You can change mobile companies in Mexico without changing your telephone number. Start with the carrier you want to join, obtain a portability NIP by texting NIP to 051 (or by calling 051), give that NIP and your identification to the new carrier, and use an unlocked phone with its SIM. The Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT) defines portability as a free user right and sets an effective-portability target of no more than 24 hours. Since 9 January 2026, the line must also be linked to an identified person or legal entity under Comisión Reguladora de Telecomunicaciones (CRT) rules.
What mobile-number portability means in Mexico
Portability moves your existing telephone number from one mobile operator to another. The number stays the same, while the company that provides your radio service, billing, SIM and support changes. You do not need to ask the old operator to approve the move: since the IFT rule change took effect in 2019, the subscriber starts the request with the receiving operator.
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The IFT describes the right this way: “La Portabilidad es el Derecho de los usuarios de conservar el mismo número telefónico al cambiarse de concesionario o prestador de servicios de telefonía de manera gratuita y en 24 horas.” Its FAQ says an effective port should occur in a period “no mayor a 24 horas contadas a partir de la solicitud realizada por el titular del número a su operador.” Those are regulatory rights and targets, not a promise that every carrier workflow will finish at the same minute.
More than 100 million users have been ported in Mexico, according to the IFT’s current FAQ page. That figure is presented there without a separate publication year, so it should not be read as an annual 2026 total.
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What to prepare before you request the switch
Gather the information once so the receiving carrier can submit a complete request.
- The number to be ported: you must request the NIP from that line, not from a different phone.
- A current NIP: Movistar says its portability NIP is valid for five days. If it expires before submission, request another one.
- Official identification: an INE voter credential or a driver’s licence are examples listed by Movistar. CRT’s current identity rules require official identification and CURP for an individual.
- Business information when applicable: a legal entity uses its RFC and the documents the receiving carrier requests for its authorized representative.
- An unlocked handset: the phone must accept a SIM from any operator. Confirm that its radio bands, VoLTE/4G or 5G support and SIM format work on the network you choose.
- Access to the current line: the NIP arrives by SMS or is issued through the 051 voice service, so the old SIM must still receive messages or calls.
- A backup of account details: save contacts, authentication methods and voicemail information that may be stored on the old SIM or in the old carrier’s app.
How to port your number, step by step
1. Choose the receiving operator
Compare the operators available where you live and travel, then begin with the company you want to join. Do not start by cancelling your old line: cancelling first can make it harder to receive the NIP or prove that you control the number. The receiving operator is responsible for entering the portability request.
Ask the new carrier which channel it supports for your case: a shop, telephone sales, website or app. Telcel and Movistar publish their own receiving-channel instructions, and the exact screens and forms can change.
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- From the number you are moving, open the phone’s SMS application.
- Send the word NIP in the message body to 051.
- Keep the reply containing the portability code. Alternatively, call 051 from the number being ported and follow the automated prompts.
- Note the issue date. Movistar states that its NIP remains valid for five days; obtain a fresh code if that period passes.
The NIP proves that the person initiating the request controls the number. Never give a code to an unsolicited caller claiming to be your operator. If you did not request a NIP, contact your current carrier and the prospective carrier through their official support channels.
3. Submit the request to the new carrier
Give the receiving operator the number, NIP and identification. For an individual, CRT’s 2026 identity process uses official identification plus CURP. For a legal entity, provide the RFC and the corporate documentation requested by the carrier. You will normally complete and sign a portability form or its online equivalent.
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Check every digit before signing. A wrong number, expired NIP or mismatch between the subscriber’s name and identity record can stop the request. Ask for a folio, ticket or other reference so you can track the case.
4. Confirm handset and SIM compatibility
Portability changes the network, not the hardware. The receiving operator says the smartphone must be unlocked and usable with any company. A carrier-locked phone can show “SIM not supported,” “network locked” or lose service after the new SIM is inserted.
Before buying or reusing a handset, verify:
- Supported LTE and 5G bands in the locations where you use the phone.
