The +1649 country code is for the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), a British Overseas Territory southeast of the Bahamas. The territory consists of about 40 islands and cays, though only eight are inhabited. Most of the roughly 45,000 residents live on Providenciales ("Provo"), the tourism and business hub, or Grand Turk, the administrative capital.
TCI uses NANP area code 649, so dialing from the US or Canada follows the same pattern as calling any other area code. But like all Caribbean NANP territories, the call bills as international. Given TCI's heavy tourist traffic and expat population, this catches visitors and new residents off guard regularly.
Quick answer: The country code for Turks and Caicos is +1-649 (NANP area code 649). Local numbers are 7 digits. There is no trunk prefix. Mobile numbers typically start with 23x, 24x, 33x, or 34x. Landline numbers often start with 94x or 946.
How to call Turks and Caicos Islands: quick reference
TCI uses NANP area code 649. From the US or Canada, dial it like any other area code. From the UK or elsewhere, add your international access code before 1-649.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | 1-(649)-XXX-XXXX |
| US/Canada landline | 1-(649)-XXX-XXXX |
| UK | 00-1-(649)-XXX-XXXX |
| Caribbean NANP | 1-(649)-XXX-XXXX |
| Within TCI | XXX-XXXX (7 digits) |
| Elsewhere | +1-(649)-XXX-XXXX |
Understanding Turks and Caicos Islands phone numbers
All TCI phone numbers follow the NANP format: (649) XXX-XXXX. The 649 area code covers every inhabited island in the territory.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers are 7 digits. Common mobile prefixes include 23x, 24x, 33x, and 34x. A typical mobile number looks like (649) 231-1234. Most residents use mobile phones as their primary line.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers also use 7 digits. The prefix 946 is common for Providenciales landlines, and 94x prefixes cover most of the territory. A sample landline: (649) 946-5678. Landline usage is declining, but hotels and businesses still use them.
One area code for all islands
There is no sub-area code for individual islands. Providenciales, Grand Turk, South Caicos, and North Caicos all share 649. A call between Provo and Grand Turk is a local 7-digit call.
Mobile carriers in Turks and Caicos Islands
TCI has two main carriers serving the islands.
Flow (Liberty Latin America)
Flow is the dominant carrier in TCI, providing mobile, landline, internet, and cable TV services. Formerly Cable & Wireless, it rebranded to Flow in 2015. It has the widest coverage across the inhabited islands and is the default choice for most residents and businesses.
Digicel
Digicel operates as the second mobile carrier. It competes on prepaid pricing and has decent coverage on Providenciales and Grand Turk. Coverage on the smaller islands (South Caicos, Salt Cay) can be more limited with Digicel compared to Flow.
For tourists staying at resorts on Provo, hotel WiFi calling is often more practical than buying a local SIM. But if you are staying longer or visiting the outer islands, a local prepaid SIM from Flow is the safer bet for consistent coverage.
Don't confuse +1649 with nearby codes
TCI's area code 649 is not easily confused with other codes numerically, but the territory itself gets mixed up with nearby island groups.
| Code | Territory | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +1-649 | Turks and Caicos Islands | This article |
| +1-242 | Bahamas | TCI's northern neighbor, separate territory |
| +1-809/829/849 | Dominican Republic | TCI is south of DR but uses NANP, DR does not |
| +1-345 | Cayman Islands | Both British Overseas Territories, different codes |
People sometimes confuse TCI with the Bahamas because of geographic proximity. The Bahamas uses area code 242, not 649. If someone says they are in the "islands near the Bahamas," confirm whether they mean TCI (649) or one of the Bahamian islands (242).
Time zone considerations
Turks and Caicos runs on Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) in winter and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) in summer. TCI is one of the few Caribbean territories that observes daylight saving time.
| Your location | When it's 10:00 AM in TCI |
|---|---|
| New York (EST/EDT) | 10:00 AM (same time year-round) |
| Los Angeles (PST/PDT) | 7:00 AM (same offset year-round) |
| London (GMT/BST) | 3:00 PM (year-round) |
| Toronto (EST/EDT) | 10:00 AM (same time year-round) |
Because TCI follows the same DST schedule as the US East Coast, the time difference between TCI and New York or Toronto is always zero. This makes scheduling calls from the US or Canada particularly simple.
