Number porting checklist by country

🇫🇷How to port a number in France

Landline: RIO (12-character operator identity code), one per number. On a business plan, the provider must give you the list of every number, DDIs included, with its RIO; it is on the customer portal home page when the contract includes internet access. Calling 3179 is only guaranteed on consumer plans; some providers also open it to small businesses.

Mobile: RIO: call 3179 from the line (voice message, then text), or read it from the list provided on a business plan.

Lead time, landline: Three working days at most since 1 July 2025 for a “single-number” business landline plan (one or more numbers, with no line group). A “multi-number” plan, where some numbers form a line group (main number and DDIs), can still take up to seven working days, cut to three on 1 July 2027. The tool asks whether your numbers form a line group; if you are not sure, it plans seven days.

Lead time, mobile: Three working days at most, unless you ask for a later date (art. 8).

Old contract: The porting request counts as cancellation of the ported line, effective on the porting day. Any minimum-term charges are still due.

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: Arcep, décision n° 2022-2148 du 6 décembre 2022 sur la conservation des numéros · Arcep, communiqué du 21 mars 2023 sur la portabilité des numéros

🇧🇪How to port a number in Belgium

Landline: Easy Switch, if the plan includes internet or TV on a standard business tariff: your customer number with the old provider and the “Easy Switch ID” (account, app or bill). Custom business tariffs are excluded.

Mobile: No public code: you sign a mandate with the new provider, which takes over the number and activates the new SIM. Which references to give is to be confirmed with it.

Lead time: EU rule: activation within one working day of the agreed date. The Belgian transposing text was not verified.

Old contract, landline: The old provider stops billing by the end of the next day at the latest. Termination fees may still apply.

Old contract, mobile: The new provider cancels the old subscription. Termination fees or the residual value of a device may still apply.

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: IBPT, Portabilité des numéros · IBPT, Easy Switch : changer d’opérateur fixe

🇨🇭How to port a number in Switzerland

Code: No code: the mandate to the new provider is enough.

Lead time, landline: The old provider confirms or refuses within two working days. The cutover is at the earliest on the first working day after your notice ends.

Lead time, mobile: The old provider confirms or refuses within one working day. The cutover is at the earliest on the first working day after your notice ends.

Old contract: Porting follows your notice period: the earliest porting date is the first working day after your notice ends. Contract charges up to that date are still due.

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: Ordonnance sur les services de télécommunication (OST, RS 784.101.1), art. 34a · OFCOM, prescriptions techniques et administratives « Portabilité des numéros entre FST » (RS 784.101.113/1.10)

🇩🇪How to port a number in Germany

Code: No code: a signed “Portierungsauftrag” (porting order) with the new provider. Name, address and number must match at the old and the new provider.

Lead time: Activation by the next working day at the latest, with no more than one working day without service (TKG § 59).

Old contract, landline: The old provider bills until the cutover, but fixed fees are halved after the contract ends, unless the delay is your fault (TKG § 59(3)).

Old contract, mobile: A mobile number can be ported at any time, but the contract continues: the subscription is due until its end.

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: TKG 2021, § 59 (Anbieterwechsel und Rufnummernmitnahme) · Bundesnetzagentur, Anbieterwechsel und Umzug

🇪🇸How to port a number in Spain

Code: No code: the request is validated by matching the number with the holder’s CIF or NIF tax ID (and the SIM ICC-ID for prepaid).

Lead time, landline: One working day from proven consent, one more if the access line must be delivered at the same time; a later date is possible up to 30 days.

Lead time, mobile: Cutover overnight (2 to 6 a.m.) on the working day after the new provider sends the request, or a later date you choose, within one month.

Old contract: The contract with the old provider ends automatically when the port completes (art. 70).

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: Ley 11/2022 General de Telecomunicaciones, art. 70 (BOE) · CNMC, especificación de portabilidad fija (19 nov. 2020)

🇮🇹How to port a number in Italy

Landline: “Codice di migrazione” (or “codice NP” for number-only porting), to give the new provider.

Mobile: No code: a signed request with the legal name, VAT number, numbers, each SIM serial number (unless checked by text message) and an ID document.

Lead time, landline: Number-only port: at least three working days in a simple case, at least eight in a complex one, counted after the request reaches the old provider (AGCOM). The Code then requires activation within one working day of the agreed date. The tool asks how the new provider classifies your request; if you are not sure, it plans eight days for a batch of several lines.

