British Indian Ocean Territory Calling Code: +246
Complete guide to calling British Indian Ocean Territory — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.
How to Call British Indian Ocean Territory 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 +246 — the country calling code for British Indian Ocean Territory
- Dial the local phone number (area code + subscriber number)
About British Indian Ocean Territory Calling Code
British Indian Ocean Territory's international dialing code is +246. This code is assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and must be dialed before the local phone number when calling British Indian Ocean Territory from another country. British Indian Ocean Territory is located in Africa.
Country calling codes (also known as ISD codes or dialing codes) are telephone numbering plan prefixes defined by ITU-T standards E.123 and E.164. Each country is assigned one or more unique prefixes to facilitate international direct dialing.
Where the +246 Calling Code Is Used
The country code +246 is assigned to British Indian Ocean Territory, located in Eastern Africa, with the capital Diego Garcia. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to British Indian Ocean Territory from outside the country.
When you see a phone number written as +246 ..., the +246 prefix tells your telephone network to route the call to British Indian Ocean Territory's national telephone network. After the country code, you dial the local area code (dropping any leading 0) and the subscriber number. The same format applies whether you are calling a landline or a mobile phone.
Country codes are allocated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T Recommendation E.164) and are grouped by geographic region. Calling codes starting with 2 are generally assigned to the region around British Indian Ocean Territory, in Eastern Africa. When a phone number is stored internationally, the leading zeros of the domestic area code are omitted after the country code — this is why you will often see numbers written as +246 followed directly by the area code and number.
British Indian Ocean Territory Phone Number Formats
Phone numbers in British Indian Ocean Territory follow the ITU E.164 international format: country code + area code + subscriber number. Below is the general structure used for both landlines and mobile numbers.
📱 Number Structure
- International format: +246 [area code] [subscriber number]
- From abroad: exit code + +246 + local number (drop the trunk prefix 0)
- Within British Indian Ocean Territory: dial the local number directly
Most countries use a closed or open telephone numbering plan. In an open plan, the length of local numbers varies and the trunk prefix (usually 0) is dropped when dialing internationally. In a closed plan, all national numbers have a fixed length regardless of area. When dialing British Indian Ocean Territory from abroad, always replace the leading trunk zero with the country code +246.
Time Zone in British Indian Ocean Territory
British Indian Ocean Territory is in the Indian/Chagos time zone, which is UTC+06:00 relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). If you are calling from a different time zone, remember to account for the time difference when scheduling your international call.
When planning a call to British Indian Ocean Territory, the time difference matters: a good time to reach businesses in Diego Garcia, the capital, during their working hours may be early morning or late evening in your own time zone. Many international callers use the UTC offset as a quick reference to avoid calling in the middle of the night.
Some countries observe daylight saving time (DST), which shifts the local clock by one hour during summer months. If British Indian Ocean Territory uses DST, the effective offset changes twice a year — check the current UTC offset before dialing if your call is time-sensitive. For most purposes, however, the standard offset shown above is sufficient.
Emergency Numbers in British Indian Ocean Territory
If you need urgent help while in British Indian Ocean Territory, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside British Indian Ocean Territory.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 999 |
| Fire | 999 |
| Ambulance | 999 |
Example: Calling British Indian Ocean Territory Numbers in Practice
Here is how a typical call to British Indian Ocean Territory works, depending on where you are calling from:
🌍 From the United States or Canada
- Dial the US/Canada exit code 011
- Dial the British Indian Ocean Territory country code +246
- Dial the local number (area code + subscriber number, without the trunk prefix 0)
Example: 011 +246 [area code] [number]
🌍 From the United Kingdom or Europe
- Dial the international access code 00 (or use the + symbol on mobile)
- Dial the British Indian Ocean Territory country code +246
- Dial the local number
Example: 00 +246 [area code] [number], or +246 [area code] [number] from any mobile phone
If the number you are calling has a domestic trunk prefix (often 0) in front of the area code, omit it when dialing from abroad. The country code +246 replaces the trunk prefix entirely.
Calling British Indian Ocean Territory from Major Countries
International exit codes differ by country. Use this reference when dialing British Indian Ocean Territory (+246) from abroad:
| Calling From | Exit Code | Full International Dialing |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 011 | 011 246 [local number] |
| United Kingdom | 00 | 00 246 [local number] |
| Australia | 0011 | 0011 246 [local number] |
| China | 00 | 00 246 [local number] |
| Japan | 010 | 010 246 [local number] |
| India | 00 | 00 246 [local number] |
| Germany | 00 | 00 246 [local number] |
| France | 00 | 00 246 [local number] |
On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +246 followed by the local number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the calling code for British Indian Ocean Territory?
The international calling code for British Indian Ocean Territory is +246.
How do I call British Indian Ocean Territory from the United States?
Dial 011 (US exit code), then +246, then the local phone number.
How do I call British Indian Ocean Territory from the United Kingdom?
Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +246, then the local phone number.
Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?
Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +246 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.
How do I call within British Indian Ocean Territory?
If you're already in British Indian Ocean Territory, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +246 for domestic calls.
What is the capital of British Indian Ocean Territory?
The capital of British Indian Ocean Territory is Diego Garcia. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +246 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.
What are the emergency numbers in British Indian Ocean Territory?
Police: 999, Fire: 999, Ambulance: 999. These numbers are only valid inside British Indian Ocean Territory.
Other Countries in Africa
Nearby countries and their calling codes:
Calling British Indian Ocean Territory from Egypt or South Africa works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +246, then the local number. Within Africa, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.