On January 9, 2026, Mexico enacted a new law requiring all cell phone numbers to be verifiably associated with an individual. The law required users to register by no later than June 30, 2026 and telephone companies were told to suspend all lines not registered on July 1.
By late June 2026, it was estimated that less than half of all lines were registered, and the government announced a new timetable that focuses on registration of pre-pay cellular telephony lines—that is, lines without a monthly contract.
Only pre-pay (pay-as-you-go) phones need to register now
The Mexican government has now stated that customers on contract cell phones no longer need to undertake the registration process.
Before now, the law required all cell phone customers, regardless of payment type, to register their details using a passport (visitors) or official government ID and CURP (Mexicans and legal residents).
Customers using a pre-pay (pay-as-you-go) cell phone must still register their phone, and the new timetable for disconnections is staggered between August and December 2026, based on the last digit of the cellphone’s line number.
New rules and timetable for registrations between August 15 and December 31, 2026
On June 25, 2026 the Mexican government announced a new timetable for registrations.
Mexican cell phones on a contract don’t need to register
If you have a Mexican cell phone on a contract (you pay monthly) there is now no requirement to register your details with the number.
If you have an active Mexican cell phone number on a Pre-Pay System:
- 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
- If you are on prepay phone plan; and
- You want to keep the line active—
- You’ll need to act between Aug 15 and Dec 31, depending on the last digit of your phone number.
This article describes the revised rules as announced on June 25, 2026 and how to register your Mexican pre-pay cell phone.
Requirements for registration
Pre-pay cell phone numbers, that is cell phones with no monthly contract, must have a verified person associated with the number. A staggered disconnection timetable has been announced that will disconnect pre-pay phone lines starting Aug 15, 2026.
If your number gets disconnected, 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.
| Pre-Pay Line Number Ending | Disconnection Date |
| 0 | August 15, 2026 |
| 1 | August 31, 2026 |
| 2 | September 15, 2026 |
| 3 | September 30, 2026 |
| 4 | October 15, 2026 |
| 5 | October 31, 2026 |
| 6 | November 16, 2026 |
| 7 | November 30, 2026 |
| 8 | December 15, 2026 |
| 9 | December 31, 2026 |
How to register
Mexicans: Mexicans can register their cell phones using their INE Card or their Mexican passport.
Foreigners: Foreigners, whether visitors to Mexico or legal residents, will need to use a valid passport. If you are a legal resident of Mexico, the process will automatically match your name and passport details to your CURP.
New cell phone lines
Any new pre-pay cell phone lines will need to be registered within 30 days of their activation.
If you are a visitor or tourist to Mexico and purchase a local pre-pay 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.
Home internet cellphone modems
If you have internet service at home that uses the mobile network (these modems are provided by cellphone providers and have a SIM card inside them) you probably don’t need to register this if it on a contract. Contact your service provider for details.
Foreign cell phone numbers and landlines
If you roam in Mexico using a foreign-issued cell phone number, you do not need to register the number in Mexico. This requirement is only for pre-pay cell phone numbers issued by Mexican cell phone companies.
If you live in Mexico and have one or more landlines (from whichever provider) you do not need to register these. Only Mexican-issued cell phone numbers need to be registered.
How to register your Mexican pre-pay cell phone number
Mexico’s telephone companies are offering users two methods to register:
- Online, using a special registration portal provided by each cell phone service provider; or
- In person at one of their service centers nationwide in Mexico.
Registering online
The quickest way to register your pre-pay 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:
- Mexicans (and naturalized Mexicans) may use their INE card or Mexican passport.
- If you are not a Mexican national, you will need to upload a photo of your valid passport—no other ID is accepted.
- 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.
Registering in person
Cell phone 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 card or Mexican passport.
- 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. The data are being stored by private companies (telephone companies) not the government; although government can request access to a user’s details at any time through a ‘due legal process’.
Mexico’s cell phone 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 cell phone 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 cell phone 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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IF YOU REGISTER, WHAT AND WHERE DOES YOUR INFO., GO? WHO WILL USE IT ? FOR WHAT PURPOSE ?
IF, NOT COMPLYING, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOUR NUMBER ? WILL THEY AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF YOUR PHONE ? ( TELCEL ) ?
ANOTHER WAY OF THE GOV’T BEING NOSY
A few years ago, a similar program was started, but then cancelled afternthe database was hacked and people’s details wrre leaked online.
Media reports show that between 10-20% of the country has registered. The majority of that is probably government employees and old asleep expats who comply with everything.
Stop complying with this non-sense and Mexperience, stop promoting compliance.
Just completed the process online for my cell phone. We have Telcel Internet en Tu Casa internet service in our house. Does that have to be registered too? I realize it’s not “mobile,” but it uses the same sort of Telcel sim card as a regular cell phone I think.
Hi Len, as the “Internet en tu casa” service from Telcel (and equivalents from other service providers) use a modem with a SIM card, it is necessary to register them as well.
We recommend you visit your Telcel customer service center, where they will be able to link your registered cell phone number with the number on the SIM card in your modem. Users can have up to 10 devices registered in their name.
why are people complying with this? Its foreigners/expats who are the worst with complying with government demands.
Instead of complying, stand with Mexicans and organizations like R3D and reject this invasion of privacy and government overreach!
Foreigners are asked for passport. but the the CURP they “lookup” is Incorrect!!!
but ultimately it bombs out with error message anyway
I will have to seek a Telcel Attention Center when return to Mexico but that is after June 30. going to cause problems with some things that require 2FA. (Live part time in Mexico)
After several (~10) attempts to register through the online portal over the last few weeks, I was finally able to complete the registration this evening. Previously, the process would fail towards the end displaying a ‘system error’ message.
The process is nearly identical to the one that banks use when you register online: they first ask for a photo of your passport, and then a ‘selfie’ routine begins: you’re asked to look directly at the camera, then left/right, up/down.
At the end of the process, you get a confirmation screen (and SMS message) with a file registration number. I’ll keep the file number for reference, just in case.
Why is the purpose of this cell phone registration??? No one seems to know why!! Just do it! They say.
To help cut down on fraud and other crimes
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?
Yes. Where you bought your phone is irrelevant. (No snark intended) For example I bought my phone on US Amazon. But, I have Mexican sim/cell service so I must register as well which I will do through my service provider’s website.
Just as a side note I have been receiving at least 6 spam calls a day recently. I think it could be fraudulent folks trying to have me register through them. I never answer the calls so not confirmed info.
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.
Agree. It’s the next step to keeping us under surveillance through digital ID. The excuse is crime. Well those of us that are not criminals are being treated as such. This is a global scam.
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.
Hi Vera
You don’t need to register your Canadian SIM card in Mexico; however you do need to register your Mexican SIM card to prevent it being suspended.
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.
Shawn , you are correct. Here it is March 23 and I tried the process several times each step is complete and then it tells me they couldn’t verify me.
As far as I can tell, the system just doesn’t work and I hope I don’t lose my number come June 30.