The +687 country code is for New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific about 1,200 km east of Australia. Despite being part of France, New Caledonia has its own country code — you cannot reach it by dialing France's +33.
New Caledonia has a population of around 270,000, mostly concentrated in and around the capital Nouméa on the main island, Grande Terre. The territory is known for its massive nickel reserves (among the largest in the world) and its UNESCO-listed lagoon, the second-largest barrier reef after Australia's. French is the official language, alongside over 20 Kanak languages.
If you need to call New Caledonia, the key thing to know is that the phone system is completely separate from France. This guide covers the number format, carriers, time zones, and the mistakes people make when dialing +687.
Quick answer: The New Caledonia country code is +687. Phone numbers are 6 digits with no area codes. There is no trunk prefix. Dial +687 followed by the 6-digit local number. Example: +687 26.12.34.
How to call New Caledonia: quick reference
New Caledonia numbers are 6 digits with no area codes. The format is the same whether you are calling Nouméa, the Loyalty Islands, or the northern province. Just dial the country code plus the 6 digits.
| Calling from | Dialing format |
|---|---|
| US/Canada mobile | +687 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-687-[local number] |
| France | 00-687-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-687-[local number] |
| New Zealand | 00-687-[local number] |
| CallSky app | +687 [local number] |
Understanding New Caledonia phone numbers
All New Caledonia phone numbers are 6 digits long. The French convention of writing numbers in pairs (XX.XX.XX) is used locally, but when dialing internationally you just enter the 6 digits straight.
Number format
The international format is +687 XX.XX.XX. Locally, people dial the 6-digit number directly. There is no trunk prefix — do not add a 0 before the number.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers begin with 2 (Nouméa and southern province) or 4 (northern province and Loyalty Islands). These are operated by OPT-NC, the territory's postal and telecom authority.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers begin with 7, 8, or 9. The main mobile operators are OPT-NC (Mobilis brand) and other local providers.
Number examples
| Type | Local format | International format |
|---|---|---|
| Nouméa landline | 26.12.34 | +687 261234 |
| Northern province landline | 42.56.78 | +687 425678 |
| Mobile | 75.12.34 | +687 751234 |
Mobile carriers in New Caledonia
New Caledonia's telecom market is smaller than metropolitan France's but has more competition than most Pacific islands.
OPT-NC (Office des Postes et Télécommunications)
OPT-NC is the territory's state-owned telecom authority. It operates all landline service and runs the Mobilis mobile network. OPT-NC also manages internet infrastructure, including the Gondwana submarine cable that connects New Caledonia to Australia and Fiji.
Other mobile operators
In addition to Mobilis, New Caledonia has had other mobile operators enter the market. Competition has been limited compared to metropolitan France, and OPT-NC/Mobilis remains the dominant provider. Coverage is good in Nouméa and along the main roads of Grande Terre, but patchy on the Loyalty Islands (Lifou, Maré, Ouvéa) and the Isle of Pines.
Don't confuse +687 with nearby codes
New Caledonia's +687 code is most commonly confused with France's +33 and the other French Pacific territory codes.
| Code | Country | How to tell apart |
|---|---|---|
| +687 | New Caledonia | 6-digit numbers, separate from France |
| +33 | France | 10-digit numbers (including trunk prefix 0) |
| +689 | French Polynesia | 8-digit numbers, Polynesia (central Pacific) |
| +681 | Wallis and Futuna | 6-digit numbers, much smaller territory |
| +688 | Tuvalu | 5-digit numbers, one digit off from +687 |
The +687 vs +33 confusion is the most important one to get right. If you try to reach someone in Nouméa using France's +33, the call will not connect. New Caledonia is a French territory but has a completely independent phone system.
Time zone considerations
New Caledonia uses NCT (New Caledonia Time), which is UTC+11 year-round. There is no daylight saving time.
New Caledonia is 2 hours ahead of Sydney (AEST) during the Australian winter, and 0 hours ahead during the Australian summer (when Sydney switches to AEDT/UTC+11). It is 16 hours ahead of US Eastern Time.
| Time in Nouméa (NCT) | Paris (CET/CEST) | Sydney (AEST/AEDT) | US Eastern |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM (Mon) | 11:00 PM (Sun) | 9:00 AM (Mon)* | 5:00 PM (Sun) |
| 12:00 PM (Mon) | 2:00 AM (Mon) | 12:00 PM (Mon)* | 8:00 PM (Sun) |
| 6:00 PM (Mon) | 8:00 AM (Mon) | 6:00 PM (Mon)* | 2:00 AM (Mon) |
*During Australian summer (AEDT), Sydney is the same time as Nouméa. During Australian winter (AEST), Sydney is 1 hour behind.
