How to Dial Australian Phone Numbers Correctly: Number Formats and International Dialing Details

Image Source: pexels

Calling an Australian phone number is actually very straightforward. You only need to remember a few core formulas to connect easily. These rules vary depending on your location.

Core Dialing Formulas

• Calling from abroad: International access code + 61 + Australian number without the leading 0
• Calling within Australia: (Area code) + Local number

Key Points

• When calling Australia from abroad, use the “+61” country code and remove the “0” from the front of the Australian number.
• When calling a local phone within Australia, within the same area code, dial only the local number; for cross-region calls, add “0” and the area code.
• To call internationally from Australia, you must use “0011” as the international exit code.
• Save contacts in the international format “+country code + number without 0” for easy dialing from anywhere in the world.
• Before dialing, pay attention to Australia’s time zone differences and daylight saving time to avoid disturbing the other party.

Breakdown of Australian Phone Number Structure

Understanding the structure of an Australian phone number is the first step to successful dialing. A complete number typically consists of the country code, area code or mobile prefix, and the local number. Before dialing, you need to identify the type of number you are calling.

International Country Code (+61)

+61 is the exclusive country code assigned to Australia by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This code directs international long-distance calls to the correct country.

Tip: What is the difference between the + sign and 00? The + is a universal international dialing prefix that can be entered directly on mobile phones. It automatically converts to the international access code of your location, such as 00 in China. Therefore, dialing +61 is equivalent to dialing 0061.

When calling from abroad, after the country code 61, there is usually a 9-digit number (with the 0 removed from the front of the Australian local number).

Landline Area Codes

Australian landline numbers include an area code to distinguish different geographic regions. When calling a landline, you need to know the region of the recipient.

Please note that these geographic divisions do not strictly follow state boundaries.

Mobile Number Prefixes (04/05)

Mobile phone usage is very common in Australia. As early as 2011, mobile-only users accounted for nearly 19% of the total population.

• Australian mobile numbers start with 04 and are 10 digits in total.
• Although the 05 prefix is also planned for mobile numbers, it is not yet in use.

Therefore, when you see a 10-digit number starting with 04, you can confirm it is a mobile number.

Special Service Numbers

In addition to regular phone numbers, Australia has numbers for specific services. Knowing these numbers can make your life more convenient.

• Emergency Services 000: This is the most important number for contacting police, fire, and ambulance. You can also dial the international standard emergency number 112 from a mobile, which will automatically redirect to 000.
• Toll-Free and Low-Rate Numbers:
  • 1800 numbers: Completely free for the caller, with costs borne by the recipient.
  • 1300 or 13 numbers: The caller only pays local call rates, but calling from a mobile may incur additional charges.
• Other Useful Hotlines: Australia has many helpful hotlines, such as the Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26 and Lifeline 13 11 14.

Core Scenarios for Calling Australian Phones

Image Source: pexels

Now that you understand the number structure, let’s move on to practical operations. Depending on your location and the type of number you are calling, the dialing method will differ. Master the following core scenarios, and you can confidently call any Australian phone number.

Calling a Landline from Abroad

When calling an Australian landline from overseas, you need to follow the international long-distance dialing sequence.

Dialing Formula: International access code + 61 + Area code without 0 + Local number

A key step is that you must remove the 0 before the area code in the Australian local number. This 0 is only used when making long-distance calls within Australia.

Scenario Example: Calling a Sydney Landline from the United States

Suppose the Sydney landline number you want to call is (02) 9876 5432.

1. First, dial the international access code of your location. For example, the access code in the United States is 011.
2. Next, dial Australia’s country code 61.
3. Then, dial Sydney’s area code 2 (note that the 0 in 02 has been removed).
4. Finally, dial the 8-digit local number 9876 5432.

The complete dialing sequence is: 011 61 2 9876 5432.

Calling a Mobile from Abroad

The rules for calling an Australian mobile are very similar to calling a landline, and you also need to remove the 0 from the front of the number.

