# Outbound calling rules by country

Do Not Call lists, calling hours, consent, abandoned-call limits and caller ID rules for 15 countries. Checked 2026-09-25. A summary, not legal advice. Free to cite with a link to https://dialerseat.com/data/calling-rules-by-country

## United States
- **Do Not Call list:** National Do Not Call Registry plus state lists. Your copy of the registry must be no more than 31 days old.
- **Calling hours:** 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the recipient’s local time under federal rules. Several states set narrower windows.
- **Consent:** Prior express written consent for prerecorded or artificial-voice marketing calls, and for marketing calls made with an autodialer to mobile numbers (TCPA). Live calls to numbers not on the registry do not need consent.
- **Dialer rules:** Abandoned calls may not exceed 3% of calls answered by a person, per campaign, measured over each 30-day period. The caller must connect within 2 seconds of the greeting or play a recorded message with the seller’s name and number. Unanswered calls must ring for at least 15 seconds or four rings (FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule).
- **Caller ID and prefixes:** Caller ID must be transmitted on every telemarketing call. Carriers authenticate calls with STIR/SHAKEN.
- **Penalties:** TCPA private suits: $500 to $1,500 per call.
- **Getting a local number:** No address requirement for a US local number.
- **Recent change:** The FCC’s “revoke all” consent-revocation rule is delayed to January 31, 2027.
- **Sources:** [FTC Telemarketing Sales Rule, 16 CFR 310](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-16/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-310), [FCC consent revocation waiver (Wiley)](https://www.wiley.law/alert-FCC-Extends-Limited-Waiver-for-Part-of-the-TCPA-Consent-Revocation-Rule), [Calling hours by state (DialerSeat)](https://dialerseat.com/faq/calling-hours)

## Canada
- **Do Not Call list:** National Do Not Call List (DNCL). The version used must have been downloaded no more than 31 days before the call.
- **Calling hours:** Weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; weekends 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., recipient’s local time.
- **Dialer rules:** Predictive dialers may abandon no more than 5% of calls in a calendar month. A call is abandoned if no live agent is on the line within 2 seconds of the answer.
- **Getting a local number:** No regulatory requirements published for Canadian local numbers.
- **Sources:** [CRTC Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules](https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/telemarketing/tobligations/rules-regles.htm), [CRTC telemarketing rules text](https://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/trules-reglest.htm)

## United Kingdom
- **Do Not Call list:** Telephone Preference Service (TPS) for individuals and Corporate TPS (CTPS) for companies. A number listed for 28 days or more cannot be called for marketing without consent.
- **Calling hours:** No statutory calling hours.
- **Consent:** Automated calls that play a recorded message need specific prior consent. Live calls need no consent unless the number is on TPS or CTPS or the person has objected; claims-management and pension calls need consent (PECR).
- **Dialer rules:** Ofcom’s persistent-misuse policy: abandoned calls no more than 3% of live calls per campaign per 24 hours, with no safe harbour since 2017; unanswered calls ring at least 15 seconds; an abandoned number is not redialled by an automated system for 72 hours.
- **Caller ID and prefixes:** A valid caller ID that can be called back must be presented on every call.
- **Getting a local number:** A UK address and ID or business details. Mobile and toll-free numbers accept an address anywhere.
- **Sources:** [ICO: telephone marketing under PECR](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/direct-marketing-and-privacy-and-electronic-communications/guide-to-pecr/electronic-and-telephone-marketing/telephone-marketing/), [Ofcom persistent misuse policy](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/unwanted-calls-and-messages/persistent_misuse), [Twilio UK number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/gb/regulatory)

## Australia
- **Do Not Call list:** Do Not Call Register. Calls to a newly listed number must stop within 30 days, and listing is permanent.
- **Calling hours:** Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; no calls on Sundays or national public holidays.
- **Dialer rules:** The caller must give their own name, the business they represent and the purpose of the call at the start (Telemarketing and Research Calls Industry Standard 2017).
- **Caller ID and prefixes:** Calling line identification must be provided.
- **Penalties:** ACMA penalties up to A$250,000.
- **Getting a local number:** An Australian address (no PO Box) and Australian ID, or ASIC/ABN company documents. Business mobile numbers accept an address anywhere.
- **Sources:** [Do Not Call Register industry standards](https://www.donotcall.gov.au/industry/industry-overview/industry-standards), [Twilio Australia number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/au/regulatory)

## South Africa
- **Do Not Call list:** Opt-out requests must be honoured, and numbers checked against a do-not-contact registry.
- **Consent:** Direct marketing through automatic calling machines needs the person’s consent, unless they are an existing customer (POPIA section 69).
- **Getting a local number:** A South African address in the prefix area and ID. National and toll-free numbers accept an address anywhere.
- **Sources:** [POPIA section 69](https://popia.co.za/section-69-direct-marketing-by-means-of-unsolicited-electronic-communications/), [Twilio South Africa number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/za/regulatory)

## Mexico
- **Do Not Call list:** REPEP, run by Profeco. Callers have up to 30 days to stop calling a registered number. Collections, surveys, political and charity calls are not covered.
- **Getting a local number:** An address in the prefix area and ID or a tax status certificate. Toll-free numbers accept an address anywhere.
- **Sources:** [REPEP frequently asked questions (Profeco)](https://repep.profeco.gob.mx/preguntasfrecuentes.jsp), [Twilio Mexico number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/mx/regulatory)

