Russia Phone Numbers: Format, Area Code & Validation Guide

Understanding Russian Phone Numbers (+7 Country Code)

This guide provides technical specifications and implementation details for handling Russian phone numbers in telecommunications systems, payment processors, and customer databases. Use this reference when integrating phone number validation, formatting, and routing for Russian users.

Russia's telephone numbering plan encompasses geographic, mobile, and special-purpose numbers under the unified country code +7. This network serves over 140 million users across 11 time zones.

Core Number Structure

Every Russian phone number follows a consistent three-part structure:

• Country Code: The +7 prefix identifies Russian numbers internationally. Always include this prefix when storing or processing Russian phone numbers in your systems.

• Area/City Code: This 3–4 digit code identifies the geographic region or city. These codes route calls within Russia and provide contextual information about the caller's location.

• Subscriber Number: This unique 5–7 digit sequence identifies the individual subscriber within their area code. Verify accuracy here for successful communication.

Russian Geographic Numbers: City Area Codes List

Geographic numbers assign to landlines within specific regions and follow structured regional distribution. Major metropolitan areas have dedicated area codes for immediate caller location identification.

Standard Format: +7 (XXX) XXX-XX-XX

Major Russian City Area Codes:

• Moscow: +7 495 and +7 499
• St. Petersburg: +7 812
• Novosibirsk: +7 383
• Yekaterinburg: +7 343
• Nizhny Novgorod: +7 831
• Kazan: +7 843
• Samara: +7 846
• Omsk: +7 381
• Chelyabinsk: +7 351
• Rostov-on-Don: +7 863

Example formats:

• Moscow landline: +7 495 123-45-67
• St. Petersburg landline: +7 812 234-56-78

Use these major city codes to pre-fill forms or provide location-based services.

Russian Mobile Numbers: 9XX Format and Carrier Prefixes

Mobile numbers in Russia have a distinct structure that identifies carriers and service types. All mobile numbers begin with 9, followed by a carrier-specific prefix.

Format: +7 9XX XXX-XX-XX

Major carrier prefix ranges:

MTS: 910–919, 980–989
Beeline: 900–909, 960–969
Megafon: 920–929, 930–939
Tele2: 950–959, 970–979

Important: Mobile Number Portability (MNP) allows users to switch carriers while retaining their number. Don't rely solely on prefixes for carrier identification – use carrier lookup databases for accurate identification instead.

Number Portability Framework

Russia's MNP system, introduced in 2013, lets subscribers retain their numbers when switching providers. Prefixes offer initial clues about a number's origin but no longer definitively indicate the current carrier. Integrate carrier databases into your systems to verify the current carrier associated with a given number and improve service accuracy.

Special Russian Phone Number Categories

Beyond geographic and mobile numbers, Russia uses several special number categories, each with distinct formats and purposes. Understand these categories to ensure accurate number handling and billing.

Toll-Free Numbers (800 Prefix)

Toll-free numbers use the 800 prefix, allowing businesses to provide free customer access.

Format: 8 800 XXX-XX-XX

Handle these numbers specially in billing systems – the receiving party pays, not the caller. Account for this reversed billing structure when processing toll-free calls.

Premium Rate Services

Premium rate services offer value-added telephone services like entertainment, consultations, and technical support using the 809 and 803 prefixes. The Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media regulates these services to ensure consumer protection. Adhere to these regulations when implementing premium rate services.

Format: 8 809 XXX-XX-XX or 8 803 XXX-XX-XX

Russia Emergency Service Numbers

Emergency services use short codes for immediate access:

Technical requirements for emergency service integration:

• Never block or interfere with access to emergency numbers in your applications
• Integrate location services with emergency calls to enhance response times
• Support SMS accessibility for hearing-impaired users (particularly for 112)
• Implement multi-language support for international users
• Enable emergency calling even when phone is locked or SIM card is absent

Russian Phone Number Validation and Formatting

Implement phone number handling with careful validation, formatting, and international dialing procedures. Follow these practical guidelines for accurate and efficient integration.

How to Validate Russian Phone Numbers (Regex Patterns)

Validate Russian phone numbers to ensure data integrity and prevent errors. Use regular expressions:

// Geographic number validation
const geoPattern = /^\+7\s?(\d{3})\s?\d{3}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/;

// Mobile number validation
const mobilePattern = /^\+7\s?9\d{2}\s?\d{3}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/;

// Toll-free number validation
const tollFreePattern = /^8\s?800\s?\d{3}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/;

These patterns provide a starting point. Add robust validation to handle edge cases and formatting variations – allow spaces or hyphens in different positions. Remember: validation alone doesn't guarantee number validity. Incorporate a lookup service to verify the number's existence and current status.

International Dialing: Calling To and From Russia

For systems handling international calls, use the correct dialing formats:

Outbound Format (from Russia):

8-10-[Country Code]-[Number]
Example: 8-10-1-212-555-0123 (calling USA)

Inbound Format (to Russia):

+7-[Area Code]-[Local Number]
Example: +7-495-XXX-XX-XX (calling Moscow)

Ensure your system correctly handles both inbound and outbound international calls, converting between formats as needed for seamless communication with international users.

E.164 Format for Russian Phone Numbers

Use the E.164 international numbering standard (+7XXXXXXXXXX) for storage and processing. Display numbers in a more user-friendly format like +7 (XXX) XXX-XX-XX. Provide flexible formatting options to enhance user experience.

Russian Phone Numbers: Frequently Asked Questions

This section addresses common questions developers encounter when implementing Russian phone number handling, including SMS delivery, number validation, and international calling.

What is Russia's country code for phone numbers?

