The +248 country code connects you to Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands scattered across the western Indian Ocean. With a population of roughly 100,000, Seychelles is Africa's smallest sovereign state and one of the most sparsely populated countries on earth. Most people live on just three islands: Mahé (home to the capital Victoria), Praslin, and La Digue.
Seychelles uses a straightforward 7-digit phone system with no area codes and no trunk prefix. That simplicity is a relief if you've dealt with the numbering plans of larger African nations. Dial +248 followed by seven digits and you're connected.
Quick answer: The +248 country code is for Seychelles. Phone numbers are 7 digits long with no area codes. Mobile numbers start with 25, 26, 27, or 28. Landline numbers start with 4. There is no trunk prefix to drop when dialing internationally.
How to call Seychelles: quick reference
Seychelles has no trunk prefix, so you dial numbers exactly as they appear. From a mobile phone anywhere in the world, the + sign replaces your country's international access code.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +248 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-248-[local number] |
| UK | 00-248-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-248-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-248-[local number] |
| France | 00-248-[local number] |
Understanding Seychelles phone numbers
All Seychelles phone numbers are 7 digits long, dialed directly after +248. There are no area codes and no trunk prefix.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers start with 25, 26, 27, or 28, giving formats like +248 2XX XXXX. The first two digits indicate the carrier:
- 25x - Airtel Seychelles
- 26x - Airtel Seychelles (expanded range)
- 28x - Cable & Wireless (Intelvision Mobile)
Landline numbers
Landline numbers start with 4, typically 42, 43, or 44, giving formats like +248 4XX XXXX. Since nearly the entire population lives on Mahé, Praslin, or La Digue, there is no geographic area code system. All landlines share the same prefix structure.
| Type | Starts with | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile (Airtel) | 25, 26 | +248 251 2345 |
| Mobile (C&W) | 28 | +248 281 2345 |
| Landline | 4 | +248 432 1234 |
Mobile carriers in Seychelles
Seychelles has two mobile operators serving its small population. Competition keeps coverage strong on the main islands, though signal can be patchy on remote outer islands.
Airtel Seychelles
Airtel (formerly Telecom Seychelles, then Bharti Airtel acquired the mobile operations) is the larger of the two operators. Prefixes 25x and 26x. Airtel covers Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue with 4G, and has the wider network on less-visited islands. Most tourists pick up an Airtel SIM at the airport.
Cable & Wireless Seychelles
Cable & Wireless (C&W) is the legacy fixed-line operator that also runs mobile services under the Intelvision brand. Prefix 28x for mobile. C&W handles most landline infrastructure and internet services. Coverage is comparable to Airtel on the three main islands.
Don't confuse +248 with nearby codes
Seychelles' +248 sits in a cluster of similar Indian Ocean and African codes. The most common mixup is with +249 (Sudan), which is only one digit away.
| Code | Country | Why it's confusing |
|---|---|---|
| +249 | Sudan | One digit different (248 vs 249). Very common typo. |
| +230 | Mauritius | Another Indian Ocean island nation. People searching for "island country code" sometimes pick the wrong one. |
| +245 | Guinea-Bissau | Transposed digits (248 vs 245). |
| +260 | Zambia | Starts with 2, ends similarly. Less common but worth noting. |
The +248/+249 mixup is particularly costly since a call intended for a small Indian Ocean island ends up connecting to Sudan. Always double-check that last digit.
Time zone considerations
Seychelles runs on Seychelles Time (SCT), which is UTC+4 year-round. There is no daylight saving time.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 9 AM in Victoria |
|---|---|---|
| New York (EST) | SCT is 9 hours ahead | 12:00 AM (midnight) in New York |
| Los Angeles (PST) | SCT is 12 hours ahead | 9:00 PM previous day in LA |
| London (GMT) | SCT is 4 hours ahead | 5:00 AM in London |
| Dubai (GST) | Same time zone | 9:00 AM in Dubai |
| Mumbai (IST) | SCT is 1.5 hours behind | 10:30 AM in Mumbai |
The time difference with North America is significant. If you're calling from the US East Coast, your best window is early morning (your time) to catch Seychelles in the afternoon. From the West Coast, late evening works, since 9 PM PST is 9 AM the next day in Victoria.
