Quick answer: +55 is Brazil. After +55 comes a 2-digit area code, then 9 digits for a mobile or 8 for a landline. Mobiles always start with 9. Drop any leading 0 and any carrier code. Example:
+55 11 98765 4321.
How to dial Brazil
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| Any mobile phone | +55 + 10 or 11 digits |
| US or Canada landline | 011 55 + 10 or 11 digits |
| UK or Portugal landline | 00 55 + 10 or 11 digits |
| Japan landline | 010 55 + 10 or 11 digits |
Brazilians write numbers as (11) 98765-4321, with the area code in brackets. For long-distance calls inside Brazil they dial 0, a 2-digit carrier code and the area code, so you may see 0 15 11 3456 7890 or the older style (011) 3456-7890. From abroad, drop the 0 and the carrier code: (011) 3456-7890 becomes +55 11 3456 7890.
Mobile and landline numbers
Mobiles are a 2-digit area code plus 9 digits starting with 9: (21) 99876-5432 is +55 21 99876 5432 from abroad. Mobiles use the area code of the place where the line was registered.
Landlines are a 2-digit area code plus 8 digits, starting with 2, 3, 4 or 5.
| City | Area code in Brazil | From abroad |
|---|---|---|
| São Paulo | 11 | +55 11 + number |
| Rio de Janeiro | 21 | +55 21 + number |
| Brasília | 61 | +55 61 + number |
| Belo Horizonte | 31 | +55 31 + number |
| Salvador | 71 | +55 71 + number |
| Fortaleza | 85 | +55 85 + number |
| Recife | 81 | +55 81 + number |
| Curitiba | 41 | +55 41 + number |
| Porto Alegre | 51 | +55 51 + number |
| Manaus | 92 | +55 92 + number |
Codes that get mixed up with +55
+54 is Argentina and +56 is Chile. One digit off and the call goes to a neighbouring country.
Time difference
Most Brazilians, including everyone in São Paulo, Rio and Brasília, are on Brasília time (UTC-3). Manaus and much of the west are on UTC-4, Acre on UTC-5 and Fernando de Noronha on UTC-2. Brazil has not used daylight saving time since 2019, so the gap only changes when your clocks change.
| Where you are | Your clocks on summer time | Your clocks on standard time |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast | Brasília is 1h ahead | Brasília is 2h ahead |
| US West Coast | Brasília is 4h ahead | Brasília is 5h ahead |
| UK or Portugal | Brasília is 4h behind | Brasília is 3h behind |
| Japan | Brasília is 12h behind all year | |
A 9 PM call from London reaches São Paulo at 5 PM in the UK summer and 6 PM in the UK winter.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
FAQ
Can I call a Brazilian 0800 number from abroad?
Usually not. 0800 toll-free numbers are set up for callers inside Brazil. Look on the company's website for a regular number with an area code, such as +55 11 followed by 8 digits.
My contact's Brazilian mobile has only 8 digits. What's missing?
The leading 9. Brazil added a 9 to the front of every mobile number between 2012 and 2016, so an old number saved as (11) 8765-4321 is now (11) 98765-4321, or +55 11 98765 4321 from abroad.