International Phone Jack Types

Analogue telephone connectors vary far less than power plugs — RJ-11 dominates almost everywhere — but a handful of national standards (BT 431A in the UK, TAE in Germany, local connectors in older European installations) still appear and will block modem, fax, or land-line use without the right adapter.

RJ-11 (190 countries)

Registered Jack 11 (FCC Part 68)

The dominant analogue telephone jack worldwide. Six-position, two-conductor (6P2C) modular connector. Originated in the US Bell System breakup era and adopted everywhere outside of the older European national standards. If a country lists "RJ-11" as its jack type, a standard US/Canadian phone cable will plug in directly.

Countries using RJ-11 (190)

Afghanistan · Albania · Algeria · American Samoa · Angola · Anguilla · Antigua and Barbuda · Argentina · Armenia · Aruba · Azerbaijan · Bahamas · Bahrain · Bangladesh · Barbados · Belarus · Belgium · Belize · Benin · Bermuda · Bhutan · Bolivia · Bosnia-Herzegovina · Botswana · Brazil · Brunei · Bulgaria · Burkina Faso · Burma · Burundi · Cambodia · Cameroon · Canada · Cape Verde · Cayman Islands · Central African Republic · Chad · Chile · China · Christmas Island · Cocos (Keeling) Islands · Colombia · Comoros · Congo · Congo. Democratic Republic of the · Cook Islands · Costa Rica · Croatia · Cuba · Czech Republic · Djibouti · Dominica · Dominican Republic · East Timor · Ecuador · Egypt · El Salvador · Equatorial Guinea · Eritrea · Estonia · Ethiopia · Faroe Islands · Fiji · Finland · French Guiana · French Polynesia · French Southern Territories · Gabon · Georgia · Ghana · Greece · Greenland · Grenada · Guadeloupe · Guam · Guatemala · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Guyana · Haiti · Honduras · Hong Kong · Hungary · Iceland · India · Indonesia · Iran · Iraq · Israel · Ivory Coast · Jamaica · Japan · Jordan · Kazakhstan · Kenya · Kiribati · Korea. South · Kuwait · Kyrgyzstan · Laos · Latvia · Lebanon · Lesotho · Liberia · Libya · Liechtenstein · Lithuania · Luxembourg · Macau · Macedonia · Madagascar · Malawi · Malaysia · Maldives · Mali · Martinique · Mauritania · Mauritius · Mexico · Micronesia · Moldova · Monaco · Mongolia · Morocco · Mozambique · Namibia · Nepal · Netherlands · Netherlands Antilles · New Caledonia · New Zealand · Nicaragua · Niger · Nigeria · Norway · Oman · Pakistan · Panama · Papua New Guinea · Paraguay · Peru · Philippines · Poland · Portugal · Puerto Rico · Qatar · Reunion · Romania · Russia · Rwanda · Saudi Arabia · Senegal · Serbia and Montenegro · Sierra Leone · Singapore · Slovakia · Slovenia · Solomon Islands · Somalia · South Africa · Spain · Sri Lanka · Sudan · Suriname · Swaziland · Sweden · Syria · Taiwan · Tajikistan · Tanzania · Thailand · Togo · Tonga · Trinidad and Tobago · Tunisia · Turkey · Turkmenistan · Turks and Caicos Islands · Uganda · Ukraine · United Arab Emirates · United States · Uruguay · Uzbekistan · Vanuatu · Venezuela · Vietnam · Yemen · Zambia · Zimbabwe

RJ-11 + BT (3 countries)

Mixed (UK & former territories)

Newer UK installations use RJ-11 directly; older premises still have BT 431A. Carry both adapters.

Countries using RJ-11 + BT (3)

Cyprus · Ireland · Malta

BT (legacy) (3 countries)

British Telecom non-431 variants

Older British and Commonwealth telephone connectors that predate or differ from BT 431A. Travelers will usually need a BT-to-RJ-11 adapter for analogue dial-up or fax equipment.

Countries using BT (legacy) (3)

Falkland Islands · Gambia · Gibraltar

RJ-11 + 605 (1 country)

Mixed (Australia & NZ)

Australian 605 jack predates RJ-11 adoption. Modern installations often have both; older buildings have 605 only.

Countries using RJ-11 + 605 (1)

Australia

RJ-11 + Austrian (1 country)

Mixed (Austria)

Older Austrian buildings use a TST connector; newer ones use RJ-11.

Countries using RJ-11 + Austrian (1)

Austria

RJ-11 + Danish (1 country)

Mixed (Denmark)

Older Danish installations use a 3-pin or 4-pin Krone-style connector; newer ones use RJ-11.

Countries using RJ-11 + Danish (1)

Denmark

RJ-11 + French (1 country)

Mixed (France)

Older French installations use a T-shaped connector (en T); newer installations use RJ-11.

Countries using RJ-11 + French (1)

France

RJ-11 + TAE (1 country)

Mixed (Germany)

German installations often have RJ-11 jacks behind the wall plate but TAE-coded user-facing outlets. Carry both adapters.

Countries using RJ-11 + TAE (1)

Germany

RJ-11 + Italian (1 country)

Mixed (Italy)

Older Italian installations use a tripolar connector; newer ones use RJ-11.

Countries using RJ-11 + Italian (1)

Italy

RJ-11 + Swiss (1 country)

Mixed (Switzerland)

Older Swiss installations use a Reichle TT89 connector; newer ones use RJ-11.

Countries using RJ-11 + Swiss (1)

Switzerland

BT 431A (1 country)

British Telecom 431A

The standard British telephone jack from 1981 onward. Six-position with a key-shaped tab that distinguishes it from RJ-11. UK premises wiring runs from a master socket (NTE5) through BT 431A extensions; the master socket itself has an RJ-11-compatible test interface behind the faceplate.

Countries using BT 431A (1)

United Kingdom