The telephone code +39 corresponds to Italy. This prefix, assigned by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), is the code that must be dialed before any Italian number when calling from abroad. It covers the entire territory of the Italian Republic, but its actual scope extends beyond the administrative borders of the country.
Structure of the Italian numbering plan under +39
Unlike several European countries, Italy has maintained a system where the initial zero of the local number is an integral part of the number, even for international calls. Dialing +39 06 to reach Rome or +39 02 for Milan is mandatory: omitting the zero, as one would do when calling the UK or Spain, results in a call failure.
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The numbering plan validated by the Italian regulatory authority (AGCOM) organizes the first digits after +39 by service category:
- Numbers starting with 0 designate geographic lines (landlines), linked to a specific city or province.
- Numbers beginning with 3 correspond to mobile and personal services, which includes all cellular operators.
- Prefixes 4 and 5 cover more specific uses: SMS/MMS services, data transmissions, or nomadic communications.
The length of an Italian number (excluding the +39 prefix) varies between 3 and 12 digits depending on the type of service. This range is unusually wide compared to other European countries, where the length is often fixed.
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To delve deeper into the functioning of this prefix and its practical implications, you can learn everything on Le Petit Rat Porteur through a dedicated guide on the subject.
Vatican and San Marino: two micro-states covered by +39
The Vatican and San Marino each have their own code assigned by the ITU: +379 for Vatican City and +378 for San Marino. In practice, these codes are rarely used by individuals and by some local infrastructures.
Several specialized sources confirm that the prefix +39 also includes the territories of the Vatican and San Marino for certain telecommunications infrastructures. A call to a landline physically located in the Vatican or San Marino often routes through the Italian network and is made with +39, without the caller needing to know the theoretical code of the micro-state.
This peculiarity is explained by the historical integration of the telephone networks of these enclaves into the Italian network. It regularly surprises travelers who expect to have to dial a distinct prefix when crossing the border.
Fraudulent calls exploiting the +39 prefix in France
Receiving a call from a number starting with +39 does not always mean that an Italian correspondent is trying to reach you. Since the beginning of 2025, reporting platforms have documented a sharp increase in fraudulent calls using this prefix.
The mechanism is classic: a brief call (one or two rings) encourages the recipient to call back. The displayed number starts with +39 to appear legitimate, but the callback may be premium or redirect to a voice server designed to keep the communication going as long as possible.
Verification reflexes when faced with an unknown +39 number
The first precaution is not to call back an unknown +39 number if no contact in Italy is expected. Recent smartphones allow you to block calls by international prefix, a useful feature for people who have no reason to receive calls from Italy.
Websites like tellows.fr aggregate user reports and allow you to check if a specific number has already been identified as unwanted. Typing the full number into a search engine also yields quick results when the number is widely reported.
Dialing an Italian number correctly from France
The dialing syntax for Italy varies slightly depending on whether you are using a landline or a mobile phone.
- From a mobile: dial +39 followed by the full number, including the initial zero. The + sign automatically replaces the international exit code.
- From a landline: dial 00 (French international exit code), then 39, then the Italian number with its zero.
- For an Italian mobile number: the format is +39 3XX XXX XXXX, with the 3 identifying a mobile service.
The most common mistake remains the omission of the initial zero. In Italy, this zero is not just a national dialing indicator: it is part of the number itself. Omitting it systematically results in an error message or a redirect to a non-existent number.
Rates and roaming: what it costs to call +39
From a French mobile plan that includes calls to Europe, reaching a number in +39 is generally included in the call allowance, just like a call to Germany or Spain. European roaming regulations also ensure that calls made from Italy to France do not incur additional costs for subscribers with a plan that includes European roaming.
The situation changes for calls to special Italian numbers (prefixes 4, 8, or certain short numbers starting with 1). These numbers may incur specific charges, independent of the plan. Checking the type of number before calling remains the basic precaution, especially for customer service numbers of Italian operators contacted from abroad.
The +39 remains one of the most dialed prefixes from France, given the economic and tourist links between the two countries. Keeping in mind the rule of retaining the zero and being vigilant against unsolicited calls covers almost all practical situations related to this prefix.