In October, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed a law requiring Filipinos to register their SIM cards. The government stated that this measure is intended to help reduce the occurrence of scams and other crimes in the country.
On Monday, December 12, the National Telecommunications Commission released the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act No. 11934, otherwise known as Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) Registration Act which will take effect starting December 27, 2022. Smart, Globe, and DITO users will be able to register their SIM cards online for free. The process for registration is as follows:
For Smart and TnT users, visit https://smart.com.ph/simreg
For Globe, TM, or Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi users, please register through https://new.globe.com.ph/simreg. By January, customers may also register through the GlobeOne app. For more information, visit https://glbe.co/simregfaq.
For Dito users visit https://dito.ph/RegisterDITO go to the Dito app and click on the banner for the registration.
Please DO NOT click any links from unknown senders or unverified accounts.
Registration of Existing Subscribers.
- All existing SIM subscribers/end-users shall register within one hundred eighty (180) days from effectivity of the Act. The registration may be extended for a period not exceeding one hundred twenty (120) days. Failure to register the existing SIM within the period prescribed shall result in the automatic deactivation of the SIM. The deactivated SIM may only be reactivated after registration; provided, however, that reactivation shall be made not later than five (5) days after such automatic deactivation.
- PTEs shall include the information and data of existing postpaid subscribers in the SIM register to align with the registration requirement hereunder. To complete registration however, such existing postpaid subscribers shall be required to confirm their information and data included in the SIM Register, through the PTE’s registration platform or website established under the Act and this IRR.
Registration Form and Registration Process.
- The Registration Form shall be accomplished electronically through a secure platform or website to be provided by the PTEs to their respective subscribers. The same shall include a declaration by the end-user that the identification documents presented are true and correct, and that said person is the one who accomplished the registration form.
- The platform or website to be used for the registration as well as the registration form shall give due consideration on the user interface, user experience, and accessibility. The registration portal shall be easy to use and navigate, considering the needs of various end-users.
- A privacy notice shall be made available on the platform or website. It shall explain the details of the processing of personal data for the SIM Register.
- The registration process shall be guided by the following parameters:
A. Submission of the electronically and duly accomplished registration form with the following data and information only:
By individual end-user:
(1) Full Name;
(2) