What is a country calling code?

A country calling code is the numeric prefix you dial before a national phone number to route a call to a specific country. For example, +1 reaches the United States and Canada, +44 reaches the United Kingdom, and +91 reaches India. The plus sign stands in for the international access code your network uses.

How do I dial an international number correctly?

Start with your exit or access code (or the + symbol on a mobile), add the destination country code, then the area or city code without its leading zero, and finally the local subscriber number. So a London line looks like +44 20 7946 0000.

What does the plus (+) sign mean in a phone number?

The + is a universal placeholder for the international dialing prefix. Saving numbers in +country-code format means they connect from any country without editing the access code, which is why it is the recommended way to store contacts.

Why do the United States and Canada share the country code +1?

Both countries belong to the North American Numbering Plan, a shared system that also covers several Caribbean nations. They use the same +1 country code but are separated by distinct three-digit area codes.

Do I need to remove the leading zero from a phone number when calling internationally?

Usually yes. Many countries print a trunk prefix, often a 0, for domestic calls. When dialing from abroad you drop that leading zero after the country code. For example, a UK mobile written as 07700 900000 becomes +44 7700 900000.

Which Portuguese area codes should I know for letsdial calls to Lisbon and Porto?

Lisbon uses 21 (full 9-digit format: 21X XXX XXX) and Porto uses 22 (22X XXX XXX). Braga uses 253, Coimbra uses 239, and Faro (Algarve) uses 289. Portuguese mobile numbers start with 91 (Vodafone), 93 (NOS), or 96 (MEO/Altice), all beginning with 9. In letsdial, these appear in logs as numbers starting with +351 9x, easily distinguishable from landlines.

Is WhatsApp widely used in Portugal for business pre-call messaging?

Yes — WhatsApp is dominant in Portugal and is used extensively for both personal and business communication. Before placing a letsdial call to a Portuguese contact, a WhatsApp message is the most effective pre-call channel. Email is also well-used in formal B2B contexts, particularly in banking and legal services. WhatsApp's role in Portuguese business has grown significantly since 2020, making it the go-to first-contact method.

What time zone does Portugal observe, and does it align with the rest of Western Europe?

Portugal observes Western European Time (WET, UTC+0) in winter and Western European Summer Time (WEST, UTC+1) in summer, following the same DST schedule as the UK and Ireland. Notably, Portugal and the UK are on the same time zone despite being geographically on the Iberian Peninsula alongside Spain (CET). This means scheduling letsdial calls from the UK to Portugal never requires time-zone adjustment.

Can letsdial provide a Lisbon virtual number for businesses entering the Portuguese market?

Yes, letsdial offers Portuguese virtual numbers with Lisbon (21) and Porto (22) area codes. Lisbon has emerged as one of Europe's leading startup and tech hubs, with a booming digital economy and a growing English-speaking international business community. A letsdial Lisbon number helps international tech companies establish credibility in Portugal's expanding market without needing a physical office.

What business culture norms apply to letsdial calls with Portuguese contacts?

Portuguese business culture values personal relationships and formality in initial contacts — using proper titles (Senhor/Senhora) and last names until invited to use first names is respectful. Decision-making can involve deliberation, so patience and consistent follow-up after letsdial calls is important. Calls should not be rushed, and a degree of personal connection before business discussion is appreciated, similar to other Southern European cultures.

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Portugal

+351

Country code

International prefix

Portugal's country code +351 connects a growing tech and tourism economy. Lisbon has become one of Europe's top startup destinations, attracting talent and investment from across the globe.

Best hours:9 AM – 6 PM WET

Language:Portuguese

Capital:Lisbon

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🇵🇹

Portugal

PT · Europe

+351

dial code

Capital

Lisbon

Currency

EUR (€)

Language

Portuguese

Population

10 million

Best calling window

9 AM – 6 PM WET

12 AM

12 PM

11 PM

Western European Time (WET) · UTC+0 to UTC+1 (WEST)

Country

Portugal

2 Digit ISO

Country Calling Code

+351

ISO Alpha-3

PTP

Loading map…

Lisbon

Capital

Live

Lisbon

--:--:-- --

Time Zone

Western European Time (WET)

Quick Facts

CurrencyEUR (€)

LanguagePortuguese

Population10 million

GMT OffsetUTC+0 to UTC+1 (WEST)

Best Hours9 AM – 6 PM WET

Step by step

How to call Portugal from abroad

International dialing is a four-step process.
Use + on mobile to skip the exit code entirely.

Step 01

Exit code

Dial from US/Canada (or use +)

Step 02

+351

Country code

Portugal international prefix

Step 03

Area / city code

Local routing prefix

Step 04

234 5678

Local number

Subscriber number

dialing-example.txt

International format

00—351—21—234 5678

Shorthand (works from any device): +351 21 234 5678

Calling Guide

Best time to call Portugal · Western European Time (WET)

View guide

Why letsdial

Benefits of calling Portugal
with letsdial

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Get a local +351 number

A Lisbon +351 21 or Porto +351 22 caller ID signals a Portuguese business presence — important for reaching both local businesses and the globally distributed Portuguese diaspora.

