What Is the Country Code for Italy? Complete International Dialing Guide
The country code for Italy is +39. You must dial this code before any Italian phone number when calling from outside the country. Whether you are placing an international phone call, sending an SMS, or filling out an online registration form that requires international formatting, knowing the exact country code and dialing rules prevents call failures and message delivery errors.
Quick Answer
Italy's international country code is +39. When dialing from a mobile phone abroad, you can usually replace the plus sign with your country's international exit prefix. Italian phone numbers have a unique structure where the area code, known as the prefix, remains attached to the subscriber number rather than being separated.
- International dialing format: +39 followed by the subscriber number
- Exit codes: 00 from most of Europe, 011 from North America
- Area codes: Always included in modern Italian numbers, starting with numbers like 02 for Milan or 06 for Rome
What it means / how it works
A country code is a numerical prefix used in international telecommunications to route phone calls and text messages across global networks. The International Telecommunication Union assigns these codes to countries and sovereign territories. For Italy, that code is 39.
Unlike some countries where mobile phone numbers and landline numbers use distinct country-level prefixes or separate structural rules, Italy integrates its geographic codes directly into the national numbering plan. This means that whether you are calling a landline in Florence or a mobile phone in Naples, the international entry point begins with +39.
When you dial a phone number across international borders, your local telecommunication switch recognizes the country code and routes the signal through international transit gateways to the destination country's domestic carrier network. If the country code is missing, incorrect, or followed by invalid domestic digits, the call will fail or connect to an unintended recipient.
Understanding how this works helps explain why simple formatting mistakes cause communication issues. For example, omitting the initial zero on older Italian landline formats used to cause errors, though modern international standards require specific inclusion of the full subscriber string.
Practical scenarios
- Calling an Italian restaurant or hotel from abroad: You need to dial your country's international exit code, followed by 39, and then the complete local number including its geographic prefix.
- Saving international contacts on your smartphone: Always store Italian numbers in international E.164 format, starting with +39, so they work regardless of which country you are currently traveling in.
- Receiving SMS verification codes: If an Italian online service or app sends a one-time password (OTP) to your phone, your device must be able to receive incoming international routing from Italian mobile gateways.
- Verifying accounts on international platforms: When signing up for digital services, platforms often request your country code from a dropdown menu before you input your local mobile number.
- Conducting cross-border business: Sales and support teams communicating with Italian clients must ensure their CRM systems correctly append +39 to outbound contact lists to prevent dropped calls.
- Testing telecommunication routing: Network engineers and developers check whether telecom providers successfully route SIP trunking and SMS traffic through Italian gateway partners.
- Using virtual phone numbers: Individuals who need a temporary presence in Italy use virtual numbers mapped to the +39 network space to receive messages online without a physical Italian SIM card.
Step-by-step
To successfully dial an Italian phone number from another country, follow these standard telecommunication steps to ensure your call or message connects on the first try.
- Identify your current location's exit code: Find the digits required to dial out of your country. For the United States and Canada, this is 011. For most European countries, it is 00. If you are using a mobile phone, you can usually type the plus sign (+) instead of the exit code.
- Dial the Italy country code: Enter 39 immediately after your exit code or plus sign.
- Enter the Italian area code or mobile prefix: Italian landlines start with a zero followed by an area identifier, such as 02 for Milan, 06 for Rome, or 011 for Turin. Mobile numbers start with prefixes such as 3xx (for example, 340, 338, or 320). Note that under modern dialing standards for international calls, you generally keep the leading zero of the Italian geographic prefix when dialing from abroad.
- Enter the subscriber number: Finish dialing the remaining local digits assigned to the specific user, business, or household.
- Check the complete sequence: A complete international number for a mobile phone should look like +39 3XX XXXXXXX, while a landline in Rome looks like +39 06 XXXXXXXX.
- Place the call or send the message: Press the call button or send your SMS, and wait for connection or delivery confirmation.
Safety/privacy/legal
Telecommunication practices involving international phone numbers are subject to strict privacy regulations, particularly within the European Union. Italy operates under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which governs how phone numbers, personal identity data, and digital communication logs are collected and processed.
