The +262 country code is for Reunion (La Reunion), a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean about 700 km east of Madagascar. Reunion is not an independent country -- it is legally part of France, uses the euro, and is governed by French law. About 900,000 people live on this small volcanic island. Saint-Denis is the capital. The population is a mix of French, Malagasy, Indian, Chinese, and African descent, making it one of the most ethnically diverse places in the French republic. French is the official language, though Reunion Creole is what people actually speak at home. The island's phone system follows the French numbering plan with a few local twists.
Quick answer: The country code +262 is for Reunion. Phone numbers are 9 digits after +262. Landlines start with 262:
+262 262 XX XX XX. Mobiles start with 692 or 693:+262 692 XX XX XX. The trunk prefix is 0 -- drop it when dialing from abroad. Locally, numbers are dialed as 10 digits starting with 0.
How to call Reunion: quick reference
Reunion follows the French numbering system. Locally, people dial 10 digits starting with 0 (e.g., 0262 XX XX XX for a landline). From abroad, drop the leading 0 and dial +262 followed by the 9-digit number. This is exactly how you would call any French number, just with +262 instead of +33.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +262 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-262-[local number] |
| UK | 00-262-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-262-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-262-[local number] |
| France | 00-262-[local number] |
Understanding Reunion phone numbers
Reunion numbers follow the French format: 10 digits domestically (with leading 0), 9 digits internationally (after +262). The first few digits tell you whether it is a landline or mobile.
Landline numbers
Landlines start with 0262 locally, or +262 262 internationally. The format is:
- Local: 0262 XX XX XX (10 digits)
- International: +262 262 XX XX XX (9 digits after +262)
All landlines on Reunion share the 0262 prefix. There are no separate area codes for different towns -- the island is too small.
Mobile numbers
Mobiles start with 0692 or 0693 locally:
- Local: 0692 XX XX XX or 0693 XX XX XX (10 digits)
- International: +262 692 XX XX XX or +262 693 XX XX XX (9 digits after +262)
Note: Reunion also shares the +262 code with Mayotte, another French overseas territory nearby. Mayotte landlines start with 0269 and mobiles with 0639. If a number starts with 269 or 639 after +262, it is Mayotte, not Reunion.
Mobile carriers in Reunion
Since Reunion is part of France, the mobile market is served by the same major French carriers you would find in mainland France, plus a local operator.
Orange Reunion (formerly Orange)
The dominant carrier on the island. Part of the Orange group. Has the widest coverage including the mountainous interior. Most Reunionese have an Orange SIM.
SFR Reunion
The second carrier, formerly SRR (Societe Reunionnaise du Radiotelephone) before being absorbed into the SFR group. Good coverage in populated areas, competitive on pricing.
Free Mobile (Telco OI)
The budget carrier, operated locally by Telco OI under the Free brand. Entered the market more recently with aggressive pricing. Coverage is good in the coastal towns where most people live, thinner in the interior highlands.
Coverage across all three carriers is generally good in the populated coastal belt where most of the 900,000 residents live. The volcanic interior (around Piton de la Fournaise) and the deep cirques (Mafate, Cilaos, Salazie) can have dead zones.
Don't confuse +262 with nearby codes
The +262 code has a few sources of confusion, the biggest being with Mauritius next door:
| Code | Country/Territory | Why it's confusing |
|---|---|---|
| +230 | Mauritius | The nearest independent country, about 170 km away. People mix them up because both are Indian Ocean islands near Madagascar. |
| +262 (Mayotte) | Mayotte | Shares the same +262 country code. Mayotte numbers start with 269 (landline) or 639 (mobile) after +262. |
| +261 | Madagascar | Off by one digit, and Madagascar is the large island visible from Reunion on a clear day. |
| +33 | France (mainland) | Reunion is part of France but has its own country code (+262, not +33). You cannot reach Reunion by dialing +33. |
The +262/+33 confusion catches people who know Reunion is French and assume the mainland France code works. It does not. Reunion has its own country code, +262.
Time zone considerations
Reunion uses Reunion Time (RET), UTC+4 year-round. No daylight saving time.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 9 AM in Saint-Denis |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | +9 hours | 12:00 AM (midnight) in New York |
| US West Coast (PST) | +12 hours | 9:00 PM previous day in LA |
| France (CET) | +3 hours | 6:00 AM in Paris |
| UK (GMT) | +4 hours | 5:00 AM in London |
| Mauritius (MUT) | Same time | 9:00 AM in Port Louis |
| Australia (AEDT) | -7 hours | 4:00 PM in Sydney |
The 3-hour gap with mainland France is the one that matters most, since most calls are between Reunion and metropolitan France. When it is 9 AM in Saint-Denis, it is 6 AM in Paris -- so morning calls from Reunion catch France still waking up.
Communication in Reunion
Business hours and language
Business hours follow the French standard: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The midday break is common. Government offices keep similar hours. French is the language of business and administration. Reunion Creole (Kreol Reunione) is spoken at home by most of the population -- it is French-based but distinct enough that a metropolitan French speaker may struggle to follow a fast Creole conversation. For international callers, French works fine.
