Germany +49
To call Germany from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 49, then the local number without its leading 0. In full: +49 1512 3456789.
The country calling code for Germany is +49. A number starting +49 or 0049 is a call to or from Germany. From abroad: +49 1512 3456789.
To call Germany from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 49, then the local number without its leading 0. The +49 code identifies the country; the following digits identify the line (landline or mobile).
How to call Germany from abroad
011 49 1512 345678900 49 1512 34567890011 49 1512 3456789+49 1512 34567891512 3456789 is a real-format Germany mobile number (example from the ITU-T numbering plan): replace it with the number you were given, without its leading 0.
Germany area codes
When calling a landline in Germany, dial the city area code after +49 (without its leading 0):
| City | Area code | Full dial |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin | 30 | +49 30 … |
| Munich | 89 | +49 89 … |
| Hamburg | 40 | +49 40 … |
| Frankfurt | 69 | +49 69 … |
| Cologne | 221 | +49 221 … |
| Stuttgart | 711 | +49 711 … |
Number format
030 123456from abroad+49 30 12345601512 3456789from abroad+49 1512 3456789Landline numbers in Germany have 5 to 15 digits after the country code; mobile numbers have 10 or 11 digits and start with 1. The national prefix 0 is only dialled inside the country — drop it after +49.
Calling abroad from Germany
To call another country from Germany, dial the exit code 00 (or + on a mobile), then the country code, then the number. From Germany to the United States, for example: 00 1 201 555 0123.
A Germany number in international format is written +49 …. The + stands for the exit prefix (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America). Switching to international format, drop the leading 0.
Cheapest ways to call Germany
With internet on both ends, apps like WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call Germany for free. To reach a number without an app, VoIP services are usually cheaper than your operator’s international rate.
Frequently asked questions
What country has the code +49?
Germany has the country calling code +49.
How do I call Germany from the United States?
Dial 011, then 49, then the local number without its leading 0 — for example 011 1512 3456789.
What does +49 mean?
It is the international dialing code for Germany. The + stands for your exit code (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America).
Is +49 mobile or landline?
The +49 code identifies the country, not the line type; Germany landlines and mobiles share it.
A country code covers a whole nation; the full number depends on the city and operator.
Mobile networks in Germany
4 mobile network operators run their own networks in Germany. The largest is Telekom, with about 75.3 million subscribers (Q1 2026). Pick the one with the best coverage where you will spend most of your time.
formerly D1 DeTeMobil, T-Mobile
Owned by Deutsche Telekom AG
formerly VIAG Interkom) • Includes the former E-Plus network.
Owned by Telefónica S.A. (96.8%), free float (3.2%)
formerly D2 Mannesmann
Owned by Vodafone Group plc
Owned by United Internet AG (86,46%), free float (13,40%), Norman Rentrop (4,51%), 1&1 AG (0,14%), Management board (0,07%)
- 3G has been switched off on Telekom, O2, Vodafone Germany. A phone that only works on 3G will get no data there and may not be able to call: check that yours supports 4G with voice (VoLTE) before you go.
- Planned switch-offs: Telekom (2G, 2028-06-30); Vodafone Germany (2G, 2028-10-01 /2030-12-31 (IoT)).
- 4G/5G frequency bands used in Germany: 5G 1800, 5G 2100, 5G 3500, 5G 700, LTE 1800, LTE 2100, LTE 2600, LTE 700, LTE 800, LTE 900. Most recent smartphones cover them; older or regional models may miss some.
- Moving there? Mobile number portability has existed since 2002-11-01, a transfer takes about 1 day(s) and costs free.
Also available: virtual operators (MVNOs) that rent capacity on these networks — Simquadrat, Lebara Limited, NetCologne, Enreach, 1&1, Lycamobile.
Operators, subscriber counts, network codes and switch-off dates: Wikipedia (lists of mobile network operators, mobile network codes, 2G/3G phase-out, mobile number portability), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Figures come from each operator or regulator at the date shown.
Getting a SIM card in Germany
What visitors and new residents need to know before buying a local SIM or eSIM in Germany, with a source for each point.
Buying a SIM as a visitor
Yes. Since 1 July 2017 prepaid providers must verify the subscriber's name, address and date of birth against an identity document before activating the SIM (§ 172 TKG). Accepted documents include a national ID card, a passport or other official photo ID, or a residence permit; verification is done in person (shop, post office) or by an approved video-ident procedure. No SIM-count limit or IMEI registration for foreign phones found.
Source: gesetze-im-internet.de
Where to buy it
Prepaid starter kits are sold in operator shops, by discount-supermarket brands such as ALDI TALK and online; the SIM is then activated after an ID check by video-ident, in a partner shop (Shop-Ident) or at a participating post office.
Source: alditalk.de
Getting a monthly contract as a resident
A postpaid contract normally requires proof of identity, an address in Germany and a bank account with a SEPA IBAN for direct debit, and usually triggers a SCHUFA credit check; newcomers without German credit history are often steered to prepaid or monthly-cancellable plans. (Expat guide, not an operator page.)
Source: how-to-germany.com
Scam calls and texts
Report harassing calls, ping calls, spam SMS or messenger messages, robocalls, number spoofing and unsolicited telephone advertising to the Bundesnetzagentur via its online forms ('Ärger mit Rufnummern und Anrufen'), consumer line 0228 14 15 16. There is no national do-not-call register: advertising calls to consumers require prior express consent.
Source: bundesnetzagentur.de · bundesnetzagentur.de
Emergency numbers
112 fire brigade and ambulance (also works EU-wide), 110 police, 116117 non-emergency medical on-call service; all free of charge.
Source: im.baden-wuerttemberg.de
WhatsApp and calling apps
None known. EU open-internet rules prohibit internet providers from blocking, throttling or discriminating traffic, so WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype and similar voice/video apps work normally.
Source: digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
Checked on 28 September 2026 against the sources linked on each card (regulators, government portals and operators first). SIM and ID rules change often: confirm with the operator before you travel.
Staying connected in Germany
With 129 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, almost everyone in Germany has a mobile — a WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call is usually the easiest way in. Internet use is high (94 %), so app-to-app calls over Wi-Fi are a safe bet.
Source: World Bank / ITU World Telecommunication indicators (IT.CEL.SETS.P2, IT.NET.USER.ZS, IT.MLT.MAIN.P2), latest available year.
Free and premium numbers in Germany
+49 800 1234567890Free from inside Germany (numbers starting with 800). From abroad these numbers are often unreachable or charged at the international rate.
+49 900 1 234567Surcharged services. Do not call back an unknown missed call from such a range: the cost is far above a normal call.
Number ranges: ITU-T national numbering plan for Germany via Google libphonenumber.
Switzerland +41
Poland +48
Netherlands +31
Denmark +45
Belgium +32
Czech Republic +420
Luxembourg +352
France +33
Austria +43