The +670 country code is for East Timor (officially Timor-Leste). It's the youngest country in Southeast Asia, gaining independence from Indonesia in 2002 after a brutal occupation and a UN-supervised referendum. About 1.3 million people live on the eastern half of Timor island, plus the Oecusse exclave on the northwestern coast. Dili is the capital. The official languages are Portuguese and Tetum, though Indonesian is still widely understood. The economy runs mostly on offshore oil and gas from the Timor Sea.
Quick answer: The country code +670 is for East Timor (Timor-Leste). Phone numbers are 7 or 8 digits after +670. Mobile numbers start with 77 or 78:
+670 77XX XXXX. Landlines start with area codes like 331 (Dili):+670 331 XXXX. There is no trunk prefix -- dial the number exactly as written.
How to call East Timor: quick reference
East Timor does not use a trunk prefix. The domestic number is the same as the international number minus the country code. No leading 0 to drop.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +670 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-670-[local number] |
| UK | 00-670-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-670-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-670-[local number] |
| France | 00-670-[local number] |
Understanding East Timor phone numbers
East Timor's numbering plan is relatively simple. Mobile numbers are 8 digits, landlines are 7 digits. The first digits tell you the type and location.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers are 8 digits starting with 77 or 78:
+670 77XX XXXX or +670 78XX XXXX
The 77 prefix belongs to Timor Telecom and the 78 prefix to Telemor. If you see an 8-digit number starting with 77 or 78, it's a mobile.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers are 7 digits and start with a 3-digit area code:
+670 331 XXXX (Dili)
Area codes
Landline area codes are based on districts:
| Area code | District |
|---|---|
| 331 | Dili (capital) |
| 332 | Aileu |
| 333 | Ainaro |
| 334 | Baucau |
| 335 | Bobonaro (Maliana) |
| 336 | Cova Lima (Suai) |
| 337 | Ermera (Gleno) |
| 338 | Lautem (Lospalos) |
| 339 | Liquica |
| 340 | Manatuto |
| 341 | Manufahi (Same) |
| 342 | Oecusse |
| 343 | Viqueque |
In practice, landlines outside Dili are uncommon. Most people, even in rural areas, use mobile phones.
Mobile carriers in East Timor
East Timor has three mobile operators for a population of 1.3 million. Mobile penetration has grown fast -- most Timorese got their first phone well before they got reliable electricity.
Timor Telecom
The oldest and largest operator, originally a joint venture with Portugal Telecom (now Altice). Timor Telecom runs both the fixed-line network and mobile services. Mobile numbers start with 77. It has the widest geographic coverage, including rural and mountainous areas. Also provides the country's main internet backbone.
Telemor
Launched in 2013, owned by Viettel (Vietnam's state-owned military telecom conglomerate, which operates in multiple developing countries). Mobile numbers start with 78. Telemor has been aggressive on pricing and network expansion, and now rivals Timor Telecom in coverage. It invested heavily in 4G infrastructure.
Telkomcel
A subsidiary of Telkom Indonesia. The third and smallest operator. It has struggled to compete with the other two and has thinner coverage outside Dili. Numbers also fall under the 77/78 range or use other prefixes.
All three use GSM/LTE standards. Prepaid SIMs are cheap and available at shops throughout Dili and in district capitals. Bring your passport for registration.
Don't confuse +670 with nearby codes
+670 can be confused with a few codes in the region:
| Code | Country | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +62 | Indonesia | East Timor was part of Indonesia from 1975 to 1999. Many older Timorese still have Indonesian contacts, and some border-area phones pick up Indonesian cell towers. If someone gives you a +62 number, that's their Indonesian SIM. |
| +673 | Brunei | Off by three digits. Both are small Southeast Asian nations. Easy typo if you're going from memory. |
| +672 | Norfolk Island | Off by two digits. No geographic similarity, but a mistyped 670 vs 672 is possible. |
| +61 | Australia | Australia is the closest developed country and was the main international force during East Timor's independence. Many Timorese have Australian contacts, and the two codes can end up adjacent in phone books. |
The most common real-world confusion is between +670 (East Timor) and +62 (Indonesia), especially for calls to people near the Timor-Leste/Indonesia border.
Time zone considerations
East Timor uses Timor-Leste Time (TLT), which is UTC+9. No daylight saving time. This is the same offset as Japan and South Korea, and one hour ahead of Western Australia.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 10:00 AM in East Timor |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | TLT is +14 hours | 8:00 PM previous day |
| US West Coast (PST) | TLT is +17 hours | 5:00 PM previous day |
| London (GMT) | TLT is +9 hours | 1:00 AM |
| Sydney (AEDT) | TLT is -2 hours | 12:00 PM |
| Jakarta (WIB) | TLT is +2 hours | 8:00 AM |
The time gap to North America is one of the largest possible. From the US East Coast, the only practical overlap is early morning your time (6-7 AM EST = 8-9 PM TLT). For Australia, the gap is only 2 hours, which makes scheduling easy.
