The most direct answer to the query “343 area code usa” is that the 343 area code is not located in the United States.
The 343 area code is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP), but it serves a major region in Canada, specifically Eastern Ontario. It functions as an overlay for the older and original 613 area code, covering the same expansive geographic area.
This comprehensive article details the exact location of the 343 area code, the major cities it serves, its time zone, and the specific dialing procedures required.
343 Area Code Location: Eastern Ontario, Canada
The 343 area code was introduced to address the exhaustion of available phone numbers in the 613 region of Canada. It officially began service in May 2010.
| Detail | Information |
| Area Code: | 343 (An overlay of the 613 area code) |
| Country: | Canada |
| Province: | Ontario |
| Primary Location: | Ottawa (The capital of Canada) |
| Time Zone: | Eastern Time (ET), observing both Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). |
| Dialing Requirement: | 10-digit dialing is mandatory (Area Code + 7-digit number) for all local calls within this region. |
Major Cities Covered by the 343 Area Code
The 343 area code covers a wide area of Eastern Ontario, running alongside the US border and extending north. Key urban centers using the 343 code include:
- Ottawa (The largest city and Canada’s capital)
- Kingston
- Belleville
- Cornwall
- Brockville
- Pembroke
- Carleton Place
Any phone number beginning with the sequence (343) XXX-XXXX is geographically tied to this region of Ontario, Canada.
Dialing the 343 Area Code
Because the 343 area code is an overlay for the existing 613 area code, there are specific dialing rules that must be followed even for local calls within the same city.
10-Digit Dialing (Mandatory for All Local Calls)
Since 343 is an overlay code, it covers the same geographic area as 613. To distinguish which number you are calling, you must dial the full 10 digits for all local calls, whether you are calling a 613 number or a 343 number.
Area Code (343 or 613)+Seven-Digit Local Number
Calling 343 Numbers from the United States
As 343 is part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP)—which includes the US and Canada—it is considered a domestic call rather than an international call.
- To Call from a US Landline or Mobile Phone: Dial 1 + 343 + Seven-Digit Local Number.
If you are currently in the 343/613 region of Canada, the dialing procedure is simply the 10-digit number.
Time Zone for Area Code 343
The 343 area code is situated entirely within the Eastern Time Zone (ET).
- Standard Time (Winter): EST (Eastern Standard Time), which is UTC/GMT -5 hours.
- Daylight Time (Summer): EDT (Eastern Daylight Time), which is UTC/GMT -4 hours.
This time zone aligns with major US cities like New York, Boston, and Miami. If you are calling a 343 number from the US, you will be in the same time zone as most of the US East Coast.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the 343 area code a scam?
The 343 area code is a legitimate, official area code for Eastern Ontario, Canada. While scammers can and do spoof numbers from any area code, the 343 code itself is not specifically known for the international “one-ring” or premium-rate scams associated with three-digit international country codes. However, standard caller ID spoofing and local scams can still occur. Always be cautious of unknown callers requesting personal information.
What is the original area code for Ottawa?
The original area code that covers the region served by the 343 code is 613. The 343 code was introduced as an overlay for the 613 region to provide new number capacity without requiring existing 613 users to change their numbers.
Do I need to dial a 1 before the 343 area code?
Yes. When calling any 10-digit number (Area Code + 7-digit number) from outside the 343/613 calling area—whether from the US or another Canadian region—you must prefix the number with a 1 (the NANP long-distance code).
When did the 343 area code start?
The 343 area code was officially introduced as an overlay for the 613 area code region on May 17, 2010, allowing the region to continue supporting new telephone numbers for both landlines and mobile devices.
Conclusion
The 343 area code is a contemporary telephone code that serves Eastern Ontario, Canada, and is primarily associated with the capital city of Ottawa. Although it is part of the North American Numbering Plan and easily mistaken for a US area code, its location is definitively Canadian. Remember that 10-digit dialing is mandatory throughout this region, and calls from the US require the standard 1 + 343 + number format.
