The +508 country code is for Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a small French overseas collectivity sitting just 25 km off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. It is the last remaining piece of France's once-vast North American territory. With a population of roughly 6,000 people split between the two main islands, calling here means dialing into one of the most unusual corners of Europe — technically in North America, running on French infrastructure, and using its own country code rather than France's +33.
If you have family, fishing industry contacts, or government connections on the islands, getting the dialing format right matters. The phone system is small and straightforward, but the +508 code catches people off guard because they expect either a Canadian or French number.
Quick answer: Dial +508 followed by the 6-digit local number. There are no area codes and no trunk prefix. Landlines typically start with 41 or 55, mobiles with 55. Example: +508 41 XX XX.
How to call Saint Pierre and Miquelon: quick reference
Most calls to Saint Pierre and Miquelon come from mainland France or nearby Canada. The format is simple because there are no area codes — just the country code plus six digits.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +508 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-508-[local number] |
| France | 00-508-[local number] |
| UK | 00-508-[local number] |
| CallSky app | +508 [local number] — call from browser or iOS |
Understanding Saint Pierre and Miquelon phone numbers
All phone numbers in Saint Pierre and Miquelon are 6 digits long, formatted as XX XX XX. The territory does not use area codes — the first two digits indicate the type of service rather than a geographic area.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers typically begin with 41 (Saint Pierre) or 41/44 (various services). The format is +508 41 XX XX. Since the entire territory has fewer than 5,000 landline connections, the numbering plan is compact.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers begin with 55 or 06. The same 6-digit format applies: +508 55 XX XX. Mobile coverage is available across Saint Pierre and Miquelon islands, though Miquelon's more remote areas can have patchy reception.
Number format summary
| Type | Format | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Landline | +508 4X XX XX | +508 41 23 45 |
| Mobile | +508 55 XX XX | +508 55 67 89 |
Mobile carriers in Saint Pierre and Miquelon
The telecommunications market in Saint Pierre and Miquelon is tiny — about 6,000 people on the whole archipelago. There is essentially one operator.
SPM Telecom (formerly SPT)
SPM Telecom is the sole telecommunications provider on the islands. It handles fixed-line, mobile, and internet services. The company operates under oversight from French regulatory authorities (ARCEP) and provides 4G mobile coverage on Saint Pierre island. Being the only operator means no carrier selection or number portability concerns — if someone has a +508 number, it is through SPM Telecom.
Internet and VoIP
SPM Telecom also provides internet service via a submarine cable connection to Canada. Some residents use French VoIP services (like Free or Orange VoIP boxes) for cheaper calls to mainland France, but these show up as French +33 numbers rather than +508.
Don't confuse +508 with nearby codes
The +508 code sits in a range that includes several other small territories and Caribbean nations. Here are the ones people mix up most often.
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +33 | France | Saint Pierre and Miquelon is French, but uses +508, not +33 |
| +1 709 | Newfoundland, Canada | Geographically next door — just 25 km away |
| +509 | Haiti | One digit off; Haiti is +509, Saint Pierre and Miquelon is +508 |
| +507 | Panama | Adjacent code, sometimes misdialed |
The most common mistake is assuming Saint Pierre and Miquelon uses France's +33 code. It does not. Despite being administered by France, using the euro, and having French postal codes, the territory has its own separate country code. Calls between France and Saint Pierre and Miquelon are international calls and billed accordingly.
Time zone considerations
Saint Pierre and Miquelon uses its own time zone: PMST (Pierre and Miquelon Standard Time), which is UTC-3. This puts it 30 minutes ahead of neighboring Newfoundland and 2 hours ahead of Eastern Time in winter.
The territory observes daylight saving time (DST), shifting to PMDT (UTC-2) from the second Sunday of March to the first Sunday of November — following the same DST schedule as most of North America, not France.
Time differences for callers
| Your location | Winter (Nov-Mar) | Summer (Mar-Nov) |
|---|---|---|
| New York / Toronto (ET) | SPM is 2 hours ahead | SPM is 2 hours ahead |
| Paris (CET) | SPM is 4 hours behind | SPM is 4 hours behind |
| St. John's, NL (NT) | SPM is 30 min ahead | SPM is 30 min ahead |
| Los Angeles (PT) | SPM is 5 hours ahead | SPM is 5 hours ahead |
The consistent 2-hour gap with Eastern Time (both observe DST on the same schedule) makes it easy to plan calls from the US East Coast or Eastern Canada.
