Chad Country Code +235
The international country calling code for Chad is +235. Chad uses an 8-digit national numbering plan with no trunk prefix 0 and no separate area codes in the way many European countries use them. Inside Chad you dial all 8 digits (for example 22 50 12 34), while callers from abroad dial +235 followed by those same 8 digits.
Fixed lines are concentrated mainly in N’Djamena and a few large towns and often start with 22. Mobile numbers are far more common and typically begin with digits like 6, 7 or 9, depending on the operator (for example 66 12 34 56 or 99 01 23 45). In international format these appear as +235 66 12 34 56, +235 99 01 23 45 and so on.
This guide explains how Chad phone numbers are structured, how to call +235 numbers from the US, UK and other countries, how Chad’s West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1) works and which emergency numbers (such as 17 for police and 18 for fire) you should know when calling or travelling in N’Djamena, Moundou, Sarh or other regions.
Example landline (N’Djamena)
+235 22 50 12 34
Dial inside Chad as 22 50 12 34; from abroad as +235 22 50 12 34.
Example mobile
+235 66 12 34 56
Mobile numbers often begin with 6, 7 or 9, followed by 6 more digits (8-digit total after +235).
Time & daylight saving
WAT (UTC+1) · Africa/Ndjamena
Chad uses West Africa Time all year with no daylight saving time.
Overview – where +235 is used
The country code +235 covers the entire Republic of Chad, a large landlocked country in Central Africa bordering Libya, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Cameroon, Nigeria and Niger. You will see +235 numbers for government ministries, oil and logistics companies, humanitarian organisations, local traders and banks, especially in N’Djamena and other major centres.
Chad uses a straightforward 8-digit closed numbering plan. The national significant number (NSN) has 8 digits and is dialed exactly the same way everywhere in the country. From outside Chad, you add +235 in front of those 8 digits. There is no leading 0, and you do not add or remove extra digits when switching between national and international formats.
Historically, the first one or two digits indicate the service type and sometimes the region. Numbers starting with 2 are typically fixed lines (for example 22 xx xx xx in N’Djamena), while mobile numbers commonly start with 6, 7 or 9. In practice, mobile coverage plays a much bigger role than fixed lines, so most business and NGO contact lists are dominated by +235 mobile numbers.
Where you’ll commonly see +235 numbers
- Government and public services – ministries, administrative offices and local authorities in N’Djamena and regional capitals.
- Oil, agriculture & logistics – operators and suppliers working in desert and savannah regions, relying heavily on mobile and satellite links.
- Humanitarian & development projects – NGOs, UN agencies and local partners using +235 mobiles for coordination and security.
For CRM, travel and security planning, normalising Chad contacts into +235XXXXXXXX (country code + 8 digits) keeps routing and messaging consistent.
Chad phone number formats (+235)
Generic pattern: +235 XX XX XX XX (8 digits)The Chadian numbering plan is compact and relatively easy to validate:
- • Length: normal phone numbers have exactly 8 digits after +235. National format is often written as yy yy xx xx.
- • Fixed lines: landlines in N’Djamena and some larger towns usually begin with 22 (for example 22 50 12 34).
- • Mobiles: mobile numbers generally start with 6, 7 or 9 (for example 66 12 34 56 or 99 01 23 45).
- • International format: to convert to E.164, prepend +235 and keep the 8 digits unchanged: +235 66 12 34 56.
- • Short codes: emergency numbers like 17 (police) and 18 (fire) are shorter than 8 digits and are not dialed with +235.
If a Chad number (after stripping spaces and punctuation) has more or fewer than 8 digits, it is likely incomplete or includes an international prefix such as 00235 that should be normalised to +235.
Sample Chad numbers
Illustrative onlyFixed lines in the capital often begin with 22, followed by 6 further digits.
Other fixed blocks use different 2-digit prefixes such as 23, still keeping 8 digits total.
A typical mobile range starting with 6; national format: 66 12 34 56.
Mobile blocks can also start with 7 or 9; again, the total remains 8 digits after +235.
How to dial Chad (+235)
1. From the USA or Canada
To call Chad from North America, use the US/Canada international prefix 011, then the country code 235, then the 8-digit local number.
- Dial 011 – international exit code from the US/Canada.
- Dial 235 – country code for Chad.
- Dial the 8-digit number (for example 22 50 12 34).
Example (New York → N’Djamena fixed line 22 50 12 34): 011 235 22 50 12 34.
2. From the UK, EU or most other countries
In many countries, including most of Europe, you start with 00 as the international prefix, then dial 235 and the local 8-digit number.
- Dial 00 – international access code.
- Dial 235 – Chad’s country code.
- Dial the 8-digit number (for example 66 12 34 56).
Example (London → mobile 66 12 34 56): 00 235 66 12 34 56.
3. Dialing inside Chad & calling abroad
- Within Chad: dial the full 8-digit national number, such as 22 50 12 34 for a fixed line or 66 12 34 56 for a mobile.
- From Chad to other countries: dial the international prefix 00, then the destination country code and number. Example: 00 33 1 44 00 00 00 for a Paris landline.
