On January 9, 2026, Mexico enacted a new law requiring all cell phone numbers to be verifiably associated with an individual. Any cellphone number not associated with a person and their government-issued ID by June 30, 2026, will be suspended until/unless the number is registered by a verified user.
If you have an active Mexican cellphone number:
- Whether you are situated in Mexico or abroad (or travel between countries); and
- Whether that number is active with a physical SIM card or a virtual eSIM; and
- Whether you are on a contract or a prepay phone plan; and
- You want to keep the line active—
- You’ll need to act by June 30.
This article describes the new rules and how to register your Mexican cellphone as we understand them from current information. We are keeping this article updated as new/additional information becomes available.
Requirements for registration
Beginning January 9, 2026 all Mexican cell phone numbers must have a verified person associated with the number. Users will need to present a valid passport, and if you are resident (temporary or permanent), you will need to cite your CURP number as well.
Existing active cellphone lines
There are an estimated 127 million active cell phone lines (numbers) in Mexico.
- All existing active lines must be registered by June 30 to prevent the number from being suspended.
- Individuals can register up to 10 cell phone numbers in their own name.
- Depending on how you acquired your existing Mexican cell phone, the number might or might not already be registered to you.
- If your number gets suspended, it won’t be cancelled immediately. It will be reactivated when you register, but telephone companies will likely cancel numbers that are not registered after a (presently undefined) period of time.
BEWARE of Potential Scams
Mexico’s cellphone providers will apparently be sending text messages to existing users asking them to register, with a link to the registration page inside the text message.
The intended process to text existing users asking them to register their phone number is likely to encourage some scammers to send fake SMS messages asking users to “register,” potentially directing their links to scam sites that look official but which will not register your phone and could steal your personal data.
We strongly recommend that you do NOT click any links inside these SMS messages, nor any other messages sent via social media and/or email. etc. inviting you to register your Mexican cellphone and instead go directly to the official website of the cellphone service provider you use.
We’ve appended a list of Mexico’s three principal cellphone providers at the end of this article.
New cellphone lines
Any new cellphone lines activated on or after January 9, 2026, will need to be registered within 30 days of their activation.
If you are a visitor or tourist to Mexico and purchase a local SIM card (or eSIM) for use during your stay in the country, the registration that associates the number with your Passport will be part of the activation process. You do not need to present a CURP if you are not resident in Mexico.
Company cell phones
If your cellphone is held in the name of a Mexican company, the company must ensure that the cellphone numbers on its account(s) are associated with the company’s RFC.
Additionally, individual users must ensure that their company cellphone number is associated to them personally (using their official ID, and CURP if relevant) to prevent the number from being suspended.
Roaming with foreign cell phone numbers
If you roam in Mexico using a foreign-issued cellphone, you do not need to register the number in Mexico. This requirement is only for cellphone numbers issued by Mexican telephone companies.
How to register your Mexican cell phone number
Mexico’s telephone companies are offering users two methods to register:
- Online, using a special registration portal provided by each cellphone service provider; or
- In person at one of their service centers nationwide in Mexico.
Registering online
The fastest and easiest method to register your Mexican cell phone number is to go online to your phone company’s official website (see links below) to register. The registration process is similar to the one that e.g. banks use when you register online, and you will be asked for:
- An upload of a photo of your government-issued ID:
- If you are not a Mexican national, you will need to upload a photo of your valid passport.
- Mexicans (and naturalized Mexicans) may use their INE or Mexican passport.
- A live photo of yourself (‘selfie’) for upload to compare it with your official ID and confirm it’s you.
- It’s possible that the online registration might also ask for the IMEI number of your device. The IMEI number can be displayed by accessing the phone’s settings.
- If you are unable to register online, you will need to visit a customer service center and register in person.
Online registration system issues
Some users have been reporting system issues with the online registration process, that appear to be related to the volume of requests and other technical matters. If you get an error message during the process, you’ll need to ‘try again later’. If you continually get error messages you may need to attend a customer service center for assistance to complete your registration.
Registering in person
Cellphone companies operate service centers across all major towns and cities in Mexico. If you attend a service center in person to register your number, you will be asked for:
- Government-issued ID.
