India +91
To call India from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 91, then the local number without its leading 0. Written in full: +91 81234 56789.
The country calling code for India is +91. A number starting +91 or 0091 is a call to or from India. From abroad: +91 81234 56789.
To call India from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 91, then the local number without its leading 0. The +91 code identifies the country; the following digits identify the line (landline or mobile).
How to call India from abroad
011 91 81234 5678900 91 81234 567890011 91 81234 56789+91 81234 5678981234 56789 is a real-format India mobile number (example from the ITU-T numbering plan): replace it with the number you were given, without its leading 0.
India area codes
When calling a landline in India, dial the city area code after +91 (without its leading 0):
| City | Area code | Full dial |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 11 | +91 11 … |
| Mumbai | 22 | +91 22 … |
| Bangalore | 80 | +91 80 … |
| Chennai | 44 | +91 44 … |
| Kolkata | 33 | +91 33 … |
| Hyderabad | 40 | +91 40 … |
Number format
74104 10123from abroad+91 74104 1012381234 56789from abroad+91 81234 56789Landline numbers in India have 10 digits after the country code; mobile numbers have 10 digits. The national prefix 0 is only dialled inside the country — drop it after +91.
Calling abroad from India
To call another country from India, dial the exit code 00 (or + on a mobile), then the country code, then the number. From India to the United States, for example: 00 1 201 555 0123.
A India number in international format is written +91 …. The + stands for the exit prefix (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America). Switching to international format, drop the leading 0.
Cheapest ways to call India
With internet on both ends, apps like WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call India for free. To reach a number without an app, VoIP services are usually cheaper than your operator’s international rate.
Frequently asked questions
What country has the code +91?
India has the country calling code +91.
How do I call India from the United States?
Dial 011, then 91, then the local number without its leading 0 — for example 011 81234 56789.
What does +91 mean?
It is the international dialing code for India. The + stands for your exit code (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America).
Is +91 mobile or landline?
The +91 code identifies the country, not the line type; India landlines and mobiles share it.
A country code covers a whole nation; the full number depends on the city and operator.
Mobile network codes in India
Every mobile network is identified by a mobile country code (MCC) and a mobile network code (MNC). They appear on your phone when it roams, in SIM settings and in any network lookup. India has 5 network operators with their own infrastructure:
| Network | MCC-MNC | Technologies | Subscribers |
|---|---|---|---|
| JioJio Platforms | 405-840 | 4G | 472.4 M |
| AirtelBharti Airtel | 404-02, 404-03, 404-10, 404-16 … | 2G · 4G | 386.5 M |
| ViGovernment Of India (49%)Vodafone Group Plc (16%)Aditya Birla Group (… | 404-01, 404-05, 404-07, 404-11 … | 2G · 3G · 4G · 5G | 219.1 M |
| BSNLGovernment of India | 404-34, 404-38, 404-51, 404-53 … | 2G · 3G · 4G | 87.0 M |
| MTNLGovernment of India Subsidiary of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited | 404-68, 404-69 | 2G · 3G · 4G | 1.92 M |
A struck-through generation has been switched off on that network. MCC-MNC: ITU-T E.212 codes as listed on Wikipedia.
2G and 3G switch-off timeline
- Airtel — 3G (UMTS) switched off
- Vodafone Idea — 3G (UMTS) switched off
Keeping a number when changing network
- Mobile number portability
- since 2011-01-20
- Porting time
- 3 day(s)
- Cost to the customer
- ₹6.46 (if requested by operator)
Because numbers can be ported, the prefix of a mobile number only tells you which network first issued it, not the network it uses today.
Received a call from a India number? Check it with the phone number lookup: type of line, format and local time.
Source: Wikipedia — lists of mobile network operators, mobile network codes, 2G and 3G phase-out, mobile number portability (CC BY-SA 4.0). Subscriber counts as published by each operator or regulator at the date shown.
Phone rules in India
The rules a caller, a visitor or a new resident runs into in India, each with its source.
| ID to buy a SIM | KYC verification is mandatory for every prepaid and postpaid connection. For foreign tourists, a copy of the passport with a valid visa is the proof of identity, and the address of a local reference (which may be the tour operator) or of the place of stay (hotel) is the proof of address; a foreigner's connection cannot be valid beyond the visa and, for tourists, not more than 3 months at a time (DoT instructions of 9 Aug 2012). An individual can hold at most 9 mobile connections across all operators (6 in J&K, Assam and the North-Eastern states).web.archive.org · sancharsaathi.gov.in |
|---|---|
| Monthly contract | The same DoT verification rules cover prepaid and postpaid connections: a foreign national needs a passport with a valid visa, and a connection working beyond the validity of the visa/stay permit must be disconnected. Operator-specific postpaid conditions (deposit, Indian address proof, PAN, credit check) were not verified.web.archive.org |
| Reporting scam calls | Suspected fraud calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages can be reported through the DoT 'Chakshu' facility on Sanchar Saathi (sancharsaathi.gov.in or the Sanchar Saathi app); financial cyber fraud is reported on the 1930 helpline or cybercrime.gov.in. The national Do-Not-Disturb register (NCPR) is managed by TRAI: register by calling or sending an SMS to 1909 or via the TRAI DND app, and complain about unsolicited commercial communication to 1909 within 3 days.trai.gov.in · pib.gov.in · pib.gov.in |
| Emergency numbers | 112 is the single nationwide emergency number (Emergency Response Support System), integrating police (100), fire (101), health/ambulance (108) and the women helpline.112.gov.in |
Checked on 28 September 2026. Rules on SIM registration and calling apps change often: confirm with the regulator or the operator.