Phone Numbers in Spain: Formats, Dialing Rules, and Telecom Insights

Quick Reference

Country: Spain
Country Code: +34
International Prefix: 00
National Prefix: None

Overview

Discover the comprehensive details of Spain's telephone numbering plan. This guide outlines the structure of phone numbers, dialing procedures, and regulatory information. Whether you're a telecom professional, developer, or simply need to understand Spain's phone number system, this guide provides all the essential information.

Number Formats

General Number Structure

Spain's phone numbers adhere to the E.164 international standard, ensuring global uniqueness. The format is:

Country Code: +34
National Significant Number (NSN): 9 digits

Number Types and Formats

Type	Format	Example	Description
Geographic Numbers	9X XXX XXXX	912 345 678	Fixed-line numbers, area code (2 digits) followed by a 7-digit subscriber number.
Mobile Numbers	6X XXX XXXX	612 345 678	Mobile numbers start with '6' or '7', followed by an 8-digit subscriber number.
Toll-Free Numbers	900 XXX XXX	900 123 456	Toll-free services, starting with '900'.
Premium Rate Numbers	80[367] XXX XXX	803 123 456	Premium services, starting with '803', '806', or '807'.
Shared Cost Numbers	90[12] XXX XXX	901 123 456	Shared cost services, starting with '901' or '902'.
Emergency Numbers	112	112	Universal emergency services number.

Regular Expressions for Number Validation

Use these regex patterns to validate Spanish phone numbers:

Geographic Numbers: ^9[1-9]\d{7}$
Mobile Numbers: ^[67]\d{8}$
Toll-Free Numbers: ^900\d{6}$
Premium Rate Numbers: ^80[367]\d{6}$
Shared Cost Numbers: ^90[12]\d{6}$
Emergency Numbers: ^112$

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

Landline to Landline: Dial the full 9-digit number (e.g., 912 345 678).
Landline to Mobile: Dial the full 9-digit mobile number (e.g., 612 345 678).
Mobile to Mobile: Dial the full 9-digit mobile number (e.g., 612 345 678).

International Calls

Outgoing: Dial 00 (international prefix), followed by the country code, area code, and subscriber number. For example, to call Madrid from abroad, dial +34 91 123 4567.
Incoming: From outside Spain, dial your international access code (e.g., + or 00), followed by 34 (Spain's country code), and the 9-digit Spanish number.

Number Portability

Spain supports number portability for both fixed-line and mobile numbers:

Fixed-Line Number Portability: Available since 2003.
Mobile Number Portability: Available since 2006.

This feature allows users to retain their phone numbers when switching between service providers.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Service Type	Number Range
Telefónica	Fixed & Mobile	91X, 93X, 6X, 7X
Orange	Fixed & Mobile	91X, 93X, 6X, 7X
Vodafone	Fixed & Mobile	91X, 93X, 6X, 7X
MásMóvil	Mobile	6X, 7X

Number Allocation and Management

The Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) is responsible for the allocation and management of telephone numbers in Spain. The CNMC ensures efficient use of numbering resources and oversees number portability. For more information, visit the CNMC official website.

Technical Considerations

Developer Guidelines

Validation: Use the provided regex patterns for validating Spanish phone numbers in applications.
Formatting: Ensure numbers are stored in E.164 format (+34XXXXXXXXX) for consistency.
Portability: Implement portability checks when dealing with mobile and fixed-line numbers.
Time Zones: Consider Spain's time zone (CET/CEST) when scheduling automated calls or messages.

Special Cases

Golden Numbers: High-value numbers with easily recognizable patterns (e.g., 600 000 000) may be subject to special allocation rules.
Number Blocking: Certain number ranges, especially premium rate services, may be blocked by default in corporate or VoIP systems.

Note: For the most up-to-date information on telecommunications regulations in Spain, please consult the official website of the national telecommunications authority, the CNMC.