Current Time in GMT − 3 Zone
About GMT-3
GMT-3 is three hours behind Greenwich Mean Time. It is a major South American timezone, used year-round by Argentina, Uruguay, and most of Brazil including Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. It is also used by Chile and Paraguay in the winter. No major nations in this zone currently use it for DST.
UTC Offset: GMT-3
What is GMT-3?
GMT-3 means Greenwich Mean Time 3 hours behind the Greenwich meridian, the historical reference line running through the Royal Observatory in London. GMT offsets are the everyday way many countries, broadcasters, and travel timetables describe their local time relative to the UK.
Note that some of the countries listed below sit on GMT-3 for only part of the year: when daylight saving time starts or ends they move one hour, so always check the live local times shown on this page or on each country's own page.
GMT-3 vs UTC-3
For everyday purposes GMT-3 and UTC-3 are the same wall-clock time. GMT is the traditional name based on mean solar time at Greenwich, while UTC is the modern atomic-time standard used by computers and aviation. If you are setting a meeting or catching a flight, either works; if you are configuring a server, use UTC-3.
Time & Daylight in GMT-3
Time Difference Between GMT-3 and Major Cities
Live local time and the difference from GMT-3 right now.
Current time shown is based on the representative IANA zone: America/Araguaina
Understanding UTC-3: The Fixed Offset and Its Global Reach
UTC-3 is a fixed time offset three hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. Unlike named time zones that may shift for daylight saving time (DST), UTC-3 itself never changes. However, many regions that observe DST move onto this offset during their summer months, making the list of places at UTC-3 dynamic throughout the year. This article explores the countries, territories, and cities that use UTC-3, the distinction between a fixed offset and a named zone, and practical scheduling tips.
Fixed Offset vs. Named Time Zone
A fixed UTC offset, such as UTC-3, is a constant number of hours behind (or ahead of) UTC. It does not observe daylight saving time. In contrast, a named time zone (e.g., Argentina Time) may include DST rules, causing the zone to shift between two offsets seasonally. For example, many regions in South America use UTC-3 as their standard time but switch to UTC-2 or UTC-4 during DST. Thus, the list of countries currently at UTC-3 changes depending on the time of year.
Countries and Territories at UTC-3
As of the time of writing, the following countries and territories are on UTC-3 (standard time, no DST): Antarctica (some bases), Argentina, Brazil (most of the eastern region), Chile (mainland except Easter Island), Falkland Islands, French Guiana, Paraguay, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Suriname, and Uruguay. Note that some of these regions observe DST, so they may shift to UTC-2 or UTC-4 during their summer.
Representative Cities
Major cities that observe UTC-3 as standard time include: Buenos Aires (Argentina), São Paulo (Brazil), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Santiago (Chile), Asunción (Paraguay), Montevideo (Uruguay), Cayenne (French Guiana), Paramaribo (Suriname), and Stanley (Falkland Islands). In Argentina, many provincial capitals also use UTC-3, such as Córdoba, Rosario, Mendoza, and La Plata.
IANA Time Zones at UTC-3
The IANA time zone database includes numerous zones that use UTC-3 as their standard offset. These include: America/Araguaina, America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires, America/Argentina/Catamarca, America/Argentina/Cordoba, America/Argentina/Jujuy, America/Argentina/La_Rioja, America/Argentina/Mendoza, America/Argentina/Rio_Gallegos, America/Argentina/Salta, America/Argentina/San_Juan, America/Argentina/San_Luis, America/Argentina/Tucuman, America/Argentina/Ushuaia, America/Asuncion, America/Bahia, America/Belem, America/Cayenne, America/Coyhaique, America/Fortaleza, America/Maceio, America/Miquelon, America/Montevideo, America/Paramaribo, America/Punta_Arenas, and America/Recife.
Practical Scheduling Notes
When scheduling across UTC-3, be aware that many regions in this offset observe DST, so the offset may temporarily change. For example, Chile and Paraguay move to UTC-2 during their summer, while parts of Brazil have experimented with DST. Always verify the current offset for a specific location. UTC-3 is also used as a military time zone (designated 'P' or 'Papa'), and UTC and GMT are interchangeable for clock readings, though GMT is a time zone while UTC is a standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries are always on UTC-3?
Argentina, French Guiana, Suriname, and Uruguay are on UTC-3 year-round (no DST). Some regions in Brazil and Chile also stay on UTC-3, but others observe DST.
Does Brazil use UTC-3?
Most of Brazil's eastern regions, including São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, use UTC-3 as standard time. However, some areas in the west use UTC-4 or UTC-5, and DST has been observed in the past but is currently not in effect.
What is the military designation for UTC-3?
UTC-3 is designated as 'Papa' (P) in military time zone lettering. It is also known as 'P' time.
How does UTC-3 relate to GMT?
UTC and GMT are practically the same for telling time, though GMT is a time zone and UTC is a time standard. UTC-3 is three hours behind both.
Which major cities use UTC-3?
Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Asunción, Montevideo, Cayenne, and Paramaribo are major cities that use UTC-3 as standard time.