Communication in Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Business hours
Government offices and businesses follow French-style hours: typically 8:30 AM to noon, then 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. The lunch break is taken seriously — don't expect to reach anyone between 12:00 and 1:30. Saturday mornings some shops are open, but by Saturday afternoon and all Sunday, most things are closed.
Language
French is the only official language and the language everyone speaks. Unlike nearby Newfoundland, English proficiency is limited. If you are calling a business or government office, prepare to speak French or have a French speaker make the call for you.
Communication habits
With only 6,000 people on the islands, everyone knows everyone. Formal phone etiquette follows French norms — introduce yourself, state your purpose, and expect a structured conversation. Younger residents use WhatsApp and Messenger for casual communication, but voice calls remain the norm for anything official. Mobile reception is solid on Saint Pierre island but can drop on Miquelon-Langlade, especially in the interior.
The Saint Pierre and Miquelon diaspora
Where Saint-Pierrais have settled
The diaspora is small but concentrated. Many former residents have moved to mainland France (particularly Brittany and Normandy, where the original settlers came from) or to the Atlantic provinces of Canada, especially Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Some have also settled in Quebec, where the language barrier is not an issue.
Why they call home
On an island with 6,000 people, family ties are strong and long. People who left for education or work still call regularly for holidays, the August festival season (including the Basque Festival), and during the cod fishing season when family members still in the fishing industry are active. The Christmas and New Year period sees the heaviest calling traffic, when mainland French relatives call the islands and vice versa. The annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14 are another peak.
Dialing examples
Calling a landline in Saint Pierre
To reach a landline number 41 23 45 from the United States:
From a mobile: +508 41 23 45
From a landline: 011 508 41 23 45
Calling a mobile number
To reach a mobile number 55 67 89 from France:
Dial: 00 508 55 67 89
Calling from Canada
To reach the same mobile from Newfoundland (or anywhere in Canada):
From a mobile: +508 55 67 89
From a landline: 011 508 55 67 89
Note: despite Saint Pierre being visible from the Newfoundland coast on a clear day, this is still an international call.
Calling with CallSky
Open the CallSky web app or iOS app and dial +508 41 23 45. CallSky handles the routing — no exit codes needed.
Common mistakes to avoid
Using France's +33 code instead of +508
This is the number one mistake. People see "French territory" and dial +33. That will reach France, not Saint Pierre and Miquelon. The territory has its own code: +508. Always use it.
Adding a trunk prefix
Saint Pierre and Miquelon has no trunk prefix. When dialing locally on the islands, you just dial the 6-digit number. When calling internationally, it is +508 plus the 6-digit number. Do not add a 0 before the local number — there is no 0 to drop.
Confusing +508 with +509 (Haiti)
One wrong digit and your call goes to Haiti instead of a tiny French archipelago near Canada. Double-check: Saint Pierre and Miquelon is +508, Haiti is +509.
Expecting English speakers
If you are calling a business or government office in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, speak French. Despite the territory's proximity to English-speaking Canada, French is the working language everywhere. Having your questions written out in French before calling can save time.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country has the +508 country code?
Saint Pierre and Miquelon, a French overseas collectivity located 25 km off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada. Despite being French territory, it has its own country code separate from France's +33.
How many digits are in a Saint Pierre and Miquelon phone number?
6 digits. The full international format is +508 XX XX XX. There are no area codes.
Do I need to dial a trunk prefix for Saint Pierre and Miquelon?
No. There is no trunk prefix. Dial +508 followed by the 6-digit local number when calling from abroad. When calling locally within the islands, just dial the 6-digit number.
What time zone is Saint Pierre and Miquelon in?
PMST (UTC-3), with daylight saving time shifting to PMDT (UTC-2) from March to November. This puts the territory 2 hours ahead of US Eastern Time year-round and 4 hours behind Paris.
Is Saint Pierre and Miquelon part of the French phone system?
No. It has its own country code (+508) and its own operator (SPM Telecom). Calls between mainland France and Saint Pierre and Miquelon are international calls, not domestic French calls.
Looking for more country codes? Browse our complete country code directory, or check nearby guides for Canada (+1) and France (+33).