Chile +56

Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a long, narrow country stretching along the western edge of South America, between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains. With a population of over 19 million, Chile boasts one of the most developed and competitive telecommunications markets in Latin America. The country code +56 is assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and is used for all international calls destined to Chilean fixed-line and mobile numbers. Chile’s telephony infrastructure is modern, with extensive 4G and growing 5G coverage, and a robust fiber-optic network. The telecom regulator, the Subsecretaría de Telecomunicaciones (SUBTEL), oversees numbering plans and service quality, ensuring a high standard of connectivity across urban and rural areas.

Dialing Instructions for Chile

To call a Chilean number from abroad, you must dial the international access prefix of your country (e.g., 00 from most countries, 011 from the United States and Canada, or +), followed by Chile’s country code +56, then the full national significant number. Chilean national numbers are nine digits long for both fixed and mobile lines, and they do not use a trunk prefix like '0' when called from abroad; the leading '0' that appears in domestic dialing is omitted internationally.

• Fixed-line calls: Dial international prefix + 56 + area code (2 digits) + subscriber number (7 digits). Example: To call a fixed line in Santiago (area code 2) with number 1234567, dial 00 56 2 1234567.
• Mobile calls: Dial international prefix + 56 + mobile number (9 digits starting with 9). Example: To call a mobile 912345678, dial 00 56 912345678. Note that no area code is used for mobile numbers; the number itself includes the '9' as the first digit.
• Calling from Chile to abroad: Chile’s international prefix is '00' (or '1' for some carriers using a carrier selection code). For example, to call the US, dial 00 1 XXX-XXX-XXXX.

Geographic Area Codes and Numbering

Chile’s geographic numbering plan is organized into area codes that correspond to specific provinces or regions. The most prominent is Santiago, the capital, which uses area code 2. Other major area codes include: 32 for Valparaíso, 41 for Concepción, 45 for Temuco, 51 for La Serena and Coquimbo, 61 for Punta Arenas, 63 for Valdivia, 65 for Puerto Montt, 71 for Rancagua, 73 for Talca, 75 for Curicó, 99 for Arica and Iquique (though these have been integrated into the 2-digit scheme). Since 2012, Chile has unified all area codes to two digits, and fixed-line numbers have seven digits after the area code, making a total of nine digits for the national significant number (including the area code). Mobile numbers also have nine digits, starting with the digit '9', and are not tied to geographic areas—they can be used anywhere in the country.

Special Rules and Service Numbers

When dialing within Chile, a trunk prefix '0' is used before the area code (e.g., 02 for Santiago from a fixed line in another region). However, for international calls, this '0' is dropped. For mobile-to-mobile calls within Chile, you simply dial the 9-digit number directly. Special numbers include: 1-xxx for emergency and public services (e.g., 131 for medical emergencies, 132 for fire, 133 for police, 130 for maritime rescue), 600 numbers for toll-free services (calling from abroad requires dialing +56 600 XXXXXX, and these are often not accessible from outside Chile), and 800 numbers for national toll-free services (also accessible internationally with +56 800 XXXXXX, but may be limited). Premium-rate numbers (e.g., 1-900) exist but are less common. It is also important to note that Chile has adopted the +56 country code for all international dialing, and there are no separate codes for different carriers; however, for international calls from Chile, you may need to select a carrier by dialing a carrier code (e.g., 168, 188) before the international prefix, but this is becoming less relevant with modern direct dialing.

Telecom Providers and Number Portability

Chile’s telecom market is served by major operators such as Entel, Movistar (Telefónica), Claro, and WOM (a subsidiary of the American company Liberty Latin America). These providers offer fixed-line, mobile, and internet services. Number portability is fully implemented in Chile, allowing users to switch operators while keeping their phone numbers, both for fixed and mobile lines. This has increased competition and service quality. For international visitors, prepaid SIM cards are widely available at airports and retail outlets, and require registration with a passport or ID due to local security regulations. Roaming agreements are common, but data costs can be high; purchasing a local SIM is often more economical.

Traveler and Business Tips

For travelers and businesses, understanding Chile’s dialing nuances is essential. When calling from abroad, always use the +56 notation, which works from any mobile phone and bypasses the need to know the local international prefix. Be mindful of time zones (Chile uses Chile Standard Time, UTC-4, and Chile Summer Time, UTC-3, with daylight saving time from September to April). When making business calls, it is customary to be punctual; Chilean business hours typically run from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, with a lunch break around 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. For remote work or virtual meetings, internet reliability is high in major cities, but rural areas may have limited connectivity. If you plan to call customer service numbers, note that many 600 numbers are not reachable from abroad; you may need to call the operator’s international line. Also, be aware that Chile has a strong anti-fraud system: if you receive a call from an unknown international number, verify before returning the call, as premium-rate scams exist. Overall, Chile’s telecom system is user-friendly, and with these guidelines, you can seamlessly connect with contacts in the country.