Belize Country Code +501
Belize uses the country code +501. All standard Belizean phone numbers have a seven-digit national number with no trunk prefix 0 and no separate city area codes. A typical landline looks like +501 222 4940, and mobiles often appear as +501 622 0011 or similar.
Inside Belize, you always dial the full seven digits for every call, even within the same town or district. From abroad, you dial your international access prefix, then 501, then the seven-digit number exactly as written – there is no leading 0 to remove.
This guide explains how Belizean phone numbers are structured, how to dial to and from Belize, what to know about Central Standard Time (UTC-6) and the America/Belize time zone, plus key emergency numbers 911 and 90 you should know before calling tour operators, resorts, banks or government offices.
Belize City landline (intl.)
+501 222 4940
Example of a fixed line in Belize District: +501 (country) · 2224940 (seven-digit national number).
Mobile example
+501 622 0011
Belizean mobile ranges typically begin with 6xx, followed by six subscriber digits.
Time & daylight saving
CST (UTC-6) · No DST
Belize observes Central Standard Time all year – clocks do not change for summer time.
Overview – where +501 is used
The country code +501 belongs exclusively to Belize, a small English-speaking country on the Caribbean coast of Central America. You will see +501 numbers on dive shops and resorts in San Pedro and Caye Caulker, eco-lodges in Cayo, Mayan ruin tour operators, offshore service providers and government agencies in Belmopan and Belize City.
Belize now uses a unified seven-digit dialing system. Every local number is dialed with seven digits, and there is no national long-distance prefix. When you call from abroad, you dial your international access code, then 501, then the same seven digits – there is no 0 to drop and no separate city code to add.
Internally, the first digit indicates the district or service category (for example 2 for Belize District including Belize City and the cayes, 5 for Stann Creek, 6 for mobiles, 8 for Cayo), while the second digit identifies service type or operator. For most business users and travellers, you simply work with whatever seven-digit number is given and prepend +501 for international storage and dialing.
When you’ll typically see a +501 number
- Tourism & hospitality – hotels, island resorts, dive shops and tour guides across Belize’s reef and rainforest.
- Offshore & services – legal, banking, outsourcing and international business centres in Belize City and Belmopan.
- Logistics & real estate – shipping, agriculture, export firms and property agents servicing Central America & Caribbean clients.
If you import Belizean contacts from legacy sources that still show old five-digit numbers, confirm they have been updated to the current seven-digit scheme before using them.
Belize phone number formats (+501)
Structure: +501 · 7-digit national number (ZNY XXXX)Belize uses a compact numbering plan: all standard fixed and mobile numbers consist of seven national digits. In international format, numbers are written as +501 followed by those seven digits:
- • General format (E.164): +501 ZNY XXXX, where Z roughly indicates district/service group, N the service type or operator, and YXXXX the subscriber number.
- • Fixed lines: often begin with 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 8, e.g. +501 222 4940 (Belize City) or +501 822 2692 (Belmopan).
- • Mobiles: commonly use prefixes in the 6xx range, such as 622 XXXX, 623 XXXX, 624 XXXX, 625 XXXX and other 6xx blocks.
- • International access from Belize: prefix 00 then the destination country code and number.
All local calls within Belize use the same seven digits; there is no local vs. long-distance format. For consistency, international-facing systems should always store these as +501 ZNY XXXX.
Sample Belize numbers
Illustrative onlyTypical seven-digit landline used by island tourism businesses; the exact prefix varies by locality.
The 8xx pattern is often associated with Cayo District and the capital Belmopan in official examples.
6xx ranges are widely used for mobile services and are reachable nationwide from abroad via +501.
How to dial Belize (+501) numbers
1. From the USA or Canada
From North America, Belize is an international destination. Use the exit code 011, then +501, then the full seven-digit number.
- Dial 011 – US/Canada exit code.
- Dial 501 – Belize country code.
- Dial the seven-digit national number as given (no leading 0 to remove).
Example (Chicago → Belize City hotel): 011 501 222 4940.
2. From the UK & most of Europe
Many European countries use 00 as the international prefix. Then dial 501 and the seven-digit Belize number.
- Dial 00 – international access code.
- Dial 501 – Belize country code.
- Dial the seven-digit national number.
Example (London → San Pedro dive shop): 00 501 226 2345.
3. Dialing within Belize
- Local & national calls: always dial the full ZNY XXXX seven-digit number, even within the same town or district.
- To mobiles: dial all seven digits, e.g. 622 0011.
- International from Belize: dial 00 + country code + destination number.
Example: Belize City → US New York landline: 00 1 212 555 0123.
Time in Belize – America/Belize (Central Standard Time)
Belize observes Central Standard Time (CST, UTC-6) all year. Unlike many North American and European countries, Belize does not use daylight saving time, so clocks stay the same in both “winter” and “summer” months.
In the IANA time zone database, Belize is represented by a single zone: America/Belize. When you configure meeting tools, APIs or scheduling systems, choose this identifier so the offset UTC-6 is applied correctly.
Because Belize does not change its clocks, the time difference between Belize and places that do observe daylight saving (like the US, Canada or Europe) shifts when those regions move into or out of DST. Always check the current difference before planning business calls.
Approximate time differences vs Belize (UTC-6)
| City | Zone | Typical difference |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | PT (UTC-8 / -7) | Belize is usually +2h in winter, +1h in summer |
| New York | ET (UTC-5 / -4) | Belize is typically −1h (standard) or −2h (when New York is on DST) |
| London | UTC / UTC+1 | Belize is about −6h in winter, −7h in summer |
| Mexico City | Central (varies) | Often aligned with UTC-6, but DST rules may differ |
For remote teams and contact centres, consider showing both local time and Belize time on dashboards so agents avoid calling guests or clients outside business hours.
Emergency numbers in Belize
Belize consolidates emergency access around 911 and the older short code 90. In practice, visitors will usually dial 911 for police, ambulance or fire, while long-time residents may still use 90 for some services.
Primary emergency line
911
General emergency number for police, ambulance and fire in most of Belize. Recommended for tourists and business travellers who need urgent assistance.
Legacy short code
90
Older emergency code still referenced locally for fire and ambulance. In many travel advisories, both 911 and 90 are listed as valid in Belize.
Local contacts
Police / Fire
For non-urgent issues, use local station numbers published by hotels or municipalities (for example, Belize City police or fire station landlines).
For consular support, lost passports or serious incidents affecting foreign nationals, contact your embassy or high commission in Belmopan or Belize City in addition to calling 911.
Example: calling +501 numbers in practice
US (Houston) → Belize City hotel
Hotel website shows: +501 222 4940.
- Dial 011 (US exit code).
- Dial 501.
- Dial 222 4940.
Result: 011 501 222 4940
UK (London) → Belize mobile
Tour guide provides: +501 622 0011.
- From the UK, dial 00.
- Dial 501.
- Dial 622 0011.
Result: 00 501 622 0011
San Pedro → Belmopan office
Government office lists: 822 2692.
- Both parties are in Belize.
- From San Pedro, simply dial 822 2692 (no country code or prefix).
For storage in a CRM, save it as +501 822 2692 .
Belize country code +501 – FAQ
Do Belize phone numbers use an area code or trunk prefix?
No. Belize uses a unified seven-digit numbering plan with no trunk prefix 0 and no separate city area codes. All national numbers are dialed with seven digits, and internationally they are written as +501 followed by those seven digits.
How can I tell if a Belize number is mobile or landline?
Traditional landlines usually start with digits like 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 or 8, which correspond broadly to districts (for example 2 for Belize District, 5 for Stann Creek, 8 for Cayo). Mobile numbers typically start with 6xx ranges such as 622-XXXX, 623-XXXX, 624-XXXX, 625-XXXX and later 66x/67x blocks. In international format they are all written as +501 plus the same seven digits.
What is the international access code when calling from Belize?
From Belize to another country, the international prefix is 00. To call the United States, for example, dial 00 1 followed by the area code and local number. To call the UK, dial 00 44 plus the UK number (without its leading 0).
Does Belize have daylight saving time?
No. Belize stays on Central Standard Time (UTC-6) throughout the year and does not change clocks for daylight saving. When North America or Europe enter or leave DST, the time difference with Belize will shift by one hour, so double-check meeting times during those weeks.
Which emergency number should travellers use in Belize?
Most travel advisories recommend dialing 911 in Belize for any life-threatening emergency (police, ambulance or fire). Some local information also quotes 90, which is an older short code used for ambulance and fire in parts of the country. If in doubt, 911 is the safest number to remember.
Are calls to +501 expensive from abroad?
It depends on your carrier. Belize can be relatively expensive on some traditional mobile and landline tariffs, especially for tourists roaming in the country. Many businesses and frequent visitors use VoIP apps, virtual numbers or cloud phone systems to reach Belizean fixed and mobile lines at lower cost while still dialing them in normal +501 format.
Download the Belize dialing cheat sheet (+501)
Grab a one-page PDF with Belize’s +501 formats, fixed vs. mobile patterns, Central Standard Time (UTC-6, no DST) and emergency numbers 911 / 90 – handy for call centres, travel agencies and sales teams working with Belizean contacts.