Portugal and 50+ countries, one plan

Call Portugal and 50+ global markets from one letsdial subscription — no per-city fees for Lisbon, Porto, or the Algarve.

Full call analytics

Track every Portugal call in WET/WEST (UTC+0/+1) — monitor answer rates, peak windows, and team performance in one dashboard.

Works on any device

Mobile app, desktop, or IP phone — your +351 number lets your team appear locally present in Portugal from any location.

Unified Communications

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

One cloud platform replaces your phone system, chat tool, and contact centre — no hardware, no juggling apps.
Reach Portugal and 50+ countries from one dashboard.

50+

Countries covered

99.9%

Uptime SLA

2 min

Setup time

Hardware needed

Voice & Video Calls

Crystal-clear HD calls to Portugal and 50+ countries from one number.

Team Messaging

Chat, share files, and collaborate — all inside the same platform you call from.

Real-Time Analytics

Live dashboards for call volumes, answer rates, and agent performance.

Global Number Coverage

Local +351 numbers plus 50+ country codes — managed from one dashboard.

Format reference

Portugal& neighbouring countries

Portuguese numbers under +351 do not have a trunk prefix to drop — all numbers begin with their geographic prefix. Lisbon landlines start with 21, Porto with 22. Mobile numbers start with 9.

CountryLocal formatInternational format

Portugalcurrent234 5678+351 21 234 5678

Spain123 456 78+34 91 123 456 78

France23 45 67 89+33 1 23 45 67 89

United Kingdom7123 4567+44 20 7123 4567

Brazil1234 5678+55 11 1234 5678

Ireland234 5678+353 1 234 5678

Good to know

Tips for calling Portugal

4 things to check before you dial internationally

Portuguese numbers start directly — no trunk prefix

Portuguese area codes have no trunk prefix to drop — Lisbon numbers start with 21, Porto with 22. From abroad: +351 21 for Lisbon, +351 22 for Porto. Mobiles start with 9: +351 9xx xxx xxxx.

WhatsApp is Portugal's dominant business platform

WhatsApp is widely used across Portugal for business communication at all levels. Sending a WhatsApp message before calling is standard practice and significantly improves response rates.

Show a local +351 caller ID

Portuguese contacts routinely screen calls from unknown international numbers. A letsdial +351 21 (Lisbon) or +351 22 (Porto) caller ID signals a locally established business and substantially improves the chance of being answered.

Portugal is WET in winter, WEST (UTC+1) in summer

Portugal uses WET (UTC+0) in winter and WEST (UTC+1) in summer — the same schedule as the UK. Business hours include a defined lunch break. From New York (ET), Portugal is 5 hours ahead in winter.

Market data

Portugal communication insights

84%

Internet penetration

82% of Portugal's population uses the internet, with fibre broadband among the most widely deployed in Europe.

95%

Mobile users

88% of Portuguese residents use mobile phones, supported by comprehensive national network coverage.

76%

Smartphone owners

70% of Portuguese adults own smartphones; WhatsApp is widely used for business and personal messaging.

82%

Digital businesses

80% of Portuguese businesses have adopted digital communication and cloud productivity platforms.

Global directory

List of Country Codes

50+ countries listed with their international dial prefix and ISO code.

Filter by letter or search to find any country code instantly.

Portugal calling FAQs

Frequently asked about Portugal

Portugal does not use a domestic trunk prefix — all Portuguese numbers are 9 digits and dialed in full both locally and internationally. To call from abroad via letsdial, use +351 followed by the full 9-digit number. Lisbon landlines start with 21, Porto with 22, and mobiles start with 9x (91, 93, 96). For example, a Lisbon landline in letsdial is +351 21 XXX XXXX.

Get a local Portugal number

Get a local Portugal number in minutes.

Build trust with Portugal customers using a local +351 virtual phone number — from the same letsdial dashboard your whole team already uses.

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Looking up US area codes? Browse all US area codes →

Portugal

Portugal

How to call Portugal from abroad

Benefits of calling Portugalwith letsdial

Get a local +351 number

Portugal and 50+ countries, one plan

Full call analytics

Works on any device

One platform. Every call, message and team — connected.

Portugal& neighbouring countries

Tips for calling Portugal

Portuguese numbers start directly — no trunk prefix

WhatsApp is Portugal's dominant business platform

Show a local +351 caller ID

Portugal is WET in winter, WEST (UTC+1) in summer

Portugal communication insights

List of Country Codes

Frequently asked about Portugal

Get a local Portugal number in minutes.

Benefits of calling Portugal
with letsdial