How to Call Tanzania from the US

To call Tanzania from the US, dial 011 + 255 + national number (drop leading 0). Dar es Salaam landline example: 011-255-22-XXXXXXX. Arusha: 011-255-27-XXXXXXX. Tanzanian mobile: 011-255-754-XXXXXX (domestic prefix 06/07, no leading 0).

The 011 is the US international exit code. The 255 is Tanzania’s country code. This pattern works from any US landline or mobile — on a smartphone you can substitute + for 011, dialing +255 22 XXXXXXX.

How to dial Tanzania from the US

Follow these four steps every time:

1. Dial 011 — the US exit code for all international calls. On a mobile keypad, long-press 0 to enter + as a shortcut; + works identically to 011 on smartphones.
2. Dial 255 — Tanzania’s ITU-assigned country code under the E.164 numbering plan.
3. Dial the area code or mobile prefix without its leading 0. Tanzanian numbers in domestic format start with a 0 trunk prefix. That 0 is dropped for international dialing. Dar es Salaam’s domestic prefix 022 becomes 22; a mobile written 0754 becomes 754.
4. Dial the local subscriber number exactly as written. The national significant number is 9 digits, so you dial 9 digits after the country code.

The complete pattern: 011 255 <number minus leading 0>.

If you see a Tanzanian number already formatted with +255 (common on business cards and websites), replace the + with 011 from a US landline, or dial it as-is from a smartphone.

Tanzanian area codes by city

Tanzanian landlines use geographic area codes assigned by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA). The leading 0 shown in domestic format is dropped for all international calls.

City / Region	Domestic prefix	Dial from US (after 011 255)
Dar es Salaam	022	22
Arusha (and Kilimanjaro, Manyara, Tanga)	027	27
Dodoma (and Iringa, Njombe, Singida, Tabora)	026	26

Tanzanian mobile numbers do not use city area codes. Mobile numbers begin with 06 or 07 in domestic format — the 6x and 7x ranges are assigned by the TCRA to mobile network operators. Example: a number beginning 0754 is dialed from the US as 011 255 754 XXXXXX.

How Tanzanian numbering works

Tanzania uses a national numbering plan governed by the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA).

Every Tanzanian number has a 9-digit national significant number, written domestically with a single leading 0 trunk prefix — for example 0XX XXX XXXX.

When you call internationally, you replace the leading 0 with the international access sequence: 011 255 from the US, or +255 in E.164 notation.

Landlines carry geographic prefixes in the 02x range (022 Dar es Salaam, 027 Arusha, 026 Dodoma and others). Mobiles use the nationwide 06x and 07x ranges with no geographic meaning. Whichever the type, you always dial exactly 9 digits after the country code from the US.

Time zone: East Africa Time (EAT)

Tanzania observes a single time zone nationwide and does not change it across the year:

• EAT (East Africa Time) — UTC+3, in effect all year.
• No daylight saving — the Tanzanian clock never shifts, so any seasonal change in the offset comes entirely from the US side.

US time zone	Offset during US standard time (winter)	Offset during US daylight saving (summer)
Eastern (ET)	Tanzania +8 h	Tanzania +7 h
Central (CT)	Tanzania +9 h	Tanzania +8 h
Mountain (MT)	Tanzania +10 h	Tanzania +9 h
Pacific (PT)	Tanzania +11 h	Tanzania +10 h

Important for business callers: because Tanzania never changes its clock, the entire seasonal swing comes from US daylight saving transitions in March and November. The reliable overlap window for standard business hours is 8 AM–11 AM ET, which reaches Tanzanian offices in the mid-to-late afternoon (roughly 3 PM–6 PM local) before most close. Calls from US Pacific time are tighter — an 8 AM PT call lands around 6 PM in Tanzania, near the end of the working day.

US to Tanzania calling costs

Costs vary significantly by calling method:

• US carrier per-minute (no plan): AT&T and Verizon charge approximately $2–$3 per minute to Tanzania without an international add-on. Fine for a call or two per month.
• Carrier international add-on packages: a monthly fee reduces the per-minute rate. Worthwhile once you call Tanzania regularly rather than occasionally.
• VoIP providers (including DialPhone): flat per-minute rates to Tanzania that typically undercut carrier add-ons, with no monthly minimum. For US–Tanzania business calling at any volume, a VoIP plan on DialPhone business phone avoids surprise per-minute charges.
• Free app-to-app (WhatsApp, Signal): works if the Tanzanian side also uses the app and has Wi-Fi/data. Not viable for reaching most Tanzanian landlines or businesses.

See DialPhone pricing for current per-minute Tanzania rates included in each plan tier.

Calling Tanzanian mobile vs landline from the US

From a US perspective, the dialing procedure is the same: 011 255 <number without leading 0>. The difference lies in the number itself:

• Landlines carry a geographic prefix in the 02x range (for example 022 in Dar es Salaam) followed by the subscriber number, for a 9-digit national significant number.
• Mobiles begin with 06 or 07 domestically. There is no separate area code; the prefix identifies the carrier. The national significant number is still 9 digits.

