France Calling Code: +33
Complete guide to calling France — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.
How to Call France 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 +33 — the country calling code for France
- Dial the local phone number (area code + subscriber number)
About France Calling Code
Every country has a unique international dialing prefix; for France it is +33. The ITU assigns these codes under recommendation E.164. Dial +33 after your country's exit code, then the local subscriber number. France is in Europe.
The first digits of any international number are its E.164 country code. France uses +33, in Western Europe, so a call from anywhere else begins with an exit code, then +33, then the national number with its trunk prefix removed.
Where the +33 Calling Code Is Used
The country code +33 is assigned to France, located in Western Europe, with the capital Paris. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to France from outside the country.
A number displayed as +33 … is in international format: +33 replaces the domestic trunk prefix. From abroad, always drop any leading 0 of the area code and dial +33 + area code + subscriber number.
Calling codes starting with 3 are part of the ITU's regional numbering plan for the area around France, in Western Europe. When saving France numbers internationally, write +33 followed by the area code without its leading 0 — this format works from every country.
France Phone Number Formats
Numbers in France use the standard E.164 pattern — +33, then the area code, then the subscriber number. The same layout applies to landlines and mobile phones:
📱 Number Structure
- International format: +33 [area code] [subscriber number]
- From abroad: exit code + +33 + local number (drop the trunk prefix 0)
- Within France: dial the local number directly
Closed numbering plans give every national number the same length; open plans let it vary and rely on a trunk prefix for routing. For a caller outside France the distinction rarely matters, because the trunk 0 is dropped either way and +33 is dialed in its place. France numbers follows the published pattern +33 (X) XXXXXXXX.
Time Zone in France
France runs on Europe/Paris, which is UTC+01:00 UTC. Schedule international calls accordingly — a convenient time for you may be very early or very late there.
Use the UTC offset (UTC+01:00) to plan calls to France. For most international callers, the practical rule is: schedule business-hour calls to Paris during the overlap between your working day and theirs.
Daylight saving time can shift France's clock by one hour in summer. For time-critical calls, confirm the current UTC offset rather than relying on the standard value.
Best Time to Call France
Business hours in France run roughly 09:00–18:00 local time. Because France sits at UTC+01:00, the window in which it is polite to call lands at a different hour for every caller. The table below converts France'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 France between | Avoid calling between |
|---|---|---|
| London | 08:00–17:00 | 22:00–06:00 |
| New York | 03:00–12:00 | 17:00–01:00 |
| Los Angeles | 00:00–09:00 | 14:00–22:00 |
| Sao Paulo | 05:00–14:00 | 19:00–03:00 |
| Dubai | 12:00–21:00 | 02:00–10:00 |
| Mumbai | 13:30–22:30 | 03:30–11:30 |
| Singapore | 16:00–01:00 | 06:00–14:00 |
| Sydney | 18:00–03:00 | 08:00–16:00 |
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 France
If you need urgent help while in France, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside France.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 112 or 17 |
| Fire | 112 or 18 |
| Ambulance | 112 or 15 |
Example: Calling France Numbers in Practice
Here is how a typical call to France works, depending on where you are calling from:
🌍 From the United States or Canada
- Dial the US/Canada exit code 011
- Dial the France country code +33
- Dial the local number (area code + subscriber number, without the trunk prefix 0)
Example: 011 +33 [area code] [number]
🌍 From the United Kingdom or Europe
- Dial the international access code 00 (or use the + symbol on mobile)
- Dial the France country code +33
- Dial the local number
Example: 00 +33 [area code] [number], or +33 [area code] [number] from any mobile phone
Leading zeros in domestic area codes are not dialed internationally. Write the number as +33 + area code (no leading 0) + subscriber number.
Calling France from Major Countries
International exit codes differ by country. These are the ones most often used to reach France (+33):
| Calling From | Exit Code | Full International Dialing |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 00 | 00 33 [local number] |
| Germany | 00 | 00 33 [local number] |
| United States | 011 | 011 33 [local number] |
| Canada | 011 | 011 33 [local number] |
| Poland | 00 | 00 33 [local number] |
| Turkey | 00 | 00 33 [local number] |
| United Arab Emirates | 00 | 00 33 [local number] |
On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +33 followed by the local number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the calling code for France?
The international calling code for France is +33.
How do I call France from the United States?
Dial 011 (US exit code), then +33, then the local phone number.
How do I call France from the United Kingdom?
Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +33, then the local phone number.
Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?
Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +33 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.
How do I call within France?
If you're already in France, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +33 for domestic calls.
What is the capital of France?
The capital of France is Paris. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +33 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.
What are the emergency numbers in France?
Police: 112 or 17, Fire: 112 or 18, Ambulance: 112 or 15. These numbers are only valid inside France.
Is France a country?
Yes — France is a sovereign state, whose capital is Paris, and +33 is its international calling code.
France Mobile Phone Prefixes & Domestic Dialing
Mobile phone numbers in France typically use the following prefixes:
- 06 xx xx xx xx
- 07 xx xx xx xx (10-digit numbers starting with 06 or 07)
France City / Area Codes
Major cities in France and their local area codes (dial these after the country code +33 when calling from abroad):
| City | Area Code(s) |
|---|---|
| Paris | 01 |
| Marseille | 04 |
| Lyon | 04 |
| Toulouse | 05 |
| Nice | 04 |
| Bordeaux | 05 |
| Lille | 03 |
| Strasbourg | 03 |
| Nantes | 02 |
| Montpellier | 04 |
Note: Drop any leading "0" when dialing from abroad. Example: Paris 01 becomes +33 1 + local number.
From the United States, a call to Paris is dialed as 011 +33 1 [local number].
Other Countries in Europe
Nearby countries and their calling codes:
Calling France from Russia or Greece works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +33, then the local number. Within Europe, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.