- VoLTE support if the operator relies on LTE for voice calls.
- Whether the phone accepts a physical nano-SIM, eSIM or both.
- That the SIM size supplied by the carrier matches the tray.
- That the device is not reported lost, stolen or blocked by its identifier.
5. Wait for the port window, then install the new SIM
Keep the old SIM in the phone until the scheduled change or until the old service stops. When the receiving operator says the port is active, power off the phone, insert its SIM (or follow its eSIM activation instructions), restart and complete any welcome prompts. Do not discard the old SIM until calls, SMS and data work on the new one.
6. Test all services
Make an outgoing call, receive a call from another network, send and receive an SMS, and load a website over mobile data. Test in more than one location if coverage is important. Check that caller ID shows the retained number and that two-factor authentication messages arrive.
7. Complete CRT identity linkage if requested
Porting and identity linkage are related but separate actions. If the operator asks you to link the line, finish the CRT process online or at a customer center using current identification and CURP (or RFC for a legal entity). The process is free. Keep the confirmation for your records.
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Mexico’s 2026 line-identification requirement
CRT announced that from 9 January 2026 every mobile line must be associated with an identified person or legal entity. For an individual, the accepted identity path uses an official elector credential or passport together with CURP. A legal entity uses its RFC and the corresponding representative information.
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The rule applies to prepaid as well as postpaid service. CRT’s calendar gives unlinked prepaid lines deadlines based on the last digit of the telephone number. The applicable date therefore depends on your line, not simply on when you bought the SIM. A September 2026 CRT notice says linkage can be completed free of charge online or at an operator center with current official identification and CURP.
If you miss the applicable deadline, CRT says suspension can occur within 72 hours. The number is not lost: service is restored after you complete the linkage. A suspended line may not receive the SMS or calls needed for a new portability request, so linking the line before switching avoids an unnecessary interruption.
CRT reported 63 million linked lines on 25 June 2026, comprising 40.2 million prepaid and 22.8 million postpaid lines. Those figures describe the lines linked at that communiqué’s date, not the total number of mobile lines in Mexico.
How long the switch takes
| Stage | What determines the time | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| NIP delivery | The 051 SMS or voice system normally supplies the code during the request. | Request it from the line being moved and record its expiry date. |
| Carrier submission | The receiving operator must validate the NIP, identity and form. | Review the folio and correct errors immediately. |
| Effective portability | IFT says the effective port should be completed in no more than 24 hours from the holder’s request. | Keep the old SIM available until the change is confirmed. |
| Operator workflow | Movistar presents either a 24-hour option or a maximum of five business days, Monday through Saturday. | Ask which option your request uses and whether weekends or holidays affect it. |
| Identity linkage | CRT processing is separate from the port and may be required to keep service active. | Complete it online or at a customer center and retain the confirmation. |
A delay beyond the carrier’s stated window is a support issue, not a reason to request multiple ports. Use the folio to ask the receiving carrier whether the request was rejected, held for an identity mismatch or scheduled for a later window.
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What portability costs—and what it does not cover
The IFT states that portability itself is free. A carrier may still charge for a new plan, a SIM, an eSIM activation, a handset, taxes or optional services. Those are separate purchases; the right to retain the number does not make the new service free.
The cited regulator pages do not provide current plan prices. Read the receiving operator’s current terms for monthly charges, prepaid validity, data limits, throttling, international use and cancellation conditions. Promotions for new customers can change independently of portability rules.
