Since February 1, 2025, all unregistered 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) traffic has been blocked by U.S. carriers. Toll-free numbers face the same restriction — unverified toll-free numbers cannot send SMS or MMS. This checklist walks you through every document, fee, and timeline you need to get your numbers registered and verified.
Do You Need 10DLC Registration?
Decision Tree
Brand Registration Checklist
Brand registration is the first step. Your brand information must match your government registration records exactly (IRS for US, CRA for Canada), or your registration will be rejected.
Legal company name
Must match your government records exactly — IRS for US businesses, CRA for Canadian businesses — including punctuation, capitalization, and legal suffixes (Inc., LLC, Corp., Ltd., etc.). A mismatch is the most common cause of brand registration rejection.
Tax Identification Number
US businesses: Your Employer Identification Number (EIN) as registered with the IRS. Verified automatically against IRS records.
Canadian businesses: Your CRA Business Number (BN) — use only the first 9 numeric digits (e.g., 123456789). TCR accepts BN-9 for Canadian brand registration. Provincial Corporation/Registry IDs are not accepted. Optionally provide a DUNS number to improve vetting outcomes.
Physical business address
Your registered mailing address. Must be a real physical location — PO boxes are not accepted for brand registration. The address should match your IRS filing.
Active website URL
A functioning website that demonstrates your business operations. The website must be live and accessible at the time of registration. A parked domain or “coming soon” page will result in rejection.
Support email and phone number
A functioning support email address and phone number. The email should ideally be on your business domain (not a free email provider). These are used for identity verification and may be contacted during the vetting process.
Business type / entity classification
Select the correct entity type: Public Profit, Private Profit, Non-Profit, Government, or Sole Proprietor. Public-Profit brands registered before October 17, 2024, with active campaigns must complete Authentication+ (Auth+) 2.0 verification (effective August 7, 2025) or face campaign blocks and potential traffic suspension.
Processing time: Minutes to 2 business days. Fee: $4.50 one-time (increased from $4.00 effective August 1, 2025).
Campaign Registration Checklist
Each messaging use case requires a separate campaign registration. Prepare the following before submitting:
Campaign description and use case
A clear, specific description of what messages you will send and why. Vague descriptions like “general communications” are frequently rejected. Be specific: “Appointment reminders for dental patients” or “Order shipping notifications for e-commerce customers.”
Sample messages (2-5 examples)
Provide 2 to 5 representative messages exactly as recipients would see them. These must match your declared use case. If your use case is “appointment reminders” but your samples include promotional content, the campaign will be rejected.
Opt-in flow description
Describe exactly how subscribers opt in: web form, keyword text, paper form, point of sale, etc. Include the URL of your opt-in page if web-based. The opt-in flow must be documented and demonstrable.
Opt-out message text
The exact message sent when a subscriber replies STOP. Must clearly confirm unsubscription and state that no further messages will be sent.
Help message text
The exact message sent when a subscriber replies HELP. Must include the program name, a support contact method (email, phone, or URL), and opt-out instructions.
Terms and conditions URL
A live, publicly accessible URL to your terms and conditions or terms of service. Must be available at the time of submission and remain accessible.
Privacy policy URL
A live, publicly accessible URL to your privacy policy. The policy should address how subscriber phone numbers and messaging data are collected, used, and protected.
Processing time: 3-7 business days (allow up to 4 weeks for the complete process including brand registration). Fee: $15 per campaign submission (includes resubmissions if rejected). Campaigns require a minimum 3-month commitment.
Toll-Free Verification Checklist
Toll-free numbers (1-800, 1-888, 1-877, 1-866, 1-855, 1-844, 1-833) require separate verification through the carrier-managed registry. This is a different process from 10DLC registration.
Organization name
The name of the content provider (the organization sending messages), not the ISV or reseller. This must be the entity that has a direct relationship with message recipients.
Organization address and website
A physical business address and active website URL for the organization. The website must be functional and demonstrate the business operations described in the use case.
Company Federal EIN
Your Employer Identification Number for U.S. entities, or Business Number for Canadian entities. Used for identity verification.
