The +373 country code is for Moldova, a landlocked country of about 2.6 million people between Romania and Ukraine. The capital is Chișinău, home to roughly a third of the population. Moldova is one of Europe's smallest and least-visited countries, but it has a large diaspora that makes heavy use of international calling.
Moldova's phone system uses a trunk prefix of 0 for domestic calls. When calling from abroad, drop the 0 and dial +373 followed by the remaining digits. The breakaway region of Transnistria in eastern Moldova complicates things: it uses its own phone codes that do not follow the standard +373 numbering, which can cause confusion.
Quick answer: Dial +373 followed by 8 digits. Mobile numbers start with 6, 7, or 8. Chișinău landlines start with 22. The trunk prefix is 0 — drop it when calling from abroad. Transnistria uses separate codes that may not work with +373.
How to call Moldova: quick reference
Moldova uses a trunk prefix of 0. When calling from abroad, replace the 0 with +373. When calling domestically, dial 0 before the number.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +373 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-373-[local number] |
| UK | 00-373-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-373-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-373-[local number] |
| France | 00-373-[local number] |
Understanding Moldova phone numbers
Moldovan phone numbers are 8 digits after the +373 country code. Domestically, you dial 0 + the number. The first digits indicate the type and region.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers start with 6, 7, or 8 after the country code. The format is +373 XX XXX XXX (8 digits). Examples: +373 69 123 456, +373 78 123 456. Domestically: 069 123 456. The 6x range is used by Orange and Moldcell, 7x by Moldtelecom's Unite, and some 8x numbers exist for newer services.
Landline numbers
Landlines use geographic area codes. The main ones:
| City/Region | Area code | International format |
|---|---|---|
| Chișinău | 22 | +373 22 XX XX XX |
| Bălți | 231 | +373 231 X XX XX |
| Cahul | 299 | +373 299 X XX XX |
| Comrat (Gagauzia) | 298 | +373 298 X XX XX |
| Orhei | 235 | +373 235 X XX XX |
Chișinău has the shortest area code (22), with 6 local digits. Regional cities use 3-digit area codes with 5 local digits. The total after +373 is always 8 digits.
Transnistria
The breakaway region of Transnistria (Tiraspol, Bender) operates its own telecom system. Numbers there may use the +373 code with prefix 533 (landline) or 778/779 (mobile), but connectivity is inconsistent. Some Transnistrian numbers route through the Russian +7 code or Ukrainian +380 code instead. If you are calling someone in Tiraspol, ask them which number works for international calls.
Mobile carriers in Moldova
Moldova has three main mobile operators. Coverage is good in cities and along major roads, but can be patchy in rural villages.
Orange Moldova
The largest carrier, owned by France's Orange Group. Orange has the widest coverage across Moldova, including rural areas. It offers 4G in Chișinău and other major towns. Most business customers use Orange. Mobile numbers typically start with 69 or 68.
Moldcell
The second-largest operator, previously owned by Turkey's Turkcell, now under CG Cell Technologies. Moldcell competes on price and data packages. Good urban coverage, slightly thinner in remote areas. Mobile numbers typically start with 79 or 78.
Moldtelecom (Unite)
The state-owned incumbent telecom company. Moldtelecom runs the fixed-line network and launched mobile services under the Unite brand. It has the largest landline network in the country. Mobile coverage is the smallest of the three but improving. Mobile numbers start with 67 or 68.
Don't confuse +373 with nearby codes
Moldova's +373 sits between the Baltic codes and Romania's +40. The sequential numbering creates easy mix-ups.
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +372 | Estonia | One digit off, sequential code |
| +374 | Armenia | One digit off, both post-Soviet states |
| +40 | Romania | Moldovans and Romanians speak the same language, frequent cross-border calls |
| +380 | Ukraine | Shares a long border, some Moldovans have Ukrainian numbers |
The Romania confusion is the most practically relevant. Romanian and Moldovan are the same language (officially called "Romanian" in Moldova's constitution since 2013), and many Moldovans have family in Romania. Make sure you are dialing +373 for Moldova, not +40 for Romania. The Armenia mix-up (+374 vs +373) is a pure digit error with no geographic connection.
Time zone considerations
Moldova uses Eastern European Time (EET, UTC+2) in winter and Eastern European Summer Time (EEST, UTC+3) from late March to late October. This is the same time zone as Romania, Finland, and the Baltic states.
| Your location | Time difference | Best calling window |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (ET) | +7 hours | 8:00-11:00 AM ET (3:00-6:00 PM in Moldova) |
| US West Coast (PT) | +10 hours | 7:00-9:00 AM PT (5:00-7:00 PM in Moldova) |
| UK (GMT/BST) | +2 hours | 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM GMT |
| Italy (CET) | +1 hour | 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM CET |
| Israel (IST) | Same time zone | Anytime during business hours |
Many Moldovans work abroad in Italy, Russia, and Israel, so those are the most common calling corridors. Italy is only 1 hour behind, and Israel is in the same time zone, making those calls easy to time.
Communication in Moldova
Business hours and etiquette
Business hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Moldovans are generally warm and polite on the phone, though business calls tend to be direct. Greetings matter: start with "Bună ziua" (good day) in Romanian or "Здравствуйте" (zdravstvuyte) in Russian, depending on who you are calling. Relationships are valued in business, and a phone call is often preferred over email.
Language considerations
Romanian is the official language (also referred to as "Moldovan" in some older contexts). Russian is widely spoken, especially by older generations, in Chișinău, and in the north. In Gagauzia (an autonomous region in the south), Gagauz and Russian are the primary languages. In Transnistria, Russian dominates. For business calls to Chișinău, Romanian or Russian both work. English is becoming more common among younger professionals but is not yet widespread.
Network quality
Mobile coverage is decent in cities and along main highways. 4G is available in Chișinău, Bălți, and other urban areas. Rural coverage can be spotty, particularly in small villages and near the Ukrainian border. Internet speeds in Chișinău are surprisingly good, as Moldova invested in fiber infrastructure. VoIP works without restrictions. Call quality is generally reliable in urban areas but can drop in the countryside.
The Moldova diaspora
Moldova has one of the largest diasporas relative to population size in Europe. Estimates suggest 600,000 to over 1 million Moldovans live abroad, out of a home population of 2.6 million. Remittances from abroad account for roughly 15% of Moldova's GDP.
Russia
Russia hosts the largest Moldovan community abroad, concentrated in Moscow and surrounding areas. Many went for construction, transport, and service-sector jobs. Russian-speaking Moldovans have an easier time integrating. Phone calls between Russia and Moldova are among the most common routes for this country code.
Italy
Italy is the second-largest destination, particularly for Moldovan women working in elder care and domestic services. Rome, Milan, Padua, and Bologna have large Moldovan communities. Italian is now widely spoken in Moldova because of this migration pattern. Many families are split between the two countries, making Italy-Moldova one of the busiest calling corridors.
Romania
Romania is a natural destination since the language is the same. Since 2009, Romania has offered citizenship to Moldovans who can prove Romanian ancestry, and hundreds of thousands have obtained Romanian (and thus EU) passports. Bucharest and Iași (near the Moldovan border) have significant Moldovan populations. Many Moldovans use Romanian citizenship as a stepping stone to work elsewhere in the EU.
Israel
A substantial Moldovan Jewish community emigrated to Israel, primarily in the 1990s. Cities like Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Ashdod have Moldovan-origin residents. This community maintains ties to relatives who stayed behind.
Other destinations
France, Portugal, Germany, and the UK all have growing Moldovan communities. The US has a smaller Moldovan diaspora, concentrated in New York, Chicago, and Sacramento.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile phone
Your contact's Moldovan number is 069 123 456. Drop the 0 and dial +373 69 123 456. From a US landline: 011 373 69 123 456. From the UK: 00 373 69 123 456.
Calling a Chișinău landline
A Chișinău office number is 022 12 34 56. Drop the 0 and dial +373 22 12 34 56. From a US landline: 011 373 22 12 34 56. Chișinău's area code is 22.
Calling a Bălți landline
A Bălți number is 0231 1 23 45. Drop the 0: +373 231 1 23 45. Bălți uses the 3-digit area code 231, with 5 local digits.
Calling from inside Moldova
Domestically, keep the 0. To call the mobile, dial 069 123 456. To call the Chișinău office, dial 022 12 34 56. The 0 is required for all domestic calls.
Common mistakes to avoid
Including the trunk prefix 0 in international calls
If the number is written as 069 123 456, drop the leading 0 when calling from abroad. Dial +373 69 123 456, not +373 069 123 456. The 0 is only for domestic calls within Moldova.
Confusing +373 (Moldova) with +40 (Romania)
Moldovans and Romanians speak the same language, and many Moldovans have Romanian phone numbers too. If you are unsure which country code to use, ask your contact. Dialing +40 connects to Romania, not Moldova.
Trying to call Transnistria with a standard +373 number
Transnistria runs its own telecom system. Some Transnistrian numbers work with +373, but others route through Russian (+7) or Ukrainian (+380) codes. If you cannot reach someone in Tiraspol or Bender, ask them for an alternative number or try a different code.
Wrong time zone assumption
Moldova is UTC+2 (UTC+3 in summer), 7 hours ahead of New York. Callers from the US should aim for morning hours to catch Moldova during the workday.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +373 code?
Moldova. The +373 country code belongs to Moldova (officially the Republic of Moldova), a country in Eastern Europe between Romania and Ukraine.
How many digits are in a Moldovan phone number?
Moldovan phone numbers are 8 digits after the +373 country code. Mobile numbers start with 6, 7, or 8. Chișinău landlines start with 22. Regional landlines use 3-digit area codes.
Do I drop the 0 when calling Moldova from abroad?
Yes. Moldova's trunk prefix is 0. If the number is written as 069 123 456, dial +373 69 123 456 from abroad. The 0 is only for domestic calls.
Can I call Transnistria with +373?
Sometimes. Some Transnistrian numbers work with +373, but others use Russian (+7) or Ukrainian (+380) routing. Ask your contact which number works best for international calls.
What language is spoken in Moldova?
Romanian is the official language. Russian is widely spoken, especially by older generations and in Chișinău. In Gagauzia, Gagauz and Russian are common. In Transnistria, Russian is the main language. English is growing but not yet widespread outside business settings.
For more dialing guides, see our complete country code directory. If you are calling nearby countries, check +40 Romania or +380 Ukraine.