How Porting Business Phone Numbers Works

Requirements to port toll free numbers to a new carrier (US & Canada): 

• Letter of Authorization
• Proof of Ownership

Expected time to complete service transfer: 

• 2-3 weeks

Additional Notes: 

• The FCC requires toll free service providers in the US & Canada to facilitate requests to port toll free numbers
• It is generally a bit quicker to port toll free numbers than local numbers

Requirements to port local numbers to a new carrier (US & Canada): 

• Letter of Authorization
• Proof of Ownership

Expected time to complete service transfer: 

• 3-4 weeks

Additional Notes: 

• Toll free ports are regulated by the FCC, while local numbers are regulated by different organizations. 
• Despite this, failure to port local numbers in the US & Canada is highly unusual.

International porting may take a bit longer than porting a number to a local service provider. There are several things you can do to effectively impact the process and get it moving swiftly, so you can connect with your audience even faster.

1. Confirm your number is portable. Some service providers may have a contract clause that numbers purchased are not portable, or the account must remain with the provider for a specific period of time before porting. Check with your provider to make sure that your number is portable and you’re not obligated to continue your contract.
2. Stay with the current provider until porting is complete. Don’t cancel on your provider just yet. Wait for the go-ahead from your new one before scrubbing the old one. If removed prematurely, you could risk losing your phone number altogether and extending the processing time even more.
3. Obtain an invoice copy. Your phone invoice contains all the essential information a new provider needs to process your porting request. The statement contains several important details your new provider may ask to see, including a customer ID number, phone numbers associated with your account, usage history, and service and billing address.
4. Begin the conversation. Once the invoice copy has been obtained, you can begin the conversation with the new provider about your interest in porting international business numbers. You might need to fill out a digital pre-requisite form first before speaking to a representative.
5. Sign and Send a Letter of Authorization. You’ll have to complete, sign, and send a Letter of Authorization (LOA) to your new provider. When they’ve received it, along with any other required documents, the carrier will then initiate the porting process and reach out to your current provider. It can take days to complete, especially if the number is a landline, mobile, or virtual number.
6. Test it. When your provider has successfully transferred your number on their network, try a few inbound and outbound test calls to make sure the connection and quality are up to your expectations. Be sure to reach out to your account manager or support team for any service issues.