Use case description
A clear description of your messaging use case: customer service, notifications, marketing, two-factor authentication, etc. Be specific and accurate.
Opt-in method
How subscribers consent to receive messages: website form, contract, IVR (interactive voice response), agent/phone, keyword, or other method. You must describe the specific mechanism.
Sample messages (1-3 variations)
Representative examples of the messages you will send. Must include opt-out instructions and company identification as required for all toll-free SMS.
New Required Fields — Effective January 1, 2026
As of January 1, 2026, all new toll-free verification submissions must include three additional fields. These were optional since September 30, 2025, but are now mandatory.
Business Registration Number (BRN)
A government-issued identifier for the business. Typically EIN in the U.S. or Business Number in Canada.
Issuing Country of Business Registration
The nation where the business is legally registered. Select from the standard country list during submission.
Entity Type
Classification: Public Profit, Private Profit, Non-Profit, Government, or Sole Proprietor. Sole proprietors receive heightened scrutiny during review.
Processing time: 2-10 business days (may be 1-2 weeks during high-volume periods). Cost: Verification is free.
Common Rejection Reasons
The following are the most frequent causes of 10DLC registration rejection and how to resolve each one:
| Rejection Reason | How to Fix |
|---|---|
| EIN / Tax ID does not match IRS records | Verify your EIN against your IRS Letter 147C or SS-4 confirmation. The legal name, EIN, and address must match exactly. Contact the IRS if your records need updating. |
| Business name mismatch | Ensure the legal company name in your registration matches your IRS records exactly — including Inc., LLC, Corp., and other suffixes. Do not use a DBA or trade name unless it is your IRS-registered name. |
| Inactive or non-existent website | Your website must be live, functional, and demonstrate your business operations. Parked domains, “coming soon” pages, and expired SSL certificates all cause rejection. Ensure the URL is accessible without login. |
| Vague campaign description or sample message mismatch | Be specific about your messaging use case. Your sample messages must closely match the declared purpose. If you registered a “customer service” campaign but your samples contain promotions, the campaign will be rejected. |
| Missing or inadequate opt-in/opt-out flow | Describe your opt-in mechanism in detail (web form URL, keyword, paper form). Include the exact opt-out and help message text. The opt-in flow must be documented and demonstrably functional. |
Timeline & Costs
| Step | Processing Time | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand Registration | Minutes to 2 business days | $4.50 one-time | Increased from $4.00 effective August 1, 2025 |
| Campaign Registration | 3-7 business days | $15 per campaign | Minimum 3-month commitment, then monthly renewal |
| Standard Brand Vetting | 1-3 business days | $41.50 per review | Assigns Trust Score (0-100) that determines throughput |
| Enhanced Vetting | 2-5 business days | $101.50 per review | Third-party vetting; can significantly improve Trust Score |
| External Vetting (mandatory for Canadian brands) | 5-10 business days | $41.50-$95 | Required because BN-9 cannot be auto-verified against US databases; Enhanced ($95) recommended for higher trust scores |
| Auth+ 2.0 Verification | 1-3 business days | $12.50 per request | Required for public-profit brands; effective August 7, 2025 |
| Toll-Free Verification | 2-10 business days | Free | May take 1-2 weeks during high-volume periods |
Monthly campaign fees vary by use case: $1.50/month for low-volume UCaaS, $10/month for marketing/mixed/notifications, and $30/month for agents and franchises. Platform free trial campaigns have no monthly fee.
Prohibited Industries
The following industries are not eligible for 10DLC registration and will be automatically rejected by The Campaign Registry (TCR):
Note: Toll-free numbers do not have the same explicit industry prohibitions as 10DLC, though carriers reserve the right to reject verification for any use case they deem high-risk.
Canadian Businesses Sending to US Numbers
Canadian organizations that need to send SMS to US phone numbers must complete 10DLC registration — the same requirement as US businesses. However, the process has key differences for non-US entities.
What You Need (Instead of an EIN)
Canadian businesses use their CRA Business Number (BN-9) — the first 9 numeric digits of your Business Number — instead of an EIN. TCR explicitly accepts BN-9 for Canadian registrations and has rejected provincial Corporation/Registry IDs since mid-2025.
