Vatican City Calling Code: +39
Complete guide to calling Vatican City — international dialing code, step-by-step instructions, and FAQ.
How to Call Vatican City 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 +39 — the country calling code for Vatican City
- Dial the local phone number (area code + subscriber number)
About Vatican City Calling Code
Every country has a unique international dialing prefix; for Vatican City it is +39. The ITU assigns these codes under recommendation E.164. Dial +39 after your country's exit code, then the local subscriber number. Vatican City is in Europe.
Vatican City is known locally as Vaticano — Vatican City is the capital. When saving an international contact, write the number in full international format with +39 so it works from any country.
The ITU-T E.164 recommendation standardizes international numbering, giving every country and territory a distinct prefix. Without the correct prefix, international calls cannot be routed to the right destination.
Where the +39 Calling Code Is Used
The country code +39 is assigned to Vatican City, located in Southern Europe, with the capital Vatican City. This code is part of the international telephony numbering plan and is used for all calls made to Vatican City from outside the country.
A number displayed as +39 … is in international format: +39 replaces the domestic trunk prefix. From abroad, always drop any leading 0 of the area code and dial +39 + area code + subscriber number.
Calling codes starting with 3 are part of the ITU's regional numbering plan for the area around Vatican City, in Southern Europe. When saving Vatican City numbers internationally, write +39 followed by the area code without its leading 0 — this format works from every country.
The country code +39 is shared with Italy. After dialing +39, the following digits (area code + subscriber number) route the call to the correct country, so you must always include the full national number.
Vatican City Phone Number Formats
Numbers in Vatican City use the standard E.164 pattern — +39, then the area code, then the subscriber number. The same layout applies to landlines and mobile phones:
📱 Number Structure
- International format: +39 [area code] [subscriber number]
- From abroad: exit code + +39 + local number (drop the trunk prefix 0)
- Within Vatican City: dial the local number directly
In most countries, domestic numbers start with a trunk prefix (often 0) that must be omitted internationally: dial your exit code, then +39, then the local number as written without its leading zero.
Time Zone in Vatican City
Vatican City runs on Europe/Vatican, 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 Vatican City. For most international callers, the practical rule is: schedule business-hour calls to Vatican City during the overlap between your working day and theirs.
Daylight saving time can shift Vatican City's clock by one hour in summer. For time-critical calls, confirm the current UTC offset rather than relying on the standard value.
Emergency Numbers in Vatican City
If you need urgent help while in Vatican City, dial the local emergency numbers below. Note that these numbers are only for use inside Vatican City.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 112 |
| Fire | 112 |
| Ambulance | 112 |
Example: Calling Vatican City Numbers in Practice
Here is how a typical call to Vatican City works, depending on where you are calling from:
🌍 From the United States or Canada
- Dial the US/Canada exit code 011
- Dial the Vatican City country code +39
- Dial the local number (area code + subscriber number, without the trunk prefix 0)
Example: 011 +39 [area code] [number]
🌍 From the United Kingdom or Europe
- Dial the international access code 00 (or use the + symbol on mobile)
- Dial the Vatican City country code +39
- Dial the local number
Example: 00 +39 [area code] [number], or +39 [area code] [number] from any mobile phone
Leading zeros in domestic area codes are not dialed internationally. Write the number as +39 + area code (no leading 0) + subscriber number.
Calling Vatican City from Major Countries
International exit codes differ by country. Use this reference when dialing Vatican City (+39) from abroad:
| Calling From | Exit Code | Full International Dialing |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 011 | 011 39 [local number] |
| United Kingdom | 00 | 00 39 [local number] |
| Australia | 0011 | 0011 39 [local number] |
| China | 00 | 00 39 [local number] |
| Japan | 010 | 010 39 [local number] |
| India | 00 | 00 39 [local number] |
| Germany | 00 | 00 39 [local number] |
| France | 00 | 00 39 [local number] |
On mobile phones, the + symbol replaces the exit code entirely — just dial +39 followed by the local number.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the calling code for Vatican City?
The international calling code for Vatican City is +39.
How do I call Vatican City from the United States?
Dial 011 (US exit code), then +39, then the local phone number.
How do I call Vatican City from the United Kingdom?
Dial 00 (UK exit code), then +39, then the local phone number.
Can I use the + symbol instead of the exit code?
Yes! On mobile phones you can dial +39 directly followed by the local number. The + symbol automatically replaces your country's exit code.
How do I call within Vatican City?
If you're already in Vatican City, simply dial the local number directly. You do not need to use the country code +39 for domestic calls.
What is the capital of Vatican City?
The capital of Vatican City is Vatican City. When calling the capital from abroad, dial +39 followed by the local area code (without the leading 0) and the number.
What are the emergency numbers in Vatican City?
Police: 112, Fire: 112, Ambulance: 112. These numbers are only valid inside Vatican City.
Other Countries in Europe
Nearby countries and their calling codes:
Calling Vatican City from Russia or Greece works the same way: dial your local exit code first, then +39, then the local number. Within Europe, many callers simply use the + symbol on mobile to avoid exit-code differences.