Communication in Turks and Caicos Islands
Business hours
Government offices on Grand Turk operate Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Banks typically close at 3:00 PM. On Providenciales, tourist-oriented businesses keep longer hours, especially along Grace Bay. Many restaurants and shops close on Sundays.
Language
English is the official language and is spoken by everyone. TCI also has a notable Haitian Creole-speaking community, as Haitian immigrants make up a significant portion of the workforce. You will hear both English and Creole in daily life, especially on Providenciales.
Network quality
4G LTE is available on Providenciales and Grand Turk through both Flow and Digicel. Coverage on the smaller inhabited islands (South Caicos, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, Salt Cay) is more limited. Providenciales has reliable coverage in the Grace Bay area and downtown, but signal can weaken in the less-developed eastern end of the island.
The Turks and Caicos Islands diaspora
Who calls TCI
TCI is unusual in that inbound calling is driven more by tourism and expats than by a traditional diaspora. The local "Belonger" population (people with generational ties to the islands) is small, around 12,000-15,000 people. A much larger group of expat workers and residents from Haiti, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Canada, the US, and the UK live on the islands and call home regularly.
Tourism-driven calls
TCI receives over a million tourists annually, most visiting Providenciales for the beaches. Many calls to TCI numbers are hotel reservations, villa rentals, dive shop bookings, and travel logistics. The tourism season peaks from December through April, and call volumes reflect that.
Haitian community members make up the largest immigrant group and call Haiti (+509) frequently. Jamaican workers also call home to Jamaica (+1-876). If you are calling TCI itself from abroad, you are most likely reaching a business, a resort, or an expat.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile on Providenciales from the US
The mobile number is 231-1234. From a US phone, dial 1-(649)-231-1234. From a US mobile, you can also enter +1-649-231-1234.
Calling a hotel on Grace Bay from the UK
The hotel landline is 946-5678. From a UK phone, dial 00-1-649-946-5678. From a UK mobile, use +1-649-946-5678.
Calling Grand Turk from Providenciales
A government office on Grand Turk has the number 946-2801. From Provo, just dial the 7-digit number: 946-2801. Both islands share the 649 area code, so it is a local call.
Calling a dive shop from Toronto
The dive shop on Provo has the number 941-3456. From Toronto, dial 1-(649)-941-3456. Since TCI and Toronto are on the same clock, you do not need to worry about time zone math.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming it's a domestic US/Canada call
TCI uses +1 like the US and Canada, and since it is on the same time zone as New York, it feels very "domestic." It is not. Your carrier bills 649 calls as international. Many tourists discover this when they get their phone bill after a trip to Provo.
Confusing TCI with the Bahamas
TCI is geographically close to the Bahamas and both are popular beach destinations. But the Bahamas uses area code 242, not 649. If someone says they are on an island near the Bahamas, ask for the specific area code.
Adding a trunk prefix
There is no trunk prefix in TCI. Do not add a 0 before the 7-digit local number. The number is always exactly 7 digits after the 649 area code.
Expecting UK-style dialing because it's British
TCI is a British Overseas Territory, but it does not use a UK-style phone system. It uses the NANP with a US-dollar economy. The dialing format is North American, not British. Do not try to use +44 or any UK prefix.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country has the +1649 country code?
The +1649 country code is for the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean. Area code 649 is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP).
How do I call Turks and Caicos from the US?
Dial 1-(649) followed by the 7-digit local number. From a US mobile, you can also use +1-649-XXX-XXXX. The call bills as international despite the +1 prefix.
Is calling Turks and Caicos a domestic US call?
No. Even though TCI uses +1 like the US and Canada (NANP area code 649), calls are billed as international. Check your plan or use a VoIP service with transparent per-minute rates.
What is the difference between +1649 and +1242?
+1649 is the Turks and Caicos Islands, while +1242 is the Bahamas. Both are British-influenced Caribbean NANP territories southeast of Florida. Check the three digits after +1 carefully.
Do I need a trunk prefix when calling within Turks and Caicos?
No. For local calls within TCI, just dial the 7-digit number directly. There is no trunk prefix or leading 0.
Looking for other Caribbean dialing guides? Check out Bahamas (+1242), Cayman Islands (+1345), or browse all country codes.