Requirements and eligibility
SIM Registration Requirements in the Philippines (2026)
The documents and information to prepare for a Philippine mobile SIM, eSIM, Home WiFi SIM, minor, foreign visitor or business account.
A Filipino adult normally needs the SIM or mobile number, access to its OTP, full name, date of birth, sex, complete address, one valid government-issued photo ID, and an ID image or selfie requested by the carrier. Minors, foreign nationals and organizations use different documents. Registration is free and must be completed through the carrier’s official platform before a new SIM is activated.
Checklist for a Filipino adult
- The new or existing mobile number and, where the carrier asks for it, the SIM serial number.
- Access to the SMS inbox that receives the OTP. A modem or Home WiFi SIM may receive it in a device dashboard.
- Full legal name, date of birth, sex and complete present or official address.
- One valid government-issued identification document bearing a photo.
- A clear capture of the ID and a clear selfie or live identity check if the carrier displays one.
- The correct registrant category: Filipino, minor through a parent/guardian, foreign tourist, other foreign national or juridical entity.
- A way to retain the carrier’s reference, Control Number or confirmation.
Republic Act No. 11934 also requires the assigned mobile number and SIM serial number in the registration process. The carrier can obtain or display some device information automatically, so follow its live form rather than trying to guess a serial-number field.
What the SIM Registration Act requires
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Subscriber information | Full name, date of birth, sex and address on a control-numbered registration form. |
| Identity evidence | A valid government-issued ID or similar government document with a photo that verifies the end-user. |
| SIM details | The assigned mobile number and SIM serial number. |
| Declaration | The end-user attests that the documents are true and correct and that they completed the form. |
| Activation rule | A new SIM is sold deactivated and activates only after registration is completed and accepted. |
| No registration fee | The law requires registration to be implemented at no cost to the end-user. |
The law covers physical SIMs, eSIMs and other electronic equivalents used in phones, computers, modems and similar devices. See eSIM registration by carrier and modem OTP retrieval.
Official routes and carrier differences
| Carrier family | Official route | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Globe / TM | globe.com.ph/register-sim-card | Globe Prepaid uses a six-digit OTP that its current guide says expires in five minutes. Postpaid/Platinum and WiFi products have separate confirmation or modem-inbox paths. |
| Smart / TNT | smart.com.ph/simreg | Smart uses a Control Number and may return Approved, Locked for Review or Returned results. Home WiFi and Smart Bro retrieve OTPs differently. |
| DITO | dito.ph/sim-registration or the DITO App | New mobile users can follow DITO’s verified SMS/app route. Home WoWFi, eSIM, Postpaid and DITO ONE have product-specific steps. |
| GOMO | Official GOMO PH app published by Globe Telecom, Inc. | GOMO’s public site sends users to the app; the current in-app ID menu controls supported formats. |
Choose the matching guide: Globe, Smart, DITO, GOMO, TM or TNT.
Extra requirements by registrant type
| Registrant | Additional requirements |
|---|---|
| Minor | The SIM is registered under the parent or guardian’s name. That adult gives consent and provides their government-issued ID. See the minor guide. |
| Foreign tourist | Full name, nationality, passport number, Philippine address, passport, proof of local address and a return/onward ticket showing departure details. Tourist registration is temporary for 30 days unless an eligible extension is processed. |
| Other foreign national | Passport and Philippine address proof plus the applicable ACR I-Card, Alien Employment Permit, school registration/ID or other pertinent immigration document. |
| Corporation or other entity | Certificate of registration and authority for the representative: a duly adopted corporate resolution or a Special Power of Attorney for another entity, plus the carrier’s account documents. |
| Postpaid subscriber | New lines are normally registered during the assisted application. Existing account information may require confirmation; follow only the carrier’s current instruction. |
Detailed help: foreign-national requirements · business requirements.
Requirements for eSIM, Home WiFi and pocket WiFi
- eSIM: registration still applies. Keep the carrier-issued QR code private and follow the order of installation and registration documented by that carrier.
- Home WiFi: prepare the device’s mobile number, network name, admin credentials and access to its SMS inbox or carrier app.
- Pocket WiFi/MyFi: the carrier may instruct you to read messages in a dashboard or temporarily use the SIM in a phone. Do not assume one modem address works for every model.
- Corporate or IoT fleet: use the carrier’s juridical/bulk route and keep an inventory mapping each number, device, user and business owner.
Before you submit
Verify the domain or app publisher
Navigate from the carrier’s own website. HTTPS alone does not prove that a lookalike domain is genuine.
Match the ID exactly
Check name order, spelling, birth date and address before accepting any OCR-filled fields.
Use a readable document image
Keep the full ID in frame, avoid glare and shadow, and use the original or official digital format supported by the carrier.
Choose the honest registrant category
Do not force a minor, tourist or business account through a false adult-individual declaration.
Save proof
Retain the reference or Control Number and confirmation. Do not post it publicly.
What is not a universal requirement
- A payment or registration fee.
- A single SMS keyword shared by every network.
- A social-media password, banking PIN or wallet OTP.
- A seller keeping your ID photo or receiving the registration OTP for you.
- One exact image-size limit, OTP lifetime or approval time across all carriers.
- A printed plastic copy of the Digital National ID. PSA says unauthorized PVC printing is prohibited.
Frequently asked questions
What are the basic SIM registration requirements?
Prepare the mobile number, OTP access, full name, birth date, sex, address, one accepted government photo ID, an ID image/selfie if requested and a way to save the confirmation.
Does every carrier accept the same IDs?
No. The law gives a broad list, but carrier validators and live menus support different formats. Use the exact current carrier list.
Do I need a selfie?
Carriers may use a selfie or live identity check. Follow the official carrier screen and never upload it to an independent guide.
Can I register more than one SIM?
The law does not state a one-SIM-per-person limit. Each ordinary SIM still needs an accurate registration record.
What does a minor need?
The parent or guardian registers the SIM under their own name, gives consent and provides their government ID.
What does a foreign tourist need?
A passport, proof of Philippine address and a return/onward ticket, plus the information requested by the carrier.
Does a Postpaid user complete the prepaid form?
Not necessarily. New Postpaid registration is normally part of the application; existing users follow the carrier’s confirmation route.
Does a Home WiFi SIM need registration?
Yes. The device number is registered, and its OTP may arrive in a modem dashboard or carrier app.