Phoning in Indonesia

How to make phone calls in Indonesia

Our guide on getting to grips with Indonesian phone codes, calling to and from Indonesia, and useful phone numbers.

Making phone calls within Indonesia

Indonesian landline numbers use area codes. When phoning to a different area within Indonesia, you would add the domestic long-distance code, ‘0’, then the area code, followed by the rest of the phone number. The area code for Jakarta for example, is ‘21’, so if you were phoning a Jakarta landline from Bali, you would key in ‘021’ and then the rest of the phone number. Area codes begin with ‘2’, ‘3’, ‘4’, ‘5’, ‘6’, ‘7’ or ‘9’ and can be two or three digits long.

The length of phone numbers varies, so if a number looks wrong that doesn’t mean it necessarily is. Some phone numbers have eight digits, others have seven, whilst mobile number length can vary from ten to twelve digits depending on the payment plan.

Mobile phone numbers

If you see a number listed as being ‘HP’ (hah péh or ‘hand phone’), this means it is a mobile phone number. Mobile numbers don’t use area codes, but you need to add the prefix ‘0’ for phoning a mobile domestically. There are numerous mobile operators in Indonesia, and the first 3 digits of your mobile number will depend on who you decide to go with, although they all begin with ‘8’. When calling someone’s Indonesian mobile from within Indonesia, the number should therefore begin ‘08...’, using the domestic long-distance prefix of ‘0’.

If you are using a mobile to call a landline, you will need to include the landline’s area code, as is often the case in most countries. For more information on mobile operators in Indonesia, see our section ‘Mobile Phones’.

International phone calls

If you need to make a call to Indonesia, before you arrive for example, you will need to use a combination of calling codes.

• First comes the international exit code for the country you are calling from; this is usually ‘00’, or ‘011’ from the USA.
• The country code follows; ‘62’
• Then, the phone number, including the area code
• ‘00-62-area code-phone number’

It’s a similar process for calling an Indonesian mobile number from abroad.

• ‘00-62-8...’

When making an international call from Indonesia, you first need the exit code, or IDD (International Dialling Prefix), ‘001’. Some service providers may provide a VoIP service through which you can make international calls, making the IDD different, such as ‘007’ or ‘008’. Note: your landline will need IDD access. Without this, international calls need to be made through the operator, which could be more expensive. 

Numbers to know

It’s always a good idea to know the emergency numbers for the country you’re living in:

• Police: 110
• Fire: 113
• Medical: 118/119
• Search and Rescue: 111/115/151
• Natural Disaster Assistance: 129

Other useful numbers include:

• Domestic call operator: 100 & 106
• International call operators (dependent on service providers): 101 & 107

Alternative methods for making international calls

To save yourself money on calling friends and family back home, have a look at the other options for international phone calls.

• Mobile companies will offer rates and specials for people wanting to make international calls regularly, so if you will be using your mobile more than your landline, research the market.

• Many Indonesian phone providers offer VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services, which allow low-cost phone calls using the Internet (high speed connection is needed). You dial the VoIP code (5 digits beginning ‘010..’) followed by the country code and the phone number.

• Prepaid phone cards are another good option. By purchasing an international prepaid phone card in Indonesia, you will pay less on phone calls to home, and be able to keep tabs on your spending, as the balance is simply deducted. It may also be worth asking friends and family to purchase a similar card at home, so that the money-saving can work both ways.