/or data while in France at very competitive rates;
- →WiFi calling via apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Viber — free from either side of the Channel, as long as both parties have the app installed.
The rule mirrors exactly: dial 00 44 (or +44 on a mobile) then the UK number without its leading zero. Example: to reach the London number 020 7946 0000 from France, dial 00 44 20 7946 0000 or +44 20 7946 0000.
What are the best international mobile phone plans?
Find below the best international mobile plans, currently available in France. Signing up for an international phone plan is the cheapest way to call France from UK and surf the internet from abroad, if you often travel between the two countries. For regular travellers outside Europe, the Bouygues, SFR and Free plans are interesting because they offer mobile data in many non-European countries, such as the USA, Canada, Japan, etc.
No plans match the selected filters.
Call France from UK: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I call a French number from the UK? Read more Close
To call France from the UK, dial 00 (or + on mobile) then 33 (the country code for France), followed by the French number without the initial zero.
What is the difference between +33 and 0033? Read more Close
None — they are two ways of writing the same thing. France's country code is 33. The 00 is the UK exit code, used from a landline, while + does the same job automatically from a mobile in any country. Dial 00 33 or +33, then the French number without its leading 0.
How to call France for free? Read more Close
You can call France for free using internet-based apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Viber, as long as both parties are connected to WiFi or mobile data.
Can I call a French number from UK O2? Read more Close
Yes, UK O2 allows calls to French numbers, but international rates may apply depending on your plan.
Are French toll-free or premium numbers reachable from the UK? Read more Close
French toll-free numbers (0800–0805) may be charged from the UK, and premium numbers (0810–0899, 118) are often not accessible or can be expensive.
What about VoIP numbers in France? Read more Close
French VoIP numbers starting with 09 can be called from the UK and are usually billed at standard local rates.
Your review helps others choose — it takes 2 minutes.
Click a star to get started.
Rate your provider
Only verified reviews are published (how we check them)
Thank you for your review!
A verification link has been sent to your email address. Click it to publish your review. It only takes a few minutes.