SMS rules for United Kingdom
+44
Sender ID restrictions
| Alphanumeric sender ID | Supported |
|---|---|
| Foreign numeric sender ID | Supported |
| Local numeric sender ID | Supported |
| Generic sender ID prohibited | Yes, you can |
| Sender ID can be changed | No, you can't. |
| Virtual number required | Yes, you can |
| Marketing requires opt-in | Yes, you can |
| P2P prohibited | Yes, you can |
| Handset DLR unavailable | No, you can't. |
Content restrictions
| Category | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gambling / Games | PROHIBITED | Detected from provider text: gambling, betting, casino |
| Political content | PROHIBITED | Detected from provider text: political |
| Religious content | PROHIBITED | Detected from provider text: religious |
| Marketing / Advertising | PROHIBITED | Detected from provider text: marketing, promotion |
Notes
Country: United Kingdom (UK).
The rules for sending SMS to the UK are subject to changes that will come into effect in two phases. The first phase was implemented on September 12, 2023 and the second phase has a revised date of October 31, 2023. It is important to note that the situation may change and we will keep our customers updated as soon as new information is available. Please note that routes to the UK do not include networks serving the islands of Jersey or Guernsey. Furthermore, numbers identified as premium will be rejected as there are typically higher levels of premium numbers in this market.
For alphanumeric sender IDs, fully dynamic SIDs are currently accepted, but protected brand SIDs are now mandatory. SIDs registered in the SMS SenderID Protection Registry must be validated before they can be used. From September 12, 2023, there will be changes to Sender IDs: Customers sending traffic to the UK with international numeric senders, i.e. anything other than "+44xxx", will be blocked. Operators may grant exceptions for some international numeric senders after validation if it is an absolute necessity. Customers sending traffic to the UK with short numeric codes - 5 digits starting with 6/7/8 will be allowed. All other short codes are not allowed. Customers sending traffic with special character alphanumeric senders, i.e. senders that include @, $, # etc. will be blocked. Valid special characters for an alphanumeric sender (maximum length of 11 characters) include: A to Z (upper case), a to z (lower case), 0-9 (numeric) and specific special characters.
We recommend that customers stay updated on these rules to ensure seamless communication.
The rules for sending SMS to the UK are subject to changes that will come into effect in two phases. The first phase was implemented on September 12, 2023 and the second phase has a revised date of October 31, 2023. It is important to note that the situation may change and we will keep our customers updated as soon as new information is available. Please note that routes to the UK do not include networks serving the islands of Jersey or Guernsey. Furthermore, numbers identified as premium will be rejected as there are typically higher levels of premium numbers in this market.
For alphanumeric sender IDs, fully dynamic SIDs are currently accepted, but protected brand SIDs are now mandatory. SIDs registered in the SMS SenderID Protection Registry must be validated before they can be used. From September 12, 2023, there will be changes to Sender IDs: Customers sending traffic to the UK with international numeric senders, i.e. anything other than "+44xxx", will be blocked. Operators may grant exceptions for some international numeric senders after validation if it is an absolute necessity. Customers sending traffic to the UK with short numeric codes - 5 digits starting with 6/7/8 will be allowed. All other short codes are not allowed. Customers sending traffic with special character alphanumeric senders, i.e. senders that include @, $, # etc. will be blocked. Valid special characters for an alphanumeric sender (maximum length of 11 characters) include: A to Z (upper case), a to z (lower case), 0-9 (numeric) and specific special characters.
We recommend that customers stay updated on these rules to ensure seamless communication.
Last updated: April 20, 2026