# SMS Verification by Country: SIM Rules, Formats and Apps

Source: https://tempsmsverify.com/sms-verification-by-country · Last updated: 2026-10-25

A maintained map of how phone verification works in 24 countries: the calling code, the mobile number format, whether a SIM needs an ID or biometric check, the law and regulator behind it, and the local apps that ask for a number. Each row is dated and carries a confidence level.

## The map

| Country | Code | National format | Digits after code | SIM registration | Law or rule | Regulator | Local apps | Notes | Confidence |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| United States (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/usa) | +1 | (201) 555-0123 | 10 | none | No national SIM registration law | FCC | WhatsApp, Google, ChatGPT, Discord | Shares +1 with Canada. Many apps run a carrier lookup and may refuse numbers they classify as VoIP or recently used. | reported |
| United Kingdom (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/uk) | +44 | 07700 900123 | 10 | none | No prepaid SIM registration requirement | Ofcom | WhatsApp, Google, Instagram, Discord | Mobiles start with 07 at home; drop the 0 after +44 (07XXX becomes +44 7XXX). | reported |
| Canada (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/canada) | +1 | (416) 555-0123 | 10 | none | No national SIM registration law | CRTC | WhatsApp, Uber, Google, Tinder | Same +1 and 10-digit format as the US; apps tell them apart by area code (416, 514, 604...). Pick Canada (+1). | reported |
| India (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/india) | +91 | 91234 56789 | 10 | mandatory ID | DoT KYC for new SIMs (Aadhaar eKYC or passport) | DoT / TRAI | Flipkart, Swiggy, Zomato, Truecaller | DoT SIM-binding order for messaging apps reported to apply from January 1, 2027. OTPs come from DLT sender headers. | reported |
| Philippines (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/philippines) | +63 | 0917 123 4567 | 10 | mandatory ID | RA 11934 SIM Registration Act (2022) | NTC | Viber, Shopee, Grab, foodpanda | Every SIM must be registered to a verified identity; foreigners use a passport. Unregistered SIMs were deactivated in 2023. | reported |
| Nigeria (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/nigeria) | +234 | 0803 123 4567 | 10 | mandatory ID | NIN-SIM linkage (since December 2020) | NCC | Jiji, Jumia, Bolt, Truecaller | Lines without a valid NIN link can be barred; a new enforcement wave began in July 2026. Never keep the 0 after +234. | reported |
| Pakistan (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/pakistan) | +92 | 0300 1234567 | 10 | mandatory ID + biometrics | PTA biometric SIM verification (CNIC or passport) | PTA | imo, Daraz, Careem, foodpanda | PTA caps SIMs per CNIC. Handsets brought in must be registered in DIRBS within a set period or may be blocked. | reported |
| Kenya (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/kenya) | +254 | 0712 345 678 | 9 | mandatory ID | Registration of Telecommunications Service Subscribers Regulations, 2025 | Communications Authority of Kenya | Bolt, Glovo, Jumia, Jiji | In force since May 30, 2025, replacing the 2015 rules. Mobiles start 07 or 01 at home; both drop the 0 after +254. | reported |
| South Africa (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/southafrica) | +27 | 082 123 4567 | 9 | mandatory ID | RICA (Act 70 of 2002) | ICASA | Checkers Sixty60, Mr D, Takealot, Gumtree | RICA registration needs an ID document and proof of address; visitors use a passport. | verified |
| Australia (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/australia) | +61 | 0491 570 156 | 9 | mandatory ID | Identity Checks for Prepaid Mobile Carriage Services Determination 2017 | ACMA | Gumtree, Airtasker, Uber, Menulog | SMS Sender ID Register mandatory from July 1, 2026: unregistered sender names show as Unverified or may be blocked. | verified |
| Malaysia (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/malaysia) | +60 | 012-345 6789 | 9–10 | mandatory ID | MCMC prepaid SIM registration | MCMC | Shopee, Grab, Carousell, Mudah.my | MyKad for citizens; passport, work permit or student ID for foreigners. 011 numbers have one extra digit. | verified |
| Hong Kong (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/hongkong) | +852 | 9123 4567 | 8 | mandatory ID | Real-name Registration Programme for SIM cards (2021) | OFCA | WeChat, Carousell, HKTVmall, Keeta | HKID or passport. Prepaid users are limited to 10 SIMs per operator; a cut to three is proposed for 2026. | reported |
| Israel (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/israel) | +972 | 052-123-4567 | 9 | unknown | No widely cited SIM registration law | Ministry of Communications | Wolt, Gett, Yad2 | Sources disagree; operators usually ask for an Israeli ID or passport. Many codes arrive in Hebrew. | unverified |
| Netherlands (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/netherlands) | +31 | 06 1234 5678 | 9 | none | No general prepaid ID requirement | ACM | Marktplaats, Thuisbezorgd, Uber, Bolt | Prepaid SIMs usually sell without ID; postpaid needs a BSN. Typing +31 06 is a common error: use +31 6. | reported |
| Germany (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/germany) | +49 | 0176 12345678 | 10–11 | mandatory ID | Telecommunications Act (TKG), prepaid ID check since July 1, 2017 | Bundesnetzagentur | WhatsApp, Kleinanzeigen, Telegram | Mobile ranges 015X, 016X, 017X with no single fixed length. Kleinanzeigen accepts EU numbers only, per its help pages. | verified |
| France (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/france) | +33 | 06 12 34 56 78 | 9 | mandatory ID | Operators must identify prepaid SIM buyers | ARCEP | Leboncoin, Snapchat, Uber, WhatsApp | Mobiles start 06 or 07; drop the 0 after +33. Leboncoin refuses a number already linked to another account. | reported |
| Spain (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/spain) | +34 | 612 345 678 | 9 | mandatory ID | Law 25/2007, additional provision (prepaid buyer register) | CNMC | Wallapop, Glovo, Cabify, WhatsApp | DNI, NIE or passport to buy a prepaid SIM. No trunk 0: the 9 digits are the same at home and after +34. | verified |
| Italy (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/italy) | +39 | 347 123 4567 | 9–10 | mandatory ID | Decree-Law 144/2005 (decreto Pisanu), art. 6 | AGCOM | Subito, Glovo, Just Eat, Vinted | Operators ask for an ID plus a codice fiscale. Mobiles start with 3; landlines keep their 0 after +39. | verified |
| Poland (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/poland) | +48 | 512 345 678 | 9 | mandatory ID | Anti-terrorism rules: prepaid registration since February 2017 | UKE | OLX, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger | Unregistered prepaid cards were cut off. No trunk 0; OLX allows one number per account. | reported |
| Brazil (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/brazil) | +55 | (11) 91234-5678 | 11 | registration required | Anatel prepaid registration with CPF | Anatel | iFood, 99, Mercado Livre, WhatsApp | DDD area code plus 9 digits starting with 9; the ninth digit was completed nationwide in February 2017. | reported |
| Mexico (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/mexico) | +52 | 55 1234 5678 | 10 | mandatory ID | CRT mobile line registration with CURP or RFC (2026) | CRT | DiDi, Rappi, Mercado Libre, Uber | New lines registered since January 9, 2026; unlinked lines suspended from August 2026. No extra 1 after +52. | reported |
| Indonesia (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/indonesia) | +62 | 0812 3456 7890 | 9–12 | mandatory ID + biometrics | Komdigi SIM registration (NIK + KK; facial biometrics from July 1, 2026) | Komdigi | Gojek, Grab, Tokopedia, Shopee | NIK and KK registration since 2018; visitors register tourist SIMs with a passport. Some apps send the code by WhatsApp first. | reported |
| Vietnam (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/vietnam) | +84 | 091 234 5678 | 9 | mandatory ID | Subscriber data must match national ID records; Decree 147/2024 | Ministry of Science and Technology | Zalo, Shopee, TikTok, Facebook | Decree 147/2024 (from December 25, 2024) makes social networks verify accounts by Vietnamese number or personal ID. | reported |
| Thailand (https://tempsmsverify.com/countries/thailand) | +66 | 081 234 5678 | 9 | mandatory ID + biometrics | NBTC SIM registration rules (biometric liveness checks since 2025) | NBTC | LINE, LINE MAN, Grab, Lazada | Since May 2026, non-Thai nationals are limited to three SIMs per operator, verified with a passport. | reported |

## Methodology

Each row starts from our country guide for that country, which was fact-checked before publication, so the map and the guides never disagree. For the SIM rule we then looked for the official text: the law on a government legislation portal, the regulator's own page or an official gazette. When we could open that page and it states the rule, the row is marked verified and the source is listed.

When the official page was unreachable or does not state the rule clearly, but the guide and consistent secondary sources agree, the row is marked reported. When sources disagree, the SIM registration field says unknown and the row is marked unverified. We do not name a law that no source names; in those cases the field describes the rule in plain words.

Number formats follow each country's numbering plan as described in the guide. Example numbers use fictional digits, including the ranges that regulators such as Ofcom and ACMA reserve for drama and documentation. Local apps are the ones the guide lists as commonly asking for a number from that country.

SIM registration rules apply to SIM cards that local operators issue to subscribers. They describe the country, not the numbers sold on this site. The map is reviewed at least quarterly and sooner when a country changes its rules; corrections are welcome at contact@tempsmsverify.com with the country, the field and the source.

## Fields

- Calling code: The international prefix you select in an app's country picker (E.164 country code).
- National format: How a mobile number is written inside the country, with fictional digits. Drop the leading 0 (where there is one) after the country code.
- Digits after code: How many digits a mobile number has after the country code. A range (for example 9–10) means lengths vary by prefix; both are valid.
- SIM registration: mandatory ID = an ID document is required to activate a SIM; mandatory ID + biometrics = ID plus a fingerprint or facial check; registration required = the line must be registered to a national ID or tax number; none = no general ID requirement for prepaid SIMs; unknown = sources disagree.
- Law or rule: The law, regulation or regulator rule behind the SIM requirement, by its short name. We only name a law that an official source or our fact-checked country guide names.
- Regulator: The national telecom regulator or ministry responsible for numbering and SIM rules.
- Local apps: Apps commonly verified with a number from that country, taken from the country guide.
- Confidence: verified = an official source (law text, regulator or government register) backs the SIM rule; reported = the fact-checked guide and consistent secondary sources agree, but no official page was reachable; unverified = sources disagree.

## Sources

- Philippines: Lawphil: Republic Act No. 11934 (https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2022/ra_11934_2022.html)
- South Africa: Department of Justice: RICA, Act 70 of 2002 (PDF) (https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/2002-070.pdf)
- Australia: Federal Register of Legislation: Determination 2017 (https://www.legislation.gov.au/F2017L00399/latest/text)
- Malaysia: MCMC: prepaid registration documents (https://www.mcmc.gov.my/en/faqs/prepaid-registration/what-type-of-documents-can-be-used-for-the-registr)
- Germany: Gesetze im Internet: TKG § 172 (https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/tkg_2021/__172.html)
- Spain: BOE: Ley 25/2007, de 18 de octubre (https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2007-18243)
- Italy: Normattiva: D.L. 27 luglio 2005, n. 144, art. 6 (https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legge:2005-07-27;144~art6)
- Brazil: Anatel: nono dígito (number format) (https://www.gov.br/anatel/pt-br/regulado/numeracao/nono-digito)
- Mexico: Wikipedia: Telephone numbers in Mexico (format) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_numbers_in_Mexico)
- Vietnam: Wikipedia: Telephone numbers in Vietnam (format) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_numbers_in_Vietnam)

## Download and cite

JSON: https://tempsmsverify.com/sms-verification-by-country/data.json (CC BY 4.0, attribution to TempSMSVerify). See also the app-by-app index: https://tempsmsverify.com/sms-verification-requirements.

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