Using an alphanumeric sender ID
MessageBird offers you the option to send SMS with an alphanumeric originator. However, due to local restrictions in certain countries, SMS with an alphanumeric originator may not arrive or may need to be pre-registered before use.
Sending a URL
In certain countries, URLs will be blocked by local operators if they are not registered. Below these countries will be indicated in the 'URLs supported' column. If you require registration for your URL, please reach out to our Support Team via this page with the following information:
- Originator
- Sample text
- URL to be whitelisted. Note that we cannot register shortened URLs (such as bit.ly). Please provide the full URL.
- A short summary of your use case
Blocked message and error code
Whenever possible MessageBird provides a dedicated error code and status reason to indicate the SMS failed to deliver due to lack of registration and/or forbidden content. You can find more information on Failed SMS Troubleshooting in this article, or you can directly check our detailed Status List on our Developer Page.
Sender ID Registration Information
In the table below, countries in which pre-registration of the sender ID is needed are marked with icon "✓". Note that in some countries registration is only needed for some operators. You can also see where alphanumeric sender IDs are not supported, and what will happen to the SMS if you do send with such a sender.
If a country is not listed below, as far as we are aware there are no local restrictions related to the sender ID, and you should be able to send using an alphanumeric ID without any issues.
If you need to register your sender ID, please reach out to our Support Team via this page with the following information:
- Originator
- Sample text
- Company website
- A short summary of your use case
Note: Y=Yes, N=No
| Country | Registration required | Alpha SID Supported | Numeric SID Supported | Generic SID Supported | Shortcode SID Supported |
URL Supported |
Forbidden Content | Marketing - Do Not Disturb rule |
Registration per Segmentation Transactional vs. Marketing |
SID Registration Costs | REMARKS |
| AFGHANISTAN | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y
ⓘGeneric URL accepted
|
N | N | N | 0 |
ⓘRegisration required for MTN network only.
|
| ARMENIA | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | Political and Adult | N | N | 0 | |
| AUSTRALIA | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N | N | N | 0 |
ⓘCertain restricted SIDs and content will be blocked.
Extra info is required for phone numbers that are not owned by MB. Restricted Country requires pre-approval for messaging provision. |
| BANGLADESH | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N | N | N | 0 | |
| BELARUS | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | Political and Adult | N | N | 0 | |
| BURUNDI | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N | N | N | 0 |
ⓘRegistration required for local senders only.
|
| CAMBODIA | ✓ | Y | Y | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N | N | N |
ⓘNetwork Seatel has mandatory Numeric overwrite.
|
|
| CAMEROON | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N | N | N | 0 | |
| CANADA | ✓ | N | Y - Domestic | N | Y (only if provisioned) | Y - Only branded | SHAFT
ⓘSex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco and controlled or illegal substances and more. For full list, check country page.
|
N | N | Variable per number type |
ⓘMessaging must comply with local messaging best practices. Restricted Country requires pre-approval for messaging provision.
|
| CHINA | ✓ | N | N | N | N | N |
ⓘMarketing/promo traffic regarding real estate, stocks, loans, investment, banking, education, immigration, politics, adult supplies, pornography, violence, gambling.
|
N | Y | 0 |
ⓘDigital signature is mandatory and will be appended to the SMS. Customers can register their own signature if they have a Chinese business license. Else, the messages will be delivered using the default signature [MBSMS]. Content whitelisting is mandatory and all sender ID will be overwritten to numeric starting with prefix 106.
|
| COLOMBIA | ✓ | N | Y - Domestic | Y | Y | Y - Generic ok | N/A | From 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM. | Y | 0 |
ⓘDebt collectors and marketing content restrictions imposed by CRC (Telecommunications Regulator) from 8:00 AM until 8:00 PM. Opt-ins are required. Sender ID will be overwritten to shortcode. URL whitelisting is required.
|
| CONGO | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| CONGO DR | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 |
ⓘRegistration required for local senders only.
|
| CROATIA | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic & International | N | Y | N | N | N | N | 0 | |
| CZECH REP | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | N | N | N | N | N | N | 2 EUR - monthly | Fill in NOC Doc. |
| DENMARK | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic & International | N | Y | Y |
ⓘGeneral anti-spam rules apply. Gambling and betting traffic is allowed with approval from Danish Gambling Authority only.
|
N | N | 0 |
ⓘURL Whitelisting is required.
|
| EGYPT | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N | N | N | 0 | |
| ETHIOPIA | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok |
ⓘLocal banking traffic and promotional.
|
N | Y | 0 | |
| FINLAND | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic & International | N | Y | Y | N | N | N | 0 |
ⓘURL Whitelisting is required.
|
| FRANCE | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | N | N | Y | N |
ⓘFrom 10PM to 8AM (UTC/GMT +1 hour), during Sundays and Bank holidays.
|
Y | 0 |
ⓘUsers can opt out from marketing SMS. Registration is required if the sender is listed under the operator's spam list.The sender ID for Transatel and NRJ network will be overwritten to shortcode on operator's side.Unicode is supported for all operators.Use of URL shorteners is not encouraged. Messages sent to Transatel and NRJ will be delivered with the sender ID overwritten to the shortcode sender. Traffic related to adult content, drugs (cannabis included), casino, all financial game (allowed with lot of restriction : must be registered), unsolicited traffic, political campaign (allowed with restriction), and terrorisms are not allowed.
|
| GHANA | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| GUINEA | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| GUINEA-BISSAU | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| INDIA | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic & International | Y | Y - Generic ok | Y | Y (8pm to 10am IST) | Y | 0 | 0 |
ⓘRegistration required for local senders only. International senders will be overwritten to short code.
|
| INDONESIA | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | Y | 0 |
ⓘFor domestic senders, need to provide LOA documents, Tax file number (NPWP), Screenshot of the app/system that shows the page where the end-use key in the OTP. Please contact Support team for further details.
|
| IRAN | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 |
ⓘSender ID will be overwritten to carrier-assigned number.
|
| IVORY COAST | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| JORDAN | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| KAZAKHSTAN | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N |
ⓘBetween 9am and 9pm (GMT+6).
|
Y | 40 EUR - monthly | |
| KENYA | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N |
ⓘLOCAL SENDERS - one-off
Safaricom €100 Airtel €100 Orange/Telkom €100 |
|
| KUWAIT | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | Fill in Zain NOC, Oooredoo NOC. |
| LIBERIA | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| MACEDONIA | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| MALAWI | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N | N | N | 0 | |
| MALAYSIA | ❌ | N | N | N | Y | Y - Generic ok | N | N | N | 0 |
ⓘAll sender ID will be overwritten to random shortcode or longcode. Brand name and RM 0.00 compulsory to be added to the message content.
|
| MALI | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| MEXICO | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | Y | Y | Y - Generic ok |
ⓘAdult, political, and religious.
|
From 8 AM to 6 PM | Y |
ⓘMonthly fee of 350 USD for alpha sender ID with less than 100k monthly traffic.350 USD of monthly fee for 2nd and more sender ID from the same brand.
|
ⓘUnregistered sender ID will be overwritten to carrier-assigned number.
|
| MOROCCO | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 |
ⓘUnregistered sender ID will be overwritten to generic sender ID, e.g Verify.
|
| MOZAMBIQUE | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 220 EUR - one-off |
ⓘRegistration required for local senders only.
|
| MYANMAR | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | Adult, political, and religious | N | N | 0 |
ⓘNetwork Mytel is not supported.
|
| NEPAL | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| NEW ZEALAND | ✓ | N | N | N | Y | Y - Generic ok |
ⓘAdult, political, and religious.
|
N | N |
ⓘFees may apply at carrier's discretion.
|
ⓘUnregistered sender ID will be overwritten to carrier-assigned number and delivery will be on best-effort basis. Only dedicated shortcode can guarantee SMS delivery, please contact Support team for further information.
|
| NIGERIA | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| NORWAY | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic & International | N | Y | Y | N | N | N | 0 |
ⓘURL Whitelisting is required.
|
| OMAN | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| PAKISTAN | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 |
ⓘUnregistered sender ID will be overwritten to carrier-assigned number.
|
| PHILIPPINES | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | N | N | Y | N/A | N | Y | 0 |
ⓘSegmentation of the sender into domestic/international is determined by the operator.
