Regex for International Phone Numbers — Pattern Explained with Examples

International phone number validation is critical for global applications. The E.164 standard defines a max 15-digit format starting with a country code. This pattern validates that a number has the correct basic structure: a plus sign, a valid country code digit, and up to 14 additional digits.

The Pattern

/^\+[1-9]\d{1,14}$/

Pattern Breakdown

Matches

• +14155551234
• +442071838750
• +911234567890
• +61299999999
• +33123456789

Does NOT Match

• 555-1234 (no plus sign or country code)
• +1555 (too few digits after country code)
• 0014155551234 (uses 00 prefix instead of +)
• +1(415)555-1234 (contains non-digit characters)
• +abc123 (contains letters)

Language Examples

JavaScript

const intlPhoneRegex = /^\+[1-9]\d{1,14}$/;
console.log(intlPhoneRegex.test('+14155551234'));  // true
console.log(intlPhoneRegex.test('555-1234'));       // false

Python

import re
pattern = r'^\+[1-9]\d{1,14}$'
print(bool(re.match(pattern, '+14155551234')))   # True
print(bool(re.match(pattern, '555-1234')))        # False

Go

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"regexp"
)

func main() {
	re := regexp.MustCompile(`^\+[1-9]\d{1,14}$`)
	fmt.Println(re.MatchString("+14155551234"))  // true
	fmt.Println(re.MatchString("555-1234"))       // false
}

Common Pitfalls

• Country codes vary from 1 to 4 digits — this pattern does not validate specific country codes
• E.164 limits the total number to 15 digits including the country code, but some countries have shorter local numbers
• Phone number extensions are non-standard globally and require separate handling
• Local formatting conventions (spaces, parentheses, dashes) must be stripped before validation

Real-World Use Cases

• Global SaaS signup forms — accept user phone numbers from any country for account creation
• SMS notification systems — validate numbers before sending international messages via third-party APIs
• Contact synchronization — normalize phone data from global address books into a uniform E.164 format

FAQ

Related Patterns

Regex for US Phone Numbers Regex for Email