South Africa Calling Code: +27
Complete guide to calling South Africa — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.
How to Call South Africa 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 +27 — the country calling code for South Africa
- Dial the local phone number (area code + subscriber number)
About South Africa Calling Code
To reach South Africa from another country, first dial the international calling code +27 — assigned by the ITU — followed by the local number. South Africa is located in Africa, in Southern Africa.
ISD code, country code, dialing code — these all mean the same E.164 prefix, and for South Africa it is +27. The ITU allocates one to each country and territory in Southern Africa, and carriers use it as the first routing decision on any international call.
Where the +27 Calling Code Is Used
The country code +27 is assigned to South Africa, located in Southern Africa, with the capital Pretoria. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to South Africa from outside the country.
When a number is written as +27 …, the +27 prefix directs your call to the South Africa 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 2 cover the part of the world that includes South Africa, in Southern Africa. Storing numbers with +27 and omitting the domestic leading zero keeps contacts dialable from anywhere.
South Africa Phone Number Formats
The ITU E.164 format for South Africa numbers is +27 + area code + subscriber number, used for landlines and mobiles alike. Here is the general structure:
📱 Number Structure
- International format: +27 [area code] [subscriber number]
- From abroad: exit code + +27 + local number (drop the trunk prefix 0)
- Within South Africa: dial the local number directly
Storing a South Africa contact so it works from any country means writing +27 in front of the national number and dropping any leading trunk zero. In South Africa the number itself follows the published pattern +27 (XX) XXXXXXXX, so keep the area code and subscriber digits together as a single block.
Time Zone in South Africa
The local time in South Africa follows the Africa/Johannesburg time zone (UTC+02:00 UTC). Check the time difference before you dial so your call arrives during waking hours.
Time differences matter when calling South Africa: if it is UTC+02:00 there, a morning call from Europe may reach Pretoria in the afternoon, while callers in the Americas should check the offset to avoid late-night calls.
If South Africa 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 South Africa
Business hours in South Africa run roughly 09:00–18:00 local time. Because South Africa sits at UTC+02:00, the window in which it is polite to call lands at a different hour for every caller. The table below converts South Africa'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 South Africa between | Avoid calling between |
|---|---|---|
| London | 07:00–16:00 | 21:00–05:00 |
| New York | 02:00–11:00 | 16:00–00:00 |
| Los Angeles | 23:00–08:00 | 13:00–21:00 |
| Sao Paulo | 04:00–13:00 | 18:00–02:00 |
| Dubai | 11:00–20:00 | 01:00–09:00 |
| Mumbai | 12:30–21:30 | 02:30–10:30 |
| Singapore | 15:00–00:00 | 05:00–13:00 |
| Sydney | 17:00–02:00 | 07:00–15:00 |
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 South Africa
If you need urgent help while in South Africa, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside South Africa.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 10111 |
| Fire | 10177 |
| Ambulance | 10177 |
Example: Calling South Africa Numbers in Practice
Here is how a typical call to South Africa works, depending on where you are calling from:
🌍 From the United States or Canada
- Dial the US/Canada exit code 011
- Dial the South Africa country code +27
- Dial the local number (area code + subscriber number, without the trunk prefix 0)
Example: 011 +27 [area code] [number]
🌍 From the United Kingdom or Europe
- Dial the international access code 00 (or use the + symbol on mobile)
- Dial the South Africa country code +27
- Dial the local number
Example: 00 +27 [area code] [number], or +27 [area code] [number] from any mobile phone
If the local number begins with a trunk prefix (commonly 0), remove it when dialing internationally — +27 takes its place. The remaining digits are dialed exactly as written.
Calling South Africa from Major Countries
International exit codes differ by country. These are the ones most often used to reach South Africa (+27):
| Calling From | Exit Code | Full International Dialing |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 00 | 00 27 [local number] |
| France | 00 | 00 27 [local number] |
| United States | 011 | 011 27 [local number] |
| United Arab Emirates | 00 | 00 27 [local number] |
| Nigeria | 009 | 009 27 [local number] |
| Kenya | 000 | 000 27 [local number] |
| India | 00 | 00 27 [local number] |
On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +27 followed by the local number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the calling code for South Africa?
The international calling code for South Africa is +27.
How do I call South Africa from the United States?
Dial 011 (US exit code), then +27, then the local phone number.
How do I call South Africa from the United Kingdom?
Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +27, then the local phone number.
Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?
Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +27 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.
How do I call within South Africa?
If you're already in South Africa, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +27 for domestic calls.
What is the capital of South Africa?
The capital of South Africa is Pretoria. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +27 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.
What are the emergency numbers in South Africa?
Police: 10111, Fire: 10177, Ambulance: 10177. These numbers are only valid inside South Africa.
Is South Africa a country?
Yes — South Africa is a sovereign state, whose capital is Pretoria, and +27 is its international calling code.
South Africa Mobile Phone Prefixes & Domestic Dialing
Mobile phone numbers in South Africa typically use the following prefixes:
- 6x / 7x / 8x - mobile numbers start with 06/07/08
South Africa City / Area Codes
Major cities in South Africa and their local area codes (dial these after the country code +27 when calling from abroad):
| City | Area Code(s) |
|---|---|
| Johannesburg | 10, 11 |
| Cape Town | 21 |
| Durban | 31 |
| Pretoria | 12 |
| Port Elizabeth | 41 |
Note: Drop any leading "0" when dialing from abroad. Example: Johannesburg 10 becomes +27 10 + local number.
From the United States, a call to Johannesburg is dialed as 011 +27 10 [local number].
Other Countries in Africa
Nearby countries and their calling codes:
Calling South Africa from Egypt or South Sudan works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +27, then the local number. Within Africa, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.