How to Port a Mobile Number in India: UPC, Process & Timeline
Switching telecom operators without losing your number is something most people in India do at least once, usually after getting fed up with network quality, pricing, or customer service.
The process itself, called Mobile Number Portability (MNP), is regulated end-to-end by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India), and it’s simpler than most people expect once you know the exact steps and realistic timelines.
Quick Answer:
To port your number, SMS “PORT <your 10-digit number>” to 1900, get your 8-character UPC, then visit your new operator (or use their app) with your KYC documents within 4 days. Porting within the same state/circle takes 3 working days; moving to a different state’s operator takes up to 5 working days; Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and the North East can take up to 15 working days. Your old SIM keeps working right up until the switch happens, so there’s no need to plan around a service gap in advance.
How to Port Your Mobile Number: Step by Step
1. Generate Your Unique Porting Code (UPC)
Send an SMS in the format PORT <10-digit mobile number> to 1900 from the phone you want to port. If you’re eligible, you’ll receive an 8-character alphanumeric UPC back via SMS within a few minutes.
If you’re not eligible, you’ll get a message explaining why instead of the code. This may be most commonly because of unpaid dues or not meeting the minimum account age (more on eligibility below).
2. Note the UPC’s Validity Window
The UPC is valid for 4 days in every telecom circle except Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and the North East, where it stays valid for 30 days. If it expires before you use it, you’ll simply need to request a new one by sending the same SMS again. There’s no penalty for doing so.
3. Visit Your New Operator (or Use Their App)
Take your UPC along with your KYC documents, typically your Aadhaar card, or another accepted ID and address proof, to a store or authorised retailer of the operator you’re switching to. Fill out the Customer Acquisition Form (CAF) and Porting Form, and hand over the UPC.
Most major operators now also support this entirely digitally through their own apps. Enter your UPC, complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC with a selfie and OTP verification, choose your plan, and have a new SIM delivered to your address, typically within 3-5 days, without a store visit at all.
There’s a nominal porting charge, capped by TRAI at ₹6.46, though many operators waive this in practice.
4. Receive Your New SIM and Confirmation
You’ll get a new SIM card and an SMS confirming your porting request has been submitted. From this point, you’ll receive SMS updates at each stage: submission, any withdrawal, the porting schedule, deactivation by your old operator, and activation by your new one.
5. Your Old SIM Keeps Working Until the Switch
Your existing SIM continues to work normally right up until porting is actually completed. There’s no need to brace for a multi-day outage in advance. The final switchover itself typically causes only a brief service gap, often just a few hours, as your number moves from the old network to the new one.
6. Insert the New SIM Once Notified
Once you receive the SMS confirming the switch, your old SIM stops working, and you can insert the new one. A quick test call or message confirms everything’s active.
How Long Does Porting Actually Take?
This is where a lot of confusion comes from, since the timeline genuinely depends on which circles are involved:
| Scenario | Porting Time |
|---|---|
| Same telecom circle (e.g., Airtel to Jio, both within Karnataka) | 3 working days |
| Different circles (e.g., porting from a Delhi-registered number to an operator in another state) | Up to 5 working days |
| Corporate mobile numbers | 5 working days |
| Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, North East circles | Up to 15 working days |
If your porting is taking noticeably longer than these windows, contact your new operator’s customer care with your UPC and porting reference number.
Most delays trace back to a documentation issue or an unresolved dues flag with your old operator, both of which are usually quick to sort out once identified.
Eligibility Criteria for Porting
- Your number must have been active with your current operator for at least 90 days.
- Postpaid users must have all outstanding dues cleared as of the normal billing cycle.
- There should be no pending ownership-change request on the number.
- The number must not be sub judice or otherwise prohibited from porting by a court order.
- If your SIM was lost or stolen, get a duplicate SIM from your current operator first, then wait 7 days before initiating the port.
- If you recently ported into your current operator, you’ll need to wait 90 days on that operator before porting out again. This prevents rapid, repeated port-hopping.
Related: How to Get a BSNL Duplicate SIM Card? BSNL SIM Replacement Process
Withdrawing a Porting Request
You can cancel a submitted porting request within 24 hours by sending an SMS in the format CANCEL <10-digit mobile number> to 1900. Once cancelled, you won’t be entitled to a refund of any porting charge already paid, and your existing UPC is voided along with the request.
What Happens to Your Balance and Deposits After Porting?
- Prepaid users: any unused balance at the time of porting is forfeited. There’s no mechanism to refund or carry over remaining prepaid credit to your new operator.
- Postpaid users: any refundable security deposit or advance held by your old operator must be returned to you within 30 days of porting out. If it isn’t, you can raise this with your old operator’s nodal officer and escalate to TRAI if unresolved.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Letting your UPC expire before visiting the new operator. It’s only valid for 4 days in most of the country. Request it only once you’re ready to actually complete the switch.
- Not clearing postpaid dues beforehand. This is the single most common reason a UPC request gets rejected outright.
- Assuming you can port immediately after switching operators. The 90-day minimum applies both ways, to your current number’s age and to how recently you last ported.
- Not checking your new operator’s coverage in your specific area first. Porting itself is straightforward; ending up on a network with poor coverage where you actually live or work is the more common regret.
- Ignoring SMS updates during the process. These messages are your main way of tracking status. There currently isn’t a reliable, unified public website for checking MNP status independently of your operator.
Related: How to Check BSNL 4G Coverage in Your Area
Conclusion
Mobile number porting in India is a simple and well-regulated process. It lets you switch to another mobile operator without changing your existing number.
The Unique Porting Code (UPC), fixed porting charges, and TRAI’s timelines make the process smooth for customers. In most cases, the actual porting is not the problem.
Delays usually happen because of unpaid bills, an expired UPC, or poor network coverage in your area. Check these things before you apply. If everything is in order, your number is usually ported within 3 to 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, to any operator offering service and mobile number portability in your telecom circle, provided you meet the standard eligibility criteria.
3 working days within the same circle, up to 5 working days between different circles, and up to 15 working days in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and North East circles.
Your existing SIM keeps working normally throughout most of the process. The actual switchover typically causes only a brief interruption, often just a few hours, as your number moves between networks.
You’ll receive an SMS explaining the reason, commonly incomplete documentation, unresolved dues, or an eligibility issue. You can resolve the specific issue and reapply.
TRAI caps the porting charge at ₹6.46 per request, though many operators don’t actually charge this in practice.
It’s forfeited. There’s no refund or carry-forward mechanism for unused prepaid balance under current MNP regulations.
Yes, most major operators now support end-to-end digital porting through their apps, using Aadhaar-based e-KYC, with the new SIM delivered to your address.
You’ll need to wait at least 90 days on your new operator before you’re eligible to port out again.
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