Starting January 9, 2026, everyone in Mexico—including foreigners—must register their cell phone lines with their phone companies.
The regulation published by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (CRT) establishes that those who do not have a Unique Population Registry Code (CURP) can complete the process by presenting their valid passport.
The law expressly includes this alternative for foreigners, allowing the use of a temporary CURP if the user has obtained one.
The legal text specifies that registration is mandatory for all active mobile lines in Mexican territory, regardless of nationality. For foreigners, the regulations recognize the passport as a valid document and, where applicable, the temporary CURP issued for legal residency in the country.
The measure requires each user to provide an official photo ID and present their CURP. In the case of foreigners, if they do not have a CURP, they can present their valid passport at the service centers or process the registration online, depending on the infrastructure of the telephone company.
