Do I need to add +44 to call the UK?

Calling the UK: Do you need the +44 code?

If you are trying to reach someone across the pond, getting the country code right is the first hurdle. So, do you need to add +44 to call the UK? The short answer is yes—if you are calling from outside the country, that little code is your essential key.

When dialling internationally, you cannot just punch in a local number. You first need your country's exit code (such as 0011 from Australia), followed immediately by the UK's country code, 44. After that, you drop the initial zero from the UK regional prefix and enter the rest of the digits.

For instance, imagine you need to connect with a London office listed with the local number 020 7946 0958. To dial it successfully from abroad, your sequence looks like this: 0011 44 20 7946 0958. Notice how the leading zero in 020 disappears once the international country code is locked in front of it.

If you are using a modern smartphone, life gets a bit easier. You can often just hold down the zero key to type a plus sign, making your sequence +44 instead of typing out the full international exit prefix. Either way, dropping that first zero from the local area code is the trick that trips most people up, so keep an eye on it before you hit call.