Business phone numbers in the United Kingdom

The UK runs geographic numbers by area code, an 03 national-rate range that costs the same as a local call, 07 mobiles, and 0800/0808 freephone. A foreign business can usually buy any of these. But every UK number now needs an approved KYC bundle registered before it can make calls, as of July 2026.

Number types in United Kingdom

Type	National format	E.164	Notes
Local	020 7946 0958	+44 20 7946 0958	Geographic prefixes by area, 020 London, 0113 Leeds, as of July 2026.
National	0330 123 4567	+44 330 123 4567	03 (0300/0303/0330) numbers must cost no more than a geographic call and count toward inclusive minutes from any phone.
Mobile	07946 123456	+44 7946 123456	07 prefix, ranges 071xx to 075xx and 077xx to 079xx. 07624 is Isle of Man.
Toll-free	0800 123 4567	+44 800 123 4567	0800 and 0808 are free from all landlines and mobiles. Legacy 0500 freephone was withdrawn in June 2017.

Porting

Ofcom regulates porting. Mobile uses a PAC (Porting Authorisation Code), obtained free by texting 'PAC' to 65075, valid 30 days, with the port completing within 1 working day once given to the gaining provider, as of July 2026.

Fixed and broadband porting runs through One Touch Switch (live since 12 September 2024 under General Condition C7): the customer deals only with the new provider, which manages the whole switch. A single-line business VoIP port typically takes around 10 working days, with some providers offering 1 to 3 day expedited options.

Closing the old account before the port completes can permanently lose the number. Complex multi-line or DDI moves take longer than a single line. Numbers still on PSTN/ISDN copper must migrate to IP before the exchange's stop-sell date, ahead of the final national PSTN switch-off on 31 January 2027.

Requirements

·Since 31 August 2024, every UK number must be attached to an approved Regulatory Compliance (KYC) bundle before it can make calls or send messages, as of July 2026.
·A UK business needs its business name, Companies House number, a registered or trading UK address, and an authorised representative. A UK individual needs government ID and proof of UK address.
·A foreign business (for example a US company wanting a London 020 number) typically submits a home-country commercial register excerpt in place of a Companies House number. Mobile (07) and freephone (0800/0808) numbers usually carry no address restriction, while geographic numbers are expected to correspond to where the user is resident or has a substantive connection.

Compliance notes

·Emergency numbers are 999 and 112. Ofcom General Condition A3 requires uninterrupted emergency access and, for VoIP, requires providers to pass accurate caller location where technically feasible, as of July 2026.
·VoIP service fails in a power cut without battery backup. Ofcom guidance requires providers to proactively warn at-risk customers and offer solutions such as battery backup.
·Call recording is one-party consent under RIPA 2000, but the Lawful Business Practice Regulations 2000 require reasonable efforts to inform callers a call may be recorded, and UK GDPR separately requires a lawful basis, notice, and retention limits.

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

Frequently asked questions

Can a US company get a UK phone number?

Yes. A foreign business can generally submit a home-country commercial register excerpt instead of a Companies House number. Every UK number still needs an approved KYC bundle registered before use, as of July 2026.

How long does porting take in the UK?

A mobile port using a PAC code completes within 1 working day. A single-line business VoIP port typically takes around 10 working days, faster with some providers' expedited options.

What's the difference between 03 and 0800 numbers?

03 numbers cost the same as a geographic call and count toward inclusive minutes. 0800 and 0808 are entirely free to the caller from landlines and mobiles.

Is call recording legal in the UK without telling the caller?

Recording itself is one-party consent. But businesses must make reasonable efforts to inform callers under the Lawful Business Practice Regulations 2000, and UK GDPR requires a lawful basis and clear retention limits.

What happens to old landline numbers when PSTN switches off?

Numbers still on copper PSTN or ISDN must migrate to an IP-based service before their local exchange's stop-sell date, ahead of the final national switch-off on 31 January 2027.