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International dialing

How to call India from United Kingdom

  • Exit code 00
  • Country code +91
  • Drop the leading 0

Reviewed by Sujan ThapaliyaLast updated

Calling India from United Kingdom

Dial 00 (the United Kingdom exit code), then 91 (India’s country code), then the local number with its leading 0 removed. So +91 11 2345 6789 is dialled as 00 91 11 2345 6789. From a mobile you can dial +91 directly instead of 00.
Dialling India from United Kingdom: start with 00, the exit code for United Kingdom, then 91 for India, then the local number with its leading 0 dropped. The diagram shows those three blocks and the leading-zero rule that catches most people out.
The + shortcut on a mobile replaces the exit code entirely, which is why it works on any SIM in any country.

The dialing sequence

Exit code from United Kingdom
00
India country code
+91
Trunk prefix to remove
0
Domestic numbers start with 0; drop it from abroad.
Full sequence
00 + 91 + local number (drop the leading 0)
Time in India
IST (UTC+5:30, no DST)
United Kingdom is on GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1).

Step by step

Dialing India from United Kingdom

Four steps, and the third one is where almost every failed call goes wrong.

  1. 1

    Dial 00: the exit code for United Kingdom

    00 tells the United Kingdom network that the call is leaving the country. On a mobile you can press and hold 0 to type a + instead, which works from any country and any SIM; it is the more reliable option when you travel.
  2. 2

    Dial 91: the country code for India

    91 is India's country calling code. It never changes and is the same no matter where you are calling from.
  3. 3

    Drop the leading 0 from the local number

    Numbers written for domestic use in India begin with 0. That digit is a national trunk prefix and is not part of the number. Remove it: +91 11 2345 6789 is dialled as 11 2345 6789 after the country code.
  4. 4

    Check the local time before you dial

    India is on IST (UTC+5:30, no DST) and United Kingdom is on GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1). Work out the overlap before calling; the most common cause of an unanswered international business call is simply the hour.

Worked examples

What the number looks like at each stage

These are format patterns showing digit grouping, not working numbers.

Written in IndiaDialed from United Kingdom
Landline011 2345 678900 91 11 2345 6789
Mobile+91 XXXXX XXXXX00 91 98765 43210
From a mobile (+)n/a+91 98765 43210

One thing about India

Every Indian mobile number is 10 digits starting 6, 7, 8, or 9. India sits on a half-hour offset, so US Eastern is 9:30 or 10:30 hours behind depending on the season.

Frequently asked questions

How do I call India from the United Kingdom?
Dial 00, then 91, then the local number with its leading 0 removed. For example, +91 11 2345 6789 is dialled as 00 91 11 2345 6789.
What is the country code for India?
+91. From United Kingdom you reach it by dialling 00 first, or by dialling + directly from a mobile.
Do I include the 0 when calling India?
No. The leading 0 is only used inside India. Including it from abroad is the most common reason the call fails to connect.
How do I call a India mobile from United Kingdom?
Exactly the same way as a landline: 00 + 91 + the mobile number without its leading 0. A India mobile in international format looks like +91 98765 43210.
What is the time difference between United Kingdom and India?
United Kingdom is on GMT/BST (UTC+0/+1) and India is on IST (UTC+5:30, no DST). Because several of these zones observe daylight saving on different dates, check the current offset rather than assuming a fixed gap.
Is it cheaper to call India over the internet?
Usually, yes. Carrier international rates are typically far above VoIP per-minute rates, and calling from an owned local number also means the person you are calling sees a number they can ring back.

Sources

  1. ITU-T Recommendation E.164 — The international public telecommunication numbering plan — International Telecommunication UnionThe international number format, the 15-digit maximum, and how country codes and national numbers compose.
  2. ITU-T International Numbering Resources — International Telecommunication UnionThe assignment of country calling codes and the published national numbering plans they belong to.

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