tel: URI
Tap to call, nothing typed.
A phone code holds a number in the tel: format. Scanning it brings up the dialler with the number already entered — no digits to misread, no wrong numbers.
live example — scannable
Payload format
The tel: URI
A phone code is a tel: URI and nothing more. Pick the country from the list next to the number field and we normalise it to full international format, so the number works whether the scanner is next door or overseas.
tel:+919876543210- tel:
- The scheme. Every modern phone recognises it.
- +country
- Leading + and country code, added automatically from the country you pick.
- Digits only
- Spaces, dashes and a leading 0 are stripped when the number is normalised.
How to make one
Two fields
- 01
Pick the country, enter the number
We normalise it to international format — no + to remember.
- 02
Check the dialler
Scan it and confirm the number that appears is exactly right.
- 03
Print it large enough
Signage read from a distance needs a bigger code than you expect.
Where it earns its keep
Where a call code works
- A taxi or emergency contact sign, where speed matters most.
- A tradesperson's van or a site hoarding.
- An out-of-hours notice on a shop door.
- A lost-property tag on luggage or equipment.
Questions
Phone QR codes, answered
Does it call immediately when scanned?
No. It opens the dialler with the number filled in and waits for the person to press call. No platform will place a call from a QR code without confirmation.
Should I include the country code?
You don't have to type it — pick the country from the list beside the number field and it is added automatically, in the international format that works whether the scanner is next door or overseas.
Can I add an extension?
You can append a pause and extension using commas, but support varies by handset. For anything critical, print the extension as text next to the code.
Will it work on a tablet with no SIM?
It will open whatever app handles calls, such as a VoIP client, or do nothing if none is installed. Worth remembering if your audience uses tablets.