39 Which Country Code? Everything You Need to Know About Calling Italy

The country code +39 belongs to Italy, including Vatican City and San Marino, which are landlocked sovereign states completely surrounded by Italian territory. If you received a phone call starting with +39, saw this prefix on an incoming SMS message, or need to send a text to someone in Europe, you are looking at an Italian phone number.

What it means / how it works

An international country code is a numerical prefix used to route telecommunications from one nation to another. When you see +39 at the beginning of a phone number, the plus sign (+) represents your local country's international prefix—often dialed as 00 in Europe or 011 in North America.

The number 39 was assigned to Italy by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Telecommunication infrastructure in Italy has unique structural traits compared to countries like the United States or the United Kingdom. Most notably, Italian phone numbers do not have a fixed length. Landline numbers typically start with a zero followed by an area code (like 06 for Rome or 02 for Milan), while mobile numbers begin with a specific operator prefix like 330, 340, or 380.

When placing an international call or sending an SMS to Italy:

• You start with the international direct dialing (IDD) prefix, or simply use the plus (+) sign on a mobile phone keypad.
• You enter the country code 39.
• You dial the complete local number, including the initial zero for landlines (which is usually omitted when dialing domestically within Italy, but required for international calls).

Practical scenarios

You might encounter the +39 country code in several everyday situations:

• Receiving an unexpected international call: You see a missed call on your smartphone with a +39 prefix, often originating from Rome, Milan, or Naples.
• Booking travel arrangements: You need to contact an Italian hotel, car rental service, or tour operator based in Florence or Venice.
• Communicating with family or colleagues: You have friends, relatives, or business partners living or working in Italy.
• Online shopping and customer support: You purchased goods from an Italian artisan, fashion brand, or manufacturer and need customer assistance.
• Account verification and SMS codes: You are registering for an online platform, software service, or app that requires phone number verification using an Italian mobile line.
• Parsing international contact lists: You are organizing a spreadsheet or CRM database and need to format European phone numbers correctly.
• Troubleshooting dialing errors: You are trying to reach an Italian landline from abroad but keep getting a fast busy signal because you forgot the initial zero in the area code.

Step-by-step

Knowing how to dial an Italian number correctly depends on whether you are using a mobile phone or a landline, and whether you are calling from inside or outside Italy.

Step 1: Determine your exit code
If you are calling from a mobile phone, simply press and hold the zero key until a plus sign (+) appears. If you are calling from a landline, dial your country's international exit code (for example, 00 in most European countries, or 011 in the US and Canada).

Step 2: Enter the country code
Type or dial 39 immediately after the plus sign or exit code.

Step 3: Include the local prefix (do not drop the zero)
Unlike countries where you drop the leading zero of an area code when dialing internationally, Italian landlines require the initial zero. For example, a Rome landline starts with 06. Your dialed string will look like +39 06 [Subscriber Number].

Step 4: Enter the mobile network code or subscriber number
For mobile phones, enter the operator prefix (such as 340 or 393) followed by the rest of the subscriber digits. Mobile numbers in Italy generally consist of 9 or 10 digits total after the country code.

Step 5: Place the call or send the message
Review the complete number format to ensure no digits were missed. Press the call or send button.

Safety/privacy/legal

Seeing an unfamiliar international code like +39 on your caller ID requires standard digital hygiene. Not every call or text starting with +39 is legitimate, and international telecom networks are frequently targeted by automated scams.

Missed Call Scams (Wangiri): Automated dialers sometimes place brief calls to random international numbers, hoping the recipient will call back out of curiosity. Calling back a premium-rate international number can result in steep telecommunication charges on your phone bill. If you do not recognize the number and are not expecting a call from Italy, avoid calling back.

SMS Phishing and Verification Codes: If you receive an unexpected text message containing a verification code or security alert from a service you do not use, do not click links inside the message. Scammers sometimes spoof international numbers to trick users.

Data Privacy and Online Services: When registering for online platforms, some privacy-conscious users prefer to use alternative communication tools or temporary verification solutions rather than exposing personal mobile numbers to foreign databases or third-party apps.

Best alternatives

If you are managing digital accounts, testing international SMS delivery, or working with global software systems that require region-specific verification, relying on a single personal phone number can be restrictive. Depending on your use case, various solutions exist to handle international messaging and verification.

For users who need a flexible digital solution to receive verification messages, services like PVACodes provide virtual numbers across multiple countries, helping developers and online users complete phone authentication without exposing private personal phone numbers.

When evaluating alternatives for international communication or testing, consider whether you need a temporary inbox for a single sign-up, a rental number for repeat logins, or a traditional roaming mobile plan for active voice calls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is +39 a mobile or landline code?

The +39 prefix covers the entire country of Italy, so it applies to both mobile phones and landlines. You can tell the difference by looking at the digits immediately following +39. Landlines begin with a 0 followed by an area code (like 02 for Milan), while mobile numbers begin with a 3 followed by the carrier code.

Do I need to dial zero when calling Italy from abroad?

Yes. Unlike many other nations where you drop the initial zero of an area code when dialing internationally, Italian landline numbers require you to keep the starting zero. For example, dialing a Rome number from abroad requires +39 06 followed by the subscriber number.

What countries use the +39 country code?

The +39 country code is assigned to Italy. It is also used by two independent microstates entirely enclosed within Italian territory: Vatican City (which uses +39 06) and the Republic of San Marino (which uses +39 0549).

How can I check if a +39 call is a scam?

If you receive a single missed ring from an unknown +39 number and have no personal or business ties to Italy, it is likely an automated robocall or a wangiri scam designed to make you incur high charges by returning the call. Check the number online before dialing back.

Can I send an SMS to a +39 mobile number from the US?

Yes. As long as your mobile carrier permits international messaging, you can send an SMS to an Italian mobile number by formatting the recipient as +39 followed by their full mobile number, including the initial carrier prefix digit.

Why is my call to an Italian number failing?

Call failures usually stem from incorrect formatting. Ensure you include the plus sign (+) or correct exit code, the country code 39, and do not omit the initial zero for landline area codes. Also verify that your current mobile plan has international dialing enabled.

How many digits are in an Italian phone number?

Italian phone numbers vary in length because they evolved without a fixed-digit structure. Landlines typically have 9 to 11 digits total including the area code, while mobile numbers usually consist of 9 or 10 digits after the country code.

Can I use a virtual number for Italian SMS verification?

Yes, many online platforms and developers use virtual SMS numbers to test user registration flows or receive one-time passwords from services operating within specific European regions.

What is the time difference when calling Italy?

Italy operates on Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) during standard time and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) during daylight saving months. Be mindful of local time zones before placing business or personal calls.

Is Vatican City part of the Italian phone network?

Yes. Vatican City relies on the Italian telecommunications numbering plan. Landlines in Vatican City share the Rome area code (+39 06), with specific exchange blocks assigned to the Holy See.

Conclusion

Understanding that the country code +39 directs communication to Italy, Vatican City, and San Marino helps clarify incoming calls, international text messages, and cross-border dialing formats. Always remember to retain the initial zero for landlines when calling from abroad, remain cautious of unknown missed international calls, and choose appropriate communication or verification methods based on your specific needs.