Uruguay Calling Code: +598

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

How to Call Uruguay from Abroad

About Uruguay Calling Code

Uruguay's international dialing code is +598. This code is assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and must be dialed before the local phone number when calling Uruguay from another country. Uruguay is located in South America.

ITU-T Recommendation E.164 is the standard behind the prefix +598: it gives every country a distinct international code so the global telephone network knows where to route a call. Uruguay holds +598, in South America, and that code has to be dialed after your own exit code before any national number.

Where the +598 Calling Code Is Used

The country code +598 is assigned to Uruguay, located in South America, with the capital Montevideo. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to Uruguay from outside the country.

When you see a phone number written as +598 ..., the +598 prefix tells your telephone network to route the call to Uruguay'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 5 are generally assigned to the region around Uruguay, in South America. 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 +598 followed directly by the area code and number.

Uruguay Phone Number Formats

Phone numbers in Uruguay 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.

A Uruguay number follows the published pattern +598 (XX) XXXXXXXX. Whatever sits in front of it at home — usually a trunk 0 — is stripped for international calls, so you dial your exit code, then +598, then the national number with that zero removed.

Time Zone in Uruguay

Uruguay is in the America/Montevideo time zone, which is UTC-03:00 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 Uruguay, the time difference matters: a good time to reach businesses in Montevideo, 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 Uruguay 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.

Best Time to Call Uruguay

Business hours in Uruguay run roughly 09:00–18:00 local time. Because Uruguay sits at UTC-03:00, the window in which it is polite to call lands at a different hour for every caller. The table below converts Uruguay'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 Uruguay between	Avoid calling between
London	12:00–21:00	02:00–10:00
New York	07:00–16:00	21:00–05:00
Los Angeles	04:00–13:00	18:00–02:00
Sao Paulo	09:00–18:00	23:00–07:00
Dubai	16:00–01:00	06:00–14:00
Mumbai	17:30–02:30	07:30–15:30
Singapore	20:00–05:00	10:00–18:00
Sydney	22:00–07:00	12:00–20:00

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 Uruguay

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

Service	Number
Police	911
Fire	911
Ambulance	911

Example: Calling Uruguay Numbers in Practice

Here is how a typical call to Uruguay 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 +598 replaces the trunk prefix entirely.

Calling Uruguay from Major Countries

International exit codes differ by country. These are the ones most often used to reach Uruguay (+598):

Calling From	Exit Code	Full International Dialing
United States	011	011 598 [local number]
Brazil	00	00 598 [local number]
Argentina	00	00 598 [local number]
Mexico	00	00 598 [local number]
Spain	00	00 598 [local number]
Portugal	00	00 598 [local number]
United Kingdom	00	00 598 [local number]
Canada	011	011 598 [local number]

On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +598 followed by the local number.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the calling code for Uruguay?

The international calling code for Uruguay is +598.

How do I call Uruguay from the United States?

Dial 011 (US exit code), then +598, then the local phone number.

How do I call Uruguay from the United Kingdom?

Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +598, then the local phone number.

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

Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +598 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.

How do I call within Uruguay?

If you're already in Uruguay, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +598 for domestic calls.

What is the capital of Uruguay?

The capital of Uruguay is Montevideo. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +598 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.

What are the emergency numbers in Uruguay?

Police: 911, Fire: 911, Ambulance: 911. These numbers are only valid inside Uruguay.

Is Uruguay a country?

Yes — Uruguay is a sovereign state, whose capital is Montevideo, and +598 is its international calling code.

Uruguay Mobile Phone Prefixes & Domestic Dialing

Mobile phone numbers in Uruguay typically use the following prefixes:

• 9x - mobile numbers start with 09

Trunk prefix: 0. This prefix is used for domestic long-distance calls inside Uruguay and is dropped when you dial from abroad.

Uruguay City / Area Codes

Major cities in Uruguay and their local area codes (dial these after the country code +598 when calling from abroad):

City	Area Code(s)
Montevideo	2
Punta del Este	42
Salto	473

Note: Drop any leading "0" when dialing from abroad. Example: Montevideo 2 becomes +598 2 + local number.

From the United States, a call to Montevideo is dialed as 011 +598 2 [local number].

Other Countries in South America

Nearby countries and their calling codes:

Calling Uruguay from Peru or Argentina works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +598, then the local number. Within South America, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.