The +255 country code is for Tanzania. That includes the mainland and Zanzibar -- both use +255. Whether you're calling Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma, Mwanza, or Zanzibar City, you need +255 to reach Tanzania's roughly 65 million people.

Quick answer: The country code +255 is for Tanzania. All Tanzanian numbers have 9 digits after +255. Mobile numbers start with 7 or 6. A Dar es Salaam landline looks like +255 22 XXX XXXX and a Vodacom mobile like +255 74 XXX XXXX.

How to call Tanzania: quick reference

Tanzania uses a domestic trunk prefix of 0. Drop it when dialing from abroad.

Calling from Dialing format
US/Canada mobile +255 [9-digit number]
US/Canada landline 011-255-[9-digit number]
United Kingdom (UK) 00-255-[9-digit number]
Kenya 000-255-[9-digit number]
UAE 00-255-[9-digit number]
South Africa 00-255-[9-digit number]
India 00-255-[9-digit number]

Tanzania's diaspora is smaller than Kenya's or Ethiopia's, but there are communities in the UK, US, Canada, South Africa, and Oman (the Zanzibar-Oman historical link goes back centuries). A large number of Indian-Tanzanians maintain family ties with both Tanzania and India. Safari tourism also generates regular calls -- tour operators, lodges, and guides in Arusha and the Serengeti talk to international clients daily.

Understanding Tanzanian phone numbers

All Tanzanian phone numbers are 9 digits after the +255 country code. Within Tanzania, people add a 0 before the number (so 0XX-XXX-XXXX). Drop that 0 when calling from abroad.

Mobile numbers

Tanzania's mobile market has several carriers, each with its own number prefixes:

  • Vodacom Tanzania: The largest carrier (Vodafone subsidiary). Uses 74, 75, 76 prefixes.
  • Airtel Tanzania: Second largest. Uses 78, 68, 69 prefixes.
  • Tigo (MIC Tanzania): Uses 71, 65, 67 prefixes.
  • Halotel: State-backed carrier (TTCL subsidiary), focused on rural coverage. Uses 62 prefix.
  • Zantel: Operates in Zanzibar and mainland. Uses 77 prefix.

Vodacom leads in market share, followed by Airtel and Tigo. Dual SIM phones are the norm -- people often keep one SIM for Vodacom (best coverage in cities) and another for Airtel or Tigo (cheaper rates on certain routes). Number portability exists but isn't widely used.

  • Length: 9 digits after +255.
  • Example: Domestic 074-123-4567 becomes +255 74 123 4567 internationally.

Landline numbers (fixed line)

Tanzanian landlines use 2-digit area codes followed by a 7-digit local number:

  • Structure: 2-digit area code + 7-digit local number = 9 digits after +255.
  • Dar es Salaam: Area code 22.
  • Other cities: Each has its own 2-digit code (e.g., 27 for Arusha, 24 for Zanzibar).
  • Trunk prefix: Drop the leading 0 when dialing from abroad.

Landlines are uncommon outside business settings. TTCL (Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation Limited) operates what's left of the fixed-line network. Most Tanzanians have never had a landline and went straight to mobile.

Tanzania area codes reference table

Tanzanian area codes are 2 digits. Dar es Salaam (22) is the most commonly dialed -- it's the commercial capital and by far the largest city, even though the official capital moved to Dodoma. Most embassies, banks, and businesses still operate out of Dar.

City Area code International format
Dar es Salaam 22 +255 22 XXX XXXX
Zanzibar 24 +255 24 XXX XXXX
Dodoma 26 +255 26 XXX XXXX
Arusha 27 +255 27 XXX XXXX
Mwanza 28 +255 28 XXX XXXX
Morogoro 23 +255 23 XXX XXXX
Mbeya 25 +255 25 XXX XXXX
Tanga 27 +255 27 XXX XXXX
Moshi 27 +255 27 XXX XXXX
Iringa 26 +255 26 XXX XXXX

Note that Arusha, Moshi, and Tanga share area code 27 -- they're in the same region (northern Tanzania). Dodoma and Iringa share 26. The area code covers a geographic zone, not a single city.

Don't confuse +255 with +254

Tanzania is +255. Kenya is +254. One digit off. The two countries share a long border, Swahili is spoken in both, and millions of people have family and business on both sides. If you dial +254 when you meant +255, you'll reach Kenya.

