Porting your phone number: the simple guide (2026)
- Porting a number = transferring it to a new provider while keeping it identical.
- You need a letter of authorization and a recent bill; the process often takes a few days.
- Cancel your old service ONLY once porting is complete, never before.
Porting a phone number means transferring it from one provider to another while keeping it identical. Your number doesn't change; only the provider managing it changes. It's what lets you switch services without telling all your clients or reprinting your cards.
Porting is a regulated right. Yet many hesitate to switch services for fear of losing their number. Here's how it works, jargon-free.
How does number porting work?
You request it with your NEW provider, not the old one. They contact the old provider, verify the details match, and set a switch date. Your number stays active on the old service until the transfer completes — there's no outage if you follow the order.
Number porting is requested with the new provider, who coordinates the transfer with the old one. The number stays active on the old service until the switch date, avoiding any outage. The process usually requires a letter of authorization and a recent bill, and takes a few days to two weeks.
What do you need to port a number?
Three things usually: a signed letter of authorization (LOA), a recent bill from your current provider (to prove the number is yours), and the exact account details (name, address, account number). The slightest mismatch delays porting — it's the most common cause of failure.
- Signed letter of authorization (LOA): you authorize the transfer.
- Recent bill from the current provider: proof you own the number.
- Exact account details: name, address and account number as they appear with the old provider.
Good to know: if your number lives on your own telecom account (the multi-provider model), you can re-point or port without ever being locked to an editor.
How long does porting take?
Usually a few business days to two weeks, depending on the number type and the providers involved. Mobile numbers often go faster than landlines. The timeline mainly depends on how quickly the old provider approves the request.
Pitfall #1: NEVER cancel your old service before porting is confirmed. If you close the old account first, you risk losing the number for good. Wait for the switch, then cancel.
Number porting usually takes a few days to two weeks. The absolute safety rule: never cancel the old service before the transfer is confirmed, or you risk losing the number. The number stays active on the old account until the switch date.