Wikivoyage:Phone numbers Voyage Tips and guide

This page in a nutshell: Format phone numbers as they would be dialled internationally but in a way that separates the country code, area code, and part that can be dialled locally.

Contents

We format phone numbers as they would be dialled internationally but in a way that separates the country code, area code, and part that can be dialled locally.

+<country code> <area code> <local number>

For example:

A Canadian number should be listed like:

+1 867 959-5000

Where "1" is the country code, "867" is the area code and "959-5000" can be (optionally) dialled locally using abbreviated dialling (as designated by the two groups of digits con-joined with a hyphen). In most countries the zero is omitted from the area code when prefixed by country code, there are however some exceptions such as Italy.

• Numbers should generally begin with + and a country code. The exception is numbers that cannot be dialled from outside the country, which should be listed in their local style. For instance, 1-1-2 and 9-1-1 distress calls, and New Zealand Freephone numbers (e.g. 0800 737-000 for the Air New Zealand Freephone number only valid within NZ).
• When an area code is required for local dialling, or an area code requires a prefix for local dialling (say a '0'), note that in the Connect section of the guide.
  • For North American Numbering Plan (NANP) numbers, which all start with +1, there is a list of area codes that require 10-digit or 11-digit dialing. (Additional area codes are affected starting in 2021.)
• Information on freephone/toll-free, caller-paid mobile and premium rate prefixes should also go in the Connect section. Consider whether a warning is necessary in the actual listing if premium rate numbers are used.
• The number group(s) that can be (optionally) dialled locally are con-joined with hyphens.
• Parentheses or brackets are not used in numbers. If the digits are needed when calling from abroad, include them with no brackets (so +1-800-555-0199 and not 1 (800) 555-0199). If the digits are not needed on international calls, omit them (so +44 20 7777-7777 and not +44 (0) 20 7777-7777).
• Our formatting method may differ from that seen most in the country concerned. We prefer to use hyphens to only indicate the (con-joined) abbreviated part of the whole telephone number that can be utilised for local dialling. We do not use italics or parentheses within the phone number.
• In most countries, all the digits of mobile phone numbers should be dialled and there will be no (con-joined) abbreviated part of the whole mobile phone number that can be used for local dialling. Mobile phones are only given standard, landline-style geographic numbers in areas where mobile users pay airtime to receive calls (such as Canada/USA and China). This resource is useful for deciding which are mobile numbers. Wikipedia contains a good list of phone numbers formats by countries.
• The {{listing}} template provides three fields (phone, tollfree, fax) for telephone numbers.
• Additional numbers (such as TTY/TDD numbers for deaf users) may be added in the phone field separated by a comma. Reason for the other number can be stated in brackets.
• Numbers that cannot be dialed from outside the country should not begin with a country code. Some examples of these are unified local emergency numbers (like 1-1-2 or 9-1-1) and national freephone numbers in many countries (e.g. 0800 737-000, the Air New Zealand Freephone number, is valid only within NZ).
• The following number prefixes will not be flagged as having a missing country code: 0508, 0800, 1300, 1800, 01800. Adding a description in brackets after the number of one of the following: "high cost", "extra charge", "premium", "local rate", "in country only", "domestic" or "non-geographic number", will also stop it being flagged as an incorrect format needing country code.

• w:List of country calling codes
• List of country calling codes
• Module:LinkPhone/doc
• Telephone service