When someone wants to call Spain, understanding the area code Spain is essential for ensuring smooth communication. Spain uses the country code +34, followed by a closed nine-digit national number that includes both mobile and geographic prefixes. This guide dives into how Spain’s numbering system works, emerging regulations, real-world feedback, and a timeline of key changes.

Understanding the Spanish area code system

All Spanish phone numbers begin with +34, the international dialing code for Spain (sent.dm). Following this, callers should dial a nine-digit National Significant Number (NSN), which includes a 1‑ or 2‑digit service/area prefix plus a 7‑ or 8‑digit subscriber number (sent.dm). Unlike some countries, Spain has no trunk prefix—numbers always begin directly with the stored NSN.

The first digit reveals the service type:

• 9 for landlines (geographic codes like 91 for Madrid, 93 for Barcelona)
• 6 and 7 for mobiles (en.wikipedia.org, sent.dm, twobirds.com)
• 8xx/9xx (premium‑rate or toll‑free) for special services (en.wikipedia.org)

For example, dialing a Madrid landline would involve entering: +34 91 123 4567.

Why it matters—consistency, portability, and regulations

Spanish numbering follows a closed dialing plan, meaning all calls—whether local or national—use the full nine-digit number without additional prefixes (en.wikipedia.org). This standardization simplifies dialing and numbering management across the country.

Spain also introduced number portability for mobile and landlines in 2000, allowing users to keep their numbers when switching providers (e.g., from Movistar to Vodafone) (en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org). This flexibility has spurred competition and innovation in the telecom market.

Recent developments: fighting scam and spam calls

Spain has taken aggressive steps to protect users from unwanted communications. In early 2025, the government announced a ban on commercial cold-calls from mobile numbers and proposed a dedicated prefix for such calls. Telecom operators must now block calls lacking the correct code (en.wikipedia.org, euroweeklynews.com).

Furthermore, new regulation from June 2025 will require operators to block international calls that spoof Spanish numbers, increasing consumer protection efforts .

Public feedback and consumer sentiment

Consumers have welcomed the crackdown on spam calls. A July 2025 Hiya report found that 42% of calls in Spain during Q3 2023 were spam—the second-highest in Europe (telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com). Efforts to restrict mobile-originated spam are seen as a positive step toward greater privacy and peace of mind.

Timeline of key numbering events in Spain

Date	Milestone
Dec 1998	Spain adopts closed 9-digit numbering plan; trunk ‘9’ merged into NSN (en.wikipedia.org)
Oct 2000	Number portability introduced for landline and mobile users
Feb 2007	Gibraltar dialing updated to align with +34 standard
2023	General Telecommunications Act bans unsolicited calls without consent
Feb 2025	Ban on mobile-prefix spam calls enacted
Jun 2025	Regulation to block spoofed international Spanish numbers implemented

Dialing Spain with confidence

Understanding the area code Spain system helps anyone make calls from abroad or within Spain efficiently. With a straightforward, nine-digit NSN following +34, reliable number portability, and enhanced protections against fraud, Spain has created a user-friendly and secure telecom framework. Whether international or national, calls to Spanish numbers are now simpler, safer, and more transparent.

For additional dialling tips or specialized needs (toll-free services, premium numbers, or emergency contacts), trusted sources like the CNMC and the European Commission’s 112 information offer deeper guidance.