Quick answer: +91 is India. Every Indian number has 10 digits after +91. Mobiles start with 6, 7, 8 or 9. If the number you were given starts with 0, drop the 0. Example:
+91 98765 43210.
How to dial India
| Calling from | Dial |
|---|---|
| Any mobile phone | +91 + 10 digits |
| US or Canada landline | 011 91 + 10 digits |
| UK or UAE landline | 00 91 + 10 digits |
| Australia landline | 0011 91 + 10 digits |
Indians often write numbers with a leading 0, like 098765 43210 or 022 2345 6789. That 0 is only for calls inside India. From abroad, leave it out: 022 2345 6789 becomes +91 22 2345 6789.
Mobile and landline numbers
Mobiles are 10 digits starting with 6, 7, 8 or 9, usually written as two groups of five: 98765 43210. They have no area code.
Landlines are an area code plus a local number, 10 digits together. The big cities have 2-digit codes and 8-digit local numbers. Smaller cities have 3- or 4-digit codes.
| City | Area code in India | From abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 011 | +91 11 xxxx xxxx |
| Mumbai | 022 | +91 22 xxxx xxxx |
| Kolkata | 033 | +91 33 xxxx xxxx |
| Chennai | 044 | +91 44 xxxx xxxx |
| Bangalore | 080 | +91 80 xxxx xxxx |
| Hyderabad | 040 | +91 40 xxxx xxxx |
| Ahmedabad | 079 | +91 79 xxxx xxxx |
| Pune | 020 | +91 20 xxxx xxxx |
| Jaipur | 0141 | +91 141 xxx xxxx |
| Lucknow | 0522 | +91 522 xxx xxxx |
The first digit won't always tell you which kind of number you have. Mobiles start with 6 to 9, but so do some landline area codes: Bangalore (80), Ahmedabad (79), Patna (612).
Codes that get mixed up with +91
+92 is Pakistan, +93 is Afghanistan and +94 is Sri Lanka.
Time difference
India is on IST (UTC+5:30) all year, with no daylight saving time. The gap changes when your own clocks change.
| Where you are | Your clocks on summer time | Your clocks on standard time |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast | India is 9h 30m ahead | India is 10h 30m ahead |
| US West Coast | India is 12h 30m ahead | India is 13h 30m ahead |
| UK | India is 4h 30m ahead | India is 5h 30m ahead |
| UAE | India is 1h 30m ahead all year | |
| Sydney | India is 5h 30m behind | India is 4h 30m behind |
A 10 PM call from New York reaches India at 7:30 AM in the US summer and 8:30 AM in the US winter.
Prefer calling over WiFi? See our guide to the best apps for WiFi calling.
FAQ
Can I call an Indian 1800 toll-free number from abroad?
Usually not. Indian 1800 numbers are generally set up for callers inside India, so from another country the call often won't connect. Look for the company's separate number for overseas callers.
Why won't my call to +91 go through?
Check three things: you left out the leading 0, you have exactly 10 digits after +91, and you dialed 91, not 92 or 94.