Area Code 263 – Vila Franca de Xira

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The +351 263 area code is a geographic National Destination Code (NDC) assigned to the region of Vila Franca de Xira, located in the Lisbon District of Portugal. This code covers the municipality of Vila Franca de Xira and its surrounding areas, including the civil parishes of Alhandra, Alverca do Ribatejo, Cachoeiras, Calhandriz, Castanheira do Ribatejo, Forte da Casa, Póvoa de Santa Iria, São João dos Montes, and Sobralinho. The region is part of the Greater Lisbon metropolitan area, strategically positioned along the Tagus River and serving as a key industrial and logistics hub.

Dialing Formats and Caller Instructions

For domestic callers within Portugal, the number is dialed in the national format: 263 XXX XXX (where X represents the subscriber's local number). The leading '0' is not used when calling from abroad. International callers must dial +351 263 XXX XXX or 00 351 263 XXX XXX from most countries, replacing the international access prefix with the '+' sign when using mobile phones.

Local calls within the same NDC can be made using the 9-digit national number (including the area code) as per the current Portuguese numbering plan, which requires full national number dialing even for on-net calls. No overlay codes are in effect for this region; the 263 code is exclusively used for fixed-line services.

Network and Service Characteristics

The 263 code is allocated to geographic fixed-line services, operated primarily by legacy incumbent providers and alternative carriers offering PSTN and VoIP services. Subscriber numbers are typically 6 digits long, resulting in a total national significant number (NSN) length of 9 digits. The code is not portable to mobile networks; however, fixed number portability allows users to retain their 263 number when switching between fixed-line operators within the same geographic area.

Businesses in Vila Franca de Xira often use these numbers for local presence, and callers should be aware that tariffs for calling 263 numbers are standard national fixed-line rates, which may vary depending on the caller's operator and subscription plan.

Practical Examples

• Local call (within Portugal): 263 456 789
• International call from outside Portugal: +351 263 456 789
• Call from a Portuguese mobile: 263 456 789 (full national number)

When dialing from abroad, always omit the leading '0' that is used in domestic long-distance dialing. Ensure you have the correct country code (+351) and area code (263) to reach any fixed-line subscriber in the Vila Franca de Xira area.