Dialing Formula: International access code + 61 + Mobile number without 0

Australian mobile numbers all start with 04 and are 10 digits in total. For international dialing, you need to simplify 04 to 4.

Scenario Example: Calling an Australian Mobile from the United Kingdom

Suppose the Australian mobile number you want to contact is 0412 345 678.

1. First, dial the UK’s international access code 00. If using a mobile, you can also directly enter the + sign.
2. Next, enter Australia’s country code 61.
3. Then, enter the mobile number but omit the leading 0. So 0412 345 678 becomes 412 345 678.

Therefore, the final number you need to dial is 00 61 412 345 678 or +61 412 345 678.

Calling Locally Within Australia

When you are in Australia and calling within the same area code range, it becomes very simple.

Core Rule: You only need to dial the 8-digit local number directly, without adding any area code or country code.

For example, if you are in Sydney (area code 02) and want to call another Sydney landline number 9876 5432, you simply press 9876 5432 on your phone or landline.

Calling Long-Distance Within Australia

If you need to call from one state or region to another, this is a domestic long-distance call. In this case, you must include the area code.

Dialing Formula: Area code (including 0) + Local number

The rule here is the opposite of international dialing: you must keep the 0 before the area code.

Scenario Example: Calling a Perth Landline from Melbourne (Area Code 03)

Suppose you are in Melbourne and want to call a friend in Perth with the number (08) 1234 5678.

You need to dial 08 1234 5678 completely. This 0 tells the telecom network that you are making a cross-regional call.

Calling International Numbers from Australia

Image Source: pexels

When you are in Australia and need to contact family, friends, or colleagues overseas, calling international long-distance also follows a clear set of rules. You only need to master Australia’s unique international exit code to easily connect worldwide.

Using the International Exit Code (0011)

When calling internationally from Australia, the international exit code you must use is 0011. This differs from the 00 or 011 used in many other countries.

You might wonder why Australia uses this unique code 0011. There are historical reasons behind it:

• In the past, numbers starting with 00 were used for various special services within Australia, such as toll-free numbers and mobile services.
• To avoid confusion, the telecommunications department specifically designated 0011 as the sole code for international direct dialing (IDD).
• Although most of those old services have been discontinued, 0011 has become a long-established standard, and changing it could cause unnecessary confusion.

Therefore, when preparing to make an international long-distance call, remember that 0011 is the first step to start your call. Currently, 0011 is the only designated exit code for calling overseas from Australia.

Steps and Examples for Calling Internationally

After mastering the exit code, the steps for international long-distance calls are very simple. You only need to follow a fixed formula.

Dialing Formula: 0011 + Country code + Recipient’s number without leading 0

Scenario Example 1: Calling a Chinese Mobile from Australia

Suppose you want to call a mainland China mobile number 139 1234 5678. China’s country code is 86.

1. First, dial Australia’s international exit code 0011.
2. Next, dial China’s country code 86.
3. Finally, dial the full 11-digit mobile number 13912345678.

The complete dialing sequence is: 0011 86 13912345678.

Scenario Example 2: Calling a German Landline from Australia

When calling a German landline from abroad, be sure to include Germany’s country code (+49) and omit the 0 before the area code.

Suppose you want to call a Berlin landline number (030) 1234 5678. Germany’s country code is 49.

You need to dial: 0011 49 30 12345678. Note that the 0 before Berlin’s area code 030 is omitted here.

For your convenience, here are codes for some popular countries:

Remember this simple formula and rules, and calling any international Australian phone will become effortless.

Practical Tips and Common Mistakes

After mastering the dialing rules, some practical tips can make your calling experience smoother while avoiding common errors. Understanding these details can save you time and money.

Common Dialing Mistakes

The most common reason for dialing failures is often small oversights. With a little attention, you can easily avoid these issues.

Most Common Mistake: Forgetting to remove the leading “0” Forgetting to remove the 0 before the area code or mobile number when calling from abroad is the primary reason for call failures. For example, dialing +61 02 9876 5432 is incorrect, and the call will not connect.

