Telephone numbers in Peru

Telephone numbers in Peru
CountryPeru
ContinentSouth America
RegulatorOSIPTEL
Numbering plan typeopen
Country code+51
International access00
Long-distance0

Telephone numbers in Peru use the country calling code +51. Mobile numbers have nine digits and begin with 9; since 4 September 2010, they have formed a nationwide, non-geographic Mobile Virtual Area, so mobile numbers do not use geographic area codes. Fixed-line numbers have seven digits in the metropolitan area of Lima and Callao and six digits elsewhere. Fixed lines use geographic area codes: Lima and Callao use code 1, while the other regions use two-digit codes; the current area-code system was established on 1 March 2003.

For domestic fixed-line calls between different areas, the trunk prefix 0 is followed by the area code and local number. International calls to Peru use +51 followed by the area code and fixed-line number, or +51 followed directly by the nine-digit mobile number. For outgoing international calls, users can select a carrier on a call-by-call basis using a four-digit 19XX carrier prefix followed by 00 and the destination number. Carrier selection is mandatory for international calls from fixed lines, while mobile callers may instead dial using + followed by the destination country code and number.

Phone number formats

Telephone numbers in Peru are made of:

Mobile telephony

Fixed (land) lines

Area codes

Map of area codes in Peru

Peruvian area codes for each region (national subdivision) are 2 digits long except for Lima and Callao. On 1 March 2003 new codes were established.

The following is a list of the area codes in Peru:

Area code Region
1 Lima and Callao
41 Amazonas
42 San Martín
43 Ancash
44 La Libertad
51 Puno
52 Tacna
53 Moquegua
54 Arequipa
56 Ica
61 Ucayali
62 Huánuco
63 Pasco
64 Junín
65 Loreto
66 Ayacucho
67 Huancavelica
72 Tumbes
73 Piura
74 Lambayeque
76 Cajamarca
82 Madre de Dios
83 Apurímac
84 Cusco

Mobile phone calls within Peru (Mobile Virtual Area)

From September 4, 2010, a national Mobile Virtual Area was created meaning that all mobile numbers in Peru are non-geographical (not attached to any geographical region but instead to the new MVA). In addition to that all mobile numbers across the country turned to nine digits long: 9xx xxx xxx.

The following instructions are valid across the country:

Calls from mobile to mobile

    9xx xxx xxx (just dial the 9-digit number)

Calls from mobile to landline

    0 + area code + phone number
    Example on how to call to Piura: 0 + 73 + xxxxxx

Calls from fixed line to mobile

    9xx xxx xxx (just dial the 9-digit number)

Domestic calls within Peru

Calls from fixed line to landline

    Call to a number in the same area: just dial the phone number
    Call to a number in another area (domestic long distance):  0 + area code + phone number.

International long distance

Calling Peru from abroad

Calling a fixed line

    +51 + area code + phone number

Where the plus sign (+) represents the international access code of the country you are calling from.

From North America: 011 + 51 + area code + phone number

Example:

  • Calling a fixed line in Lima: 011 51 1 1234567
  • Calling a fixed line in Cusco: 011 51 84 123456
  • Calling a fixed line in Machu Picchu: 011 51 84 123456

From Europe or most APAC countries: 00 + 51 + area code + phone number

Calling a mobile number

In Peru, a cell-phone number starts with a 9.

    +51 9XX XXX XXX (9-digit mobile number)

The mobile virtual area eliminates the use of area code for mobile numbers.

Calling abroad from Peru

In Peru, when making an international call you may choose a carrier for international calls different from your usual carrier/provider according to the rates carriers offer to attract callers. This system is known as "call by call" (in Spanish "Llamada por llamada") as each call can be made with a different carrier and is available to both fixed lines and mobile phones. Each carrier uses a 4-digit prefix (format 19XX).

International dialing format

This is the standard format in Peru for making calls abroad from fixed lines and mobile phones:

    19XX + 00 + country code + area code + phone number

Carriers:

  • Americatel: 1977
  • Claro: 1912
  • IDT: 1914
  • Convergia: 1960
  • Movistar: 1911
  • Entel: 1990 (valid only for Entel customers)
  • Bitel: 1968

It is mandatory to choose a 19XX carrier when calling internationally from a fixed line.

If you are calling internationally from a mobile phone you have the option not to use the 19XX prefix. You may dial starting with the "+" symbol

    +country code + area code + phone number

and the international call will go through your provider's network.

Example calls

From Peru to USA/Canada:

Special numbers

References

  1. ↑ Peru Mobile Virtual Area, Ministry of Transports and Communications "Área Virtual Móvil" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  2. ↑ ITU: national numbering plans - Peru visited September 11, 2010
  3. ↑ Peru Area Codes chart: Ministry of Transports and Communications Archived 2011-01-04 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Peru Area Codes chart: Ministry of Transports and Communications Archived 2011-01-04 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Peru Mobile Virtual Area, Ministry of Transports and Communications "Área Virtual Móvil" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  6. ↑ ITU: national numbering plans - Peru visited September 11, 2010
  7. ↑ International dialing instructions: Ministry of Transports and Communications "Área Virtual Móvil" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-14. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
  8. ↑ Americatel website (in Spanish)
  9. ↑ Claro website (in Spanish) [permanent dead link]
  10. ↑ IDT website (in Spanish) Archived 2020-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ Movistar website "1911" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2010-12-08. Retrieved 2010-12-25.