Communication in Seychelles
Business hours and communication style
Government offices and businesses typically operate 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. Saturday mornings are half-days for some shops. Seychellois are trilingual (Creole, English, French) so language is rarely a barrier when calling. English is the primary business language, though casual conversation often switches to Seychellois Creole.
Network quality
Mobile and fixed-line coverage on Mahé, Praslin, and La Digue is good. 4G is available in populated areas. However, the outer islands (most of which are uninhabited nature reserves) have limited or no coverage. Undersea fiber cables connect Seychelles to the global internet, so call quality over data connections is generally reliable from the main islands.
WhatsApp and messaging apps
WhatsApp is the dominant messaging app. Many small businesses, hotels, and tour operators in Seychelles use WhatsApp as their primary contact method. If you're calling a business, try WhatsApp first.
The Seychelles diaspora
For a country of 100,000, the Seychellois diaspora is proportionally significant. Estimates suggest 15,000-25,000 Seychellois live abroad.
United Kingdom
The UK hosts the largest Seychellois community, concentrated in London and the southeast. Colonial ties (Seychelles gained independence from Britain in 1976) established the migration pattern. Many Seychellois hold British passports through pre-independence arrangements. Family calls between London and Mahé are among the most common international routes for +248.
France and Reunion
The French connection runs deep. Seychelles was a French colony before British rule, and French remains an official language. A steady number of Seychellois study and work in mainland France and nearby Reunion (+262). The shared Creole heritage with Reunion and Mauritius strengthens ties across the Indian Ocean.
Australia
A smaller but growing community exists in Australia, particularly in Melbourne and Perth. Geographic proximity relative to Europe (Perth to Mahé is closer than London to Mahé) and Australia's migration programs have attracted Seychellois professionals, especially in hospitality and healthcare.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile number from the US
You want to call an Airtel mobile number 251 2345 in Seychelles.
From a US mobile: +248 251 2345
From a US landline: 011-248-251-2345
Calling a landline on Mahé from the UK
You want to call a Victoria landline 432 1234.
From a UK mobile: +248 432 1234
From a UK landline: 00-248-432-1234
Calling a hotel on Praslin from Germany
The hotel's number is 429 8765.
From a German mobile: +248 429 8765
From a German landline: 00-248-429-8765
Local calls within Seychelles
Dial the 7-digit number directly. No prefix needed. To call that same Airtel mobile locally: 251 2345.
Common mistakes to avoid
Adding a trunk prefix that doesn't exist
Some people dial +248-0-2512345, adding a leading zero by habit. Seychelles has no trunk prefix. The number after +248 is the full 7-digit local number. Adding a zero gives you 8 digits, which won't connect.
Confusing +248 with +249 (Sudan)
One digit separates Seychelles from Sudan. If your call connects to an Arabic-speaking person instead of a Creole/English-speaking one, check the code. This is the most frequent misdialing error for +248.
Dialing too few or too many digits
Seychelles numbers are exactly 7 digits after the country code. Not 6, not 8. If you're copying a number from a website that formats it with spaces or dashes, count the actual digits. +248 XXX XXXX = 7 digits.
Assuming French country code works
Seychelles is not part of France despite the French heritage. Dialing +33 (France) followed by a Seychelles number won't work. Use +248.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +248 code?
Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the western Indian Ocean. The capital is Victoria, located on Mahé island.
How many digits are in a Seychelles phone number?
Seven digits after the +248 country code. There are no area codes, so the full international format is +248 followed by 7 digits.
Does Seychelles have a trunk prefix?
No. Unlike many countries, Seychelles has no leading zero or trunk prefix. You dial the same 7-digit number locally and internationally (just add +248 for international calls).
What's the difference between +248 and +249?
+248 is Seychelles (Indian Ocean island nation, ~100,000 people). +249 is Sudan (northeast Africa, ~45 million people). They differ by one digit and are frequently confused.
What language will I hear when calling Seychelles?
Seychelles has three official languages: Seychellois Creole, English, and French. Business calls are typically conducted in English. Automated phone systems may use Creole or English.
For more Indian Ocean dialing guides, see our articles on Mauritius (+230) and Reunion (+262), or browse the full country code directory.