The +853 country code is for Macau (officially the Macao Special Administrative Region of China). It's a tiny territory on the southern coast of China, across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. Population is about 690,000 packed into just 33 square kilometers, making it one of the most densely populated places on Earth. Macau was a Portuguese colony for over 400 years until it was handed back to China in 1999. Like Hong Kong, it operates under a "one country, two systems" arrangement. The economy runs on gambling -- Macau's casino revenue is several times larger than Las Vegas. Chinese (Cantonese) and Portuguese are the official languages, though Mandarin and English are widely used.
Quick answer: The country code +853 is for Macau. Macau phone numbers are 8 digits after +853. Mobile numbers start with 6:
+853 6XXX XXXX. Landlines start with 2:+853 2XXX XXXX. There is no trunk prefix -- dial the number exactly as written.
How to call Macau: quick reference
Macau 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 | +853 [local number] |
| US/Canada landline | 011-853-[local number] |
| UK | 00-853-[local number] |
| Australia | 0011-853-[local number] |
| Germany | 00-853-[local number] |
| France | 00-853-[local number] |
Understanding Macau phone numbers
All Macau phone numbers are 8 digits after the country code. The first digit tells you whether it's a mobile or landline.
Mobile numbers
Mobile numbers start with 6 and are 8 digits total:
+853 6XXX XXXX
All mobile numbers fall under the 6 prefix regardless of carrier. You can't tell which operator a number belongs to just by looking at it.
Landline numbers
Landline numbers start with 2 and are also 8 digits:
+853 2XXX XXXX
Older landlines may start with 28 (the legacy exchange). Some business lines start with 8 (premium-rate services).
No area codes
Macau is too small for area codes. The entire territory -- the Macau Peninsula, Taipa, Coloane, and the Cotai strip -- uses the same numbering scheme. All 8 digits, no geographic subdivisions.
Mobile carriers in Macau
Macau has four mobile operators competing for 690,000 residents plus millions of annual visitors. The market is competitive, and prepaid tourist SIMs are easy to find.
CTM (Companhia de Telecomunicacoes de Macau)
The original telecoms company, founded in 1981. CTM runs both the fixed-line network and mobile services. It was the only operator until competition was introduced in 2012. CTM has the most complete 5G coverage and is the default choice for many long-term residents. Majority-owned by CITIC Telecom International.
3 Macau (Hutchison)
Part of the CK Hutchison group (same parent as "Three" in the UK and other markets). Launched in Macau in 2012. Strong on data plans and tourist packages. Good for visitors who want a SIM that also works in Hong Kong on the same group's network.
SmarTone Macau
A subsidiary of SmarTone (Hong Kong). Entered the Macau market in 2012. Known for competitive roaming deals between Macau and Hong Kong, which is useful for the many people who commute or travel between the two.
China Telecom (Macau)
The Macau subsidiary of China Telecom, one of mainland China's three big carriers. Popular with mainland Chinese visitors and residents who want easy cross-border connectivity. Plans often include mainland China roaming bundled in.
Don't confuse +853 with nearby codes
+853 is most commonly confused with its neighbors:
| Code | Country/Region | Why it's confused |
|---|---|---|
| +852 | Hong Kong | Off by one digit. Both are Chinese SARs on the Pearl River Delta. Many people work in one and live in the other. The +852/+853 mix-up is extremely common. |
| +86 | China (mainland) | Macau is part of China but uses its own country code. If someone gives you a number starting with +86, that's their mainland Chinese SIM, not their Macau one. |
| +856 | Laos | Similar digits (853 vs 856). No geographic connection, but an easy mistype. |
The +852/+853 confusion is the one that happens in practice. If you're calling someone in the Hong Kong/Macau area, double-check the last digit of the country code.
Time zone considerations
Macau uses Macau Standard Time (MST), which is UTC+8. No daylight saving time. This is the same time zone as mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Perth.
| Your location | Time difference | When it's 10:00 AM in Macau |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | MST is +13 hours | 9:00 PM previous day |
| US West Coast (PST) | MST is +16 hours | 6:00 PM previous day |
| London (GMT) | MST is +8 hours | 2:00 AM |
| Sydney (AEDT) | MST is -3 hours | 1:00 PM |
| Lisbon (WET) | MST is +8 hours | 2:00 AM |
From the US East Coast, the best window for business calls is around 8-9 PM EST (9-10 AM in Macau). For personal calls, Macau's casinos and restaurants operate 24/7, so you may reach people at unusual hours.
Communication in Macau
Business hours
Government offices run Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:45 PM. Banks close at 5:00 PM. Casinos never close. Shops in tourist areas stay open late, often until 10 or 11 PM. Sunday is quieter but not a universal day off. Public holidays follow both Chinese and Portuguese traditions -- Macau celebrates Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and Christmas.