US Business Registration
- Tax ID: EIN (auto-verified via IRS)
- Vetting: Optional ($41.50)
- Timeline: 5-14 business days
- Trust Score: Typically 50-100
- Auto-Verification: Yes
Canadian Business Registration
- Tax ID: CRA Business Number (BN-9)
- Vetting: Mandatory ($41.50-$95)
- Timeline: 10-20 business days
- Trust Score: Typically 25-75
- Auto-Verification: No (BN cannot be cross-referenced with US databases)
The Canadian Registration Process
Because CRA Business Numbers cannot be auto-verified against US databases, Canadian businesses go through a mandatory external vetting process. Here's what to expect:
- Brand Registration — Submit your legal company name, CRA Business Number (BN-9), Canadian business address, website, and support contact. Fee: $4.50 one-time.
- Mandatory External Vetting — Unlike US businesses (where vetting is optional), Canadian brands must complete external vetting to achieve Verified status. Standard vetting costs $41.50; Enhanced vetting costs $95 and typically produces higher trust scores.
- Campaign Registration — Same process as US businesses: describe your use case, provide sample messages, opt-in flow, and opt-out handling. Fee: $15 per campaign.
- Carrier Approval — Carriers review and assign throughput limits based on your trust score. Canadian businesses typically receive lower trust scores initially.
Trust Scores & Throughput for Canadian Businesses
Canadian businesses typically receive lower initial trust scores because BN-9 cannot be cross-referenced against US databases. This impacts your message throughput:
| Business Size | Vetting Type | Expected Trust Score | T-Mobile Daily Cap | Throughput |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small (no DUNS) | Standard ($41.50) | 25-50 | 2,000-10,000 | 0.2-2 MPS |
| Medium (with DUNS) | Enhanced ($95) | 50-75 | 10,000-50,000 | 2-5 MPS |
| Large (DUNS + history) | Enhanced ($95) | 65-85 | 50,000-200,000 | 5-10+ MPS |
Pro tip: Providing a DUNS number alongside your BN-9 can significantly improve your trust score. If your organization doesn't have a DUNS number, you can request one from Dun & Bradstreet (free for basic listing).
How AlertBolt Handles Canadian Registration
AlertBolt Does the Heavy Lifting
AlertBolt manages the entire 10DLC registration process for Canadian businesses. We handle the CRA Business Number formatting, mandatory vetting submission, campaign registration, and carrier approval tracking — so you don't have to navigate TCR directly.
Registration fees: AlertBolt includes your first brand registration ($4.50 TCR fee) and first campaign registration ($15 TCR fee) in all paid plans. Standard vetting ($41.50) is included for Pro and Enterprise plans. Additional campaigns are $15 each.
Canadian Numbers: No TCR Registration Required
Skip the Registration Queue
Canadian phone numbers used to send SMS to Canadian recipients do not require 10DLC registration through The Campaign Registry (TCR). There is no brand registration, campaign registration, or vetting process required. Numbers can typically be activated for messaging within minutes, not weeks.
Important exception (effective March 26, 2025): New Canadian 10DLC numbers purchased for business texting must be registered as A2P 10DLC to send messages to Canadian recipients. This registration is handled by your Campaign Service Provider (CSP), not through TCR. Between July and September 2025, TCR updated requirements to accept only the Business Number (BN) for Canadian Brand Registration.
Cross-border messaging: If you send messages from Canadian numbers to U.S. recipients, those numbers must be registered through the standard 10DLC process. Toll-free numbers used for cross-border messaging also require toll-free verification.
Canadian messaging is still subject to CASL (Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation), which governs consent, opt-out handling, and sender identification. See our CASL Compliance Checklist for details.
How AlertBolt Simplifies Registration
AlertBolt guides you through the entire 10DLC and toll-free registration process from within the platform. We pre-populate registration forms with your account information, validate your data before submission to avoid common rejection reasons, and track the status of your brand, campaign, and toll-free verifications in real time. For Canadian numbers, activation is immediate — no registration queue, no waiting period. Start your 14-day free trial to see how it works.