+856 is the country code for Laos.
Every phone number in Laos starts with +856 when you call it from another country. From the US, dial 011 856, then the number without its first 0.
- Time there
- Vientiane timeIndochina Time, UTC+7, no daylight saving
- From the US or Canada
- 011 856 20 23 123 456
- From the UK and most of Europe
- 00 856 20 23 123 456
- From Australia
- 0011 856 20 23 123 456
- From any mobile phone
- +856 20 23 123 456
- Inside Laos
- 020 23 123 456
- Mobile numbers
- 9 to 10 digits after +856, starting 20 or 30
Check a +856 number to see whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Pick the country, enter the number without the +856, and the free check shows whether it is valid and whether it is a mobile, a landline or VoIP.
Mobile numbers in Laos start with 20 or 30, and this table shows which networks first issued each start.
| At home | From abroad | First issued by |
|---|---|---|
| 020 | +856 20 | ETL, Lao Telecom, Beeline |
| 030 | +856 30 | Unitel, Lao Telecom, ETL |
People keep their number when they switch networks, so the start shows where a number began. Our free number portability lookup shows the network it is on today.
In Laos, the phone number format for apps and SMS gateways is +856 followed by the number without its 0.
| Written | Example | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| At home | 020 23 123 456 | Business cards, local ads |
| International | +856 20 23 123 456 | Websites, email signatures |
| E.164 | +8562023123456 | APIs, SMS gateways, CRMs |
A missed call from a +856 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 Laos 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 +856 belong to other countries, so one wrong digit reaches a different place.
These are the questions people ask most about +856.
Which country uses the +856 country code?
Laos. Every phone number there starts with +856 when it is dialed from abroad.
How do I call Laos from the US?
Dial 011, then 856, then the number without its first 0. A mobile number written 020 23 123 456 at home is dialed 011 856 20 23 123 456 from the US, or +856 20 23 123 456 from any mobile phone.
Is +856 the same as 00856?
Yes. 00 is the exit code used in Laos 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 Laos?
A mobile number has 9 to 10 digits after +856, written 020 23 123 456 at home.
What time is it in Laos?
Laos is on Indochina Time, UTC+7, all year. It does not use daylight saving time.
How do I check a +856 number that called me?
Enter it in the box above. The free check shows whether it is a valid number from Laos 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.