business phone · 7 min read
How to Call Brazil from the US
How to call Brazil from the US: dial 011 + 55 + 2-digit area code + number. Includes mobile 9-digit format, all DDD codes, time zones, and costs.
To call Brazil from the US, dial 011 + 55 + 2-digit area code + local number. For a São Paulo landline: 011-55-11-XXXX-XXXX. For a São Paulo mobile: 011-55-11-9XXXX-XXXX (note the 9 prefix — all Brazilian mobiles have been 9 digits since 2012).
The 011 is the US exit code. The 55 is Brazil’s country code. Area codes (called DDD codes) are always 2 digits. This guide covers every detail: the mobile 9-digit rule, all major DDD codes, Brazil’s four time zones, calling costs, and the WhatsApp reality for US–Brazil business.
How to dial Brazil from the US
Follow these steps from any US phone:
- Dial 011 — the US international exit code. Required from every US landline or mobile. On a smartphone you can substitute the
+symbol (long-press0) which auto-inserts the exit code. - Dial 55 — Brazil’s country code.
- Dial the 2-digit DDD area code — no leading 0. Inside Brazil, domestic calls require a trunk prefix 0 before the area code, but that 0 is stripped when calling from outside the country.
- Dial the local subscriber number — 8 digits for a landline, 9 digits (starting with 9) for a mobile.
- Press call.
| Destination | Full dial string | Digits after country code |
|---|---|---|
| São Paulo landline | 011 55 11 XXXX-XXXX | 10 (2 DDD + 8) |
| São Paulo mobile | 011 55 11 9XXXX-XXXX | 11 (2 DDD + 9) |
| Rio de Janeiro landline | 011 55 21 XXXX-XXXX | 10 |
| Rio de Janeiro mobile | 011 55 21 9XXXX-XXXX | 11 |
One thing to skip: Brazil uses carrier selection codes (CSP) for domestic long-distance — e.g., 0021 for Embratel or 0031 for Oi. These are irrelevant when calling from outside Brazil. Never include them in an international dial string.
Brazilian area codes by major city (DDD codes)
Brazil’s DDD (Discagem Direta a Distância) codes are all 2 digits, assigned by ANATEL. The 10 most important for US business callers:
| City | DDD code |
|---|---|
| São Paulo | 11 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 21 |
| Belo Horizonte | 31 |
| Curitiba | 41 |
| Porto Alegre | 51 |
| Brasília | 61 |
| Salvador | 71 |
| Recife | 81 |
| Fortaleza | 85 |
| Manaus | 92 |
Brazil has 67 DDD codes in total, covering every state. The code always follows the country code: 011 55 [DDD] [local number]. A number displayed inside Brazil as (11) 3XXX-XXXX becomes 011 55 11 3XXX-XXXX from the US.
How Brazilian numbering works — the 9-digit mobile change
Brazil’s mobile subscriber numbers grew to 9 digits as a result of ANATEL’s capacity expansion program, implemented city by city between 2012 and 2016.
Before the change: mobile numbers had 8 digits after the DDD (same length as landlines).
After the change: mobile numbers have 9 digits after the DDD, and all start with 9.
A São Paulo mobile listed as (11) 8765-4321 in old records is now (11) 9 8765-4321 — the 9 was prepended, giving 011 55 11 9 8765 4321 from the US.
Landlines remain 8 digits and do not start with 9. If a Brazilian contact sends you their number without the 9 and it fails to connect, add the 9 after the DDD. That is the most common reason US-to-Brazil mobile calls fail.
Time zones — Brazil spans 4 zones
Brazil does not observe daylight saving time, having canceled it in 2019 (Decree 9.772/2019). The US still does, so the gap shifts twice a year.
| Brazilian zone | UTC offset | Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Brasília Time (BRT) | UTC−3 | Most of Brazil — SP, RJ, MG, DF, BA, PR, RS |
| Amazonas Time | UTC−4 | Amazonas, Mato Grosso, Rondônia, Roraima |
| Acre Time | UTC−5 | Acre, western Amazonas |
| Fernando de Noronha | UTC−2 | Fernando de Noronha archipelago |
Practical US–Brazil offset (Brasília BRT):
- US Eastern (ET): 2 hours behind BRT in winter; 1 hour behind in summer (when ET = UTC−5/−4, BRT stays UTC−3)
- US Central: 3 hours behind in winter; 2 in summer
- US Mountain: 4 hours behind in winter; 3 in summer
- US Pacific: 5 hours behind in winter; 4 in summer
Best window for US–Brazil business calls: 9 AM–3 PM São Paulo time covers early morning US Eastern through late morning Pacific.
US to Brazil calling costs
Cost varies widely by method:
| Method | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| US carrier per-minute (no plan) | $0.20–$1.50/min |
| US carrier international add-on | $5–$15/month for reduced rates |
| VoIP (DialPhone, Skype, etc.) | $0.02–$0.10/min |
| WhatsApp / FaceTime (app-to-app) | Free (data only) |
For teams calling Brazil regularly, VoIP is the clearest path. DialPhone business phone routes US-to-Brazil calls over optimized paths, includes call recording, and integrates with your CRM — with per-minute rates a fraction of carrier add-ons. See current rates at DialPhone pricing.
Occasional callers (under 30 minutes/month) can use their carrier’s per-minute rate or a calling app. Anyone calling Brazil weekly should run the math on a VoIP plan.