When sharing your phone number online for account verification or SMS authentication, you expose your personal contact data to third-party databases. Reputable platforms encrypt this data and restrict its use strictly to authentication purposes, but unsecured services may expose numbers to marketing spam, automated robocalls, or data brokers.
Using temporary or virtual phone numbers for online verification is a common strategy to protect personal privacy. Instead of giving out a primary personal mobile number, users can utilize temporary number solutions to receive OTP codes safely. For instance, individuals looking to complete quick online verifications without exposing personal lines often utilize services like PVACodes to manage SMS verification securely across various global regions, including Italy.
Always verify the legitimacy of websites requesting your phone number. Scammers occasionally use fake verification prompts to harvest international mobile numbers for phishing campaigns or unauthorized subscription sign-ups. Never share verification codes received via SMS with anyone else, as these codes grant direct access to your personal accounts.
Best alternatives
Depending on why you are searching for the country code for Italy, you might require different communication tools. Review the table below to determine which option fits your immediate requirement.
| Option | Best For | Privacy Level | Main Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Mobile Roaming | Travelers needing their home SIM abroad | High (Personal Carrier) | High roaming fees |
| Local Italian SIM Card | Long-term stays or permanent residence | High | Requires physical paperwork and ID |
| VoIP Calling Apps (Skype, WhatsApp) | Voice calls over internet data | Medium | Requires internet connection on both ends |
| Virtual SMS Verification Services | Receiving single OTPs or account confirmations online | Variable (Depends on provider) | Not suitable for ongoing voice conversations |
If your goal is simply to verify an online account that requires an Italian number, physical roaming or a local SIM card is often unnecessary. Digital verification platforms provide specialized temporary numbers designed specifically to receive SMS codes quickly and efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the exact country code for Italy?
The international country code for Italy is +39. It must be dialed at the beginning of any international telephone number intended for Italian landlines or mobile phones.
Do I need to drop the zero when dialing an Italian landline from abroad?
Historically, callers had to drop the initial zero of Italian landline area codes when calling internationally. However, modern telecommunication standards require keeping the leading zero (such as 06 for Rome) even when dialing with the +39 country code.
How do I write an Italian phone number in international format?
An Italian phone number in international format starts with a plus sign, followed by the country code 39, the area or mobile prefix, and the subscriber number. For example: +39 02 12345678.
What is the exit code if I am calling Italy from the United States?
The international exit code for the United States and Canada is 011. To call Italy, you would dial 011 followed by 39 and the local Italian number. Alternatively, you can dial +39 on a mobile phone.
Are Italian mobile numbers different from landline numbers?
Yes. Italian mobile numbers always begin with the digit 3 followed by two additional digits representing the mobile carrier prefix (e.g., 340, 338, 320), followed by subscriber digits. Landlines begin with a 0 followed by a geographic area code.
Can I send an SMS to an Italian number without the country code?
If you are physically located outside of Italy, your messaging app or mobile carrier will fail to deliver the message unless you include the +39 country code. Local dialing without country codes only works when you are sending messages from within Italy.
Why is my call to Italy failing after dialing +39?
Calls usually fail due to incorrect exit codes, missing prefix digits, or insufficient international calling permissions on your current phone plan. Check with your telecom provider to ensure international long-distance dialing is enabled.
Is +39 used for any other country besides Italy?
No. The country code +39 is exclusively assigned to Italy. However, Vatican City (+379) and San Marino (+378) maintain close numbering integration with the Italian telecommunications network due to their geographic enclaves.
How can I receive an SMS verification code from an Italian website without an Italian SIM?
You can use virtual phone number services that provide online SMS inboxes capable of receiving international verification codes from Italian telecom networks.
What should I do if an online form rejects my Italian phone number format?
Ensure you have selected Italy (+39) from the country dropdown menu. If the form automatically includes the country code, do not type 39 a second time in the main input field.
Conclusion
Knowing that Italy's country code is +39 is the first step toward connecting with individuals, businesses, or digital services across the country. By understanding proper international formatting, keeping leading zeros where required, and utilizing the right communication tools for your specific needs, you can ensure your calls and messages reach their destination without technical hurdles.