How to Call South Africa (+27)
Country code, exit codes, phone number format, and common mistakes when calling South Africa from abroad.
Dialing format
Calling South Africa
011 27 11 XXXX XXXX
Exit code
Dial this first to exit US
Country code
South Africa country code
Area code
City/region code
Local number
The subscriber number
From the US, dial 011 to place an international call, then 27 for South Africa, then the area code 11 (drop any leading 0), followed by the local number. With Telvio you dial the same format — no prefix change needed.
Exit codes by source country
The exit code depends on where YOU are calling from. On mobile phones and VoIP apps, use + instead.
| Calling from | Exit code | You dial |
|---|---|---|
| United States / Canada | 011 | 011 27 ... |
| United Kingdom | 00 | 00 27 ... |
| Australia | 0011 | 0011 27 ... |
| Most of Europe | 00 | 00 27 ... |
| Japan | 010 | 010 27 ... |
| From a mobile / VoIP app | + | +27 ... |
South Africa phone number format
Common mistakes
- ✕ Keeping the leading 0 when dialing from abroad. Drop it — it is only for domestic calls within South Africa.
- ✕ Using the wrong exit code. Each country has its own (US: 011, UK: 00). On mobile, just use +.
- ✕ Forgetting the country code +27. Without it, the call will fail or route locally.
Calling rates to South Africa
Frequently asked questions
What is the country code for South Africa?
The country code for South Africa is +27. Dial this after your exit code (or use + on a mobile) before the local number.
How do I call South Africa from the US?
From a US landline: dial 011 + 27 + local number. From a mobile or VoIP app like Telvio: dial +27 + local number.
Do I need to drop the leading 0 when calling South Africa?
Yes. South Africa uses 0 as a trunk prefix for domestic calls. When dialing internationally, drop the leading 0 from the local number.
What is the exit code to call South Africa from my country?
The exit code depends on where you are calling FROM, not the destination. The US uses 011, the UK and most of Europe use 00, Australia uses 0011. On any mobile phone or VoIP app, you can use + instead.
Can I call South Africa mobile phones internationally?
Yes. Dial the country code +27 followed by the mobile number (without the leading 0). VoIP apps like Telvio make this easy — just enter the full number with country code.
Call South Africa with Telvio
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