Communication in East Timor
Business hours
Government offices run Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM TLT. Private businesses keep similar hours. Saturday is a half-day for some shops. East Timor is a heavily Catholic country (over 95%), so Sunday is a genuine day of rest. Government holidays include both Catholic observances and independence-related dates (August 30 for the referendum anniversary, May 20 for independence restoration).
Communication style
Timorese culture is relationship-oriented. Phone calls between people who don't know each other well tend to be formal and polite, with greetings in Tetum ("Bondia" for good morning, from Portuguese). In business settings, Portuguese and Tetum are the working languages for government, while Indonesian and English are common in the private sector and NGOs. Don't be surprised if a conversation switches between three languages mid-sentence -- this is normal in Dili.
Network quality
Voice call quality in Dili is decent on 4G. Outside the capital, quality drops off. The mountainous interior of Timor has many dead zones, especially along the road from Dili to Baucau and south toward Ainaro. Power outages are common and can take cell towers offline. International call routing goes through undersea cables to Australia or through satellite, with occasional quality issues. For important calls, try during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening local time).
The Timorese diaspora
Australia
The largest Timorese diaspora community is in Australia, concentrated in Darwin (Northern Territory), Melbourne, and Sydney. Australia has deep ties to East Timor -- Australian forces led the INTERFET peacekeeping mission in 1999, and the two countries share Timor Sea oil and gas resources. Many Timorese came as refugees during the Indonesian occupation (1975-1999) and have family on both sides of the Timor Sea. Regular phone calls between Darwin and Dili are a daily occurrence.
Portugal
As the former colonial power, Portugal hosts a significant Timorese community, especially in Lisbon. The shared language (Portuguese) makes integration easier. Older Timorese who were educated under Portuguese rule maintain ties to Portugal, and there's a steady flow of students going to Portuguese universities on government scholarships.
Indonesia
Many ethnic Timorese still live in Indonesian West Timor (Nusa Tenggara Timur province), particularly around Kupang and Atambua. Family connections across the border are common. These calls are technically international (+670 to +62) even though the two communities may be only a few kilometers apart.
Dialing examples
Calling a Timor Telecom mobile
Your contact's number is 7723 4567.
- From a US mobile: +670 7723 4567
- From a US landline: 011-670-7723-4567
- From Australia: 0011-670-7723-4567
Calling a Telemor mobile
The number is 7812 3456.
- From the UK: 00-670-7812-3456
- From a US mobile: +670 7812 3456
Calling a Dili landline
An office in Dili has the number 331 2345.
- From a US mobile: +670 331 2345
- From a US landline: 011-670-331-2345
- From Portugal: 00-670-331-2345
Calling Baucau
A guesthouse in Baucau has the number 334 5678.
- From a US mobile: +670 334 5678
- From Indonesia: 007-670-334-5678
Common mistakes to avoid
Dialing +62 instead of +670
East Timor used to be part of Indonesia, and some people still associate it with the +62 code. If you dial +62 followed by a Timorese number, you'll reach someone in Indonesia (or nowhere). The country has had its own +670 code since independence in 2002.
Mixing up mobile and landline digit lengths
Mobiles are 8 digits, landlines are 7 digits. If you're calling a Dili landline (331 XXXX) and accidentally add an extra digit, the call will fail. If you're calling a mobile (77XX XXXX) and drop a digit, same problem.
Calling during power outages
Power supply in East Timor is unreliable, especially outside Dili. When the grid goes down, cell towers eventually lose backup battery power and go offline. If you can't reach someone and it's not a numbering issue, a power outage may be the cause. Try again a few hours later.
Assuming English will work
English is not widely spoken outside the international NGO and diplomatic community. If you're calling a government office or local business, expect Tetum or Portuguese. In some areas, Indonesian is more common than Portuguese. Having a few phrases in Tetum ready helps.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +670 code?
East Timor (Timor-Leste). Every phone number starting with +670 is a Timorese number.
Is East Timor the same as Timor-Leste?
Yes. "Timor-Leste" is the official name in Portuguese (and in the country's constitution). "East Timor" is the common English name. Both refer to the same country, and both use +670.
How many digits are in a Timorese phone number?
Mobile numbers are 8 digits after +670 (starting with 77 or 78). Landline numbers are 7 digits after +670 (starting with the 3-digit area code). So a complete international number is +670 + 7 or 8 digits.
Does East Timor have good mobile coverage?
In Dili and district capitals, coverage is reasonable with 4G available. In mountainous interior areas and remote villages, coverage is patchy or nonexistent. Power outages can also knock cell towers offline.
How much does it cost to call East Timor?
With CallSky, calls to East Timor start at $0.41/min (Economy) or $1.12/min (Premium), for both landline and mobile. No subscription required.
For more dialing guides, see the full country code directory. You might also find these related guides useful: Indonesia (+62), Australia (+61), and Portugal (+351).