Phone and Internet in Mexico: SIM Cards, Line Registration and Home Internet

You can buy a SIM card or eSIM from mobile carriers such as Telcel and AT&T México, and from virtual operators that use their networks. Most foreigners start with prepaid (prepago):

• Prepaid: buy a SIM or eSIM, then add credit (recarga) or a data package at the carrier's store, its app, or convenience stores. No contract or credit check.
• Postpaid plans (plan or pospago): monthly contracts, often with a phone. Carriers usually ask for ID, proof of address and sometimes your RFC tax ID or a credit check. Residents find this easier. See how to get an RFC.

Mexican numbers have 10 digits. From abroad, dial +52 and the 10-digit number. WhatsApp is the main way people, businesses and even some offices communicate, so a local number with WhatsApp is very useful.

Under Mexico's new telecommunications law, every mobile line must be linked to the identity of its holder. What that means for you, as of September 2026:

• Start date: registration began on January 9, 2026, for both prepaid and postpaid lines.
• Deadlines: the original deadline was June 30, 2026. The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) then extended it with a staggered calendar based on the last digit of your phone number, running through December 2026. The first deadline, for numbers ending in 0, was August 15, 2026. Your carrier can confirm your date.
• If you do not register: the carrier suspends the line about 72 hours after your deadline. A suspended line can still call emergency numbers and the carrier, and still receives earthquake alerts.
• New lines: a line bought now should be registered when you get it.

How foreigners register

• Residents usually register with their CURP. See how to get a CURP.
• Foreigners without a CURP, including visitors, can register with a passport. Online, carriers ask for a photo of the passport and a live face check; you can also register in person at a carrier's service center.

Register each line in the name of the person who actually uses it. Lines registered in someone else's name are that person's responsibility.

Some US and Canadian plans include calls and data in Mexico, which can work for short stays. For living in Mexico, a Mexican number is usually better:

• Banks send security codes to a Mexican number. See opening a bank account.
• Delivery drivers, landlords and doctors expect a local WhatsApp number.
• Roaming plans may limit long-term use abroad.

Many residents keep their home number on a low-cost plan, or move it to an internet-based service, to receive codes from home banks.

In cities, fiber and cable internet are widely available from several providers, including Telmex (Infinitum), Totalplay, Izzi and Megacable. Coverage and quality depend on the building and street, so ask neighbors which provider works best.

• What you need: usually ID, proof of address and a contact number. Some providers ask residents for more documents or a deposit.
• Installation can take from a day to a few weeks.
• Renting? Ask whether the landlord already has a service you can take over; it is often faster. See renting in Mexico.
• Rural areas and beach towns may have limited cable or fiber. Satellite internet and mobile hotspots are common alternatives.

Remote workers should have a backup, such as a mobile data plan on a different network. See remote work rules.

• Billing or contract problems: start with the carrier; if that fails, file a complaint with the consumer protection agency, PROFECO.
• Phone scams: extortion calls and fake "bank" or "carrier" messages are common. Never share security codes, and hang up on callers who claim a relative is in trouble until you can confirm it directly. See safety in Mexico.
• Emergencies: dial 911 from any phone.