Code Country Region
+255 Tanzania East Africa
+254 Kenya East Africa

This is one of the most common country code mix-ups in East Africa. Both countries use M-Pesa, both speak Swahili, and border cities like Namanga sit right on the line. If you're in the tourism sector dealing with both countries, save contacts with the full international number to avoid mistakes.

M-Pesa and mobile money

Tanzania is one of the biggest mobile money markets in Africa. M-Pesa (run by Vodacom) is the dominant platform, just like in neighbouring Kenya where it originated. But Tanzania's mobile money scene is more fragmented -- each carrier has its own wallet:

  • M-Pesa (Vodacom): The largest mobile money service. Used for person-to-person transfers, bill payments, merchant payments, and salary disbursements.
  • Airtel Money (Airtel): Second largest. Cross-network transfers between M-Pesa and Airtel Money work, though there's usually a small fee.
  • Tigo Pesa (Tigo): Third major platform.

In Dar es Salaam, you can pay for a dala dala (minibus), buy groceries, or settle a restaurant bill with M-Pesa. Street vendors in tourist areas sometimes prefer mobile money over cash because they don't need to carry change. The system runs on USSD codes, so it works on basic phones -- no smartphone or data connection needed.

Tanzania introduced interoperability between mobile money platforms in 2014, one of the first countries in Africa to do so. You can send money from M-Pesa to Airtel Money without needing both accounts.

Zanzibar: same country code, different feel

Zanzibar uses +255, the same country code as mainland Tanzania. The area code for Zanzibar is 24. There's no separate country code for Zanzibar, despite it having semi-autonomous status with its own president and parliament.

Zantel is the carrier most associated with Zanzibar (prefix 77), though Vodacom, Airtel, and Tigo all operate on the islands. If you're calling Stone Town, the number format is the same as the mainland: +255 followed by 9 digits.

Zanzibar's historical ties to Oman mean there's a small but steady stream of calls between +255 (Tanzania/Zanzibar) and +968 (Oman). Some Zanzibari families have relatives in Muscat going back generations.

Time zone: UTC+3 (same as Kenya)

Tanzania is on East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3) year-round. No daylight saving time. Same time zone as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia -- convenient for anyone calling around East Africa.

Your location Time difference Call Tanzania 9 AM - 6 PM
US East Coast (EST) Tanzania is 8h ahead 1:00 AM - 10:00 AM EST
US East Coast (EDT) Tanzania is 7h ahead 2:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT
US West Coast (PST) Tanzania is 11h ahead 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM PST (night before)
UK (GMT) Tanzania is 3h ahead 6:00 AM - 3:00 PM GMT
South Africa (SAST) Tanzania is 1h ahead 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM SAST
India (IST) Tanzania is 2h 30m behind 11:30 AM - 8:30 PM IST
UAE (GST) Tanzania is 1h behind 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM GST
Kenya (EAT) Same time zone 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM EAT

Tip: If you're coordinating a Kilimanjaro trek or safari from the US, your Arusha-based guide is 8 hours ahead during EST. Morning calls from the US East Coast (around 7-8 AM) land at 3-4 PM in Tanzania -- a good window before evening.

Internet and calling apps

WhatsApp is the default messaging app in Tanzania. Almost everyone with a smartphone uses it. Voice calls over WhatsApp are common in cities where 4G coverage is decent -- Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Mwanza, and Zanzibar City all have reasonably good mobile data.

Outside major cities, data speeds drop. Rural areas often have 2G or patchy 3G at best. For calls to family in villages, a regular voice call to their +255 number is more reliable than trying WhatsApp. Halotel specifically targets rural areas, so a Halotel number (prefix 62) often means the person is in a less connected area.

Instagram and TikTok are growing fast among younger Tanzanians, but for person-to-person communication, WhatsApp is dominant. Facebook Messenger is also used.

Tanzania introduced a social media tax in 2018 that required daily payments to access platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook. The tax was unpopular and was replaced in 2021 with adjusted data levies. Access to social media is no longer gated behind a daily fee.

SIM registration and biometrics

Tanzania requires biometric SIM registration. Since 2020, all SIM cards must be registered with the subscriber's fingerprint and national ID. The government ran a mass registration drive that deactivated unregistered SIMs. If you're a tourist, you can still buy a prepaid SIM at the airport in Dar es Salaam (Julius Nyerere International) or Kilimanjaro International Airport -- you'll need your passport and they'll scan your fingerprint on the spot.

