Do tourists need to register their phone in Mexico?

This could change for roaming visitors

The exemption for roaming lines isn't permanent. The rules published on December 9, 2025 say that once the 2026 World Cup is over, the CRT will define how lines using international roaming in Mexico are to be registered. In August 2026 the press reported that the CRT was preparing that mechanism and would put it to public consultation. As of September 30, 2026 we found no consultation, draft or date. We'll update this page and its changelog when one appears.

If you buy a Mexican SIM or eSIM

This includes Telcel's eSIM for travelers. Registration is part of setup and the line won't work until it's done:

• Document: a valid passport. Since June 30, 2026 the rules also accept a CURP for foreigners or an INM visitor or resident card that shows a CURP.
• How: usually on your phone. Telcel's tourist eSIM asks for camera access to capture your passport and do a liveness check. You can also register in person at the operator's store.
• What's kept: for foreigners, the rules limit what the operator records to your name, country, passport or CURP number, phone number and the result of the check.
• Telcel's own words: “If you don't complete the registration, you won't be able to use your line.”

Already have a Mexican line?

If you kept a Mexican prepaid number from an earlier trip or for family, it has to be registered like any other line, by the deadline for the last digit of the number. Unregistered lines are suspended within 72 hours of their deadline. A suspended line can still call emergency numbers and the operator. The CRT says the number isn't lost, and service comes back as soon as you register it on the operator's site or in a store. The CRT has said there will be no extension.

Where a RoamClean eSIM fits

A RoamClean eSIM is a data-only travel plan for visitors. It gives you mobile data on the Telcel and AT&T networks during your trip, not a Mexican phone number, so there's no Mexican line to register. Keep your home number on for calls and texts. How.

It is not a substitute for a Mexican line. If you live in Mexico, register your line with your operator. The CRT has warned that a foreign eSIM doesn't replace a line that receives calls and text codes, and that offers promising to avoid registration shouldn't be trusted. We agree.