You can move to Jio, Airtel, Vi or BSNL and keep your mobile number. It is called mobile number portability, or MNP. Send PORT followed by your 10-digit number to 1900, take the code you receive to the new operator, and complete KYC.
About 1.58 crore people asked to port in August 2026 alone, according to TRAI. This guide covers the steps, the rules and the mistakes that cause rejections. Last checked: November 2, 2026.
How to port your number in five steps
| Step | What to do | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Check your signal | Test a friend's SIM from the new operator at home and at work |
| 2 | Clear your dues | Postpaid users should pay outstanding bills |
| 3 | Get your code | SMS PORT and your number to 1900 from that number |
| 4 | Visit the new operator | Give the code and complete KYC at a shop, or book a SIM |
| 5 | Wait for the switch | Your old SIM stops, then insert the new one |
Your code, called a Unique Porting Code or UPC, arrives by SMS from 1901. It stays valid for four days in most of India, and 30 days in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North-East, according to reports on TRAI’s rules. If it expires, simply request a new one.
Rules you should know
| Rule | What it means |
|---|---|
| SIM swap wait | 7 days after a SIM swap or replacement before you can port |
| Same circle | Reported as about 2 working days |
| Different circle | Reported as about 4 working days |
| Code validity | 4 days, or 30 days in some regions |
The seven-day wait was added in 2024 to stop a common fraud, in which criminals swap a SIM and then port the number away. Older rules also had a 90-day wait after activation or a previous port. We could not confirm how that applies today, so ask the operator if your SIM is new. The timelines above come from reports on TRAI’s 2018 changes, so treat them as a guide.
Why a port gets rejected
Common reasons are unpaid postpaid dues, a code that has expired, a mismatch in the details given, or a recent SIM swap. Your operator may also try to keep you with an offer. That is fine, but you do not have to accept it. If your request is rejected, the rejection message should explain why, so fix that and start again.
Under the nine-SIM limit, the new connection must fit within your allowance. Check your numbers on Sanchar Saathi first if you have several SIMs.
Which operator should you move to
Choose by signal first, then price. Our recharge plans guide compares current plans, and most private operators sit around ₹349 for 28 days. Our 5G guide explains where each network stands. A move to BSNL can make sense for long validity at a lower price, but only if the signal is good where you live.
Remember that any unused balance or validity on your old plan will not carry over, so port near the end of your recharge period. Also update your new number’s details with your bank, since OTPs must keep reaching you during the switch.
Where people are switching
MNP requests have run at about 1.4 crore to 1.6 crore a month in 2026, with 1.46 crore in May and 1.58 crore in August. UP East, UP West and Bihar led in May. A request is not the same as a completed move, and TRAI’s figures do not show which operator people moved to in these reports.
Why this matters for mobile shops
A port is a sale you can win with honest advice. Check the signal, explain the wait, and tell customers to keep the old SIM active until the switch completes. Do not request a code on a customer’s behalf from a phone that is not theirs, and always follow full KYC. Porting fraud is a real risk, and a shop can be held responsible for careless activation.
