Laos +856
To call Laos from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 856, then the local number without its leading 0. In full: +856 20 23 123 456.
The country calling code for Laos is +856. A number starting +856 or 00856 is a call to or from Laos. From abroad: +856 20 23 123 456.
To call Laos from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 856, then the local number without its leading 0. The +856 code identifies the country; the following digits identify the line (landline or mobile).
How to call Laos from abroad
011 856 20 23 123 45600 856 20 23 123 4560011 856 20 23 123 456+856 20 23 123 45620 23 123 456 is a real-format Laos mobile number (example from the ITU-T numbering plan): replace it with the number you were given, without its leading 0.
Laos area codes
In Laos, landlines usually include an area code after +856 (without its leading 0). Mobiles have no area code.
Number format
021 212 862from abroad+856 21 212 862020 23 123 456from abroad+856 20 23 123 456Landline numbers in Laos have 8 digits after the country code; mobile numbers have 9 or 10 digits. The national prefix 0 is only dialled inside the country — drop it after +856.
Calling abroad from Laos
To call another country from Laos, dial the exit code 00 (or + on a mobile), then the country code, then the number. From Laos to the United States, for example: 00 1 201 555 0123.
A Laos number in international format is written +856 …. 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 Laos
With internet on both ends, apps like WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call Laos 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 +856?
Laos has the country calling code +856.
How do I call Laos from the United States?
Dial 011, then 856, then the local number without its leading 0 — for example 011 20 23 123 456.
What does +856 mean?
It is the international dialing code for Laos. The + stands for your exit code (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America).
Is +856 mobile or landline?
The +856 code identifies the country, not the line type; Laos landlines and mobiles share it.
A country code covers a whole nation; the full number depends on the city and operator.
Mobile networks in Laos
4 mobile network operators run their own networks in Laos. The largest is Unitel, with about 2.71 million subscribers. Pick the one with the best coverage where you will spend most of your time.
Owned by Lao Asia Telecommunication State Enterprise (LAT) (51%), Viettel Global (49%)
Owned by Government of Lao P.D.R. (51%), Shennington Investments (Thaicom) (49%)
Owned by Government of Lao P.D.R. (100%)
Owned by Jiafu Holdings (51%) Government of Lao P.D.R. (49%)
- 4G/5G frequency bands used in Laos: 5G, LTE 1800. Most recent smartphones cover them; older or regional models may miss some.
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 Laos
What visitors and new residents need to know before buying a local SIM or eSIM in Laos, with a source for each point.
Buying a SIM as a visitor
Mandatory for all numbers: the government ordered every user to register (facial scan, residence details, ID document) by 16 December 2023, after which unregistered numbers were cut off. Foreigners register with their passport at the point of sale. In November 2025 the Ministry of Technology and Communications warned that forged notices demanding SIM re-registration under threat of deletion are a scam. No official SIM-count limit found.
Source: rfa.org · shop.internetlaos.com · laotiantimes.com
Where to buy it
SIM counters at Vientiane Wattay International Airport and operator/retail shops in towns (Unitel, Lao Telecom, TPLUS, ETL); passport required, activation on the spot. Data-only Unitel eSIMs are sold online by resellers.
Source: shop.internetlaos.com · internetlaos.com
Emergency numbers
Police 1191, Fire 1190, Ambulance 1195; tourist police (Vientiane) 021 251 128.
Source: gov.uk
WhatsApp and calling apps
None known. No restriction on WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype calls was found; OONI WhatsApp reachability tests from Laos between 1 June and 27 September 2026: 41 of 41 measurements OK (small sample).
Source: api.ooni.io
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 Laos
With 65 mobile subscriptions per 100 people, mobile coverage in Laos is not universal — keep a landline number as a backup when you can. Only 66 % of people use the internet, so a plain phone call may reach more people than an app.
Source: World Bank / ITU World Telecommunication indicators (IT.CEL.SETS.P2, IT.NET.USER.ZS, IT.MLT.MAIN.P2), latest available year.
China +86
Myanmar +95
Cambodia +855
Thailand +66
Vietnam +84