+44: the UK country code
When someone outside the UK rings a British number, they start with +44. It is the international code for the whole United Kingdom, and you will also see it written as 0044 or just 44. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all share it, so a number in Aberdeen and one in Plymouth both begin +44 when dialled from abroad.
The Crown Dependencies use +44 as well: the Isle of Man (area code 01624), Jersey (01534) and Guernsey (01481). Their numbers work the same way as UK numbers but have their own area codes.
Convert a number to +44 format
Enter a UK number to see how someone outside the UK would dial it.
How to call the UK from another country
- Dial the international exit code of the country you are in. That is 00 across most of Europe and 011 from the USA or Canada. On a mobile you can hold down the 0 key to get a +, which works from any country.
- Type 44, the code for the UK.
- Dial the UK number without its leading 0.
The same numbers written two ways
| Kind of number | Inside the UK | From abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester landline | 0161 496 0234 | +44 161 496 0234 |
| Edinburgh landline | 0131 496 0571 | +44 131 496 0571 |
| Mobile | 07700 900123 | +44 7700 900123 |
| 03 number | 0306 999 0123 | +44 306 999 0123 |
| Freephone | 0808 157 0123 | +44 808 157 0123 |
These examples come from number ranges Ofcom keeps for use in films and TV, so they don't ring anyone. Remember that 0800 and 0808 numbers are often charged, or don't connect at all, when dialled from outside the UK.
Calling abroad from the UK
It works the same in reverse. Dial 00 (or +), then the other country's code, then their number without any leading 0. To ring a French mobile, for instance, you would dial 00 33 and then the nine remaining digits.
Got a missed call from a +44 number?
A number shown as +44 is a UK number, or one from the Isle of Man or Channel Islands. Callers can fake the number they show, though, so look it up with our who called me UK check before calling back.
Common questions
Which country has the +44 code?
The United Kingdom. The Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey use it too.
Is +44 just for England?
No. All four UK nations use +44. The difference is in the area code that comes next, such as 29 for Cardiff or 141 for Glasgow.
Do I keep the 0 after +44?
No. Remove the first 0 from the UK number. So 0131 496 0571 becomes +44 131 496 0571.
Is 0044 the same as +44?
Yes. The + stands for whatever exit code the caller's country uses, and in most of Europe that's 00.
How do I put a UK mobile number into international format?
Drop the 0 and add +44 to the front. 07700 900123 becomes +44 7700 900123.
Do the Channel Islands have their own country code?
No. Jersey and Guernsey both use +44, with area codes 01534 and 01481.