Argentina Country Code +54
Argentina uses country code +54 with an open national numbering plan: area codes have 2–4 digits and subscriber numbers 6–8 digits, but the national number is always 10 digits.
The capital Buenos Aires (area code 11) dominates business and international traffic, while cities like Córdoba (351), Rosario (341) and Mendoza (261) are important regional hubs. For callers, Argentina is also notable for its mobile dialing rules – the domestic prefix 15 is used inside the country, while international callers insert a 9 after +54 for mobiles.
Argentina at a glance for callers
Where you’ll see +54 in practice
Country code +54 appears in everything from Buenos Aires corporate HQs and wine producers in Mendoza to Patagonia lodges and tech companies in Córdoba and Rosario.
- Exporters of soy, beef, wine, lithium and software listing +54 contacts on invoices and contracts.
- Tourism operators (tango shows, estancias, ski resorts, Patagonia trekking guides) using +54 numbers for WhatsApp and bookings.
- Government agencies, tax authorities and banks with +54 11 numbers in Buenos Aires.
If you see +54 11 …, that’s typically Buenos Aires; other major codes include +54 351 (Córdoba), +54 341 (Rosario) and +54 261 (Mendoza).
Language & communication style
- Spanish (castellano rioplatense) is the working language; English is common in tourism and multinational companies.
- In business, email plus a fixed-line number (often +54 11 …) is normal; mobile and WhatsApp are widely used for follow-up.
- Many SMEs and freelancers publish only a mobile number, used for both calls and messaging apps.
- For critical matters (legal, banking, export logistics), always store at least one landline and one mobile for redundancy.
Addressing people formally (“usted”) and confirming time zones and public holidays will usually make calls smoother when you first start working with Argentine partners.
Argentina phone number structure (+54)
Argentina’s numbering plan is semi-open: area codes can be 2, 3 or 4 digits, and subscriber numbers 6–8 digits. In all cases the national number totals 10 digits, not counting trunk or international prefixes.
Landline patterns
Domestic long-distance: 0 AA NNNN NNNN
- AA… = area code (2–4 digits).
- NNNN… = subscriber number (6–8 digits).
- Example (Buenos Aires landline): (11) 4321-5678 → national number 11 4321 5678.
- Example (Córdoba): (351) 453-6789 → 351 453 6789.
- Example (Ushuaia): (2901) 43-5678 → 2901 435 678 (still 10 digits total including area code).
When printed locally you’ll often see formats like (011) 4321-5678. For storage in databases you should remove spaces and brackets and include the country code where possible.
Number plan snapshot
- Country code
- +54
- International prefix
- 00
- Trunk prefix
- 0
- National significant number
- 10 digits
Argentina’s regulator ENACOM manages the numbering plan. Older changes in 2011 shortened several area codes and lengthened subscriber numbers to keep the total at 10 digits.
Common landline area codes
| Area code | City / region | Example landline |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Buenos Aires metro | +54 11 4321 5678 |
| 351 | Córdoba | +54 351 453 6789 |
| 341 | Rosario | +54 341 426 7890 |
| 261 | Mendoza | +54 261 429 1234 |
| 223 | Mar del Plata | +54 223 493 4567 |
These are just examples; Argentina has dozens of area codes covering provinces and smaller cities.
Mobile numbers: 15 domestically, 9 from abroad
Mobile numbers share the same geographic area codes as fixed lines. The key differences are:
- Within Argentina you insert 15 before the subscriber number (never for landlines).
- From abroad you add a 9 after +54 and remove any 15 in front of the subscriber number.
Example Buenos Aires mobile:
Local format: (11) 15 2345 6789
From abroad: +54 9 11 2345 6789
Users often write mobile numbers including 15, even though it’s technically a dialing prefix. Normalise numbers carefully in your CRM so you don’t store both 15 and 9 at once.
How to dial phone numbers in Argentina
When dialing Argentina you combine: your international prefix, country code +54, the area code and the 6–8 digit subscriber number. For mobiles there is one extra step: insert a 9 after +54 and omit any 15.
From abroad → Argentine landline
- Dial your country’s international prefix (e.g. 011 from the US/Canada, 00 from most of Europe).
- Dial 54 for Argentina.
- Dial the 2–4 digit area code, omitting any domestic trunk 0.
- Dial the local subscriber number (6–8 digits).
Example: calling a Córdoba office number (351 453 6789) from Germany → 00 54 351 453 6789.
From abroad → Argentine mobile
- Start with your international prefix (011, 00, +, etc.).
- Add 54 for Argentina.
- Add 9 to indicate a mobile line.
- Add the geographic area code (without trunk 0).
- Add the subscriber number, without 15.
Example: mobile given as (11) 15 2345 6789 → from Spain: 00 54 9 11 2345 6789.
Dialing inside Argentina
- Local landline: dial the subscriber number only (e.g. 4321-5678 in Buenos Aires).
- Domestic long-distance landline: 0 + area code + subscriber (e.g. 0 261 429 1234).
- Domestic long-distance mobile: 0 + area code + 15 + subscriber (e.g. 0 223 15 678 9012).