Communication style
Macau is multilingual. Cantonese is the most widely spoken language in daily life. Business with government often involves Portuguese (still an official language). Mandarin is increasingly common due to mainland Chinese visitors and residents. English is spoken in the casino and hotel industry. WeChat is the dominant messaging app for mainland Chinese contacts; WhatsApp is more common among local Macanese and Portuguese-speakers. Phone calls to businesses are usually answered in Cantonese first.
Network quality
Excellent. Macau has full 5G coverage across the territory. Given its tiny size (33 km²), there are no coverage dead zones. International call quality is consistently good, routed through undersea cables and mainland Chinese infrastructure. VoIP services work without restriction -- there's no Great Firewall in Macau.
Who calls Macau?
The Macanese diaspora
The Macanese (people of mixed Portuguese-Asian heritage) have a small but distinctive diaspora. Communities exist in Portugal (Lisbon), Brazil (Sao Paulo), the US (California), Canada (Vancouver, Toronto), and Australia. Many left before or after the 1999 handover. They maintain cultural ties through Macanese associations and annual reunions, and regular phone calls home are part of keeping the community connected.
Casino and hospitality industry
Macau's casino industry employs tens of thousands of people and generates billions in revenue. International casino operators (Sands, Wynn, MGM, Melco) have headquarters in the US that need to communicate with Macau operations daily. Hotel chains, entertainment companies, and their suppliers also generate steady international call traffic.
Mainland Chinese visitors and business
Before the pandemic, Macau received over 39 million visitors per year, the vast majority from mainland China. Cross-border business calls between Macau and the mainland are constant, though many of these go through WeChat voice calls rather than traditional phone lines. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (opened 2018) has increased daily commuter traffic and the associated phone calls.
Dialing examples
Calling a mobile in Macau
Your contact's number is 6312 4567.
- From a US mobile: +853 6312 4567
- From a US landline: 011-853-6312-4567
- From Hong Kong: 00-853-6312-4567
Calling a Macau landline
A hotel on the Cotai strip has the number 2888 1234.
- From a US mobile: +853 2888 1234
- From a US landline: 011-853-2888-1234
- From mainland China: 00-853-2888-1234
Calling from Macau to Hong Kong
Dial the international access code (00) + 852 + the 8-digit Hong Kong number:
- 00-852-XXXX XXXX
This is an international call even though the two cities are only 60 km apart.
Calling from Macau to mainland China
Dial 00 + 86 + area code + number:
- 00-86-20-XXXX XXXX (Guangzhou)
- 00-86-755-XXXX XXXX (Shenzhen)
Common mistakes to avoid
Confusing +853 with +852 (Hong Kong)
The single most common mistake. Both are 3-digit codes differing only in the last digit. Both have 8-digit local numbers starting with similar prefixes. If your call connects to someone speaking Cantonese and it seems like the wrong person, check whether you dialed +853 or +852.
Using +86 for Macau
Macau is part of China but does not use the +86 country code. It has its own +853 code. If you dial +86 followed by a Macau number, the call will fail or reach someone in mainland China. The reverse also applies -- mainland Chinese numbers don't work under +853.
Adding a trunk prefix
Macau has no trunk prefix. Don't add a 0 before the 8-digit number. The format is simply +853 + 8 digits. Some people add a 0 out of habit (especially if they're used to calling Hong Kong from mainland China, where you dial 00-852), but the 0 is the international access code, not a trunk prefix.
Assuming WeChat works for everyone
WeChat is dominant for mainland Chinese contacts but less universal among local Macanese, Portuguese-speakers, and Western expats. WhatsApp and traditional phone calls are still common. Ask which messaging platform someone prefers before assuming WeChat will reach them.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What region uses the +853 code?
Macau (Macao Special Administrative Region of China). Every phone number starting with +853 is a Macau number. Macau has its own country code separate from mainland China (+86) and Hong Kong (+852).
How many digits are in a Macau phone number?
All Macau numbers are 8 digits after +853. Mobile numbers start with 6, landlines start with 2. A complete international number is always +853 + 8 digits.
Is calling Macau the same as calling China?
No. Macau uses +853, mainland China uses +86. They are separate phone systems. A call from the US to Macau is dialed differently than a call to Shanghai or Beijing.
Can I use WhatsApp and WeChat in Macau?
Yes, both work freely. Unlike mainland China, Macau does not have internet restrictions. Google, Facebook, WhatsApp, and all other international services work normally.
How much does it cost to call Macau?
With CallSky, calls to Macau landlines start at $0.30/min (Economy) and mobiles at $0.36/min (Economy). Premium rates are $1.06/min for both. No subscription required.
For more dialing guides, see the full country code directory. You might also find these related guides useful: Hong Kong (+852), China (+86), and Portugal (+351).