Identifying the type from the number: any Tanzanian number starting with 06 or 07 (domestic format) is a mobile. Numbers starting with 02 are geographic landlines, and numbers starting with 0800 are domestic toll-free lines that generally do not connect from abroad.

Calling cost note: Tanzanian mobile destinations can be priced higher per minute than landlines on some US carrier plans. VoIP providers including DialPhone typically apply a single flat rate regardless of landline vs mobile destination.

SMS to Tanzania and business use cases

US-to-Tanzania SMS works from most US mobile plans — the same international add-on that covers calls usually covers texts. Business-grade SMS (A2P, bulk, or CRM-triggered) requires a provider supporting international SMS routing to Tanzanian networks.

US–Tanzania B2B context where this matters most:

• Mining and resources: US firms working with Tanzania’s gold, gemstone, and mineral sectors coordinate regularly with teams in Dar es Salaam and the regions. Reliable caller ID and time-zone management matter when the working day overlaps only in the US morning.
• NGOs and development: US-based nonprofits and funders running programs in Tanzania benefit from a stable inbound line so field staff and local partners can reach headquarters during the limited overlap window.
• Tourism and safari operators: US travel businesses booking Arusha and Kilimanjaro operators depend on quick, low-cost calling to confirm logistics, where flat per-minute VoIP rates beat carrier surcharges.

For outbound and inbound US–Tanzania calling, a DialPhone business phone plan keeps per-minute costs predictable and lets a US team handle the 7-to-8-hour offset without missing the narrow morning overlap.

FAQ

Calling Tanzania FAQ

What is the country code for Tanzania? +

Tanzania's country code is +255. From a US landline or mobile, you reach it by dialing the US international exit code 011 first, making the full prefix 011 255. From a smartphone that supports E.164 dialing you can substitute + for 011, so +255 works identically.

Do I need to drop the leading 0 when calling Tanzania from the US? +

Yes. Tanzanian numbers in domestic format start with a 0 — for example, a Dar es Salaam landline is written 022 XXXXXXX locally. That leading 0 is Tanzania's trunk prefix and is only used for calls placed within Tanzania.

When calling from the US, replace the entire leading 0 with 011 255. So 022 211 3456 becomes 011 255 22 211 3456. Leaving the 0 in is the most common reason a US-to-Tanzania call fails to connect.

How do I call a Tanzanian mobile number from the US? +

Tanzanian mobile numbers start with 06 or 07 in domestic format. Dial 011 + 255 + the mobile number without its leading 0.

Example: a number written as 0754 123 456 is dialed from the US as 011 255 754 123 456. Mobile numbers do not use a geographic area code — the prefix (6x or 7x after the country code) identifies the carrier network rather than a city.

What is the best time to call Tanzania from the US? +

Tanzania observes East Africa Time (EAT), UTC+3, all year with no daylight saving. That puts Tanzania 8 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time and 7 hours ahead during US daylight saving.

The reliable business-hours overlap is roughly 8 AM–11 AM ET, which lands in the late afternoon (around 3 PM–6 PM) in Tanzania — still inside the local working day before most offices close.

How much does it cost to call Tanzania from the US? +

Standard US carrier rates without an international plan run roughly $2–$3 per minute to Tanzania. Carrier international add-on packages reduce this to a lower per-minute rate for a monthly fee.

VoIP providers including DialPhone charge flat per-minute rates to Tanzanian destinations that are typically lower than carrier add-on plans, with no monthly minimum for low-volume callers.

Can I call Tanzanian toll-free (0800) numbers from the US? +

Tanzanian 0800 freephone numbers are reachable only from within Tanzania. Calling them from the US will normally fail to connect, because the toll-free arrangement is funded by the domestic carrier and not extended to international originating calls.

Ask your Tanzanian contact for their geographic landline (022/027/026) or mobile (06x/07x) number as a reliable alternative when calling from abroad.

What time zone is Tanzania in, and does it change with the seasons? +

Tanzania uses East Africa Time (EAT), fixed at UTC+3 nationwide. It does not observe daylight saving time, so the local clock never changes.

Because the US does change clocks twice a year, the offset between Tanzania and US Eastern Time shifts: Tanzania is 8 hours ahead during US standard time (winter) and 7 hours ahead during US daylight saving (summer).

How do I save a Tanzanian number in my phone contacts? +

Save Tanzanian numbers in full E.164 international format: +255 followed by the national number without its leading 0. For example, a mobile written domestically as 0754 123 456 should be saved as +255 754 123 456.

This format works from any country without modification, prevents dialing errors when roaming, and is the standard format expected by CRMs and VoIP platforms including DialPhone.

Related guides

• DialPhone business phone — international calling plans and virtual numbers
• How to call internationally from the US — exit code 011, country codes, and the per-country mobile rules