Porting your number takes three working days, not seven, and costs ₹6.46. Almost everything else you have read about mobile number portability in India is either outdated or describes a process that was tightened in 2024.
Here is the current procedure, the eligibility conditions that actually cause rejections, and the one rule that will block you unexpectedly.
Get Your UPC
Everything starts with a Unique Porting Code.
Send an SMS in this exact format to 1900:
PORT <your 10-digit mobile number>
The code arrives from 1901. Note that TRAI has directed operators to allow this SMS on any prepaid pack, not only packs that include SMS benefits — so “I don’t have an SMS pack” is not a valid refusal.
UPC Validity: Four Days, Not Longer
Your UPC is valid for four days, excluding the day it was generated. In Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North Eastern service areas it is valid for 30 days.
Four days is short. Generate the code when you are actually ready to walk into the new operator’s store, not while you are still deciding. If it expires, request another.
Are You Eligible?
Four conditions, and all must be met:
- 90 days minimum with your current operator. This applies to a new connection and to a previous port — you cannot hop monthly.
- All postpaid dues cleared. Any outstanding bill blocks the port.
- No pending legal dispute on the number.
- No contractual lock-in, which mainly affects corporate and bundled plans.
The Rule That Catches People Out
Under TRAI’s Mobile Number Portability (Ninth Amendment) Regulations, 2024, in force since 1 July 2024, a UPC will not be issued within seven days of a SIM swap or replacement.
So if you lost your phone last Tuesday and took a duplicate SIM, you cannot port until seven days have passed. This is an anti-fraud measure aimed at attackers who take over a number and immediately move it to another operator to frustrate recovery — the mechanics are in our guide to SIM swap fraud.
It is not a fault and no amount of arguing at the counter will override it. Wait the seven days.
The Rest of the Process
- Visit the new operator’s store with your UPC, an identity document and an address proof.
- Complete the porting form and KYC, including biometric or document verification.
- Pay the porting charge of ₹6.46.
- Collect the new SIM. Do not discard the old one yet.
- You will be told a cutover date and time, generally overnight.
- At cutover, the old SIM stops working. Insert the new one and restart the phone.
Expect a service interruption of up to four hours during the night-time cutover window. Plan around it if you rely on OTPs for anything at that hour.
How Long It Takes
- 3 working days within the same licensed service area
- 5 working days between service areas, and for corporate connections
- Up to 15 working days in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North East
Working days exclude Sundays and public holidays, so a Friday application realistically completes the following week.
Can They Refuse?
Here is a right worth knowing: a valid individual porting request with a valid, in-validity UPC cannot be rejected. If you meet the eligibility conditions and your code has not expired, refusal is not permitted.
Corporate connections are different and can be rejected for missing authorised-signatory documentation.
Where requests genuinely fail, it is almost always one of: an expired UPC, outstanding postpaid dues, fewer than 90 days on the current operator, a mismatch between your name and the KYC records, or the seven-day SIM-swap bar. If you are refused for any other reason, ask for it in writing and escalate to the operator’s appellate authority.
Before You Port, Check the Thing That Actually Matters
People switch operators chasing advertised speeds and then find coverage is worse in the two places they spend all their time.
Test first. Borrow a phone on the target network and check the signal at your home and your workplace — not on the street outside. Indoor coverage varies enormously between operators in the same neighbourhood, and it is the only variable that will affect you daily.
Be sceptical of headline speed claims too. Measured 5G speeds in India have been falling rather than rising as networks fill up, and indoor performance often depends on which band you land on — see why 5G can be slower than 4G before you assume a switch will fix anything.
After Porting
Your number stays the same, so WhatsApp, banking and UPI continue working. What changes is the operator, so re-check anything tied to network services: reconfigure Wi-Fi calling if you use it, set up VoLTE if it needs enabling, and re-register for DND — preferences do not always carry across.
It is also a sensible moment to check how many SIM connections are registered against your name, since an old connection you assumed was closed may still be active. We cover Indian telecom rules in plain language at Techleez com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a UPC for porting?
Send PORT followed by your 10-digit number to 1900. The code arrives from 1901, and it works on any prepaid pack.
How long is the porting code valid?
Four days, excluding the day of generation. Thirty days in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North East.
How long does mobile number portability take?
Three working days within the same service area, five between service areas, and up to 15 working days in J&K, Assam and the North East.
How much does porting cost?
₹6.46 per porting request.
Why can I not get a UPC after replacing my SIM?
A UPC is not issued within seven days of a SIM swap or replacement, as an anti-fraud measure in force since July 2024.
Can my operator refuse to let me port?
Not for a valid individual request with a valid UPC, provided you meet the eligibility conditions. Ask for any refusal in writing.
Fold Smith
Fold Smith is a technology journalist and the lead editor of The Techleez, an India-first publication that decodes technology, digital payments, streaming and online culture for everyday readers. From UPI and fintech explainers to OTT streaming guides, Android tips and online-safety checklists, he personally tests the apps, tools and services featured on the site before recommending them. His focus is practical, research-backed guidance that helps Indian readers make smarter digital decisions — spend less, stream better and stay safe online. When he is not writing, he is usually tracking NPCI circulars, first-day-first-show box office numbers, or the next big OTT premiere.
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