Russia uses the country code +7 for all phone numbers. Always prefix Russian phone numbers with +7 when dialing internationally or storing numbers in E.164 format. Note: Kazakhstan also shares the +7 country code, but uses different area code ranges (starting with 6, 7, and some 0XX codes).

How many digits are in a Russian phone number?

Russian phone numbers contain 10 digits after the country code (+7), for a total of 11 digits including the country code. The format is: +7 (3–4 digit area code) + (5–7 digit subscriber number).

How do I validate a Russian mobile number?

Russian mobile numbers always start with 9 after the +7 country code. Use this regex pattern: /^\+7\s?9\d{2}\s?\d{3}-\d{2}-\d{2}$/. Major carriers use prefixes: MTS (910–919, 980–989), Beeline (900–909, 960–969), Megafon (920–929, 930–939), and Tele2 (950–959, 970–979).

What is Moscow's area code?

Moscow has two primary area codes: 495 and 499. Format Moscow landline numbers as +7 495 XXX-XX-XX or +7 499 XXX-XX-XX. Mobile numbers in Moscow typically use prefixes like 916, 925, 926, 985, 999 (e.g., +7 926 XXX-XX-XX). These are the most recognized Russian area codes internationally.

Can Russian mobile users keep their number when switching carriers?

Yes. Russia implemented Mobile Number Portability (MNP) in 2013, allowing subscribers to retain their numbers when switching providers. Don't rely solely on number prefixes to identify carriers – use carrier lookup databases for accurate identification.

How do I call Russia from the United States?

Dial 011 (US exit code) + 7 (Russia country code) + area code + local number. Example: 011-7-495-XXX-XX-XX to call Moscow. Alternatively, use +7-495-XXX-XX-XX from mobile phones.

What is the difference between 8 and +7 for Russian numbers?

8 is the domestic trunk prefix used within Russia for long-distance calls. +7 is the international country code. Always use +7 for international dialing and when storing numbers in databases, as it follows the E.164 standard.

Are Russian toll-free numbers free from outside Russia?

No. Russian toll-free numbers (starting with 8 800) are typically only free when called from within Russia. International calls to these numbers may incur standard international rates depending on your carrier.

How do SMS messages work with Russian numbers?

SMS delivery to Russian numbers follows standard international protocols. Mobile numbers (starting with +7 9XX) receive SMS messages directly. Landline numbers cannot receive SMS. For production SMS implementations, use a qualified SMS gateway provider that maintains direct connections with Russian mobile operators for reliable delivery.

What are virtual Russian phone numbers?

Virtual Russian phone numbers are cloud-based numbers that forward calls and SMS to your existing phone or system. These numbers don't require physical presence in Russia. Use virtual numbers for customer support, verification systems, or testing applications without establishing local infrastructure.

How long before Russia recycles phone numbers?

Russia follows a number recycling policy where disconnected numbers remain inactive for a minimum cooling-off period before reassignment. This prevents issues with accounts tied to old numbers. When implementing phone-based authentication, always provide alternative recovery methods (email, security questions) to prevent account lockouts from recycled numbers.

Russian Telecommunications Regulatory Compliance

Comply with regulations set by the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media for all telecommunications implementations in Russia. Key compliance areas include number allocation, service provider licensing, technical standards, and consumer protection. Failing to comply results in penalties and legal issues.

Review relevant regulations at the Ministry's official website (minsvyaz.ru). Check regularly for updates to stay current with regulations and standards.

Key Compliance Areas

Compliance Timeline:

1. Planning Phase (Months 1–2): Review regulations, identify requirements, prepare documentation
2. Application Phase (Months 3–4): Submit licensing applications, obtain number allocations
3. Implementation Phase (Months 5–6): Build compliant infrastructure, integrate SORM systems
4. Audit Phase (Month 7): Conduct internal compliance audit before launch
5. Launch Phase (Month 8+): Deploy services with ongoing compliance monitoring

You're now equipped to develop robust, compliant telecommunications applications for the Russian market. Stay informed about regulatory updates and best practices to keep your implementations compliant and effective.

Conclusion: Implementing Russian Phone Number Handling

You now have comprehensive knowledge of Russian phone number formats, validation patterns, and regulatory requirements. Here are your key takeaways:

Essential Implementation Points:

• Always use the +7 country code and E.164 format (+7XXXXXXXXXX) for storing Russian phone numbers
• Validate mobile numbers by checking for the 9 prefix after the country code
• Recognize major city area codes (Moscow: 495/499, St. Petersburg: 812) for location-based services
• Account for Mobile Number Portability – don't rely solely on prefixes for carrier identification
• Handle special numbers correctly: toll-free (8 800), premium (809/803), and emergency services (112, 101–104)

Compliance Requirements:

• Register with the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media
• Obtain appropriate service provider licenses before launching telecommunications services
• Implement emergency service access (particularly 112 with GPS location support)
• Follow technical standards for network infrastructure and data security

Next Steps:

1. Implement validation using the regex patterns provided in this guide
2. Integrate carrier lookup databases for accurate MNP handling
3. Review Ministry regulations at minsvyaz.ru for compliance updates
4. Test international dialing formats for both inbound and outbound calls
5. Implement modernized 112 emergency service features (multi-language support, GPS tracking, SMS accessibility)

Recommended Tools and Libraries:

• libphonenumber (Google): Comprehensive phone number parsing, formatting, and validation library supporting Russian numbers
• Twilio Lookup API: Real-time carrier identification and number validation
• Vonage Number Insight API: Carrier lookup, number portability, and roaming status
• Russian Telecom API: Direct integration with Russian carriers for SMS delivery and validation

Common Troubleshooting Scenarios:

For production deployments, combine these technical implementations with ongoing regulatory monitoring to ensure your Russian telecommunications integrations remain accurate, compliant, and user-friendly.