The +356 country code connects calls to Malta, a tiny archipelago of about 530,000 people in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily. Malta is one of the smallest and most densely populated countries in the world, with three inhabited islands: Malta (the main island), Gozo, and Comino. The country is bilingual, with both Maltese and English as official languages, which makes phone conversations straightforward for English speakers.
If you see a phone number starting with +356, it comes from Malta. The country uses a simple 8-digit numbering system with no area codes and no trunk prefix. What you see is what you dial.
Quick answer: Dial +356 followed by 8 digits. No area codes, no trunk prefix to worry about. Mobile numbers start with 77, 79, or 99. Landlines start with 21, 22, 23, or 27.
How to call Malta: quick reference
Malta has no trunk prefix and no area codes, so dialing is straightforward. Just add +356 before the 8-digit local number. From landlines in countries that require an international access code, use 00 (Europe) or 011 (US/Canada) instead of the +.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +356 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-356-[local number] |
| UK | 00-356-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-356-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-356-[local number] |
| France | 00-356-[local number] |
Understanding Malta phone numbers
Maltese phone numbers are 8 digits long after the +356 country code. There are no area codes and no trunk prefix. The first two digits tell you whether it's a mobile or landline number.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers start with 77, 79, or 99 and are 8 digits total: +356 XXXX XXXX. The prefix indicates the original carrier (79 for GO, 77 for Melita, 99 for Epic), though number portability means people switch carriers without changing numbers.
Landline numbers
Landlines start with 21, 22, 23, or 27. The format is the same 8 digits: +356 XXXX XXXX. Since Malta is so small (316 km²), there are no geographic area codes. A landline in Valletta uses the same format as one in Gozo.
Number prefixes
| Prefix | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Landline | Most common landline prefix |
| 22, 23, 27 | Landline | Additional landline ranges |
| 77 | Mobile | Originally Melita |
| 79 | Mobile | Originally GO |
| 99 | Mobile | Originally Epic (Vodafone Malta successor) |
Mobile carriers in Malta
Malta has three mobile operators for a population of just over half a million. Competition is fierce for such a small market.
GO
GO (formerly Maltacom) is the incumbent operator and runs both fixed-line and mobile networks. They are the largest overall telecom provider on the islands. Mobile numbers originally started with 79. GO also provides the majority of fixed broadband connections.
Melita
Melita started as a cable TV company and expanded into mobile, broadband, and fixed telephony. They are the main competitor to GO and offer bundled packages. Mobile numbers originally started with 77.
Epic
Epic is the rebranded successor to Vodafone Malta, which was acquired by Monaco Telecom in 2020. They are the third mobile operator and historically attracted younger users with data-heavy plans. Mobile numbers originally started with 99.
Don't confuse +356 with nearby codes
Malta's +356 code isn't easily confused with its geographic neighbors, but a few codes are close enough in number to cause mistakes.
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +355 | Albania | Just one digit off. Albania is +355, Malta is +356. Albanian numbers use area codes and trunk prefix 0. |
| +357 | Cyprus | Also one digit off. Both are small Mediterranean islands, which adds to the confusion. Cyprus is +357 with 8-digit numbers. |
| +39 | Italy | Malta's nearest large neighbor (93 km to Sicily). Italian numbers start with +39 and are 9-10 digits. |
| +216 | Tunisia | The closest African country to Malta (284 km). Tunisian numbers start with +216. |
The Malta/Cyprus mix-up is the most common since both are small English-speaking Mediterranean islands with codes one digit apart (+356 vs +357). Malta was a British colony until 1964 and Cyprus until 1960, so there are cultural parallels too.
Time zone considerations
Malta uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+1) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+2) from late March to late October. Same time zone as Italy, France, and Germany.
| Your location | Time difference | Best calling window |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST/EDT) | +6 hours | 8 AM - 12 PM your time (2 PM - 6 PM Malta) |
| US West Coast (PST/PDT) | +9 hours | 7 AM - 10 AM your time (4 PM - 7 PM Malta) |
| UK (GMT/BST) | +1 hour | 9 AM - 8 PM your time |
| Australia (AEST/AEDT) | -9 hours | 5 PM - 10 PM your time (8 AM - 1 PM Malta) |
| Japan (JST) | -8 hours | 4 PM - 10 PM your time (9 AM - 3 PM Malta) |
Malta and Italy share the same time zone, which makes sense given they are only 93 km apart. Calls to the UK require a 1-hour offset.
Communication in Malta
Business hours
Standard business hours are 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Many businesses close for a long lunch between 12 PM and 1:30 PM, a holdover from the Mediterranean siesta tradition. Government offices usually close by 1 PM. Saturday mornings are half-days for some shops, and almost everything is closed on Sundays and public holidays (of which Malta has many, 14 per year).
Communication style
Nearly everyone in Malta speaks English fluently, so language is not a barrier for international callers. Maltese (a Semitic language with heavy Italian and English influence) is the national language and what most people speak among themselves. Business calls can be conducted entirely in English. Maltese people tend to be warm and talkative on the phone, so calls may run longer than expected.
Network quality
Malta has solid telecom infrastructure for its size. The islands are small and flat enough that coverage is nearly universal. 4G LTE covers the entire population, and 5G launched in 2023. VoIP calls over Maltese internet work well since broadband penetration is high. Gozo has the same coverage quality as the main island.
The Malta diaspora
Where they went
Malta has a disproportionately large diaspora for its size. Australia is home to the biggest Maltese community abroad, estimated at 180,000+ people of Maltese descent, concentrated in Melbourne and Sydney. Post-WWII migration programs brought waves of Maltese workers to Australia in the 1950s and 1960s. The UK has the second-largest community (around 30,000), a legacy of Malta's 164 years as a British colony. Smaller communities exist in Canada (Toronto), the US (Detroit, New York), and Italy (Sicily, given the geographic proximity).
Why they call
The Australian-Maltese community is the most active caller. Despite being separated by over 14,000 km, family ties remain strong, and calls cluster around Sunday mornings in Melbourne (Sunday evenings in Malta). The UK community calls frequently too, helped by the small time difference. Many Maltese abroad call during festa season (village saint festivals from May to September), when their home village celebrates and relatives gather. Christmas and Easter also drive heavy calling traffic.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile phone in Malta
To call a Maltese mobile number 7912 3456 from abroad, dial: +356 7912 3456. From a US landline: 011 356 7912 3456. No digits to drop since Malta has no trunk prefix.
Calling a landline in Malta
To call a Maltese landline 2123 4567 from abroad, dial: +356 2123 4567. From a UK phone: 00 356 2123 4567.
Calling from Australia to Malta
From an Australian phone, dial: 0011 356 7912 3456 (mobile) or 0011 356 2123 4567 (landline). Or just use the + format, which works from any mobile: +356 7912 3456.
Calling within Malta
For domestic calls, just dial the 8-digit number directly. No prefix needed. Call 7912 3456 for a mobile or 2123 4567 for a landline. The number you dial locally is the same number used internationally (minus the +356).
Common mistakes to avoid
Adding a trunk prefix that doesn't exist
Some callers add a 0 before the number out of habit from calling other European countries. Malta has no trunk prefix. Dial +356 2123 4567, not +356 0 2123 4567. The extra digit will either fail or reach the wrong number.
Confusing +356 with +357 (Cyprus)
Malta is +356, Cyprus is +357. Both are small Mediterranean islands, both were British colonies, both use English widely. If your call reaches someone speaking Greek, you probably dialed +357 by accident.
Wrong number of digits
All Maltese numbers are exactly 8 digits after +356. No more, no less. If someone gives you a 7-digit or 9-digit number, something is missing or extra. Older Maltese phone directories sometimes list 6-digit numbers from before the 2001 renumbering, but those formats are long obsolete.
Calling Gozo numbers differently
Gozo (Malta's second island) uses the same +356 code and the same numbering format as the main island. There is no separate code for Gozo. Dial it exactly like any other Maltese number.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +356 code?
Malta. The +356 country code covers all three inhabited Maltese islands: Malta, Gozo, and Comino.
How many digits are in a Maltese phone number?
8 digits after the +356 country code. There is no trunk prefix or area code. Mobile numbers start with 77, 79, or 99. Landlines start with 21, 22, 23, or 27.
Does Malta have a trunk prefix?
No. Malta is one of the few European countries with no trunk prefix. The 8-digit number you dial locally is the same number you dial internationally after +356.
What is the difference between +356 and +357?
+356 is Malta and +357 is Cyprus. They are different Mediterranean island nations with codes one digit apart.
How much does it cost to call Malta?
With CallSky, calls to Maltese landlines start at $0.31/min (Premium) or $0.37/min (Economy). Mobile calls start at $0.67/min (Premium) or $0.77/min (Economy). No subscription required.
For more Mediterranean dialing guides, see Cyprus (+357), Italy (+39), or Greece (+30). Or browse the full country codes directory.