You are here:
Guide for Sending SMS Messages to the United Kingdom
Review the guidelines and restrictions for sending SMS messages to recipients in the United Kingdom. This information is for general informational purposes only. This information doesn't, and isn't intended to, constitute legal advice. Consult your own independent legal counsel for guidance on use cases and applicable legal and industry requirements.
| Short Code | International Long Code | Local Long Code | Alphanumeric Code | |
| Supported | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Two-way Support | Yes | -- | Yes | No |
| Provisioning Time | 10 weeks | -- | 1 week | 1 week |
| Comments | Requires preregistration | -- | Requires preregistration | -- |
SMS Code Provisioning Guidelines
Use an United Kingdom alphanumeric code for one-way sends that handle both marketing and transactional sends. Alphanumeric codes can't be generic and must be associated with the brand, enterprise, product, or service. These codes can only use alphanumeric characters and spaces. You can also use a local short or long code to send marketing and transactional sends.
You can choose a UK short code from a list of available codes or receive a randomly allocated code. Any short code you request must come from these provided ranges:
Restricted Content
You’re responsible for complying with local rules and regulations. To ensure compliance, familiarize yourself with the legislation of the local market. Failure to comply can result in service suspension, cancellation, and potential fines.
Best Practices and Compliance References
Consider using different alphanumeric codes for marketing and transactional messaging. Telecommunications in the United Kingdom are regulated by Ofcom.