- Mobile → mobile: you can often omit both 0 and 15 and just dial area code + subscriber, depending on the operator.
Special note for SMS to Argentina
For many foreign networks, SMS to Argentine mobiles omit the 9 used in voice calls. In practice that means:
- Voice call: +54 9 11 2345 6789
- SMS: +54 11 2345 6789
Behaviour can vary by carrier, so always test with a real device if your service relies on SMS delivery.
Time in Argentina (ART, UTC-3)
Argentina observes a single time zone across the entire country: Argentina Time (ART), which is UTC-3. There is currently no daylight saving time.
Time zone overview
| Zone | Abbreviation | UTC offset | DST? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina Time | ART | UTC-3 | No DST (year-round) |
In the IANA database you’ll see entries like America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires or America/Argentina/Mendoza, but they all use UTC-3.
Typical time differences
- New York: usually 2 hours behind Buenos Aires (ART UTC-3 vs. EST/EDT).
- São Paulo: typically the same time (both UTC-3 most of the year).
- London: generally 3 hours ahead of Buenos Aires in UK winter, and 4 hours ahead in UK summer.
- Los Angeles: roughly 5 hours behind Buenos Aires (more in Northern Hemisphere summer when clocks change).
For real-time sales or support, an overlap of Buenos Aires 10:00–16:00 works well for Europe, while Buenos Aires 12:00–19:00 overlaps with North America.
Emergency numbers in Argentina
Key nationwide emergency codes
Argentina has a mix of traditional 1xx short codes and a unified 911 emergency number, especially in Buenos Aires and most major cities.
- General emergencies: 911
- Police: 911 or 101
- Fire service: 100
- Ambulance / medical emergencies: 107 (SAME) or 911 in many provinces
As a visitor, remember 911 first. If that fails, try 100 (fire), 101 (police) or 107 (ambulance) directly depending on the situation.
Other helpful hotlines
• 144: national hotline for domestic and gender-based violence support.
• 103: civil defence / civil protection in many cities.
• 106: coast guard (Prefectura Naval) – important for river and coastal emergencies.
• In Buenos Aires there is a Tourist Police line that offers help in foreign languages.
For consular help (lost passport, arrest, major accident), contact your embassy. For example, the US embassy lists 911 for police and 107/911 for medical emergencies, plus a dedicated after-hours line.
Example: calling +54 numbers from abroad
These examples use realistic patterns; replace the example digits with the actual number you need to call.
United States → Buenos Aires office landline
011 54 11 4321 5678
011 (US international prefix) + 54 (Argentina) + 11 (Buenos Aires) + 4321 5678 (office number).
Spain → Córdoba mobile
00 54 9 351 234 5678
00 (Spain’s international prefix) + 54 (Argentina) + 9 (mobile) + 351 (Córdoba) + 234 5678 (subscriber).
Brazil → Mendoza hotel landline
00 54 261 429 1234
00 (Brazil exit code via many carriers) + 54 (Argentina) + 261 (Mendoza) + 429 1234 (hotel reception).
FAQ: Argentina country code & dialing
Why do some Argentina mobile numbers show +54 9 and others don’t? +
The 9 is a special prefix needed when calling Argentine mobiles from abroad. Domestically, mobiles use a 15 in front of the subscriber number instead. So the same mobile can appear as:
- Local print: (11) 15 2345 6789
- International voice call: +54 9 11 2345 6789
Both refer to the same line; you just use 15 inside Argentina and 9 when dialing from abroad.
How should I store Argentina numbers in my CRM? +
A safe approach is to store two fields:
- Canonical / E.164: for landlines, +54 A… N…. For mobiles, many systems store +54 9 A… N….
- Printed local format: e.g. (11) 4321-5678 or (11) 15 2345-6789.
When parsing user input, strip any leading 0 (trunk) and 15 (mobile) before building your E.164 number.
Is 011 54 … the correct way to call Argentina from the US? +
Yes. From the US and Canada, 011 54 is the standard start for calls to Argentina. After that:
- Landline: 011 54 [area] [number]
- Mobile: 011 54 9 [area] [number without 15]
On mobiles you can usually replace 011 with + and dial +54 … instead.
Can I call Argentine 0800 or 0810 numbers from abroad? +
Generally no. Freephone and local-rate non-geographic numbers like 0800 and 0810 usually only work inside Argentina. Many companies publish only an 0800 on their website, so you may need to request their underlying geographic number (e.g. a +54 11 … line) to call from abroad.
Is +54 a risky / spammy country code? +
Most +54 calls are legitimate – from exporters, banks, airlines, hotels, etc. Like any international code, it can also appear in spam or “one-ring” callback scams. To stay safe:
- Be cautious about returning missed calls from unknown +54 numbers, especially if they hang up immediately.
- Verify numbers through official websites before sharing payment or security information.
- For ongoing business, save trusted contacts and ignore unsolicited calls or SMS that look suspicious.
Export Argentina (+54) dialing data
Download structured data for Argentina: open numbering plan details, common area codes, mobile rules (15 vs 9), ART time zone info and emergency codes – ideal for validation APIs, IVR design and CRM enrichment.