Calling Brazilian mobile vs landline — same format, different length
The dial pattern is identical for mobile and landline — the only difference is digit count:
- Landline:
011 55 [DDD] [8-digit number]— total 13 digits dialed after 011 - Mobile:
011 55 [DDD] [9-digit number starting with 9]— total 14 digits dialed after 011
You cannot always tell mobile from landline by the area code — both use the same DDD. The 9 prefix on the subscriber number is the mobile indicator. If a Brazilian contact shares a number without that context, ask whether it’s a cell or landline. Getting it wrong adds a digit (mobile to landline attempt) or drops one (landline to mobile attempt) and the call fails.
SMS to Brazil, WhatsApp dominance, and business calling context
WhatsApp owns Brazil. With roughly 90% of smartphone users actively on WhatsApp, it is the default channel for both personal messaging and business communication — more so than SMS. For US companies with Brazilian customers, suppliers, or employees, WhatsApp Business API or simple WhatsApp calling is often more effective than PSTN calls.
Traditional SMS to Brazilian mobile numbers works technically (same dial format as voice calls — +55 DDD 9XXXXXXXX), but delivery rates and engagement are lower than WhatsApp for consumer audiences.
For B2B voice — US companies calling Brazilian manufacturers, agricultural exporters, logistics operators, or tech partners — traditional voice is still the norm in formal business contexts. Brazil is the US’s largest trading partner in Latin America; industries with heavy US–Brazil communication include:
- Soy, corn, and protein exports (agricultural commodities)
- Automotive manufacturing (São Paulo state)
- Aerospace and defense (Embraer supplier chains)
- Fintech and SaaS partnerships (São Paulo tech hub)
For these contexts, a VoIP platform with STIR/SHAKEN attestation matters: Brazilian carriers increasingly filter calls with no valid caller ID. DialPhone’s STIR/SHAKEN compliance ensures your US outbound calls present a verified caller ID, reducing the chance of being flagged as spam by Brazilian mobile carriers.
If your business regularly receives inbound calls from Brazil, a bilingual Portuguese/English AI receptionist handles initial screening and routing — see DialPhone AI receptionist for details.
For teams porting existing US numbers into a VoIP system, see the number porting guide.
FAQ
Calling Brazil FAQ
What is the country code for Brazil?
Brazil's country code is +55. From a US landline or mobile, dial the US exit code 011 first, making the full prefix 011 55. From a smartphone you can substitute + for 011, dialing +55 directly.
How do I call a cell phone in Brazil from the US?
Dial 011 + 55 + the 2-digit DDD area code + the 9-digit mobile number.
Example for a São Paulo mobile: 011 55 11 9XXXX-XXXX. The leading 9 is part of the subscriber number — all Brazilian mobile numbers have been 9 digits since ANATEL's 2012–2016 transition. Do not add or remove any digits.
Do I need to dial 0 before the area code when calling Brazil from the US?
No. The 0 is Brazil's domestic trunk prefix used only for calls within Brazil. When calling from the US you replace it entirely with 011 55 (or +55). Adding a 0 after the country code will cause the call to fail.
Why do Brazilian mobile numbers start with 9?
ANATEL (Agência Nacional de Telecomunicações), Brazil's telecom regulator, mandated a ninth digit for all mobile numbers to expand numbering capacity as smartphone adoption surged. The change was phased in city by city from 2012 through 2016. Every Brazilian mobile number is now 9 digits after the area code, and all start with 9.
What time zone is Brazil in?
Brazil spans four time zones. Brasília Time (BRT, UTC−3) covers most of the country and is the reference for business hours. Amazonas is UTC−4, Acre is UTC−5, and Fernando de Noronha island is UTC−2.
Brazil canceled daylight saving time in 2019 (Decree 9.772/2019), so the US–Brazil offset shifts when the US observes DST: Eastern is 2 hours behind BRT in winter, 1 hour behind in summer.
Do I need a carrier selection code when calling Brazil from the US?
No. The carrier selection prefix (CSP) — codes like 0021 for Embratel or 0031 for Oi — is a domestic Brazilian dialing convention used only when placing calls inside Brazil. From the US you dial 011 55 and the call routes normally without any CSP.
Can I call Brazil for free?
App-to-app calls over WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Messenger are free with a Wi-Fi or data connection. WhatsApp has ~90% penetration in Brazil and is the default messaging and calling app for both personal and business use.
For calls to Brazilian landlines or mobiles where the other party isn't on an app, VoIP services like DialPhone offer per-minute rates far below traditional carrier rates.
How do I call Brazil from an iPhone?
Tap the + symbol (long-press the 0 key) then dial 55, the 2-digit area code, and the local number. Example: +55 11 9XXXX-XXXX for a São Paulo mobile. Save Brazilian contacts in this +55 format — it works whether you're in the US, Brazil, or roaming anywhere else.
Related guides
- How to call the UK from the US — same format logic, different country code
- Number porting guide — bring your existing number to VoIP
- DialPhone business phone
- DialPhone AI receptionist
- DialPhone pricing — Free trial
- STIR/SHAKEN explained
About the author
Growth Operations Lead at DialPhone
Darshan leads Growth Operations at DialPhone, where he owns three interconnected programs: the comparison content operation, the open VoIP Pricing Dataset, and the test-call methodology used to verify every pricing claim published on the site.
His research process starts with hands-on product trials and live vendor quotes — not marketing pages. Pricing figures are cross-checked against actual invoices and re-verified on a rolling quarterly cycle, with the underlying dataset kept public for independent re-verification. That dataset now covers 40+ VoIP and virtual-number providers across the US and Canada market.
Darshan also leads DialPhone's AI receptionist evaluation program, running structured test-call scenarios across English, Spanish, and French to assess transcription accuracy, intent routing, and escalation behavior. Methodology notes and raw scoring are archived in the research section.
For factual corrections or dataset discrepancies, Darshan can be reached at the DialPhone editorial address. Verified corrections are published as errata with a changelog date — no silent edits.