Business phone numbers in Australia

Australia runs single-digit geographic prefixes (02, 03, 07, 08), a 04 mobile range, and separately administered 13/1300/1800 smart numbers. A foreign business can usually get a number without an Australian entity, though 1300/1800 transfers move slower than standard porting.

Number types in Australia

Type	National format	E.164	Notes
Local	02 9876 5432	+61 2 9876 5432	Single-digit area code plus 8-digit local number. 02 NSW/ACT, 03 VIC/TAS, 07 QLD, 08 WA/SA/NT, as of July 2026.
National	13 00 12 34	+61 1300 001 234	1300 numbers are 'smart numbers' registered separately in ACMA's Smart Numbers database, local-rate from fixed lines.
Mobile	0412 345 678	+61 412 345 678	10-digit number, always starts 04, as of July 2026.
Toll-free	1800 123 456	+61 1800 123 456	Free from landlines and, since 2014, from mobiles too.

Porting

ACMA regulates porting under the Telecommunications Numbering Plan 2025 (in force since 24 March 2025); disputes escalate to the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman. Simple same-technology ports run 1 to 5 business days, most completing in 2 to 3, as of July 2026.

Complex or cross-technology ports (for example ISDN to VoIP, or multi-line business accounts) run 5 to 15 business days. 1300 and 1800 number transfers run 5 to 20 business days because they move through ACMA's Smart Numbers carrier-assignment process, not standard number portability.

The account-holder name must match the losing carrier's records exactly, or the port is rejected and each rejection adds roughly 3 to 7 days. Do not cancel the old service before cutover completes.

Requirements

·Getting a 1300 or 1800 smart number typically calls for an ABN or ACN, though this varies by carrier, as of July 2026.
·Foreign (non-resident) businesses can apply for an ABN via the Australian Business Register using a listed overseas address, with extra identity documentation compared to a resident business.
·No blanket rule ties geographic 02/03/07/08 numbers to a legal entity: providers vary on whether they issue these without an Australian presence, since they are tied more to a service address than to company registration.

Compliance notes

·Emergency number is 000, governed by the Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Determination 2019. VoIP providers must register the customer's service address so location reaches the right PSAP, and must warn customers that 000 fails if the internet connection is down, as of July 2026.
·Call recording consent varies by state: NSW, WA, SA, Tasmania and the ACT require all-party consent under their Surveillance Devices Acts. Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory allow one-party consent.
·1300 and 1800 'smart numbers' are a distinct Australian institution, priced and ported separately from ordinary geographic or mobile numbers.

Regulatory details verified July 2026 and re-checked quarterly. wlur offers numbers in Australia; add one from the app in about a minute.

Frequently asked questions

Can a UK company get an Australian phone number?

Yes for most geographic and mobile-style numbers, since providers do not universally require an Australian entity. A 1300 or 1800 number typically asks for an ABN or ACN, as of July 2026.

How long does number porting take in Australia?

Simple same-technology ports take 1 to 5 business days. 1300/1800 smart number transfers take 5 to 20 business days because they use a separate carrier-assignment process.

Is call recording consent the same across Australia?

No. NSW, WA, SA, Tasmania and the ACT require every party's consent. Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory only require one party's consent, as of July 2026.

What happens to 000 calls if my VoIP internet goes down?

The call will not connect. ACMA requires providers to disclose this limitation to customers at sign-up.

Are 1300 numbers the same as toll-free 1800 numbers?

No. 1300 numbers are charged at local rate to the caller from a fixed line. 1800 numbers are free to the caller from both landlines and mobiles.