+246 is the country code for British Indian Ocean Territory.
Every phone number in British Indian Ocean Territory starts with +246 when you call it from another country. From the US, dial 011 246, then the full number.
- Time there
- Chagos timeIndian Ocean Time, UTC+6, no daylight saving
- From the US or Canada
- 011 246 380 1234
- From the UK and most of Europe
- 00 246 380 1234
- From Australia
- 0011 246 380 1234
- From any mobile phone
- +246 380 1234
- Inside British Indian Ocean Territory
- 380 1234
- Mobile numbers
- 7 digits after +246, starting 38
Check a +246 number to see whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Pick the country, enter the number without the +246, and the free check shows whether it is valid and whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
In British Indian Ocean Territory, the phone number format for apps and SMS gateways is +246 followed by the full number.
| Written | Example | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| At home | 380 1234 | Business cards, local ads |
| International | +246 380 1234 | Websites, email signatures |
| E.164 | +2463801234 | APIs, SMS gateways, CRMs |
A missed call from a +246 number you don't know can be a one-ring scam, so check it before calling back.
One-ring scams call once and hang up, hoping you call back a line that bills you international or premium rates.
- Don't call back an international number you don't know. A real caller leaves a message or sends a text.
- Check the number in the box above. A number that is not a working mobile or landline in British Indian Ocean Territory is a warning sign.
- Hang up on anyone who wants gift cards, crypto or a wire transfer, or asks you to read out a code that was just texted to you.
- Report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and see the FCC's guide to one-ring scams.
The codes next to +246 belong to other countries, so one wrong digit reaches a different place.
These are the questions people ask most about +246.
Which country uses the +246 country code?
British Indian Ocean Territory. Every phone number there starts with +246 when it is dialed from abroad.
How do I call British Indian Ocean Territory from the US?
Dial 011, then 246, then the full number. A mobile number written 380 1234 at home is dialed 011 246 380 1234 from the US, or +246 380 1234 from any mobile phone.
Is +246 the same as 00246?
Yes. 00 is the exit code used in British Indian Ocean Territory and most of the world, and the + on a mobile phone stands in for whatever exit code your network uses. From the US and Canada the exit code is 011 instead.
How many digits is a phone number in British Indian Ocean Territory?
A mobile number has 7 digits after +246, written 380 1234 at home.
What time is it in British Indian Ocean Territory?
British Indian Ocean Territory is on Indian Ocean Time, UTC+6, all year. It does not use daylight saving time.
How do I check a +246 number that called me?
Enter it in the box above. The free check shows whether it is a valid number from British Indian Ocean Territory and whether it is a mobile, a landline or a VoIP line, which helps you spot a one-ring scam before you call back.
Sources: Google's libphonenumber numbering data for lengths, mobile starts, area code places, first-issuing networks and time zones, as of September 24, 2026; the ITU list of country codes.