Changing your mobile provider in Spain doesn’t mean you have to change your telephone number. Mobile portability in Spain is a consumer right and free of charge. Your new provider will deal with your mobile number portability as soon as you commit to your new plan, whether you choose pay-as-you-go (prepaid) or a contract. Here’s a guide to how it works.
What is mobile number portability in Spain?
In Spain, mobile number portability (MNP) is a legally protected consumer right that lets you keep your current phone number when you move from one mobile provider to another.
Can you transfer a UK number to a Spanish provider?
You can’t port a UK number to a Spanish mobile provider. Your Spanish number is separate and additional to the one you use back home. You can check out my post about how to get a Spanish phone number for more information.
What to do if you want to switch mobile providers and keep your number
If you already have a Spanish mobile phone number but want to change mobile companies, all you need to do to initiate the process is to reach out to your new provider. Once you sign up with your new provider, it will handle the portability of your number and the cancellation of your old line on your behalf. As soon as your number is transferred to your new SIM or eSIM, your old line will shut down automatically.
How to switch mobile providers in Spain, step by step
- Choose a new provider and plan
- Sign up with your new provider online, over the phone, or in a mobile shop/retail point. Make sure to explicitly specify that you want to keep your current number. You’ll need to provide photo ID (DNI or NIE) during the sign-up process; in the case of Lobster, your passport will be enough. If you’re contracting a monthly/roll over plan you’ll have to give your billing address and bank details. If your current plan is pay-as-you-go (prepaid) you’ll be asked for the (usually) 19-digit ICCID code on your Spanish SIM card (this is required by Spanish law). Make sure all the data coincide with those given to your current provider back in the day; if there is a discrepancy, the portability might be rejected or delayed.
- Authorise your new mobile plan: Confirm your identity and agree to the terms and conditions of your new mobile service contract to officially initiate the transfer: you can do this in person if you are in a mobile phone shop, online, or via a recorded voice message if you are signing up by phone.
- Wait to receive your new SIM card or eSIM: Your new provider will deliver a physical SIM card to your address or email you the activation instructions if you have ordered an eSIM.
- You don’t need to contact your current carrier or cancel your current plan, as your new provider manages the entire process. According to Spanish law, the switch should be completed within one working day. Your new provider will confirm the date of your portability, and, as a rule, the switch takes place overnight to prevent you being left without service during the daytime. Remember; portability of your mobile phone number does not necessarily mean that other services you have contracted with your previous provider (fibre, TV, other phone lines) will be cancelled.
- Swap your SIM cards: Insert your new physical SIM in your mobile phone or set up your digital eSIM as soon as your previous network signal is cancelled. Your old card will now be obsolete.
- Check that your new mobile connection is working: Make a phone call, send a text message, and test your mobile internet access to make sure that the new network is fully functional.
How long does mobile number portability take in Spain?
According to regulations, mobile phone portability in Spain should take place within one working day of the request being accepted by the central system. That said, the entire process, from the moment you sign up with your new mobile provider until your new services start working, can take 2-3 business days, as your new provider needs to verify your details first.
What time will my number transfer take place?
To minimise disruption, the actual transfer usually happens overnight, generally between 2:00 and 6:00 AM. This is designed so that you are left without service for only a very short time.
Will I lose service during the switch?
As I’ve said, the switch usually takes place between 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM. Your number may be unavailable for a few short hours during this window, but you’ll probably sleep through it.
Do you need to cancel your old mobile plan?
You don’t need to cancel your old mobile plan yourself — and it’s best not to do so before requesting the transfer. Ask your new provider to port your number and it will handle the closure of your old line once the switch is complete.
If you’re on a pay-as-you-go (prepaid) plan, you can ask your old provider to refund any unused credit once you switch.
Can you switch providers if you still have a contract?
You are free to switch providers whenever you wish, but any outstanding contractual obligations need to be honoured. While the actual portability process is completely free, breaking a minimum term clause (“permanencia”) with your current provider might result in a penalty fee on your final bill (check the minimum period you agreed to when you signed up). My advice is that you check whether an early termination charge applies before you switch providers.
What should you do if your number transfer is delayed or rejected?
If delayed:
- Track it: contact your new provider to check the current porting status.
- Talk to your new provider, as it is responsible for coordinating the process and can identify the reason for the delay.
If rejected
Common causes of a rejected portability are discrepancies in personal data (including ID/NIE numbers) between old and new providers, and an incorrect SIM card ICCID number.
How to resolve it:
- Find out the reason: ask your new provider for the official refusal cause.
- Fix any discrepancies: update/correct incorrect IDs or addresses with your old provider.
- Reapply: Resubmit the transfer request after correcting the data errors.
If you believe your portability has been rejected without a good reason you might be able to challenge it. File a claim with your old provider, then contact the Spanish Ministry’s telecom office (OAUT) or a consumer groups (OCU). Remember to document everything: in other words, keep copies of all receipts, save all SMSs and emails, and keep a record of calls.
How to cancel a mobile portability request in Spain
If you have second thoughts about your number portability – perhaps after comparing offers, non-compliance by the new provider, or because you’ve realised you’re going to be penalised due to a minimum-term clause in the contract with your old provider – you need to act quickly.
If your mobile number portability has not yet become effective, you need to contact the new provider (the one that initiated the process) as soon as possible and request cancellation. The deadline for cancelling a mobile portability in Spain is 2:00 PM on the day before the switch is scheduled.
If the portability is already completed it cannot be reversed directly. You can initiate a new portability back to your previous operator, or exercise your right of withdrawal (“derecho de desistimiento”) to cancel the new contract. This must be done within 14 days after contracting if you did it online or by telephone; if you signed a contract physically in a mobile phone shop, the company is not legally obliged to accept cancellation, though some may allow you to desist as part of their policy. Nevertheless, this does not undo the portability automatically. You will still need to request portability back to your old provider.
Ready for a new Spanish mobile provider, while keeping your number?
My advice to expats living in Spain is to bring your Spanish mobile number to Lobster and choose one of their pay-as-you-go plans including unlimited calls to a load of countries and generous data bundles. The plans renew automatically, with no minimum contract term, and the whole number portability process is in English. It couldn’t be easier!
1. Choose your plan: take your pick among Lobster’s pay-as-you-go options: Just Spain, or the International Small/Medium/Large plans. Sign up online at Lobster.es or by phone (call free on 1661 if you’re in Spain and +34 711 000 711 if you’re phoning from outside Spain), or visit a Lobster retail point.
2. Request to keep your number: During the process of switching to Lobster, choose the option “keep my number”. Lobster will then initiate the process of porting your number over from your old provider and handle the whole process for you.
3. Set up your physical SIM or eSIM: Choose your preferred format when you order. For a physical SIM, follow the activation instructions once it arrives. For eSIM, Lobster will email your installation details after checking your ID. Follow those instructions on a compatible phone with an internet connection.
4. Wait for your number to transfer: Lobster will confirm when your existing Spanish number will move to your new line. Installing an eSIM does not make the transfer immediate. Keep your existing line active until the switch takes place; there’s no need to cancel it yourself.
5. Test your new service: Once the switch happens, your old SIM stops working and your number is transferred to your Lobster SIM or eSIM. Test calls, texts, and data to make sure everything is functioning smoothly.