- Short codes: emergency numbers like 17 (police) and 18 (fire) are dialed directly without +235 or 00.
If you see a Chad contact saved as 00235…, convert it to +235XXXXXXXX for consistent storage.
Normalisation tip: a valid Chad number in E.164 format looks like +235XXXXXXXX – the plus sign, 235, and exactly 8 digits.
Time in Chad – West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+1)
The entire territory of Chad uses a single time zone: West Africa Time (WAT, UTC+01:00). The official IANA time-zone identifier is Africa/Ndjamena. There is no daylight saving time, so the offset from UTC stays at +1 hour all year.
In practical terms, N’Djamena is usually 1 hour ahead of UTC, aligned with many West and Central African capitals. It is typically 6 hours ahead of New York when the US is on Eastern Standard Time, and 5 hours ahead when the US is on daylight saving time. Compared with London, Chad is generally 1 hour ahead in winter; compared with Paris or Berlin (CET/CEST) it is often at the same time or one hour behind depending on the season.
For scheduling meetings, conversions and logs, configure systems to use “Africa/Ndjamena” rather than a generic GMT+1 label so that future changes to time-zone data (if any) are handled automatically.
N’Djamena vs other time zones
| City / region | Time zone | Offset vs N’Djamena |
|---|---|---|
| N’Djamena | WAT (UTC+1) | Reference |
| Lagos | WAT (UTC+1) | Same time |
| London (winter) | GMT (UTC+0) | −1 hour |
| Paris (winter) | CET (UTC+1) | Same time |
| New York (standard) | ET (UTC−5) | −6 hours |
| Beijing | CST (UTC+8) | +7 hours |
For multi-region teams, late morning in N’Djamena usually overlaps with business hours in both Europe and parts of Asia.
Emergency numbers in Chad
Chad uses
Police / security
17
Dial 17 to reach police services in Chad. This is the main emergency number for reporting crime or urgent security incidents.
Fire brigade
18
18 is generally used to contact the fire brigade, for example in building, vehicle or industrial fires.
Ambulance / medical
Local numbers
Ambulance and medical emergencies are often handled via local hospital numbers in N’Djamena and regional towns. Check your embassy or travel advisory and save recommended contacts before travelling.
Travel safety tip
Backup contacts
In addition to 17 and 18, keep your hotel, employer, NGO security officer and embassy emergency numbers in your phone under clear labels such as “Security Chad”.
Language support at emergency centres may be limited. French and Arabic are more widely spoken than English, so ask local partners how best to describe your location and situation in an emergency.
Examples: calling +235 Chad numbers
US (Chicago) → N’Djamena ministry (fixed)
Fixed line in Chad: 22 50 12 34.
- Dial 011 (US/Canada exit code).
- Dial 235 (Chad country code).
- Dial 22 50 12 34 (8-digit fixed line).
Result: 011 235 22 50 12 34
UK (London) → Chad mobile
Mobile in Chad: 66 12 34 56.
- Dial 00 (UK international prefix).
- Dial 235 (Chad country code).
- Dial 66 12 34 56 (8-digit mobile number).
Result: 00 235 66 12 34 56
Inside Chad – N’Djamena mobile → provincial office
Provincial fixed line: 23 40 56 78.
- From any Chad mobile, dial the full 8-digit number: 23 40 56 78.
- No trunk prefix or regional code is required between different parts of the country.
International callers would use: +235 23 40 56 78 .
Chad country code +235 – FAQ
How many digits are in a Chad phone number?
Standard Chad phone numbers have an 8-digit national number after the +235 country code. There is no leading trunk 0. In E.164 format they are written as +235XXXXXXXX.
Do Chad numbers use a leading 0 inside the country?
No. Chad does not use a national trunk prefix 0. You dial all 8 digits directly (for example 22 50 12 34 or 66 12 34 56) and add +235 when storing or calling from abroad.
How can I tell if a +235 number is mobile or landline?
Look at the first digits of the 8-digit number. Ranges starting with 2, especially 22, are usually fixed lines in cities like N’Djamena, while numbers starting with 6, 7 or 9 are typically mobile. Exact allocations can change as new ranges are opened.
What emergency number should I use in Chad?
The main short codes are 17 for police and 18 for the fire brigade. Ambulance services are often reached via local hospital numbers rather than a single nationwide short code, so travellers should check current advice and save local medical contacts in advance.
Does Chad observe daylight saving time?
No. Chad remains on West Africa Time (UTC+1) all year and does not switch between summer and winter time. Only time changes in your own country will affect the time difference with N’Djamena.
Are +235 numbers used for WhatsApp and other messaging apps?
Yes. People in Chad typically register WhatsApp and similar apps with their +235 mobile numbers in full international format (for example +235 66 12 34 56). Saving contacts this way makes it easier to stay in touch when roaming or using VoIP.
Download the Chad (+235) dialing & time zone cheat sheet
Export this page as a one-page PDF summarising Chad’s +235 country code, 8-digit numbering plan, fixed and mobile ranges, WAT (UTC+1) time zone and key emergency numbers. Ideal for NGO files, logistics teams and contact-centre reference.