Bringing your existing mobile number over to Kiwi Mobile
When you sign up with Kiwi Mobile, you're more than welcome to bring your current NZ mobile number with you (also known as porting). Here's how it's done, and what to do to make sure it all goes smoothly.
Jump to section: Before you port | How to port your number | Finding your ICCID | I already have a Kiwi Mobile number, can I still port? | How long does it take to switch my number over? | I've ported, but I'm still being charged by my old provider |
Before you port
Here's a little checklist of things to keep in mind before you move your number across:
- Use your phone or the cloud to save contacts, not just your SIM card, so you can find them easily later. Anything saved to your current SIM may be lost when it's deactivated.
- Your balance from your last mobile provider won't carry over to Kiwi Mobile.
- Your number transfer should finish within 24 hours, but it also depends on your old provider.
- Only the number's authorised owner can move it. For company plans, get the authorised person to switch it to your name before moving to Kiwi Mobile.
- If you're in a contract with you current provider, make sure you're not going to get stung with early termination charges.
- Your number needs to still be active in order to be ported across.
- If you submit a port after 5.45pm it won’t go through until the next business day after 8am. Currently, numbers cannot be ported over the weekend.
So, how do I actually port my number to Kiwi Mobile?
It's super straight forward to request this during the sign up on our website. Once you get to the "mobile stuff" page, just make sure you select the "Yes. Bring my existing mobile number" option.
Depending on your current account type, you'll need:
Prepay
- Your current mobile number
- Your ICCID (SIM serial number) - see section below if you're unsure how to find this
- The name of your current provider (LSP)
Post paid/monthly plan
- Your current mobile number
- The name on the account (get this from an old bill to make sure it matches exactly)
- Your current account number
- The name of your current provider (LSP)
You'll also be able to select the day you'd like the switch to complete, and whether you'll use an eSIM or physical SIM with Kiwi Mobile.
On the day
You’ll get an email to remind you it is your connection day. If you submit a port after 5.45pm it won’t begin processing until the next business day after 8am. You'll then receive an SMS from NZ Telecommunication Forum (TCF) number 2542 to ask you to confirm you want to switch your number over. This will come through on the SIM of your current provider so make sure to leave that in your phone until the switch has been completed.
- You need to reply with YES within 2 hours of getting the SMS in order to move the number over. If you miss the window, reach out to us on live chat.
- You can respond to this even if you don't have credit on your current account.
- After that your service will cut over to the Kiwi Mobile SIM in the two hours following.
- After you approve and it's accepted, the switch usually takes 2-24 hours between 8am-6pm. We'll text you when it's done.
- You may see another number along the lines of 02665***** hanging around on your app while everything processes. Don’t worry, this is expected - it is just a temporary number until we port you across.
- If you see any mention of 2Degrees during the process, don't worry - we use their network for our service.
- Once complete, make a call to check it's all working as expected. If anything funky is going on, restart your device and try again.
The SMS from the TCF should look something like this:
ACTION REQUIRED: We have received a request to move your mobile < xxx xxx xxx> to another provider. To proceed reply YES to this message within 2 hours. If you didn't request the move, reply NO or ignore this message and it will be cancelled. From NZ Telecommunications Forum (TCF)
How do I find my ICCID/SIM serial number?
Your ICCID number has 16+ digits. Here’s where to find it depending on your device brand. Exact instructions can vary depending on your device model. If you have a physical SIM, it's usally also on the packaging your SIM came in and on the SIM itself.
iPhone: Go to Settings > General > About > ICCID
Samsung: Go to Settings > Connections > SIM Manager > Tap SIM Card > More Information > ICCID
OPPO and most other Android devices: Go to Settings > About phone/device > About device > Look for "sim card status", it should be listed there
If in doubt (or if your device isn't listed above) a quick google search with your device name and how to find ICCID should do the trick, or your current provider should be able to give you the info.
I signed up and selected to choose a new Kiwi Mobile number. Can I still port my old one over?
As long as the old number is still active, this shouldn't be a problem. Just contact our team on live chat to get the ball rolling.
How long does it take to switch my number over to Kiwi Mobile?
If the changeover request is accepted, it can take between 2 to 24 hours between Monday - Friday. But we can't guarantee an exact timeframe as it also relies on your current provider.
Always double check the details you enter so that the change doesn't take any longer than it needs to. And remember, if you submit a port after 5.45pm or on a weekend - it won’t go through until the next business day after 8am.
I've ported, why am I still being charged by my old provider?
If you still get a bill from your old provider after switching, call them to make sure they closed your account. Kiwi Mobile can’t handle that part, due to the long arm of the law.
