After years of being talked about in congress, bills filed and getting vetoed by the President, the SIM Card Registration Act has finally become a law.
The SIM Registration became a bill during the Duterte administration. It was supposed to become law during his term until the then-President vetoed it to address privacy issues. Now, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., it finally was finally signed.
UPDATE: How to register your SIM card in the Philippines
It was created to help curb cybercrime and scams, and to help law enforcement solve related crimes.
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Undeniably, this is one of the biggest legislation orders to ever involve the telecommunications industry. So to help everyone further understand what it is, how to have their SIM registered, and a whole lot more here’s a complete guide to SIM Card Registration in the Philippines.
Table of Contents
- How to register your SIM Card in the Philippines?
- What is the required information for SIM card registration?
- What are the requirements for foreign nationals?
- Do existing SIM Card owners need to register their numbers?
- Can I purchase and register a SIM card for other people?
- What are the penalties for the violation of SIM registration?
How to register your SIM Card in the Philippines?
PTEs, or Public Telecommunication Entities, where you will get your new or existing SIM card from, are yet to officially announce where you can register your SIM card. So stay tuned for updates.
But essentially, you’d be asked to fill out a form that will include the required information (see list below). It will also ask you to present an ID (see the list of valid IDs below).
Stay tuned for more updates.
Where can I register my SIM card?
You’d be registering your SIM card on the aforementioned PTEs. The steps for registration are yet to be announced, but we’ll update this once it’s out.
What is the required information for SIM card registration?
Upon registering your SIM card, you are required to provide the following personal information:
- Full name
- Complete address
- Date of birth
- Sex
- SIM card’s mobile number and serial number
Who can access the personal information provided on SIM registration?
The SIM Registration law has explicit confidentiality and non-disclosure provisions. The information of any subscribers can only be shared by the PTE upon subpoena, lawful court order, or upon written request from a law enforcement agency that is in the process of investigating a crime involving a mobile number.
What IDs are accepted for SIM card registration?
Here’s a full list of valid IDs that are accepted for SIM card registration:
- PhilSys National ID
- Driver’s License
- UMID
- SSS/GSIS card
- Senior Citizen’s Card
- Passport
- Police Clearance
- NBI Clearance
- Firearms License
- PRC ID
- Voter’s ID
- IBP ID
- TIN ID
- OWWA ID
- PWD card
- Government ID
- School ID (for minors)
What are the requirements for foreign nationals?
Foreign nationals who are visiting the Philippines and want to get a SIM card should have to provide the information listed below:
- Full name
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Philippine address
They should also provide any of the following documents:
- Passport
- Return ticket or departure ticket (for tourists)
- Proof of address in the Philippines
- Alien Certificate of Registration ID
- Alien Employment Permit
- School registration ID (for students)
- Other pertinent documents
How long is the validity of the tourist SIM cards?
Tourists’ registered SIM cards can only be used and have a validity of 30 days.
Do existing SIM Card owners need to register their numbers?
Yes. Even if you already have your numbers for years, even before the law was passed, you still have to register your SIM card. You have 180 days since the law was passed to have yours registered.
What happens if existing SIM cards don’t get registered?
Those who will fail to register their SIM cards within the given period will have their SIM cards and numbers deactivated.
Do postpaid SIM still need to register?
Yes. Both prepaid SIMs; the ones where you reload to promos before using; and postpaid SIM cards; the ones you pay monthly plans with; have to be registered.
Can I purchase and register a SIM card for other people?
Yes, as long as you’ve been authorized through a notarized special power of attorney, and if the principal and representative both can present an original copy of any valid ID with a photo for identification.
Can a minor purchase and register a SIM card?
Yes, but the parent or guardian must provide written consent with the registration form. Both the parent and minor should also present a valid ID. A school ID is accepted.
What are the penalties for the violation of SIM registration?
- Users who will provide false information or fake IDs, sell stolen SIMs, and spoof a registered SIM: 6 months to 2 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Php300,000
- Public Telecommunication Entities (PTE) who wouldn’t register a SIM without valid reason: Php100,000 to Php1 million
- Breach of confidentiality: Php500,000 to Php4 million
These are the things you should know about SIM card registration in the Philippines. We’ll be updating this list once more details are available so stay tuned for that.
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Is it possible to change the name of the owner to a different person (even though it is already registered)?
How about those person ages 20 above but still schooling and does only have school ID, no other valid ID’s available?
How to find the SIM card’s serial number?