Other possible reasons for call failures include:

• Incorrect dialing sequence: For example, forgetting to enter the international exit code 011 when calling from the US.
• Carrier restrictions: Your phone plan may have international calling disabled by default, requiring you to contact your carrier to enable it.
• Network issues: Weak signal or device network connection failures can also affect calls.
• Service provider issues: In rare cases, there may be network interoperability restrictions between specific carriers (such as TPG Telecom and its subsidiaries), causing calls to fail to connect.

Correctly Saving Contacts

To ensure smooth dialing no matter where you are, it is recommended to uniformly use the international standard format (E.164) to save contacts.

Recommended Format:+ + Country code + Number without 0

For example, an Australian mobile number 0412 345 678 should be saved in your address book as +61412345678.

• The + sign is the universal international prefix.
• 61 is Australia’s country code.
• 412345678 is the number with the leading 0 removed.

After saving in this way, no matter which country you are in, you can dial the contact directly, and your phone will automatically match the correct dialing rules.

Saving on International Call Costs

International long-distance calls can be expensive, but there are many ways to help you save money.

Using Voice over IP (VoIP) apps is usually much cheaper than traditional carriers. Traditional mobile carrier rates can range from $0.50 to $2.00 per minute, while VoIP services can be as low as $0.01 per minute.

You can consider the following apps to make cheap calls to Australia:

• Skype: Offers reasonably priced international calling plans.
• WeChat Out: WeChat users can use this feature to call landlines and mobiles with competitive rates, for example, about $1.00 for 100 minutes of talk time.

If the call is mainly to “confirm a payment” or “check exchange rates,” keep the conversation on the phone and move the transaction online: start with BiyaPay’s Exchange Rate Comparison to see live USD/AUD mid-market rates and net proceeds, then use BiyaPay Remittance to send tuition, rent, or service fees to Australian accounts—cutting back-and-forth calls and time-zone friction.

BiyaPay is a multi-asset wallet supporting flexible conversion across multiple fiats and digital assets, operating under a compliance framework (e.g., U.S. MSB, New Zealand FSP); see the website for details.

Pay Attention to Call Time Zones

Australia is a vast country with 9 different time zones (including its external territories). Before making a call, be sure to confirm the local time of the recipient.

Daylight Saving Time adds further complexity.

• Regions that observe it: New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, etc., observe daylight saving time.
• Time Rules: Daylight saving time usually starts on the first Sunday in October and ends on the first Sunday in April the following year.

A quick check of the local time before calling can prevent disturbing your friends or business partners in the early morning or late at night.

Now, you have mastered all the techniques for calling Australian phones. We have summarized the dialing rules for the three core scenarios:

• Calling from abroad: Use +61 and remove the 0 from the front of the number.
• Calling within Australia: For same-area code calls, dial only the local number; for cross-region calls, add 0 and the area code.
• Calling abroad from Australia: Be sure to use the international exit code 0011.

Remembering “remove the leading 0” and using “0011” as the two key points can help you avoid the vast majority of dialing errors. We recommend bookmarking this article for quick reference anytime.

Wishing you smooth calls!

FAQ

Why do I need to remove the “0” in front of the number when calling from abroad?

The “0” in front of Australian numbers is a domestic long-distance identifier. The international network identifies the country via the country code +61, so this “0” is not needed. You must remove it, or the call will not connect.

What is the difference between using the “+” sign and “00” when dialing?

The “+” sign is a universal international dialing prefix. Your phone will automatically convert it to the international access code of your location (for example, 00 in China). Using the “+” sign is more convenient and ensures that contacts saved this way can be dialed from anywhere in the world.

Can I call Australian 1800 or 1300 numbers from abroad?

Usually not. These numbers are primarily for domestic service within Australia, and international networks generally cannot connect to them. Even if they can connect, the call may no longer be free and will incur high international call charges.

Why do I need to use “0011” when calling internationally from Australia?

0011 is Australia’s designated sole international exit code. It is used to distinguish international long-distance calls from local special service numbers. You must enter this code before dialing any overseas phone number.