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Key dialling codes to remember
- +33 is France's country code, used to dial any French number from abroad ;
- 00 is the international access code from France (or a European landline) ;
- 011 is the international access code from the United States and Canada ;
- Always drop the leading 0 of a French number when dialling from abroad.
How French Phone Numbers Are Formatted
All French phone numbers have 10 digits and start with a 0. They are written and read as five pairs of digits, for example 09 42 53 84 06. In conversation a French speaker will read this as five two-digit numbers: zero neuf, quarante-deux, cinquante-trois, quatre-vingt-quatre, zero six.
There are no long-distance charges for calling fixed-line or mobile numbers within France from a French phone, with the exception of premium customer service numbers (some 08 prefixes and short 3X/4X numbers, which charge a per-minute rate).
The two-digit prefix (the first pair) tells you what kind of number it is and, for landlines, which region it covers. Corsica uses the special area code 495 within the 04 zone.
| 01 | Ile-de-France (Paris and surrounding region) |
|---|---|
| 02 | Northwest France (Brest, Cherbourg, Le Havre, Nantes, Orleans, Rouen) |
| 03 | Northeast France (Boulogne, Calais, Dijon, Lille, Nancy, Strasbourg, Reims, Troyes) |
| 04 | Southeast France (Cannes, Grenoble, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Saint-Etienne, Toulon, Valence) |
| 05 | Southwest France (Bordeaux, Limoges, Lourdes, Toulouse) |
| 06 / 07 | Mobile phones (no geographic meaning) |
| 08 | Customer service and special numbers (some free, some premium) |
| 09 | VoIP and box-based numbers (charged like a local call) |
For a deep dive on what each 08 prefix actually costs, see our guide to English-speaking helplines in France, which lists every standard-rate and premium prefix.
How to Call France from Abroad
To dial a French number from outside France, follow three steps:
- Dial your country's international access code: 011 in North America, 00 in the UK and most of Europe, 0011 in Australia ;
- Dial France's country code, which is 33 ;
- Dial the French number without the leading 0 (so 9 digits, not 10).
From any mobile phone you can skip the international access code and use + instead (press and hold the 0 key). The +33 format works from anywhere in the world and is the safest format to store contacts in.
| Call France from the USA or Canada | Landline: 011 33 1 23 45 67 89 Mobile: +33 1 23 45 67 89 |
|---|---|
| Call France from the UK or Ireland | Landline: 00 33 1 23 45 67 89 Mobile: +33 1 23 45 67 89 |
| Call France from Australia | Landline: 0011 33 1 23 45 67 89 Mobile: +33 1 23 45 67 89 |
| Call France from the Philippines | Landline: 00 33 1 23 45 67 89 Mobile: +33 1 23 45 67 89 |
| Call France from the UAE | Landline: 00 33 1 23 45 67 89 Mobile: +33 1 23 45 67 89 |
Dialling a French mobile number (06 or 07) follows the same rule: drop the 0 and prepend +33. So a number written as 06 12 34 56 78 becomes +33 6 12 34 56 78 from abroad.
Moving to France? Set Up Your French Phone and Utilities in English
Calling France is one thing, living in France is another. New arrivals usually need a French mobile plan, a broadband line and an electricity contract within their first weeks. Most French providers only support customers in French, which is where Selectra's English-speaking team comes in.
English-speaking helpline · Free callback available
Open your French utility and telecom contracts in minutes — in English
Selectra's English-speaking advisors compare the market and open the contract in your name, free of charge. Have your French address, IBAN and a UK or international phone number ready before calling.
Broadband line: Mon–Fri 9:30 am–7:30 pm. Energy line: Mon–Fri 8 am–9 pm, Sat 8:30 am–6:30 pm, Sun 9 am–6 pm. Or get a free callback.
Already in France and ready to pick a SIM? Read our guide to getting a French SIM card for the cheapest no-commitment plans.
How to Call Abroad from France
The principle is the mirror image of the rule above:
- Dial 00 (the international access code from France), or + from a mobile phone ;
- Dial the destination country code (1 for North America, 44 for the UK, 61 for Australia, etc.) ;
- Dial the local number, dropping the leading 0 if the country uses one (most European countries do).
Most French mobile plans now include unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles across the EU, USA and Canada. Outside that perimeter, call rates vary widely between operators. Check your plan's small print before dialling Asia, Africa or South America from a French SIM.
Calling the USA or Canada from France
North America uses country code 1. To call (555) 123-4567 from France, dial 00 1 555 123 4567 from a landline or +1 555 123 4567 from a mobile.
Calling Australia from France
Australia uses country code 61. Drop the leading 0 of the Australian number. To call (02) 1234 5678, dial 00 61 2 1234 5678 from a landline or +61 2 1234 5678 from a mobile.
European and Neighbouring Country Codes
Use this table when dialling from France: prefix each number with 00 (or + from a mobile), then the country code, then the local number without its leading 0.
| Austria | 43 | Italy | 39 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 32 | Latvia | 371 |
| Bosnia-Herzegovina | 387 | Montenegro | 382 |
| Croatia | 385 | Morocco | 212 |
| Czech Republic | 420 | Netherlands | 31 |
| Denmark | 45 | Norway | 47 |
| Estonia | 372 | Poland | 48 |
| Finland | 358 | Portugal | 351 |
| France | 33 | Russia | 7 |
| Germany | 49 | Slovakia | 421 |
| Gibraltar | 350 | Slovenia | 386 |
| Greece | 30 | Spain | 34 |
| Hungary | 36 | Sweden | 46 |
| Ireland | 353 | Switzerland | 41 |
| Great Britain & N. Ireland | 44 | Turkey | 90 |
For non-European destinations: USA and Canada use 1, China 86, India 91, Japan 81, Brazil 55, South Africa 27 and Australia 61. The full ITU list is published by your operator inside their roaming and international call rates table.