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You can change mobile operators in Mexico without changing your telephone number. Start with the carrier you want to join, request a portability NIP by texting NIP to 051 (or calling 051), present identification and the NIP to the new carrier, and use an unlocked phone with its SIM. The Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones (IFT) treats portability as a free user right and says an effective port should take 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 does in Mexico
Portability transfers your existing mobile number from one operator to another. Your contacts, banks and services can continue using the same number even though the network, SIM and billing relationship change. You start the request with the new operator; the previous operator does not initiate it and cannot require you to obtain its permission.
The 2019 IFT rule change confirmed that the subscriber, rather than the old carrier or an intermediary, initiates the process. 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.” 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.
Choose the receiving carrier before requesting the NIP
Portability begins with the company you want to join. Compare the offer for the places and devices that matter to you, not just the introductory promotion. Prices and promotions change, so confirm current terms directly with each operator before submitting a request.
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| Comparison point | What to verify | Why it affects the switch |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly or prepaid price | Recurring charge, included data, voice and text, renewal terms and taxes | A free port does not make the new plan free. |
| Coverage | Service at home, work, school and destinations you visit | Your number moves, but the radio network changes. |
| Data performance | Allowance, throttling policy, hotspot rules and advertised network generation | A cheaper plan may provide less usable data or speed. |
| SIM format | Physical SIM, eSIM, or both; size and activation requirements | The new SIM must fit and be supported by your handset. |
| Customer service | Stores, telephone, chat and online self-service channels | These are the channels available if the port stalls. |
| Handset compatibility | Unlocked status, supported bands, VoLTE and 5G compatibility | An incompatible or locked phone can leave you without service after the change. |
| Port-in promotion | Eligibility, minimum term, benefit duration and redemption steps | Promotions are separate from the portability right and may have conditions. |
Do not cancel the old line before the transfer. Cancellation can make the number unavailable for porting and does not speed up the process.
How to port your number step by step
1. Select the operator you will receive service from
Visit the chosen operator’s store, website or approved sales channel and state that you want to keep your existing number. Have the number available on the phone from which you will request the NIP. The receiving operator submits the portability request; the old operator is not the place to start.
2. Request the portability NIP
- From the number you are moving, send an SMS containing exactly
NIPto051. - If SMS is unavailable, call
051from that number and follow the voice prompts. - Save the NIP exactly as received. It authorizes the portability request for that line.
Movistar states that its NIP is valid for five days. If that period expires before the receiving carrier submits the request, obtain a new NIP rather than reusing the old one. Requesting a NIP does not itself move the number; the transfer occurs only after the new operator files and processes the request.
3. Prepare identification and account details
Bring current official identification and the NIP. A receiving operator may list an INE voter credential or a driver’s licence for its in-store process. CRT’s line-identification rules add specific requirements: an individual must provide official identification and CURP, while a legal entity must provide official documentation and RFC. Requirements can differ between a port request and the separate CRT linkage, so ask the receiving operator which documents its channel accepts.
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Use the name and personal details that should be associated with the line. Mismatched information can require a correction before the operator can complete the request.
4. Submit the request to the receiving operator
Give the new carrier your number, NIP and identification, then complete and sign its portability form or online flow. Read the confirmation before submitting: check every digit of the number, your name, the selected plan and whether you are requesting a physical SIM or eSIM. Keep the confirmation number, receipt, screenshots and the date and time of submission.
Some carriers present a choice of a 24-hour workflow or a longer workflow of up to five business days from Monday through Saturday. Select the option you actually need and retain the promised window shown in the order.
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The phone must be unlocked so it can accept a SIM from another company. A phone that is paid off but still carrier-locked may reject the new SIM. Ask the current carrier to unlock it before the transfer if necessary.
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- Confirm that the phone supports the receiving network’s frequency bands.
- Check whether your model supports VoLTE and, if relevant, 5G on that network.
- Match the SIM size (normally nano-SIM for modern phones) or confirm eSIM support.
- If using dual SIM, identify which slot supports the desired data and 5G functions.
- Back up contacts and authentication methods before changing SIMs; a SIM swap can interrupt SMS-based sign-in temporarily.
These hardware checks are independent of portability. The number can transfer successfully even if the handset cannot register on the new network.
6. Install the new SIM at the correct time
Keep the old SIM in the phone until the transfer window begins and service on the new SIM is expected. When the receiving operator tells you to switch, power off the phone, insert the new SIM (or activate the eSIM), restart and follow its welcome or activation instructions. Do not throw away the old SIM until calls, SMS and data work on the new one.
7. Test the line and complete CRT identification
Place an outgoing call, receive a call, send and receive an SMS, and open a website over mobile data. Test voicemail and any two-factor authentication that uses the number. If one service is missing, restart the phone and verify the SIM’s APN or activation status with the new operator.
