+250 explained
The Rwanda country code, 250, is what you dial before a Rwanda number when you call from abroad. It is also known as the Rwanda dialing code, Rwanda calling code, or Rwanda phone code. In the Rwanda phone number format, +250 comes first, then the area code and the local number.
- Country code
- +250
- The 00250 country code is the same number
- ISO country codes
- RW, RWA
- Use the RW country code or the RWA country code on forms and passports. To call Rwanda, dial +250
- Used in
- Rwanda
- No other country or territory dials +250
- Exit code
- 00
- From most countries. Also 011 from United States and Canada, 0011 from Australia, and + from any mobile
- Trunk prefix
- 0
- Drop it after +250
- Number length
- 8 or 9 digits
- After +250
- Time now in Rwanda
- Rwanda mobile number format
- 0720 123 456
- From abroad: +250 720 123 456
- Rwanda landline number format
- 250 123 456
- From abroad: +250 250 123 456
Rwanda phone number types
The first digits of a Rwanda number tell you what kind of number it is: a landline, a mobile, a free number, or one that costs more to call. Here is a sample of each type of Rwanda phone number, as dialed inside Rwanda and from abroad.
Good to know before you call Rwanda
“Muraho”
Hello, the everyday Kinyarwanda greeting. No source says how Rwandans answer the phone, so this is a phrasebook greeting.
Reply
“Muraho”
Emergency number
112
111 reaches the fire brigade. 912 or 114 reaches an ambulance.
Rwanda National PoliceThe government has approved a phased shutdown of Rwanda's 2G and 3G networks, with 3G switched off nationwide on 30 June 2027.
Ministry of ICT and Innovation, RwandaRURA tells subscribers to dial *125# to check which SIM cards are registered under their name and deregister any they do not recognise.
Rwanda Utilities Regulatory AuthorityRwanda's police keep seven separate toll-free numbers, from 110 for a maritime problem to 118 for a driving licence query.
Rwanda National Police
What it costs to call Rwanda (using Suparelay)
Landline from $0.72/minMobile from $0.68/min
Only 51 of 221 countries cost more to call than Rwanda.
Enter a numberEach bar counts the countries at that price
Want to call Rwanda?
Call any phone from this tab. Nothing to install on either side, and you pay cents a minute.
Why a call to Rwanda fails
You call from: 🇺🇸 United States
The 0 is still in the number
The 0 at the start of a Rwandan mobile number is for calls inside Rwanda. From abroad, leave it out: +250 takes its place.
- Connects
- 011 250 250 123 456
- Does not connect
- 011 250 050 123 456
The exit code is wrong for your country
00 works from Rwanda, Europe, and most of the world. From the US and Canada the exit code is 011.
- Connects
- 011 250 250 123 456
- Does not connect
- 00 250 250 123 456
The number does not take calls from abroad
Toll-free numbers that start with 8, including RURA's own 3988 line, often cannot be reached from outside Rwanda.
- Connects
- 011 250 250 123 456
- Does not connect
- 011 250 800 123 456
Questions about +250
Which country is +250?
+250, or country code 250, belongs to Rwanda, the only country that uses it.
What is +250?
+250 is the part you dial before a Rwandan number when you call from another country. It replaces the 0 at the start of the local number.
What is the difference between +250 and 00250?
The + stands for your exit code. 00 is the exit code in Rwanda and most of the world, so the 00250 country code and +250 reach the same number there. From the US and Canada, dial 011 250 instead.
Do I drop the 0 after +250?
Yes. The 0 is Rwanda's trunk prefix and works only inside the country. Dial +250 788 123 456, not +250 0788 123 456.
Can I text a +250 number?
Yes. Write the number as +250 without its first 0, and your phone sends the text abroad at your carrier's international rate.
How much does it cost to call Rwanda?
The dialer on this page shows the exact price of the number you enter before you call, whether it is a Rwandan mobile or landline number.
Is a call from +250 safe?
It can be a scam. RURA warns people to dial *125# and check which SIM cards are registered under their name.
When does Rwanda switch off its 3G network?
30 June 2027. The government's plan retires 2G and 3G together and moves every call onto 4G and 5G.
The information on this page is accurate as of September 26, 2026.
Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority