Laos +856
To call Laos from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 856, then the local number without its leading 0. Written in full: +856 20 23 123 456.
The country calling code for Laos is +856. A number starting +856 or 00856 is a call to or from Laos. From abroad: +856 20 23 123 456.
To call Laos from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 856, then the local number without its leading 0. The +856 code identifies the country; the following digits identify the line (landline or mobile).
How to call Laos from abroad
011 856 20 23 123 45600 856 20 23 123 4560011 856 20 23 123 456+856 20 23 123 45620 23 123 456 is a real-format Laos mobile number (example from the ITU-T numbering plan): replace it with the number you were given, without its leading 0.
Laos area codes
In Laos, landlines usually include an area code after +856 (without its leading 0). Mobiles have no area code.
Number format
021 212 862from abroad+856 21 212 862020 23 123 456from abroad+856 20 23 123 456Landline numbers in Laos have 8 digits after the country code; mobile numbers have 9 or 10 digits. The national prefix 0 is only dialled inside the country — drop it after +856.
Calling abroad from Laos
To call another country from Laos, dial the exit code 00 (or + on a mobile), then the country code, then the number. From Laos to the United States, for example: 00 1 201 555 0123.
A Laos number in international format is written +856 …. 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 Laos
With internet on both ends, apps like WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call Laos 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 +856?
Laos has the country calling code +856.
How do I call Laos from the United States?
Dial 011, then 856, then the local number without its leading 0 — for example 011 20 23 123 456.
What does +856 mean?
It is the international dialing code for Laos. The + stands for your exit code (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America).
Is +856 mobile or landline?
The +856 code identifies the country, not the line type; Laos 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 Laos
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. Laos has 4 network operators with their own infrastructure:
| Network | MCC-MNC | Technologies | Subscribers |
|---|---|---|---|
| UnitelLao Asia Telecommunication State Enterprise (LAT) (51%), Viettel Glob… | 457-03 | 2G · 3G · 4G | 2.71 M |
| Lao TelecomGovernment of Lao P.D.R. (51%), Shennington Investments (Thaicom) (49… | 457-01 | 2G · 3G · 4G · 5G | 1.29 M |
| TPLUSGovernment of Lao P.D.R. (100%) | 457-08 | 2G · 3G | 0.29 M |
| ETLJiafu Holdings (51%) Government of Lao P.D.R. (49%) | 457-02 | 2G · 3G | 0.44 M |
A struck-through generation has been switched off on that network. MCC-MNC: ITU-T E.212 codes as listed on Wikipedia.
Received a call from a Laos 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 Laos
The rules a caller, a visitor or a new resident runs into in Laos, each with its source.
| ID to buy a SIM | Mandatory for all numbers: the government ordered every user to register (facial scan, residence details, ID document) by 16 December 2023, after which unregistered numbers were cut off. Foreigners register with their passport at the point of sale. In November 2025 the Ministry of Technology and Communications warned that forged notices demanding SIM re-registration under threat of deletion are a scam. No official SIM-count limit found.rfa.org · shop.internetlaos.com · laotiantimes.com |
|---|---|
| Calling apps | None known. No restriction on WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype calls was found; OONI WhatsApp reachability tests from Laos between 1 June and 27 September 2026: 41 of 41 measurements OK (small sample).api.ooni.io |
| Emergency numbers | Police 1191, Fire 1190, Ambulance 1195; tourist police (Vientiane) 021 251 128.gov.uk |
Checked on 28 September 2026. Rules on SIM registration and calling apps change often: confirm with the regulator or the operator.