How to Call Brazil From the US: Complete Guide (+55)

Time zones: Brazil spans 4 time zones. São Paulo/Rio are 2 hours ahead of EST (BRT, UTC-3). Manaus is 1 hour behind São Paulo.
WhatsApp dominance: Brazil has 165M+ WhatsApp users. If the person has a smartphone, try WhatsApp first.
Mobile vs landline: If a number starts with 9 after the area code, it is a mobile. If it starts with 2, 3, 4, or 5, it is a landline.
Number length: Always 13 digits for mobile (+55 XX 9XXXX XXXX) and 12 digits for landline (+55 XX XXXX XXXX) when dialling from the US.

Brazil has one of the most complex dialling systems in the world — and calling from the US adds another layer. But once you understand the format, it is straightforward. And with VoIP, calls that cost $3-$5/min through carriers drop to $0.03-$0.10/min.

This guide breaks down Brazil's unique numbering system and shows you the cheapest ways to call from the US.

How to Dial Brazil From the US

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+55 + DDD Area Code + Local Number São Paulo mobile: +55 11 9 1234 5678 São Paulo landline: +55 11 3456 7890 Rio de Janeiro mobile: +55 21 9 8765 4321 Brasília landline: +55 61 3456 7890

Step by Step

Dial + (or 011 from a US landline)
Dial 55 (Brazil country code)
Dial the DDD area code (2 digits)
Dial the local number (8-9 digits)

Key rule for mobiles: Brazilian mobile numbers now have 9 digits starting with 9. So a São Paulo mobile is +55 11 9XXXX XXXX (area code 11 + 9 + 8 digits). Landlines are 8 digits and do NOT start with 9.