Communication patterns
Reunion is a fully developed French department with the same telecom infrastructure you would expect in mainland France. Smartphone penetration is high, 4G/LTE is standard, and fiber broadband is available in most of the coastal towns. WhatsApp and Messenger are the dominant messaging apps. Voice calls remain common, especially to older family members. Since Reunion is part of France, calls between Reunion and mainland France are treated as domestic calls by French carriers -- but from outside France (like from the US), you still need to dial the international +262 code.
Network quality
Excellent across the populated coastal belt where the vast majority of people live. 4G coverage is widespread, and 5G is being rolled out. The interior is where coverage drops -- the cirques (Mafate in particular, which has no roads and is only accessible by foot or helicopter) have limited or no service. Piton de la Fournaise, the active volcano, is also a dead zone. But for practical purposes, if you are calling someone in Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre, Le Port, or any coastal town, connectivity is on par with mainland France.
The Reunion diaspora
Reunion's diaspora is almost entirely directed at one place: mainland France.
Where they went
Metropolitan France is where nearly all Reunionese who leave the island go. Estimates put the Reunionese community in mainland France at 150,000 to 200,000 people, concentrated in the Paris region (Ile-de-France), Toulouse, Bordeaux, and the south of France. Many left for university and stayed for work, since Reunion's job market is limited (unemployment runs around 20-25%, one of the highest rates in France). The BUMIDOM program in the 1960s-70s actively relocated Reunionese workers to mainland France, and the effects of that migration are still felt.
Mauritius has a small Reunionese community, mostly people with family ties on both sides. The two islands are culturally connected through shared Creole heritage and proximity.
Why they call
Calls between mainland France and Reunion are the dominant pattern. Family calls, especially on weekends and during the French holiday periods. The time difference (3 hours) means evening calls from mainland France arrive at night in Reunion -- so weekend afternoon calls from Paris are the sweet spot. Christmas and New Year are peak calling times since many Reunionese in mainland France cannot afford to fly back every year (flights are expensive -- 10+ hours each way).
Dialing examples
Calling a landline in Saint-Denis
Local number: 0262 41 23 45. Drop the 0: +262 262 41 23 45. From a US landline: 011 262 262 41 23 45.
Calling a mobile on Reunion
Local number: 0692 12 34 56. Drop the 0: +262 692 12 34 56. From the UK: 00 262 692 12 34 56.
Calling a landline in Saint-Pierre
Local number: 0262 25 67 89. Drop the 0: +262 262 25 67 89. From Germany: 00 262 262 25 67 89.
Calling a Mayotte number (same +262 code)
Local number: 0269 61 23 45. Drop the 0: +262 269 61 23 45. Note the 269 prefix means Mayotte, not Reunion.
Common mistakes to avoid
Using +33 (France) instead of +262
Reunion is part of France but has its own country code. Dialing +33 followed by a Reunion number will not work. You must use +262. This catches people who know Reunion is French and logically assume the France code applies.
Forgetting to drop the trunk prefix
Locally, Reunion numbers start with 0 (0262 for landlines, 0692/0693 for mobiles). When calling from abroad, drop the leading 0. Dialing +262 0262... adds an extra digit and the call will fail.
Confusing Reunion numbers with Mayotte numbers
Both Reunion and Mayotte share the +262 country code. Reunion landlines start with 262, Mayotte landlines start with 269. Reunion mobiles start with 692/693, Mayotte mobiles start with 639. If you dial a 269 or 639 number thinking it is Reunion, you are actually calling Mayotte (a different island about 1,500 km away).
Calling at the wrong time due to the France time gap
Reunion is 3 hours ahead of mainland France (UTC+4 vs UTC+1). If you are calling from Paris at 9 PM, it is midnight in Reunion. Plan calls with the time difference in mind, especially if your contact works standard French hours.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country has the +262 country code?
+262 is for Reunion (La Reunion), a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. It is also shared with Mayotte, another French overseas territory.
Is Reunion part of France?
Yes. Reunion is a French overseas department (DROM). It uses the euro, follows French law, and is part of the EU. But it has its own country code (+262), not +33 like mainland France.
How do I call a Reunion mobile from the US?
Dial +262 followed by the 9-digit number without the leading 0. For example, if the local number is 0692 12 34 56, dial +262 692 12 34 56. From a US landline: 011 262 692 12 34 56.
Can I use +33 to call Reunion?
No. Even though Reunion is part of France, you must use +262, not +33. The mainland France code does not route to Reunion.
What is the difference between Reunion and Mayotte numbers?
Both use +262. Reunion landlines start with 262, mobiles with 692/693. Mayotte landlines start with 269, mobiles with 639. The prefix after +262 tells you which island.
For more Indian Ocean dialing guides, see +230 Mauritius, +261 Madagascar, or browse the full country codes directory.