Irish Telephone Code: How to Call Ireland

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The Ireland phone code you need to look up is +353. When calling Ireland from abroad, you should follow a standard format.

Dialing Format: International Exit Code + 353 + Irish Local Number (remove the ‘0’ at the beginning of the number)

If you are using a smartphone, you can directly use the “+” sign instead of your country’s international exit code. This method makes the dialing process very simple.

Key Points

• To call Ireland, you need to use the “international exit code” or “+” sign, followed by the Ireland country code “353”.
• When calling Ireland, you must remove the leading “0” from the Irish local number, whether it’s a landline or mobile number.
• Save Irish contacts’ phone numbers in your phone’s address book starting with “+353” and removing the “0” in the full international format; this ensures smooth dialing from anywhere in the world.
• Before making an international call, be sure to check the local time in Ireland to avoid disturbing the other party.
• If the call fails, check whether you forgot to remove the “0” in front of the number, or if your account balance is sufficient, and whether your phone has international calling enabled.

Understanding Ireland Phone Code and Dialing Structure

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To successfully connect a call, you need to clearly understand each component of the dialing format. It’s like a puzzle where every piece must be in the right place. We will break down the dialing process into three simple steps.

Step 1: International Exit Code or “+” Sign

Before dialing any international number, you need to enter a special code known as the “international exit code” or “international dial-out code”. This code tells your phone network that the next number you dial is an international call, not a local one.

The international exit code may differ for each country or region. For example:

• In mainland China, you need to dial 00.
• In the United States or Canada, you need to dial 011.
• In the United Kingdom or most European countries, it is usually 00.

📱 Smartphone Tip To simplify the process, modern smartphones offer a universal solution. Simply long-press the “0” key on the dial pad, and a “+” sign will appear on the screen. This “+” sign can automatically replace all international exit codes for the country you are in. No matter where you are, using the “+” sign is the simplest and least error-prone way to make international calls.

Step 2: Ireland Country Code 353

After entering the international exit code (or “+” sign), the next step is to enter Ireland’s country code. This code is globally unique and identifies the country you are calling.

Ireland’s country code is 353.

This three-digit code is the bridge connecting you to Ireland. So, your dialing sequence now looks like this: International Exit Code + 353 or +353.

Step 3: Local Number Without the Leading “0”

This is the most critical and error-prone step in the entire dialing process. Irish local phone numbers, whether landline or mobile, usually start with “0” when dialed domestically in Ireland. But when making an international call,you must remove this leading “0”.

Why? Because this “0” is a domestic trunk prefix used in Ireland for long-distance calls. When you have already used an international exit code (such as “00” or “+”), this domestic trunk prefix becomes redundant. Keeping it will confuse the phone system and cause the call to fail.

Landline (Fixed) Numbers

Irish landline numbers include an area code. For example, Dublin’s area code is 01. When calling from abroad, you need to remove the 0 and dial only 1.

Here are the area codes (domestic format) for some major regions in Ireland:

Mobile Numbers

The same rule applies to mobile numbers. Irish mobile numbers typically start with 08 when dialed domestically (such as 083, 085, 086, 087, 089).

• A typical Irish mobile number in domestic format is: 08X-XXX-XXXX.
• When calling from abroad, you need to remove the leading 0 and dial directly 8X-XXX-XXXX.

Remember this simple rule, and you can correctly use the Ireland phone code to successfully connect your call.

International Dialing Examples

You have mastered the theory; now let’s look at how to call Ireland from different countries through some specific examples. Try it once in practice, and you’ll find the entire process very simple.

Calling from China

If you are in mainland China, you need to dial the international exit code 00 first.

• Calling an Irish Landline Suppose you want to contact the University of Galway, whose switchboard number in domestic format is 091 524411.
  1. First, enter China’s international exit code: 00
  2. Next, enter Ireland’s country code: 353
  3. Then, enter the Galway area code and phone number without the leading 0: 91524411

  Final Dialing Format: 00 + 353 + 91 + 524411

• Calling an Irish Mobile Suppose the Irish mobile number you want to dial is 087-123-4567.
  1. Similarly, first enter China’s international exit code: 00
  2. Then Ireland’s country code: 353
  3. Finally, enter the mobile number without the 0: 871234567

  Final Dialing Format: 00 + 353 + 871234567

Calling from the United States or Canada

When calling from the United States or Canada, the international exit code is 011. This is the first step to enable international calling.

• Calling an Irish Landline Take the Clayton Hotel in Cork City as an example; its phone number is +353 21 422 4900. Here, 21 is the Cork area code after removing the 0.
  1. Enter the US/Canada international exit code: 011
  2. Enter Ireland’s country code: 353
  3. Enter the area code and number without the 0: 214224900

  Final Dialing Format: 011 + 353 + 21 + 4224900

• Calling an Irish Mobile Use the same mobile number example 087-123-4567.
  1. Enter the international exit code: 011
  2. Enter the country code: 353
  3. Enter the mobile number without the 0: 871234567

  Final Dialing Format: 011 + 353 + 871234567

Calling from the United Kingdom

Calling Ireland from the UK follows similar rules to calling from China, with the international exit code also being 00.

