The +680 country code is for Palau, a small island nation of about 18,000 people in the western Pacific. Palau sits roughly 800 km east of the Philippines and 900 km north of Papua New Guinea. The country consists of over 300 islands, though most of the population lives on Koror island or in the new capital Ngerulmud on Babeldaob.
Palau is a Compact of Free Association (COFA) nation, meaning Palauan citizens can live and work in the United States without a visa. The US dollar is Palau's official currency, and the country relies heavily on tourism (especially divers visiting the Rock Islands and Jellyfish Lake) and US federal funding. Phone infrastructure is limited to one main carrier, and international calls can be expensive without a VoIP service.
Quick answer: Palau's country code is +680. Local numbers are 7 digits with no area codes. There is no trunk prefix — dial all 7 digits for local calls. Mobile numbers start with 775, 776, 777, 778, or 779. Landline numbers start with 488 or 587.
How to call Palau: quick reference
Palau uses a flat 7-digit numbering system with no area codes or trunk prefix. From abroad, dial your country's international access code, then 680, then the 7-digit local number.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +680 XXX-XXXX |
| US/Canada landline | 011-680-XXX-XXXX |
| Japan | 010-680-XXX-XXXX |
| Australia | 0011-680-XXX-XXXX |
| Guam | 011-680-XXX-XXXX |
| CallSky app | +680 XXX-XXXX |
Understanding Palau phone numbers
Palau phone numbers are 7 digits long with no area codes. The full international format is +680 XXXXXXX.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers typically start with 775, 776, 777, 778, or 779. These are assigned by PNCC and PalauCel. A Palau mobile number looks like +680 775-1234.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers commonly start with 488 (Koror area) or 587 (other areas). Government offices and hotels on Koror usually have 488-XXXX numbers. A landline number looks like +680 488-5678.
Number length
All numbers are exactly 7 digits. If someone gives you a shorter or longer number, it is likely wrong. Palau does not use any prefix digits for different regions — the country is small enough that one flat numbering plan covers everything.
Mobile carriers in Palau
PNCC (Palau National Communications Corporation)
PNCC is the government-owned telecom and the primary carrier for landline, mobile, and internet services. They operate the country's only fixed-line network and one of two mobile networks. PNCC also manages Palau's connection to the outside world via the SEA-US submarine cable, which landed in Palau in 2017 and replaced the older satellite-only connectivity.
PalauCel / Palau Mobile
PalauCel (rebranded as Palau Mobile) is the second mobile carrier. They offer 4G LTE service on Koror and Babeldaob. Coverage on outer islands is limited or nonexistent. Competition between PNCC and PalauCel has helped bring down mobile data prices, though rates remain high by global standards.
Don't confuse +680 with nearby codes
Palau's +680 can be confused with other Pacific island codes in the 6XX range.
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +680 | Palau | 7-digit numbers, western Pacific |
| +686 | Kiribati | 8-digit numbers, central Pacific (much farther east) |
| +691 | Micronesia | 7-digit numbers with state prefixes (320, 330, 350, 370) |
| +692 | Marshall Islands | 7-digit numbers, central Pacific |
All four are independent Pacific island nations, but they are spread across thousands of kilometers of ocean. Palau is the westernmost, closest to the Philippines. If you are unsure whether a number is Palauan, check if the first three digits match known Palau prefixes (488, 587, 775-779).
Time zone considerations
Palau uses PWT (Palau Time), UTC+9 year-round with no daylight saving time. This is the same time zone as Japan and South Korea.
| Your location | When it is 10:00 AM in Palau |
|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | 8:00 PM previous day |
| US West Coast (PST) | 5:00 PM previous day |
| Japan/Korea (JST/KST) | 10:00 AM (same time) |
| Australia East (AEST) | 11:00 AM (1 hour ahead) |
| Philippines (PHT) | 9:00 AM (1 hour behind) |
The 14-hour gap from the US East Coast means you need to call in your late afternoon or evening to catch Palau during business hours. For callers in Japan, the identical time zone makes scheduling easy.
