Current Time in UTC-3 Zone
About UTC-3
Discover all countries and IANA time zones in the UTC-3 offset. View the current local time for all locations with this UTC offset.
UTC Offset: UTC-3
What is UTC-3?
UTC-3 is a fixed offset from Coordinated Universal Time: clocks on this offset are always 3 hours behind UTC. Unlike a named time zone, a UTC offset never shifts for daylight saving time. Regions that observe DST alternate between two different UTC offsets across the year, which is why the countries listed below can change with the seasons.
In aviation, shipping, and military usage, UTC-3 corresponds to the Papa time zone (P), written with the letter suffix P in Zulu notation. Pilots and NATO forces use these letter zones so an order like "0800P" is unambiguous worldwide.
UTC-3 vs GMT-3
On a wall clock, UTC-3 and GMT-3 show the same time. The difference is in what they refer to: UTC is the modern standard kept by atomic clocks and used in computing, aviation, and science, while GMT is the older convention based on mean solar time at Greenwich. Technical systems, logs, and APIs should reference UTC-3.
Time & Daylight in UTC-3
Time Difference Between UTC-3 and Major Cities
Live local time and the difference from UTC-3 right now.
Current time shown is based on the representative IANA zone: America/Araguaina
UTC-3: The Atlantic South American Offset
UTC-3 is a fixed time offset three hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. It is the standard time for much of eastern South America and several Atlantic islands. Unlike named time zones such as Brasília Time or Argentina Time, UTC-3 is a pure offset that does not inherently observe daylight saving time; however, regions that do use DST shift onto and off of this offset seasonally, meaning the list of territories at UTC-3 changes throughout the year.
Fixed Offset vs. Named Time Zone
A fixed UTC offset is simply a constant difference from UTC. UTC-3 means that when it is 12:00 UTC, the local time is 09:00. Named time zones like America/Argentina/Buenos_Aires are geographic regions that may observe DST, switching between two offsets. UTC-3 is the standard offset for many of these zones, but during DST they move to UTC-2 (e.g., parts of Chile) or to UTC-4 (e.g., Paraguay). Therefore, the set of countries at UTC-3 is not static; it expands in winter and contracts in summer for DST-observing areas.
Countries and Territories on UTC-3 (Standard Time)
- Antarctica: Some research stations (e.g., Palmer Station) use UTC-3 year-round.
- Argentina: All of Argentina uses UTC-3 year-round (no DST since 2009).
- Brazil: Most of the eastern states, including Brasília, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and the northeast coast. However, the western Amazon region uses UTC-4 or UTC-5.
- Chile: Mainland Chile uses UTC-3 as standard time (winter). During DST (summer), it shifts to UTC-2. Easter Island uses UTC-6 standard, UTC-5 DST.
- Falkland Islands: Uses UTC-3 year-round (no DST since 2011).
- French Guiana: Uses UTC-3 year-round (no DST).
- Paraguay: Uses UTC-3 as standard time (winter). During DST (summer), it shifts to UTC-4.
- St. Pierre & Miquelon: Uses UTC-3 as standard time (winter). During DST (summer), it shifts to UTC-2.
- Suriname: Uses UTC-3 year-round (no DST).
- Uruguay: Uses UTC-3 year-round (no DST since 2015).
IANA Time Zones at UTC-3 (Standard Offset)
The IANA time zone database includes many zones that use UTC-3 as their standard offset. Key zones 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, America/Recife.
Representative Cities
- Araguaina (Brazil)
- Buenos Aires (Argentina)
- Catamarca (Argentina)
- Cordoba (Argentina)
- Jujuy (Argentina)
- La Rioja (Argentina)
- Mendoza (Argentina)
- Rio Gallegos (Argentina)
- Salta (Argentina)
- San Juan (Argentina)
- San Luis (Argentina)
- Tucuman (Argentina)
- Ushuaia (Argentina)
- Asuncion (Paraguay)
- Bahia (Brazil)
- Belem (Brazil)
- Cayenne (French Guiana)
- Coyhaique (Chile)
Military and Zulu Notation
In military time zone lettering, UTC-3 is designated as "Papa" (P). Zulu (Z) is the military name for UTC itself. On a 24-hour clock, UTC and GMT are functionally identical; both read the same time. So UTC-3 is three hours behind GMT/UTC.
Practical Scheduling Notes
When scheduling across UTC-3, remember that during DST transitions, some regions (like parts of Chile and Paraguay) may shift to UTC-2 or UTC-4, creating a temporary mismatch. Argentina, Brazil (most of), Uruguay, Suriname, French Guiana, and the Falklands do not observe DST, so their offset remains constant. Always verify the current DST status for the specific city or region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries are always on UTC-3?
Argentina, Uruguay, Suriname, French Guiana, and the Falkland Islands use UTC-3 year-round with no daylight saving time. Most of eastern Brazil also stays on UTC-3 year-round, but some western states use other offsets.
Does Chile use UTC-3?
Mainland Chile uses UTC-3 as its standard time (winter). During summer (daylight saving time), it shifts to UTC-2. Easter Island uses UTC-6 standard and UTC-5 during DST.
Is UTC-3 the same as Brasília Time?
Brasília Time (BRT) is UTC-3 and is the official time of Brazil's federal district and most eastern states. However, Brazil has multiple time zones; the western Amazon region uses UTC-4 or UTC-5.
What is the military designation for UTC-3?
UTC-3 is military time zone Papa (P). Zulu (Z) is UTC. So Papa time is three hours behind Zulu.