Lead time, mobile: Activation within one working day of the agreed date (Code, art. 98-octiesdecies).

Old contract: The contract with the old provider ends automatically when the port completes; obligations under the old contract remain due.

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: Codice delle comunicazioni elettroniche, art. 98-octiesdecies · AGCOM, delibera 147/11/CIR, allegato 1 (portabilità mobile)

🇳🇱How to port a number in the Netherlands

Code: No code: a statement of intent (“wilsuiting”), often with a power of attorney to cancel, signed with the new provider.

Lead time: Activation within one working day after the agreed date (Telecommunicatiewet, art. 4.10).

Old contract: In practice, the new provider cancels the old contract under your power of attorney. An early termination fee may still apply under the contract.

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: Telecommunicatiewet, art. 4.10 · ACM, Nummerbehoud (zakelijk)

🇵🇹How to port a number in Portugal

Code: CVP (12-character porting validation code), the only validation method: on every monthly bill, in your online account within 24 hours, or on request. One CVP covers a whole direct-dial range.

Lead time: Activation on the agreed date, one working day after it at the latest (ANACOM Regulation 38/2025, art. 11). Carnival Tuesday and 24 December are not working days.

Old contract: The contract with the old provider ends automatically once the number is active with the new one (art. 5).

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: ANACOM, Regulamento n.º 38/2025 (portabilidade)

🇮🇪How to port a number in Ireland

Code: No code: give the new provider the number and your account number (bill or online account), and say explicitly that you want to keep the number.

Lead time: Activation within one working day of the agreed date, with no more than one working day without service (EU rule).

Old contract: The contract with the old provider ends automatically when the port completes (Regulation 90).

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: ComReg, décision D01/24 (annexe : règlement 90 des EECC Regulations 2022) · ComReg, Keep your phone number when switching provider

🇬🇧How to port a number in the UK

Landline: There is no PAC for a landline. One Touch Switch only covers residential customers: for a business, the new provider runs the port from your account details.

Mobile: PAC: text “PAC” to 65075 from the line. It is valid for 30 days; it arrives within a minute on a personal account, within two working days on a business tariff. For 2 to 24 lines, ask through your account or by phone. Above 24, contact your current provider: no regulatory deadline applies to this bulk port.

Lead time, landline: Check with the new provider: we could not find a published rule we could verify.

Lead time, mobile: The new provider completes the switch within one working day.

Old contract, landline: Check with the old provider that only the ported line is closed and the rest of the contract runs as planned.

Old contract, mobile: Switching with a PAC ends the contract for that line. Ofcom bans mobile providers from charging notice periods that run past the switch date. Early termination charges still apply.

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: Ofcom, Switching mobile provider · Ofcom, évaluation ex post des règles Auto-Switch (10 mai 2023)

🇺🇸How to port a number in the US

Code: Account number and, if you set one, the account passcode (often called a port-out or transfer PIN). For a simple port, the old provider can only ask you for the number, account number, ZIP code and your passcode if you set one (the other § 52.36 fields are exchanged between carriers).

Lead time, landline: Simple port (one line, no complex service): one business day (47 CFR § 52.35(a)). Several lines or complex services (Centrex, ISDN…): non-simple port, four business days at most (§ 52.35(d)).

Lead time, mobile: Mobile to mobile: an industry-agreed interval, the FCC sets none. To or from a landline: one business day for a simple port, four for several lines (47 CFR § 52.35).

Old contract: Do not cancel before the port. Early termination fees and any balance remain due; check afterwards that the account is closed.

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: 47 CFR § 52.35, délais de portage · 47 CFR § 52.36, informations exigibles pour un portage simple

🇨🇦How to port a number in Canada

Code: Check with the new provider: we could not find a published rule we could verify.

Lead time: CRTC Decision 2005-72: 2.5 business hours between wireless carriers for a simple port, two business days between local exchange carriers. We found no later text changing these intervals.

Old contract: Wireless Code (consumers and small businesses): under CRTC policy 2026-43, no early cancellation fee without a subsidised device. With a financed device, the balance stays due. Otherwise, your contract applies.

Sources, verified on 7 November 2026: CRTC, décision de télécom 2005-72 · CRTC, politique réglementaire 2026-43 (Code sur les services sans fil)