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Complete the CRT line-linkage procedure if the operator requests it. The 2026 process is free and can be completed online or at a customer center. Use current identification and the required CURP or RFC, and save the confirmation that the line is linked.
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How long portability takes, what it costs and what you can demand
| Item | What the published rules or operator guidance say | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| Portability charge | IFT states that portability is free. | You should not be charged a portability fee by the process itself. A plan, SIM, handset, delivery or other purchase can still have its own price. |
| Standard target | IFT says the effective port should occur within no more than 24 hours after the number holder’s request. | Count from the receiving operator’s accepted request, not merely from the moment you ask for a NIP. |
| Operator workflow | Movistar describes a 24-hour choice or a maximum of five business days, Monday through Saturday. | The selected workflow and the operator’s operating calendar determine when you should expect the switch. |
| NIP validity | Movistar says its NIP is valid for five days. | Request a fresh NIP if the submission will occur after that period. |
| Plan and equipment prices | The regulator pages cited here do not provide current carrier prices. | Check the receiving operator’s current contract, prepaid, SIM and handset terms separately. |
The IFT FAQ states: “Tú tienes derecho a una portabilidad efectiva y que la misma se realice en un plazo no mayor a 24 horas contadas a partir de la solicitud realizada por el titular del número a su operador.” If the stated window passes, contact the receiving carrier with your confirmation number and ask for the specific rejection or pending reason.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The 2026 requirement to link every mobile line to an identity
CRT announced that, from 9 January 2026, every mobile line must be associated with an identified person or legal entity. This applies whether the line is newly ported or has remained with its original operator.
| Line holder | CRT information required | Where to complete it |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | Current official identification, such as an elector credential or passport, plus CURP | Online through the operator or at an operator customer center |
| Legal entity | Official identification for the representative and the entity’s RFC documentation | Through the operator’s designated online or customer-center process |
CRT’s calendar assigns deadlines to unlinked prepaid lines by the last digit of the telephone number. The applicable date depends on that published schedule, so check the current CRT notice or ask the operator for the deadline for your line rather than relying on a generic date. CRT says suspension can occur within 72 hours after the applicable deadline. The number is not lost: service is restored after the required linkage is completed.
In a 25 June 2026 communiqué, CRT reported 63 million linked lines, comprising 40.2 million prepaid and 22.8 million postpaid lines. Linking your line is a separate compliance step from changing operators, but completing it during the port avoids an avoidable interruption.
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What to do when the transfer fails or is delayed
The NIP is rejected or expired
Check that you requested it from the exact number being ported and that you entered every character correctly. If more than five days have passed, request a new NIP and resubmit through the receiving carrier. Do not ask the old operator to approve the port; the receiving operator owns the submission.
The request is rejected for identity information
Compare the name, CURP or RFC and identification number on the request with your current documents. Correct any mismatch through the receiving operator. For a company line, confirm that the representative’s authority and the entity RFC are recorded as requested.
The phone shows no service after the switch
- Power-cycle the phone and reseat the SIM.
- Check that airplane mode is off and that the network-selection setting is automatic.
- Confirm the handset is unlocked and supports the receiving network’s bands and VoLTE requirements.
- Test the SIM in a compatible unlocked phone if available.
- Contact the receiving operator with the port confirmation and SIM number; ask whether activation, APN configuration or an eSIM download is pending.
Keep the old SIM and all confirmation records until the new service is stable. If the operator cannot explain a missed deadline, request a written status or case number and escalate through its customer-service channels. The portability right remains free even when you need support to correct an error.
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Checklist for a trouble-free switch
- Choose the receiving operator after checking price, coverage, data policy, support and device compatibility.
- Request the NIP by SMSing
NIPto051or calling 051 from the number to be moved. - Record the NIP issue time and its five-day validity stated by Movistar.
- Prepare current official identification; have CURP ready for an individual or RFC for a legal entity.
- Submit the number, NIP and documents through the receiving operator, and save its confirmation.
- Verify the phone is unlocked, band-compatible and fitted for the new SIM or eSIM.
- Leave the old SIM installed until the scheduled transfer, then keep it until testing is complete.
- Test calls, SMS and data on the new SIM.
- Complete CRT identity linkage and save proof of completion.
- Keep the new plan’s contract and any promotion terms; portability itself does not determine those prices or conditions.
Important distinctions to remember
Porting a number is not the same as cancelling a contract, paying off a handset or transferring account credit. The regulator’s portability right concerns the telephone number and the change of provider. Any remaining plan obligations, financed equipment, unused balance or promotional condition must be checked in the applicable operator agreement.
Likewise, a successful port does not guarantee coverage, speed or eSIM support on a particular model. Those depend on the receiving operator’s current network and commercial terms, which can change independently of the national portability rules.
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