What is a Telephone Exit Code?
An exit code is a country-specific dial code that anyone can enter before inputting a number to inform their provider that the call should be routed internationally. Though exit codes vary by country, there’s a lot of overlap. Usually, an exit code is a two- or three-digit code consisting of 0s and 1s. Used by over 200 countries, 00 is the most common exit code. There are a few exceptions though, for example, Russia’s exit code is 810.
No matter where you are in the world, the ‘+’ symbol can be used to instruct the service provider that this is an international call and they should prepend the appropriate exit code to the phone number. By combining the + symbol with a country code we have a simple, memorable system for telling service providers that a call is intended for a foreign destination.
How Do Exit Codes Differ From Country Codes?
Country codes are short dial codes that tell the provider which country to route the call to. These come after the exit code or, in most instances, after the + symbol (since a + symbol is typically used in place of the exit code).
Unlike exit codes, each country code is unique. Every country has its own country code and international calls will be routed to this country when the country code is specified before the phone number.
Typically, country codes will take the place of the leading 0 in the phone number that would occur when placing a call intra-nationally.
Without country codes and exit codes, we’d need to come up with a different system for telling providers where calls should be routed. The current format, with the + followed by the country code, seems to work sufficiently well. This way, people only have to find the country code they need to call their intended destination, rather than remember a combination of codes.
International Phone Numbers
Of course, if you conduct business internationally, it’s a step too far to expect your customers to make international calls to you. This is costly for your customers and could be the barrier preventing you from breaking through into a new overseas market.
An international phone number can help you here. If you’re a business that is conducting business abroad, an international phone number will give you a local presence at your target location, making it easier and more affordable for customers there to contact you. Look through our library of international business phone numbers now to get yours.
A List of Popular Country Codes
No matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to dial the following country codes to inform the telephone service provider that the call is intended for the respective country.
+1 - US
+7 - Russia
+20 - Egypt
+30 - Greece
+31 - Netherlands
+33 - France
+34 - Spain
+39 - Italy
+41 - Switzerland
+44 - UK
+45 Denmark
+46 - Sweden
+49 - Germany
+52 - Mexico
+55 - Brazil
+61 - Australia
+65 - Singapore
+66 - Thailand
+81 - Japan
+86 - China
+91 - India
+353 - Ireland