Australia Calling Code: +61
Complete guide to calling Australia — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.
How to Call Australia from Abroad
📞 Step-by-Step Dialing Guide
- Dial your country's exit code (e.g. 011 from US, 00 from most countries, + from mobile)
- Dial +61 — the country calling code for Australia
- Dial the local phone number (area code + subscriber number)
About Australia Calling Code
To reach Australia from another country, first dial the international calling code +61 — assigned by the ITU — followed by the local number. Australia is located in Oceania, in Australia and New Zealand.
The +61 prefix comes from ITU-T E.164, the numbering standard that keeps Australia's phone network addressable from anywhere in the world. Because Australia sits in Australia and New Zealand, its code is grouped with the surrounding countries rather than shared randomly.
Where the +61 Calling Code Is Used
The country code +61 is assigned to Australia, located in Australia and New Zealand, with the capital Canberra. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to Australia from outside the country.
When a number is written as +61 …, the +61 prefix directs your call to the Australia national network. After the prefix, dial the area code without its leading zero, then the subscriber number — the same pattern for landlines and mobiles.
ITU-T E.164 groups calling codes by world region; codes beginning with 6 cover the part of the world that includes Australia, in Australia and New Zealand. Storing numbers with +61 and omitting the domestic leading zero keeps contacts dialable from anywhere.
The country code +61 is shared with Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands. After dialing +61, the following digits (area code + subscriber number) route the call to the correct country, so you must always include the full national number.
Australia Phone Number Formats
The ITU E.164 format for Australia numbers is +61 + area code + subscriber number, used for landlines and mobiles alike. Here is the general structure:
📱 Number Structure
- International format: +61 [area code] [subscriber number]
- From abroad: exit code + +61 + local number (drop the trunk prefix 0)
- Within Australia: dial the local number directly
Numbering plans come in two shapes: open plans allow variable-length numbers with a trunk prefix, closed plans fix the length everywhere. Australia follows the published pattern +61 (X) XXXXX XXXX. Either way the rule for calling in from abroad is identical: replace the trunk prefix with +61.
Time Zone in Australia
The local time in Australia follows the Australia/Sydney time zone (UTC+10:00 UTC). Check the time difference before you dial so your call arrives during waking hours.
Time differences matter when calling Australia: if it is UTC+10:00 there, a morning call from Europe may reach Canberra in the afternoon, while callers in the Americas should check the offset to avoid late-night calls.
If Australia observes daylight saving time, its UTC offset shifts by an hour twice a year. Double-check the current offset before time-sensitive calls, especially in spring and autumn.
Best Time to Call Australia
Business hours in Australia run roughly 09:00–18:00 local time. Because Australia sits at UTC+10:00, the window in which it is polite to call lands at a different hour for every caller. The table below converts Australia's working day into your own clock — and shows the hours to avoid so you do not wake anyone up.
| If you are in | Call Australia between | Avoid calling between |
|---|---|---|
| London | 23:00–08:00 | 13:00–21:00 |
| New York | 18:00–03:00 | 08:00–16:00 |
| Los Angeles | 15:00–00:00 | 05:00–13:00 |
| Sao Paulo | 20:00–05:00 | 10:00–18:00 |
| Dubai | 03:00–12:00 | 17:00–01:00 |
| Mumbai | 04:30–13:30 | 18:30–02:30 |
| Singapore | 07:00–16:00 | 21:00–05:00 |
| Sydney | 09:00–18:00 | 23:00–07:00 |
Times shown are standard time and ignore daylight saving, which shifts the clock by one hour in countries that observe it — around the clock change, add or subtract an hour from every figure above.
Emergency Numbers in Australia
If you need urgent help while in Australia, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside Australia.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 000 |
| Fire | 000 |
| Ambulance | 000 |
Example: Calling Australia Numbers in Practice
Here is how a typical call to Australia works, depending on where you are calling from:
🌍 From the United States or Canada
- Dial the US/Canada exit code 011
- Dial the Australia country code +61
- Dial the local number (area code + subscriber number, without the trunk prefix 0)
Example: 011 +61 [area code] [number]
🌍 From the United Kingdom or Europe
- Dial the international access code 00 (or use the + symbol on mobile)
- Dial the Australia country code +61
- Dial the local number
Example: 00 +61 [area code] [number], or +61 [area code] [number] from any mobile phone
If the local number begins with a trunk prefix (commonly 0), remove it when dialing internationally — +61 takes its place. The remaining digits are dialed exactly as written.
Calling Australia from Major Countries
International exit codes differ by country. These are the ones most often used to reach Australia (+61):
| Calling From | Exit Code | Full International Dialing |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 00 | 00 61 [local number] |
| United States | 011 | 011 61 [local number] |
| United Kingdom | 00 | 00 61 [local number] |
| Philippines | 00 | 00 61 [local number] |
| India | 00 | 00 61 [local number] |
| China | 00 | 00 61 [local number] |
| Japan | 010 | 010 61 [local number] |
On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +61 followed by the local number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the calling code for Australia?
The international calling code for Australia is +61.
How do I call Australia from the United States?
Dial 011 (US exit code), then +61, then the local phone number.
How do I call Australia from the United Kingdom?
Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +61, then the local phone number.
Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?
Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +61 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.
How do I call within Australia?
If you're already in Australia, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +61 for domestic calls.
What is the capital of Australia?
The capital of Australia is Canberra. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +61 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.
What are the emergency numbers in Australia?
Police: 000, Fire: 000, Ambulance: 000. These numbers are only valid inside Australia.
Which other places use the calling code +61?
The code +61 is shared with Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The digits after the country code route the call to the right destination.
Is Australia a country?
Yes — Australia is a sovereign state, whose capital is Canberra, and +61 is its international calling code.
Australia Mobile Phone Prefixes & Domestic Dialing
Mobile phone numbers in Australia typically use the following prefixes:
- 04xx xxx xxx (all mobile numbers start with 04)
Australia City / Area Codes
Major cities in Australia and their local area codes (dial these after the country code +61 when calling from abroad):
| City | Area Code(s) |
|---|---|
| Sydney | 02 |
| Melbourne | 03 |
| Brisbane | 07 |
| Perth | 08 |
| Adelaide | 08 |
| Gold Coast | 07 |
| Canberra | 02 |
| Hobart | 03 |
| Darwin | 08 |
| Newcastle | 02 |
Note: Drop any leading "0" when dialing from abroad. Example: Sydney 02 becomes +61 2 + local number.
From the United States, a call to Sydney is dialed as 011 +61 2 [local number].
Other Countries in Oceania
Nearby countries and their calling codes:
Calling Australia from American Samoa or Guam works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +61, then the local number. Within Oceania, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.