Understanding phone numbers in Mexico can be confusing for callers from abroad or those new to the country. Fortunately, the system has been simplified in recent years, making calls easier to make. This complete guide will explain everything you need to know about telephone numbers in Mexico.
H3: Before August 2019
Prior to August 2019, the Mexican telephone system was based on the concept of "Region Identifier Number" (NIR) and different prefixes depending on the location. The number of digits in the NIR and the local number varied depending on the city. For example:
Mexico City (CDMX), Monterrey and latvia phone number Guadalajara had a 2-digit NIR and an 8-digit local number.
The rest of the country had a 3-digit NIR and a 7-digit local number.
This meant that to make national calls you had to dial the NIR followed by the local number. Long distance calls involved additional charges.
H3: The New System from August 2019
In August 2019, a national numbering plan was implemented that significantly simplified the system. NIRs and long distance calls were eliminated, creating a unique 10-digit dialing scheme for all calls within Mexico.
This new system works as follows:
All Mexican telephone numbers have 10 digits: The first digit identifies a specific geographic area of the country. From 2 to 9 they are divided into regions such as East, West, North, etc. The next three digits correspond to the city or region prefix, and the last four digits identify the specific number.
10-digit national dialing: No matter where you call from within Mexico, you must always dial the full 10-digit number to communicate with any landline or mobile phone.
Long distance rates have been eliminated: There are no longer additional charges for calls within the country.
This change has greatly facilitated calls within Mexico, eliminating the need to know prefixes or special codes.