Country code Malta, +356 or 00356?
There are two spellings for the Malta area code, namely +356 and 00356. Which area code do you have to use? What is the difference between the two country codes for Malta and what are the different versions for?
The country code of Malta that starts with a “+” (i.e. +356) is the so-called international code (international spelling). It is primarily used in the mobile communications sector. Most cell phones can make an international call to Malta using the +356 area code. This applies to almost every country in the world.
Unfortunately, there are phones (especially older models) that do not support the international spelling. The Malta area code with leading zeros (00356) is then used on these phones. The leading zeros are also referred to as the so-called traffic elimination number. When you call, they indicate that it is an international call.
Problem: Access code and area code 00356
In fact, the 00356 variant is used for calls to Malta, especially in Europe. In other countries of the world, the international code 00356 will not work. Example: In the USA, international calls to Malta begin with 011. An international call here begins with the area code 011356.
Conclusion
For calls from UK to Malta you can always use the country code 00356. In other countries, the two leading zeros must be replaced by a different access code. The international variant (+356) of the international country code Malta works in all countries in the world. However, it is not supported in all networks and by all telephone devices.
Example of phone calls to Malta
To illustrate the use of the international dialing codes Malta (+356 or 00356) here is another example:
In Malta you want to call 456789 with the area code 0123. In this case you can use the following numbers (from UK/Europe):
00356 123 456789
If you are using a mobile phone, the following notation also applies worldwide:
+356 123 456789