- If you are not a Mexican national, you will need to present a valid passport.
- Mexicans (and naturalized Mexicans) may use their INE or Mexican passport.
- The service attendant will guide you through the registration process.
- The service attendant might also ask for the IMEI number of your device. The IMEI number can be displayed by accessing the phone’s settings.
Data protection
The online registration process states that personal data will be stored in alignment with Mexico’s data privacy laws.
Mexico’s cellphone providers
To register your Mexican cell phone number, visit only the official website of your cell phone provider, most usually Telcel, AT&T, or Movistar.
We recommend that you do not click any links inviting you to register your Mexican cell phone number sent by SMS, social media and/or email messages.
Official website addresses of Mexico’s big three cellphone providers:
Telcel: https://www.telcel.com/
AT&T: https://www.att.com.mx/
Movistar: https://www.movistar.com.mx/
Learn more about keeping in touch in Mexico
Our guides and articles about communications help you keep in touch when you’re in Mexico: by phone, by internet and by post/courier.
- Mexican cellphone plans
- The cost of communications services in Mexico
- Learn about internet services in Mexico
- Wireless high speed internet at home via mobile and satellite
- How to dial numbers to, from and within Mexico
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Why is the purpose of this cell phone registration??? No one seems to know why!! Just do it! They say.
I am foxed by this statement in the article: “A live photo of yourself (‘selfie’) for upload to compare it with your official ID and confirm it’s you.”
Does this mean one has to be ready to take a selfie photo at the exact same time as sending the passport and permanent residence card info? Or can I have a recent one ready to upload?
Hi Caroline,
Some businesses (especially banks) now use a method for remote ID verification whereby you upload a photo of official government ID and then in the next step you take a ‘live selfie’ (instructions are provided on-screen) and that image is compared with the official ID. The biometric data are compared for a match. Mexico’s cellphone companies are using this technology to register users.
I have a telmex number assigned to my internet service but not an actual phone. I pay bill monthly. Wonder how that works
Hi Chris,
The registration process is required for cellphones (Telcel), but not for landlines (Telmex).
Telcel is the cellphone company, Telmex is the landline company–they are owned by the same group but they are different companies.
I went to a TelCel customer service centre today, Jan 22, and they told me they are not yet authorized to register foreigners, despite me having a valid Canadian passport, my CURP and my Mexican-government-issued Permanent Resident card. He advised I register online.
We were told that we had to wait until March when we went in during early February. They were only doing nationals this month.
I went online to Telcel and couldn’t find anywhere to register. I checked pay my bill, check my account. Nada.
Hola. A little confused . I have a phone that I purchased in the United States but I have an AT&T plan/Mexican phone number in Mexico. Do I need to register?
It is stated that biometric versions of the ID will be required. This means I will never have a Mexican bank account or phone number after July because I do not consent to this authoritarian overreach.
How about your authoritarian U.S. government’s passport you have with your biometrics in it?
I agree Rodney. Registering the phone I agree with. But, a current photo, The requirements are part of government over reach to capture biographical data. And of course, data is sold to online advertisers. Everytime I register to a private or government entity, more ads appear.
What if I go back and forth? (I use my Canadian SIM card and swap it out for my Mexican one when I’m in Mex.)
Brilliant! That’s a fantastic way to be fine for the months to come.
And later at some point, you will very much appreciate the regained quality of analogue life in Mexico.
The you will need to register your Mex SIM.
I have dual citizenship. I attempted to register my Mexican cell phone however when prompted for the State of where I was born it only gave me states in Mexico and not the USA . I was unable to register because of that glitch
Hi Lisa, some people are reporting glitches with the system in early January; tourists/visitors wanting to register will have this same issue. Presumably these will be remedied as the year progresses.
Hi Lisa
As a Mexican you know that all these things will be mellowed down and there is always a big gap between what is said and what will really happen.
This is why Mexicans don’t rush to comply, it simply never pays. Only gringos are eager to (over)comply and still each time they are astonished that things don’t work as they should.
i had to register to buy a new paquete. it was easy. i did not use my passport, a foto of my passport was fine. but i had to go to Merida to do it.