Vodacom and Airtel both have kiosks at the airports. The process is quick but does require the biometric step, so you can't just buy a SIM from a street vendor like you could a few years ago.

Mobile vs. landline: how to tell the difference

You can tell by the first digit after +255:

  • Starts with 7 or 6: A mobile number (various carriers).
  • Starts with 2: A landline number (city area code).

Calling rates to Tanzanian mobiles are typically higher than to landlines, but since almost nobody uses landlines, you'll nearly always be calling a mobile.

Dialing examples

Here are practical examples for calling different types of Tanzanian numbers:

Example 1: Calling a Dar es Salaam landline from the US

  • Tanzanian number (domestic): 022-234-5678
  • From a US mobile: +255 22 234 5678
  • From a US landline: 011 255 22 234 5678

Example 2: Calling a Tanzanian mobile from the US

  • Tanzanian number (domestic): 074-123-4567
  • From a US mobile: +255 74 123 4567
  • From a US landline: 011 255 74 123 4567

Example 3: Calling a Zanzibar landline from the UK

  • Tanzanian number (domestic): 024-345-6789
  • From the UK: 00 255 24 345 6789

Example 4: Calling from Kenya

  • Tanzanian number (domestic): Any mobile (e.g., 078-567-8901)
  • From Kenya: 000 255 78 567 8901

Common mistakes to avoid

Here are the most common mistakes when dialing the +255 country code:

  • Keeping the leading 0: Tanzanian numbers start with 0 domestically. Drop it when dialing +255. Dial +255 74 (not +255 074).
  • Confusing +255 with +254: Kenya is +254, Tanzania is +255. One digit apart. If you deal with both countries, this mix-up will happen -- save numbers with the full international format.
  • Wrong digit count: Tanzanian numbers are exactly 9 digits after +255. If you have 8 or 10 digits, check the number.
  • Assuming Zanzibar has a different country code: Zanzibar is part of Tanzania and uses +255. The area code for Zanzibar landlines is 24.
  • Shared area codes: Arusha, Moshi, and Tanga all use area code 27. Don't assume a +255 27 number is automatically Arusha -- it could be any of those cities.

Cheapest ways to call +255 numbers

International calls to Tanzania through major carriers can cost $1-$3 per minute. Here's how to bring that down:

  • VoIP services: Services like CallSky.io offer competitive per-minute rates to Tanzanian mobile and landline numbers. Check our international calling rates.
  • WhatsApp: Free when both sides have good data. Works well in Dar, Arusha, and Zanzibar. Less reliable in rural areas.
  • International calling plans: Some UK carriers offer Africa calling add-ons. Check our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
  • Calling cards: Less common for Tanzania than for West African countries, but available in some diaspora shops in London and other cities.

If you're calling Tanzania regularly -- whether for family, business, or safari coordination -- a VoIP service with good East Africa rates will save you compared to standard carrier charges.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What country has the +255 country code?

The +255 country code is for Tanzania, including Zanzibar. Any call from a number starting with +255 originates from Tanzania.

How many digits is a Tanzanian phone number?

Tanzanian phone numbers have 9 digits after the +255 country code. Mobile numbers start with 7 or 6. Landlines use a 2-digit area code plus a 7-digit local number.

What is the area code for Dar es Salaam?

The area code for Dar es Salaam is 22. Internationally, dial +255 22 followed by the 7-digit local number.

How do I call Tanzania from the USA?

From a mobile phone, dial +255 followed by the 9-digit Tanzanian number (drop the leading 0). From a landline, dial the US exit code 011, then 255, then the 9-digit number.

What time zone is Tanzania in?

Tanzania is on East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3) year-round with no daylight saving time. This is the same time zone as Kenya.

Does M-Pesa work in Tanzania?

Yes, M-Pesa is the dominant mobile money service in Tanzania, run by Vodacom. Airtel Money and Tigo Pesa are also widely used. Tanzania was one of the first countries in Africa to enable cross-network mobile money transfers.

Ready to make clear, affordable international calls without the hassle? With CallSky.io, you can connect to over 180 countries, including Tanzania, with crystal-clear quality and transparent per-minute rates. Start calling with CallSky.io today.