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How will my toll free number look in each country?

Countries around the world use different area codes to denote toll-free services in their own networks. Some examples are:

In Australia, the prefix is "1800", for Freephone (or free call) numbers and are often referred to as "1800 numbers". They used to be called "008 numbers". 1800 numbers in Australia are 10 digits long 1800 XXX XXX, and are routed through to normal land line numbers. This is all about to change again now with the introduction of PHONEWORDS which will include 13, 1300and 1800 numbers that translates to words or more commonly know as phonewords .

In Argentina, the prefix for toll-free numbers is "0800", followed by seven digits. These numbers are called "0-800" (cero ochocientos) or "líneas gratuitas" (free lines).

In Brazil, the prefix is "0800" - although phone numbers are 7 or 8 digits - it is followed by 6 digits. Toll-free numbers in Brazil can be accessed from any telephone (by default) in Brazil, with many exceptions. They can be accessed from outside Brazil only with a calling service (such as Vonage internet phone or MCI Worldcom calling service) that access numbers from within the called country. Many toll-free numbers are not available from cell phones (usually blocked by the cell phone provider rather than the provider of the toll-free number in an effort to prevent low-price competition from calling card providers). Some toll-free numbers are not available from phones listed by the owner of the number, including many payphones. For example, the MCI Worldphone calling service blocks usage from the payphones in international airports (Rio and São Paulo) and many downtown pay phones due to "excessive fraud" from those phones (July 2003). In addition, Brasil has a system of regular and international pay phones (designated with the symbol "DDD"). Toll-free numbers to international calling plans can be reliably used from non-DDD payphones, as of 2005.

In Bulgaria, the toll-free prefix is "0800" followed by a five-digit number (up to now, only 1XXXX and 20ххх numbers have been allocated). These numbers are called "Зелен номер" (Green Number) by BTC and "Зелена линия" (Green Line) by M-tel.

In Chile, the toll-free prefix is "800" followed by a six-digit number. These numbers are called "número 800" (800 number). These numbers can not be accessed from abroad.

In China, the prefix is "800" for toll-free numbers and often referred to as "免付費电话".

In Colombia, toll-free numbers start with 018000

In Denmark and Norway most telephone-numbers have eight digits (some exceptions). The toll-free numbers all begin with "80" followed by six further digits.

In Dominican Republic, it's 1-200-xxxx (in addition to the area code).

In Egypt, it starts with (800) followed by the number.

In the European Union, there is a freephone number, working only inside the Union, called "Europa Direct", that provides information about Europe. The number is "00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11" (+800 can be used from cellular phones). This is an ITU UIFN, i.e. +800 6789 1011.

In France, and also in Belgium, the "0800" prefix is used for toll-free numbers. They are also known as numéros verts (green numbers).

In Finland, the toll-free prefix is "0800".

In Germany, the toll-free prefix is "0800" followed by a seven-digit number. The "0801" prefix is already reserved for future use. The prefix was formerly "0130". Deutsche Telekom calls these numbers "freecall 0800", most Germans refer to it simply as Servicerufnummer (service number).

In Greece, the toll-free prefix is "800" followed by a seven-digit number. The seven-digit number can be either "800" followed by a four-digit number, or "11" followed by a five-digit number.

In Hong Kong, toll-free numbers have "800" prefix.

In Hungary, toll-free numbers have "80" prefix.

In Iceland, the toll-free prefix is "800" followed by a four-digit number.

In India, toll-free numbers used to begin with "1600" now the same numbers should be called using "1800".

In Indonesia, the toll-free prefix is "0 800" followed by a seven-digit number.

In Ireland, 1800-xxxxxx numbers are freephone, with some sub-sections reserved, such as 666xxx being reserved for police services, and 111xxx being reserved for so-called 'snitch' lines, including insurance fraud and breaching of the workplace smoking ban.

In Israel, the toll-free prefix is "1800" followed by 6 digits.

In Italy, toll-free numbers are dialed with the "800" or "803" prefix and are commonly referred to as "Numero Verde" (green number). Back in the days, the "Numeri Verdi" used to begin with "1678" and later with "167".

In Japan, the prefix "0120" is used for toll-free numbers and is often referred to as "free dial" (フリーダイヤル).

In Mexico the prefix is 01-800.

In New Zealand, both "0800" or "0508" prefixes are referred to variously and interchangeably as "free phone" or "toll-free". Originally these "Oh-eight-hundred" numbers were provided by Telecom NZ and "0508" by rival company Clear (now TelstraClear), although now both numbers can be provided by either company. Some older toll bar services designed to restrict toll calls (including long distance or calls to mobile phones) will also block calls to these free phone numbers, although this has become less common since the mid 1990s. A limited number of companies utilizing toll-free numbers will not accept calls from mobile phones. Some other free phone services exist, such as "*555" ("star five five five"), which can be dialed from cellular phones to report traffic conditions and incidents of dangerous driving.

In the Netherlands, the prefix "0800" is used for toll-free numbers.

In Pakistan,toll-free numbers have the following format "0800-xxxxx".

In the Philippines, the prefix for toll-free numbers is "1800" followed by either one, two, or four digits (examples include 8, 10, and 1888) followed by either a four- or seven-digit phone number.

In Poland, toll-free numbers have the following format "0800 xxx xxx".

In Portugal, the prefix is "800" so the 9-digit number is "800 xxx xxx". It is referred as "Chamada Gratuita" (Free Call) or as "Número Verde" (Green Number).

In Russia, the prefix is "8" "800", so call is 8-800-XXX-XXXX.

In Serbia, the prefix "800" followed by a 6 or 7 digit number is used

In Slovenia, the prefix "080" is used for toll-free numbers, followed by four more digits.

In South Africa, the prefix "0800", followed by 7 digits is used. It is referred to as a "toll-free" or "0800" number (Afrikaans: tol-vrye).

In Spain, the "900XXXXXX" or "800XXXXXX" numbers are always toll-free (800 numbers are not usually used), "909XXXXXX" is used for dialup Internet service and toll-free dialup Internet service (under subscription). Also "1002", "1004", "14XX", "15XX" and "16XX" are free and are used for the telecommunication providers call centers. However, in Spain with most providers, the calls from landlines to landlines are free so you might call to "9XXXXXXXX" or "8XXXXXXXX" for free (except "90X" and "80X" when "X" is not 0)

In Sweden, the prefix is "020" for toll-free numbers. (Additionally, 0800 is reserved for future use.)

In Switzerland, the toll-free prefix is 0800; previously it was 155. These numbers are called « grüne Nummer / numéro vert / numero verde » (green number).

In Taiwan, the toll-free prefix is 080 or 0800.

In the UK, numbers starting "0500", "0800" or "0808" are free. The range 0808 1570xxx is set aside for fictitious uses in TV and radio. Additionally, numbers in the range 0808 80xxxxx are reserved for not-for-profit help lines. Since Orange UK introduced charges for dialing freephone numbers in December 2005, all British mobile networks now charge for calls to freephone numbers, with certain limited exemptions (notably Childline).