Saint Helena Calling Code: +290

Complete guide to calling Saint Helena — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.

How to Call Saint Helena from Abroad

About Saint Helena Calling Code

Saint Helena's international dialing code is +290. This code is assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and must be dialed before the local phone number when calling Saint Helena from another country. Saint Helena 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 +290 Calling Code Is Used

The country code +290 is assigned to Saint Helena, located in Western Africa, with the capital Jamestown. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to Saint Helena from outside the country.

When you see a phone number written as +290 ..., the +290 prefix tells your telephone network to route the call to Saint Helena'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 Saint Helena, in Western 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 +290 followed directly by the area code and number.

Saint Helena Phone Number Formats

Phone numbers in Saint Helena 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.

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 Saint Helena from abroad, always replace the leading trunk zero with the country code +290.

Time Zone in Saint Helena

Saint Helena is in the Atlantic/St_Helena time zone, which is UTC+00:00 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 Saint Helena, the time difference matters: a good time to reach businesses in Jamestown, 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 Saint Helena 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 Saint Helena

If you need urgent help while in Saint Helena, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside Saint Helena.

Service	Number
Police	999
Fire	999
Ambulance	999

Example: Calling Saint Helena Numbers in Practice

Here is how a typical call to Saint Helena works, depending on where you are calling from:

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 +290 replaces the trunk prefix entirely.

Calling Saint Helena from Major Countries

International exit codes differ by country. Use this reference when dialing Saint Helena (+290) from abroad:

Calling From	Exit Code	Full International Dialing
United States	011	011 290 [local number]
United Kingdom	00	00 290 [local number]
Australia	0011	0011 290 [local number]
China	00	00 290 [local number]
Japan	010	010 290 [local number]
India	00	00 290 [local number]
Germany	00	00 290 [local number]
France	00	00 290 [local number]

On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +290 followed by the local number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the calling code for Saint Helena?

The international calling code for Saint Helena is +290.

How do I call Saint Helena from the United States?

Dial 011 (US exit code), then +290, then the local phone number.

How do I call Saint Helena from the United Kingdom?

Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +290, then the local phone number.

Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?

Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +290 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.

How do I call within Saint Helena?

If you're already in Saint Helena, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +290 for domestic calls.

What is the capital of Saint Helena?

The capital of Saint Helena is Jamestown. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +290 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.

What are the emergency numbers in Saint Helena?

Police: 999, Fire: 999, Ambulance: 999. These numbers are only valid inside Saint Helena.

Other Countries in Africa

Nearby countries and their calling codes:

Calling Saint Helena from Egypt or South Africa works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +290, then the local number. Within Africa, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.