## Colombia
- **Calling hours:** Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; no Sundays or public holidays. Applies to collections and commercial contact.
- **Dialer rules:** A person may be contacted at most once a day, and through only one channel in a week (Ley 2300 de 2023).
- **Getting a local number:** A Colombian address in the prefix area. Toll-free numbers accept an address anywhere.
- **Recent change:** Ley 2300 in force since October 2023.
- **Sources:** [Ley 2300 de 2023 (Función Pública)](https://www.funcionpublica.gov.co/eva/gestornormativo/norma.php?i=213990), [Twilio Colombia number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/co/regulatory)

## Chile
- **Caller ID and prefixes:** Automated or mass calls must come from the +56 600 prefix (calls the person asked for) or +56 809 (unsolicited). Other numbers may not be used for them.
- **Getting a local number:** A Chilean address for every number type.
- **Recent change:** Prefix rule in force since August 2025.
- **Sources:** [Twilio Chile number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/cl/regulatory)

## Brazil
- **Do Not Call list:** Não Me Perturbe, the national opt-out list for telemarketing.
- **Dialer rules:** Anatel blocks senders placing more than 100,000 abusive calls a day, where abusive means dropped on answer or within 3 seconds.
- **Caller ID and prefixes:** The 0303 telemarketing prefix became optional in August 2025 for companies using Chamada Verificada (STIR/SHAKEN with name and logo on screen). Companies placing more than 500,000 calls a month must authenticate them; carriers must deploy verification by April 2028.
- **Getting a local number:** A Brazilian company (CNPJ) and a Brazilian address. Individuals can get mobile numbers only.
- **Recent change:** 0303 made optional, August 2025.
- **Sources:** [Anatel revokes mandatory 0303 (Agência Brasil)](https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2025-08/anatel-revoga-obrigatoriedade-do-uso-do-prefixo-0303-em-ligacoes), [Anatel: telemarketing prefix 0303](https://www.gov.br/anatel/pt-br/regulado/numeracao/telemarketing-ativo-prefixo-0303), [Twilio Brazil number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/br/regulatory)

## Spain
- **Consent:** Commercial calls need the person’s prior consent or another legal basis under GDPR, such as legitimate interest (Ley 11/2022, article 66.1.b, in force since June 29, 2023).
- **Caller ID and prefixes:** From October 17, 2026, commercial calls must come from numbers in the 400 range. Carriers block commercial calls from any other numbering.
- **Getting a local number:** A Spanish address and a NIF/NIE (individuals) or CIF (companies), for every number type.
- **Recent change:** 400 prefix mandatory from October 17, 2026.
- **Sources:** [La Moncloa: 400 prefix for commercial calls](https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/serviciosdeprensa/notasprensa/transformacion-digital-y-funcion-publica/paginas/2026/160426-prefijo-400-llamadas-comerciales.aspx), [BOE: Circular 1/2023 on article 66.1.b](https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2023-15071), [Twilio Spain number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/es/regulatory)

## France
- **Consent:** Since August 11, 2026, a commercial call to a consumer needs their prior, express consent (opt-in), and the caller must be able to prove it. Bloctel, the old opt-out list, has ended.
- **Penalties:** Administrative fines up to €375,000 for a company, and contracts signed on a non-consented call are void.
- **Getting a local number:** A French address. Twilio does not allow automated outbound calling or telemarketing on French local, mobile or national numbers.
- **Recent change:** Opt-in regime in force August 11, 2026 (law 2025-594).
- **Sources:** [Opt-in from August 11, 2026 (Touitou Avocats)](https://touitou.law/demarchage-telephonique-consentement-11-aout-2026/), [Twilio France number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/fr/regulatory)

## Germany
- **Consent:** Marketing calls to consumers need their prior, explicit consent (UWG §7). The consent must be documented when given and kept for five years (UWG §7a).
- **Penalties:** Up to €50,000 for failing to document or keep consent.
- **Getting a local number:** Business registration and an address in the locality. Local and mobile numbers are not issued to individuals.
- **Sources:** [Bundesnetzagentur: proof of consent (§7a UWG)](https://www.bundesnetzagentur.de/DE/Fachthemen/Telekommunikation/Unternehmenspflichten/Telefonwerbung/artikel.html), [Twilio Germany number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/de/regulatory)

## Italy
- **Do Not Call list:** Registro Pubblico delle Opposizioni, covering landlines and mobiles. Registering cancels earlier marketing consents, except those given after registration or within an active contract.
- **Getting a local number:** An address in the prefix area. Mobile numbers accept an address anywhere.
- **Recent change:** Mobiles added to the register in July 2022.
- **Sources:** [Registro Pubblico delle Opposizioni](https://registrodelleopposizioni.it/), [Twilio Italy number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/it/regulatory)

## Philippines
- **Do Not Call list:** No national Do Not Call list. A bill to create one is before Congress.
- **Consent:** The Data Privacy Act requires consent to use personal data for marketing. Callers must identify themselves and offer an opt-out.
- **Getting a local number:** A Philippine address in the prefix area. Toll-free numbers accept an address anywhere.
- **Sources:** [Philippine telemarketing rules (Outsource Accelerator)](https://www.outsourceaccelerator.com/articles/philippine-telemarketing/), [Twilio Philippines number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/ph/regulatory)

## India
- **Do Not Call list:** TRAI Do Not Disturb preferences.
- **Caller ID and prefixes:** Promotional calls must come from 140-series numbers; service and transactional calls from the 1600 series (TRAI TCCCPR).
- **Penalties:** ₹2 lakh for a first violation, ₹5 lakh for a second, ₹10 lakh for each repeat, and up to two years’ blacklisting from telecom resources.
- **Recent change:** TCCCPR amendments finalised February 2025.
- **Sources:** [TRAI 2025 amendment (Securiti)](https://securiti.ai/india-spam-rules-trai-latest-amendment/), [Twilio India number requirements](https://www.twilio.com/en-us/guidelines/in/regulatory)

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