ID checks for prepaid mobiles

Telcos must get certain information about you (such as your name, address and date of birth) and check your ID when you activate a prepaid mobile service. There are several ways they can do this. Read about ID checks here and then contact your provider.

You can't activate your mobile service here – contact your telco.

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Activating a mobile

To activate a new prepaid mobile service, you will need to give the telco your:

  • name
  • date of birth
  • home address (or business name and address if you’re activating on behalf of a business).

If your mobile number is being ported to a prepaid service, the new telco must also comply with the Telecommunications (Mobile Number Pre-Porting Additional Identity Verification) Industry Standard 2020. This has additional identity verification steps.

ID check

The telco looks (visual check) at your documents, or uses a government service such as the Document Verification Service to check your ID.

They may also verify by:

  • using an existing post-paid or prepaid account
  • a real-time or time-delayed financial transaction.
Last updated: 27 August 2025
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