If you are under a postpaid commitment, ask the old operator for the balance, equipment installments or early-termination amount before you switch. Porting the number does not automatically erase an unpaid balance or a handset-financing obligation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose the receiving carrier
Price is only one part of the decision. Coverage can differ between your home, workplace, school and travel routes, even when two companies advertise the same national technology. Check each operator’s current coverage information and test service in the places that matter most.
| Comparison point | Questions to ask | Why it matters after portability |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly or prepaid price | What is the recurring charge, validity period or recharge amount? Are taxes and automatic renewal clear? | The port is free, but the new service is not necessarily free. |
| Coverage | Does the network work at your home, office, rural destinations and travel routes? | A retained number is useful only if calls and data work where you need them. |
| Data allowance and speed | How much high-speed data is included, and what happens after the allowance? | “Unlimited” offers may apply speed policies or specific app conditions. |
| SIM format | Is a physical SIM, eSIM or both available for your exact device? | An incompatible format can delay activation after the port. |
| Customer service | Which phone, chat and store channels handle portability problems? | You need a reachable channel if the old SIM stops before the new one works. |
| Device compatibility | Are your handset’s bands and VoLTE profile supported? | An unlocked phone can still have poor compatibility with a particular network. |
| Port-in promotion | What is the current eligibility, duration and renewal price? | Promotions change; get the terms in writing before submitting the NIP. |
Prices, promotions, coverage maps and eSIM eligibility change faster than the portability rules. Verify those details on the operator’s current page or with an authorized representative on the day you order.
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Troubleshooting common problems
The NIP SMS never arrives
- Confirm that you sent NIP to 051 from the number you intend to move.
- Check that the line has signal and can receive ordinary SMS messages.
- Try calling 051 instead of sending a text.
- If neither channel works, contact the current operator and document the time of each attempt.
The carrier says the NIP is invalid
Compare the digits exactly and check its age. A Movistar-issued NIP is stated to be valid for five days; an expired code requires a new request. Also verify that the number in the portability form is the same line that received the NIP.
The request is rejected for identity reasons
Ask the receiving carrier which field failed: name, official-ID number, CURP, RFC or representative authority. Submit a current document and make the spelling match the official record. Do not create a second request with different personal data; correct the existing folio first.
The old SIM stopped working but the new SIM has no service
- Restart the phone and confirm that airplane mode is off.
- Reseat the SIM and check whether the handset displays the new operator’s name.
- Verify that the phone is unlocked and that the SIM is the correct size.
- Test a call, SMS and mobile data separately.
- Contact the receiving operator with the portability folio, the time service stopped and the handset model.
Do not factory-reset the phone before support has recorded the failure; a reset can remove useful network and eSIM information.
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Complete CRT identity linkage through the operator’s online channel or a customer center. CRT says the number is retained and service is restored after linkage. Bring current official identification and CURP, or RFC documentation for a legal entity, and ask for written confirmation of restoration.
Calls work but data or SMS does not
Check that mobile data is enabled for the new SIM, that the correct SIM is selected for data on a dual-SIM phone, and that the device has the receiving operator’s network configuration. If SMS works in one direction only, report the exact test numbers and times to support; one-way messaging can indicate an activation or routing issue rather than a failed port.
Protect accounts during the change
Your number is often a recovery method for banking, email and social accounts. Before starting, make sure you can sign in with a password, authenticator or recovery code that does not depend solely on SMS. After activation, test one-time codes from important services and update the carrier name in any account-security record that asks for it.
Keep the old SIM and the portability folio until the new service has remained stable for at least a day. Shred the old SIM when you are finished; it may contain contacts or SMS data, although the number itself now belongs to the receiving operator.
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Questions to settle with the receiving operator
- Which exact portability channel will process this request?
- What is the scheduled effective date and time window?
- Is the SIM physical or eSIM, and is there a separate activation charge?
- Will the plan renew automatically, and how can it be cancelled?
- How do I complete CRT identity linkage for this line?
- What folio should I quote if service fails after the port?
Bottom line
To keep your Mexican mobile number, choose the new operator first, request NIP by SMS to 051 or by calling 051, submit the code with valid identification, and use an unlocked compatible handset. Portability itself is free and the IFT target is no more than 24 hours, although an operator may offer a different workflow such as Movistar’s maximum of five business days. In 2026, finish CRT’s identity linkage as well; an unlinked line can be suspended, while the number remains recoverable after linkage.
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