Phone Numbers in Costa Rica: Formats, Dialing, and Regulations

Quick Reference

• Country: Costa Rica
• Country Code: +506
• International Prefix: 00
• National Prefix: None (Direct dialing for all numbers)
• Number Plan Type: Closed

Overview

Costa Rica utilizes an 8-digit closed telephone numbering plan. The first digit indicates the service type, such as landline or mobile. This guide offers a detailed overview of Costa Rica's telephone numbering system, including formats, dialing procedures, and regulatory guidelines.

Number Formats

Costa Rica's phone numbers are structured as follows:

Service Type	Format	Example	Regex
Landline	2XXX-XXXX	2234-5678	^2\d{7}$
Mobile	8XXX-XXXX	8501-2345	^8\d{7}$
VoIP	21XX-XXXX	2101-2345	^21\d{6}$
Toll-Free	800-XXXXXXX	800-1234567	^800\d{7}$
Premium Rate	90[059]-XXXXXXX	900-1234567	^90[059]\d{7}$
Emergency Services	911	911	^911$
Special Services	1XXX	1123	^1\d{3}$

Detailed Number Structure

• Country Code: +506
• Subscriber Number Length: 8 digits
• Prefixes:
  • Landline: Begins with '2'
  • Mobile: Begins with '8'
  • VoIP: Begins with '21'
  • Toll-Free: Begins with '800'
  • Premium Rate: Begins with '900', '905', '909'
  • Emergency Services: 911
  • Special Services: 1XXX

Regular Expressions for Validation

• Landline: ^2\d{7}$
• Mobile: ^8\d{7}$
• VoIP: ^21\d{6}$
• Toll-Free: ^800\d{7}$
• Premium Rate: ^90[059]\d{7}$
• Emergency Services: ^911$
• Special Services: ^1\d{3}$

Dialing Procedures

Domestic Calls

• Landline to Landline: Dial the 8-digit number directly.
• Landline to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.
• Mobile to Mobile: Dial the 8-digit mobile number directly.

International Calls

• Outgoing: Dial 00 (international access code) + 506 (Costa Rica country code) + 8-digit local number.
• Incoming: Dial +506 followed by the 8-digit local number.

Number Portability

Costa Rica supports number portability, allowing users to keep their phone numbers when changing service providers. This system enhances competition among telecom operators and meets the growing demand for mobile services.

Major Telecom Operators and Number Ranges

Operator	Service Type	Number Range
GrupoICE (Kölbi)	Landline	22XX-XXXX
	Mobile	8XXX-XXXX
Liberty	Mobile	6XXX-XXXX
Claro	Mobile	7XXX-XXXX
Tuyo	Mobile	570X-XXXX to 571X-XXXX
MVNOs	Mobile	500X-XXXX to 504X-XXXX

Regulatory Body and Number Management

• Regulatory Body: Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones (SUTEL)
• Responsibilities: SUTEL manages phone number allocation and compliance with ITU-T recommendations and national regulations.
• Official Website: SUTEL Official Website

ITU-T Recommendations

Costa Rica adheres to the ITU-T E.164 standard for international telephone numbering, ensuring global uniqueness and facilitating international dialing.

Recent and Upcoming Changes

• 2008: Transitioned to the current 8-digit numbering system to support the increase in mobile users and 3G services.
• Future Changes: No announced changes to the numbering plan as of the latest updates.

Technical Considerations

For Developers and System Administrators

• Number Validation: Use regex patterns for validating Costa Rican phone numbers in applications.
• Number Formatting: Store and display phone numbers in the E.164 format for consistency.
• Portability Handling: Design systems to accommodate number portability, ensuring seamless provider transitions.
• Special Cases: Handle special number formats like toll-free, premium rate, and emergency services appropriately in automated systems.