Mexico to Suspend Unregistered Mobile Phone Lines Starting January 9, 2026

Mexico City – Mexico’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) has announced that all mobile phone lines not formally registered to an individual or legal entity will be suspended beginning January 9, 2026. The measure is part of new national guidelines aimed at strengthening mobile line identification and reducing criminal misuse of anonymous phone numbers.

The rules will be officially published on December 9 in the Official Gazette of the Federation, triggering a one-month registration window for users to verify ownership of their mobile lines with their service provider.

Who Needs to Register—and What’s Required

All mobile users—including prepaid (“recarga”) lines, which are widely used by locals, expats, and tourists—must ensure their line is registered.

To comply, users must present:

• Official photo ID (INE voter ID or passport)
• CURP (Unique Population Registry Code)

For business or corporate lines, companies must provide:

• RFC certificate (Federal Taxpayer Registry)

If the required information is not submitted within the registration period, the line will be deactivated, allowing only emergency calls (911).

Why This Is Happening

According to the CRT, unregistered mobile lines are frequently used in extortion schemes, fraud, and other criminal activities. The goal is to eliminate anonymity while aligning Mexico with international telecommunications standards already in place in many countries.

What About Data Privacy?

The Commission emphasized that telecom providers—not the government—will store user data, and must do so in accordance with Mexico’s Federal Law on Protection of Personal Data Held by Private Parties. Operators are legally required to safeguard personal information and prevent misuse.

What Residents and Visitors Should Do Now

• Check with your mobile provider (Telcel, AT&T, Movistar, or virtual carriers) to confirm whether your line is already registered.
• Prepaid users should not assume they’re exempt—they are now explicitly included.
• Foreign residents and long-term visitors using Mexican SIM cards should be prepared to register using a passport and CURP, if applicable.

Failure to act won’t cancel your number permanently—but restoring service later may require additional steps. Registering early will help avoid disruptions.