• Calling a Dublin Landline Suppose a Dublin number is 01-987-6543.
  1. Enter the UK’s international exit code: 00
  2. Enter Ireland’s country code: 353
  3. Enter the Dublin area code and number without the 0: 19876543

  Final Dialing Format: 00 + 353 + 1 + 9876543

Phone Address Book Storage Format

To avoid having to look up and enter complex codes every time you make an international call, we strongly recommend adopting a once-and-for-all storage method.

Best Practice No matter where you are, save Irish contacts’ numbers in your phone’s address book in the full international format. This format starts with the “+” sign, followed by the country code and the local number without the “0”.

• Landline Example: +353 1 234 5678 (Dublin number)
• Mobile Number Example: +353 87 123 4567

Why do this?

• Globally Universal: The “+” sign is a universal international dialing symbol; your phone will automatically replace it with the correct international exit code for the country you are currently in. Whether you are in China, the US, or anywhere else, dialing this saved number directly will connect.
• Avoid Confusion: Many smartphones (including iOS and Android systems) may fail to recognize incoming calls due to inconsistent number formats. For example, an incoming local number without the “+” sign may not match the international format number you saved. Unifying all numbers to the full Ireland phone code format ensures that the contact’s name is correctly displayed during incoming calls to the greatest extent.

Developing this good habit will save you a lot of time and effort, especially when you need to make frequent international calls.

Tips and Common Troubleshooting

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After mastering the dialing method, learning some practical tips and solutions to common problems will make your calling experience smoother.

Ways to Save on International Call Costs

Making international long-distance calls can incur high costs. You can use some methods to save money. The simplest way is to use a Wi-Fi network and make voice or video calls through apps like Skype, WhatsApp, or WeChat.

Additionally, you can check with your mobile carrier if they offer international calling plans. These plans are usually more cost-effective than pay-per-minute billing. For example:

• Some US carriers (such as T-Mobile) offer dedicated international calling services.
• A service called “Stateside International Talk” costs about 15 USD per month.
• This service includes unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles in multiple countries/regions, including Ireland.

Common Reasons for Dialing Failure

If you cannot connect the call, don’t panic. You can first check the following common reasons:

• Forgot to Remove the Leading “0”: This is the most common mistake. Make sure the Irish number you are dialing does not have a “0” in front.
• Insufficient Account Balance: If you are using a prepaid SIM card, confirm that there is enough balance in your account. Insufficient balance will cause the call to be disconnected immediately, even if you are using Wi-Fi calling.
• International Call Restrictions: Some phone plans disable international long-distance calling by default. You may hear prompts like “call blocked” or “invalid number”. In this case, you need to contact your carrier to enable this service.

Pay Attention to Time Differences Between Locations

Before making a call, be sure to confirm the local time in Ireland to avoid disturbing your friends or colleagues late at night or early in the morning.

Ireland’s standard time zone is Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0). However, you need to note daylight saving time. Every year from late March to late October, Ireland adopts daylight saving time, advancing the clock by one hour to Irish Standard Time (IST, UTC+1).

Quick Time Difference Reference

• With China:Beijing time is 8 hours ahead of Dublin time (standard time) or 7 hours (daylight saving time).
• With the United States:Dublin time is 5 hours ahead of New York time (standard time) or 4 hours (daylight saving time).

Doing a simple time difference calculation before calling is basic international calling etiquette.

Now you have mastered all the techniques for calling Ireland. Remember this core dialing formula; it will help you connect to every corner of Ireland.

Core Formula: Your Location’s International Exit Code + 353 + Irish Number Without the Leading “0”

You can confidently try the examples in this article, and we wish you smooth calls! Finally, a reminder: the key step to correctly using the Ireland phone code is to always remove the “0” in front of the number.

FAQ

Here, we have compiled some common questions and quick answers about calling Ireland.

Can I use the same format to send text messages?

Yes, absolutely. To send international text messages (SMS) to Ireland, you also need to use +353 plus the local number without the leading 0. This rule applies to both SMS and phone calls.

Format: +353 [Irish number without 0] 💬

Why do incoming calls from Ireland show as starting with +353?

This is because your phone correctly recognizes the international incoming call. +353 is Ireland’s international code. Saving incoming numbers in the full +353 format in your address book ensures that your phone can always correctly display the contact’s name.

Identification Code: + (International Exit Code) 353 (Country Code) 📲

Are the rules the same for calling mobiles and landlines?

The rules are exactly the same. Whether calling an Irish landline (fixed) or mobile, you must remove the leading “0” from the number in its domestic format. This is a key step that must be followed when making international calls.

Uniform Rule: Remove the Leading 0 ✅

What happens if I forget to remove the “0” in front of the number?

Your call will fail. The phone system will not recognize the number due to the format error. You may hear prompts like “cannot connect” or “invalid number”. Be sure to check and remove the extra “0”.

Common Error: +353 087... (wrong) ➡️ +353 87... (correct) ❌