Argentina Country Code +54: Complete Calling Guide 2026
Complete guide to Argentina country code +54. Learn how to call Buenos Aires, Cordoba, mobile carriers (Claro, Movistar, Personal), and the cheapest ways to call Argentina.
The Argentina country code is +54. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about calling Argentina in 2026, including how to dial Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and Mendoza, mobile carrier prefixes (Claro, Movistar, Personal), and the cheapest ways to call Argentina from abroad.
Quick Reference: Argentina +54
Country Code: +54
Exit Code: 00
Mobile Prefix: 9
Capital: Buenos Aires
Time Zone: ART (UTC-3)
Currency: Argentine Peso (ARS)
How to Call Argentina
International Dialing Format
To call Argentina from abroad:
+ 54 + 9 + area code + number (mobiles)+ 54 + area code + number (landlines)Important: For mobile numbers, add "9" after the country code and drop the "15" local mobile prefix.
Dialing Examples
Argentina Area Codes
| City | Province | Area Code | International Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires | 11 | +54 11 |
| Cordoba | Cordoba | 351 | +54 351 |
| Rosario | Santa Fe | 341 | +54 341 |
| Mendoza | Mendoza | 261 | +54 261 |
| Mar del Plata | Buenos Aires | 223 | +54 223 |
| San Miguel de Tucuman | Tucuman | 381 | +54 381 |
| La Plata | Buenos Aires | 221 | +54 221 |
| Salta | Salta | 387 | +54 387 |
| Santa Fe | Santa Fe | 342 | +54 342 |
| Neuquen | Neuquen | 299 | +54 299 |
| Bariloche | Rio Negro | 294 | +54 294 |
Mobile Carriers in Argentina
| Carrier | Owner | Market Share | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal | Telecom Argentina | ~34% | 4G/5G | Largest carrier, strongest in Buenos Aires metro |
| Claro Argentina | America Movil (Carlos Slim) | ~34% | 4G/5G | Tied for largest, good nationwide coverage |
| Movistar | Telefonica | ~30% | 4G/5G | Spanish-owned, strong urban coverage |
| Tuenti | Telefonica | ~2% | 4G (MVNO) | Budget brand running on Movistar network |
Special & Emergency Numbers
| Number | Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 911 | Police Emergency | Works from any phone, nationwide |
| 107 | Ambulance / SAME | Medical emergencies |
| 100 | Fire Brigade (Bomberos) | Fire emergencies |
| 103 | Child Protection (SENAF) | Child abuse and neglect reporting |
| 144 | Domestic Violence Hotline | Free, confidential, 24/7 |
| 0800 (prefix) | Toll-Free Numbers | Free to call from Argentine landlines/mobiles |
| 0610 (prefix) | Premium-Rate Numbers | Higher per-minute charges apply |
Cheapest Ways to Call Argentina
Free app-to-app calls. Extremely popular in Argentina.
Best Times to Call Argentina
Argentina uses Argentina Time (ART), UTC-3 year-round. No daylight saving time is observed. Argentines tend to eat dinner late (9-10 PM), so evenings are a perfectly acceptable time to call.
The best window for calling from the US is late morning to afternoon, which overlaps with Argentina's afternoon and early evening hours.
| Your Location | Offset to Argentina | Best Calling Window (your time) |
|---|---|---|
| US East Coast (EST) | Argentina is +2 hours | 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM EST |
| US West Coast (PST) | Argentina is +5 hours | 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM PST |
| United Kingdom (GMT) | Argentina is -3 hours | 1:00 PM - 10:00 PM GMT |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Forgetting to add "9" for mobile numbers
This is the most common mistake when calling Argentina. When dialing an Argentine mobile from abroad, you must insert "9" between the country code (+54) and the area code. For example, a Buenos Aires mobile that is locally 15-XXXX-XXXX becomes +54 9 11 XXXX XXXX internationally. If you omit the 9, the call will not connect.
Confusion with the "15" prefix
Within Argentina, mobile numbers are dialed with a "15" prefix (e.g., 011-15-XXXX-XXXX for Buenos Aires). When calling from abroad, you drop both the "0" trunk prefix and the "15" mobile prefix, replacing them with "9". So 011-15-4567-8901 becomes +54 9 11 4567 8901.
Distinguishing 2-digit vs 3-digit vs 4-digit area codes
Buenos Aires uses a 2-digit area code (11) with 8-digit local numbers. Most other cities use 3-digit area codes (e.g., 351 for Cordoba) with 7-digit local numbers. Smaller towns use 4-digit area codes with 6-digit local numbers. The total is always 10 digits after the country code (excluding the mobile "9").
High per-minute rates from US carriers
AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile charge $1.50-$3.00 per minute to call Argentina. A 30-minute call can cost $45-$90. Use a VoIP service like BubblyPhone for dramatically lower rates, or use WhatsApp for free app-to-app calls since nearly all Argentines use it daily.
Number portability issues
Argentina allows number portability, so a number's prefix may no longer indicate the actual carrier. If a call is not connecting, the recipient may have ported their number to a different carrier. This should not affect international callers using VoIP services, but traditional carrier-to-carrier routing can occasionally have issues with ported numbers.