For calls from France, the 10-hour gap means morning in Nouméa is late evening the previous day in Paris. The best window for calling from France is early evening (Paris time), which catches morning hours in New Caledonia.
Communication in New Caledonia
Business hours
Offices in New Caledonia follow French-style schedules: Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM. The long lunch break is standard. Government offices may close earlier on Fridays. Shops in Nouméa are open Saturday mornings but closed Sundays.
Call quality
Call quality to Nouméa and the main towns on Grande Terre is good. The Gondwana submarine cable provides reliable international connectivity. Calls to the Loyalty Islands and the Isle of Pines may be slightly less reliable, but are generally fine. Coverage in the remote northern interior of Grande Terre can be patchy.
Language
French is the language of business and government. You will need French to navigate automated phone systems and voicemail. English is not widely spoken outside of tourist-facing businesses in Nouméa. The indigenous Kanak population speaks various Kanak languages at home but uses French for phone communication.
The New Caledonia diaspora
Who calls New Caledonia
The main calling corridor for New Caledonia is with metropolitan France. Many Caledonians (both Caldoche settler families and Kanak communities) have relatives in France, and young people often move to France for university or work. The nickel mining industry also brings in workers and business contacts from Australia, Japan, and other Pacific nations.
French expats and returnees
Metropolitan French professionals move to New Caledonia for work in mining, government, and education on fixed-term contracts. When these contracts end, they return to France but maintain friendships and professional contacts in New Caledonia. Calls between Paris and Nouméa are common despite the awkward 10-hour time difference.
Regional connections
New Caledonia has close ties with Australia (the nearest large country, about 2 hours by plane from Nouméa to Sydney) and New Zealand. Australians visit New Caledonia as tourists, and business ties around nickel mining create regular phone traffic between the two.
Dialing examples
Calling a Nouméa landline from France
A hotel in Nouméa has the number 26.30.50. From France, dial 00-687-263050. From a French mobile, dial +687 263050. Do not use +33 — it will not work.
Calling a mobile from Australia
Your contact's mobile in New Caledonia is 75.44.22. From Australia, dial 0011-687-754422. From an Australian mobile, dial +687 754422.
Calling a northern province number from the US
A business in Koné has the number 42.11.33. From a US mobile, dial +687 421133. From a US landline, dial 011-687-421133.
Calling within New Caledonia
If you are in New Caledonia and calling another local number, just dial the 6-digit number: 26.30.50. No country code or trunk prefix needed.
Common mistakes to avoid
Using France's +33 instead of +687
This is the number one mistake. New Caledonia is part of France politically, but its phone system is independent. If you dial +33 followed by a New Caledonia number, it will not connect. Always use +687.
Dialing too many digits
New Caledonia numbers are only 6 digits. If you are used to France's 10-digit numbers or other countries with longer formats, you may feel like the number is incomplete. It is not — 6 digits is correct.
Adding a trunk prefix
In France, you dial 0 before local numbers. New Caledonia has no trunk prefix. Dial +687 followed directly by the 6 digits. Adding a 0 will give you a wrong number.
Ignoring the lunch break
New Caledonia follows the French lunch break tradition. Offices close from roughly 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM local time. If you call during this window, expect no answer. Plan your business calls for morning or mid-afternoon Nouméa time.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What country uses the +687 country code?
The +687 country code is for New Caledonia, a French territory in the South Pacific east of Australia. It has a separate phone system from metropolitan France.
Can I call New Caledonia using France's +33 code?
No. New Caledonia has its own country code +687. Dialing +33 followed by a New Caledonia number will not connect. You must use +687.
How many digits are in a New Caledonia phone number?
New Caledonia numbers are 6 digits long with no area codes. The full international format is +687 followed by 6 digits, for a total of 9 digits including the country code.
What time zone is New Caledonia in?
New Caledonia uses NCT (UTC+11) year-round with no daylight saving time. It is 10 hours ahead of Paris in winter and 16 hours ahead of New York.
What is the difference between +687 and +689?
+687 is New Caledonia (Melanesia, near Australia, 6-digit numbers). +689 is French Polynesia (Polynesia, central Pacific, 8-digit numbers). Both are French territories with separate phone systems.
Need to call other French Pacific territories? Check our guides for French Polynesia (+689) and Wallis and Futuna (+681), or browse all country codes.