Area Code 44 – Mátészalka

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The +36 44 country/area code combination is assigned to the geographic numbering area of Mátészalka, a town in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County in northeastern Hungary. This National Destination Code (NDC) covers Mátészalka itself and the surrounding settlements within its primary catchment area, including communities such as Ópályi, Kocsord, and Nyírcsaholy. The area is part of Hungary's Northern Great Plain statistical region and serves as a local administrative and economic hub for the surrounding rural districts.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

When calling a landline in Mátészalka from within Hungary, subscribers must dial the national trunk prefix 06, followed by the area code 44 and the subscriber's six-digit local number. For example, a local number such as 123 456 would be dialed as 06 44 123 456 from any other part of the country. Callers within the same geographic area may be able to use seven-digit local dialing (area code omitted), but this depends on the specific local exchange configuration and is not guaranteed for all numbers.

For international callers, the Hungarian country code +36 replaces the trunk prefix. The same local number would be dialed as +36 44 123 456. Note that the leading 0 of the national trunk prefix is always dropped when using the international format. No additional digit is required after the country code.

Numbering Plan and Overlay Considerations

Hungarian geographic area codes are part of the national numbering plan administered by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH). The Mátészalka area code 44 is a closed numbering plan segment, meaning that the subscriber number length is fixed at six digits for geographic numbers. There are currently no overlay codes or additional area codes assigned to this specific region; the 44 prefix is exclusively used for the Mátészalka geographic area.

As with all Hungarian geographic numbers, calls to +36 44 numbers are routed over the PSTN and are typically associated with fixed-line services. However, number portability allows subscribers to retain their geographic number when switching providers, including to VoIP-based services, so the actual underlying technology may vary.

Practical Calling Tips

For local callers within Mátészalka, using the short local format may be possible, but for consistency and to avoid misdialing, it is recommended to always use the full national format (06 44). For international callers, ensure you have the correct exit code for your country (e.g., 00 from most European countries, 011 from the US/Canada) before dialing 36 44. Always verify the local number length, as some older numbers may have been migrated during the 2005 Hungarian numbering reform, but current allocations are uniformly six digits after the area code.