Communication in Palau
Business hours
Government offices operate 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday. Banks close earlier, typically by 3:00 PM. Most businesses on Koror follow similar hours. English and Palauan are both official languages, and English is widely used in government and business.
Network quality
Since the SEA-US submarine cable arrived in 2017, internet and call quality improved dramatically over the old satellite-only setup. Koror and Babeldaob have 4G LTE from both carriers. Outer islands like Peleliu and Angaur have more limited coverage, sometimes 3G only. The Rock Islands and dive sites generally have no cell service.
Communication habits
Palau is small enough that word-of-mouth and in-person contact still matter. For international communication, Facebook Messenger is the dominant app — Palau has one of the highest Facebook usage rates per capita in the Pacific. Voice calls to the US remain common for family and government business, since many Palauans have relatives in Guam, Hawaii, and the US mainland.
The Palau diaspora
Where they went
Under the COFA agreement, Palauan citizens can live and work in the US freely. The largest Palauan communities abroad are in Guam (close and culturally connected), Hawaii, and parts of the US mainland (California, Oregon, Washington). Some Palauans also study or work in the Philippines and Taiwan, both of which maintain close ties with Palau.
Why they call
With a population of only 18,000, family networks are tight and everyone knows everyone. Palauans abroad call home for clan meetings (called "bul"), funerals (which are major multi-day events), and to coordinate customary obligations like food contributions and land matters. The small population means a death or major event in Palau affects nearly everyone, and word spreads fast via phone calls and Facebook.
Dialing examples
Calling a Koror hotel from the US
The hotel's number is 488-1234. From a US mobile, dial +680-488-1234. From a US landline, dial 011-680-488-1234.
Calling a Palau mobile from Japan
The mobile number is 775-5678. From Japan, dial 010-680-775-5678. Since Palau and Japan share the same UTC+9 time zone, you do not need to worry about time differences.
Calling Palau from Guam
The number is 488-9012. From Guam, dial 011-680-488-9012. Guam uses NANP, so its international access code is 011. Despite Palau and Guam being only about 1,300 km apart, this is an international call.
Calling within Palau
For local calls within Palau, just dial the 7-digit number directly: 488-1234. No country code or prefix needed.
Common mistakes to avoid
Dialing too few digits
Palau numbers are 7 digits. Some older directories or websites list 6-digit numbers from before the numbering plan was expanded. If a number seems too short, try adding a leading digit (older 6-digit numbers had a digit prepended during the transition).
Confusing Palau with other COFA nations
Palau (+680), Micronesia (+691), and Marshall Islands (+692) are all COFA nations with similar backgrounds, but they have completely separate phone systems and country codes. A Palau number will not connect if you dial +691 or +692 by accident.
Expecting cell service on outer islands
Most visitors go to Koror and the Rock Islands. Cell coverage exists on Koror and Babeldaob but is spotty or absent on Peleliu, Angaur, Kayangel, and the Rock Islands. If you are meeting someone at a dive site or remote beach, arrange contact details in advance.
Forgetting the date line effect
Palau is UTC+9, which is 14 hours ahead of US Eastern Time. When it is Monday morning in Palau, it is still Sunday afternoon in New York. This catches people off guard when they think they are calling "the same day."
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +680 code?
Palau (Republic of Palau), an island nation in the western Pacific east of the Philippines and north of Indonesia. Population is about 18,000, mostly on Koror island.
How many digits are in a Palau phone number?
7 digits, with no area codes. The full international format is +680 followed by the 7-digit local number.
How do I call Palau from the US?
From a US mobile, dial +680 then the 7-digit number. From a US landline, dial 011-680 then the 7-digit number. There is no trunk prefix to remove.
What time zone is Palau in?
PWT (Palau Time), UTC+9 with no daylight saving. This is the same time zone as Japan and South Korea — 14 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time.
What carriers operate in Palau?
PNCC (Palau National Communications Corporation) is the main carrier for landline, mobile, and internet. PalauCel (Palau Mobile) is the second mobile carrier. Coverage is best on Koror and Babeldaob.
Read more about calling other Pacific island nations: Micronesia (+691), Marshall Islands (+692), and Guam (+1671).