Extra forms need to be filled up for registration, please contact Support team for further advise. |
| QATAR | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | Fill in NOC. |
| ROMANIA | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | N | N | Y | N/A | N | N |
ⓘOne-off Orange - 250 EUR
Digi - 70 EUR Vodafone - 50 EUR |
ⓘUnregistered sender ID will be overwritten to generic sender ID.
|
| RUSSIA | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | N | N | Y | N/A | N | N |
ⓘMonthly fees:
MTS - 35 EUR MegaFon - 45 EUR Motiv - 35 EUR K-Telecom - 60 EUR KTK Telecom - 60 EUR CS "VainahTelecom" - 35 EUR Sberbank - 35 EUR |
|
| RWANDA | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| SAUDI ARABIA | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y | N/A | From 8am to 10pm GMT+3 | Y | 0 |
ⓘOnly international and transactional sender ID can be registered. All URL inside the SMS must be pre-approved. Generic or shortened URL such as bit.ly is not allowed.
Fill in NOC Doc. |
| SENEGAL | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 |
ⓘRegistration required for local senders only.
|
| SINGAPORE | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | N | Y (only if provisioned) | Y | Adult, gambling | N | N | 0 |
ⓘNEED TO REGISTER WITH SGNIC FIRST. Restricted Country requires pre-approval for messaging provision.
|
| SLOVENIA | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic & International | Y | Y | Y | N | N | N | 0 |
ⓘURL Whitelisting is required.
|
| SOUTH AFRICA | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| SRI LANKA | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| SUDAN | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| SWAZILAND | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| SWEDEN | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic & International | Y | Y | Y | N/A | N | N | 0 |
ⓘURL Whitelisting is required.
|
| TAIWAN | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | N |
ⓘMarketing/promo traffic regarding real estate, stocks, loans, politics, adult supplies, pornography, violence, gambling.
|
N | N | 0 |
ⓘAll use cases will be reviewed for approval, allowed ones will have their SID changed to a carrier-assigned numeric SID.
|
| TANZANIA | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 |
ⓘBrand name must be included in the message content. Fill in NOC doc.
|
| THAILAND | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | Y | 0 | Fill in NOC doc. |
| TURKEY | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | N | N | Y | N/A | N | N | 0 |
ⓘCompany registration document or certificate of incorporation is required for sender ID registration. For Banks or Local Turkey customers, NOC letter is needed. Otherwise, proof of ownership of SID (e.g. document with company letterhead)
|
| UAE | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | Y | 0 |
ⓘOnly international and transactional sender ID can be registered. Need to provide LOA document and company registration document or business license in English version. If the sender ID is different than the company name, trademark certificate is also required.
|
| UGANDA | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| UKRAINE | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 | |
| UNITED KINGDOM | ✓ | Y | Y - Domestic | N | Y | Y | N | N | Y
ⓘopt-out required for promotional traffic.
|
0 |
ⓘInternational Numeric SID is supported for elective Connectivity and Enterprise customers only.
|
| UNITED STATES | ✓ | N | Y - Domestic | N | Y
ⓘOnly if provisioned.
|
Y - branded only | SHAFT
ⓘSex, hate, alcohol, firearms, tobacco and controlled or illegal substances,and more. For full list, check country page.
|
N | N | Variable per number type |
ⓘRestricted Country requires pre-approval for messaging provision. Fees will be different according to type of sender ID, please contact Support team for further information.
|
| UZBEKISTAN | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N | N | N | 0 | |
| VIETNAM | ✓ | Y | N | N | N | Y | N/A | N | Y |
ⓘ5 EUR monthly
|
ⓘNeed to provide LOA and business license for SID registration, please contact Support team for further information.
|
| ZAMBIA | ✓ | Y | N | Y | N | Y - Generic ok | N/A | N | N | 0 |
* There are additional costs for registering here. Please check with our Support Team what the costs are.