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International phone number setup: country requirements & timelines

What documents you need to provision a phone number outside the US and Canada — country by country.

How international number setup works

Consio supports phone numbers in 25+ countries for voice and a smaller set for SMS. Numbers outside the US and Canada require a Twilio regulatory bundle — a set of documents that proves your business is authorized to operate a phone number in that country.

The process:

  1. Submit the number request form: Request a phone number

  2. We tell you which documents are needed for that country

  3. You gather and submit the documents

  4. Twilio reviews the regulatory bundle (typically 2–5 business days)

  5. Once approved, we provision your number

Unlike US numbers, international numbers cannot be self-provisioned in the Consio dashboard. Your onboarding manager handles the submission on your behalf.

Good to know: For international numbers, SMS is generally enabled by default — there's no separate registration process like the US toll-free verification or 10DLC.

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Country-by-country requirements

Australia

Document

Details

ASIC Certificate of Registration

Must show your company number (ACN or ABN) and registered business address

Proof of business address

A separate document confirming your address — tax notice, utility bill, or bank statement

Authorized representative ID

Passport or government-issued photo ID for the person signing on behalf of the company

Company letterhead form

A signed form on your company letterhead (we'll provide the template)

Note: Australian local numbers are strongly recommended over toll-free — Australian consumers are much more likely to answer calls from a local number. If you're based outside Australia, you'll still need to provide Australian business registration documents.

Timeline: 3–5 business days after all documents are submitted.

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Germany

Document

Details

Valid German business address

Twilio requires a real address within Germany. A foreign address — even from a neighboring EU country — will be rejected

Business registration

German trade register (Handelsregister) extract or equivalent

Authorized representative ID

Passport or government-issued photo ID

Important: If your business is not registered in Germany, you may not be able to obtain a German number. Contact us to discuss alternatives (e.g., a UK or other EU number that your German customers can reach).

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France

Document

Details

Real address within France

Twilio requires a French business address — a foreign address will be rejected

Business registration

Extrait Kbis or equivalent French company registration document

Authorized representative ID

Passport or government-issued photo ID

Same rule as Germany: If your business has no French presence, a French number may not be available. We can help you evaluate alternatives.

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Italy

Document

Details

Business registration documents

Camera di Commercio certificate showing registration number, company address, and authorized representative

Photo ID

Passport or government-issued ID for the authorized representative

Voice + SMS note: Italian regulations require two separate numbers if you need both voice and SMS capabilities. We'll set this up for you, but be aware it affects your number count and billing.

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Philippines

Document

Details

DTI Certificate of Business

Must show your DTI registration number and official business name

Mayor's Permit

Shows your local business address. Twilio submits this as part of the verification

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United Kingdom

Document

Details

Business registration

Companies House registration or equivalent (lighter requirements than most countries)

UK numbers are among the easiest international numbers to provision. Turnaround is typically 1–3 business days.

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India

Document

Details

Regulatory bundle

Standard business registration documents

Both toll-free and local numbers are available in India. Local numbers require manual provisioning. Toll-free numbers are generally faster to set up.

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Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore

Document

Details

Regulatory bundle

Country-specific business registration + additional documentation

Requirements vary and can be extensive. Some businesses have been unable to meet the documentation requirements for these countries. Contact us before committing so we can confirm whether your business qualifies.

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All other supported countries

For countries not listed above (Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and others), a standard regulatory bundle is required. The specifics depend on the country — reach out and we'll tell you exactly what's needed.

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Supported countries reference

Voice

US, Canada, UK, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and more.

SMS

US, Canada, Puerto Rico, France, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Romania, UK, Australia.

Voice and SMS availability may vary by country, phone number type, carrier, and local regulations. If your country isn't listed, contact us — we may still be able to help.

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FAQ

How long does international number setup take?

Most countries take 2–5 business days after all documents are submitted. The UK is often faster (1–3 days). Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore can take longer due to stricter documentation requirements.

What if I can't get the required documents?

Some countries require a local business presence (registered address, local registration). If your business isn't registered in the target country, we can help you evaluate alternatives — such as using a number in a nearby country your customers can still reach.

Do I need to register for SMS separately?

No. Unlike US numbers (which require separate toll-free verification or 10DLC registration), international numbers generally have SMS enabled by default once the regulatory bundle is approved.

Can I port an existing international number to Consio?

International number porting is handled case by case. Contact us with the number and current provider, and we'll check if porting is possible for that country.

Is there an additional cost for international numbers?

International numbers may have different per-minute and per-message rates than US numbers. Your onboarding manager can provide specific pricing for the country you need.

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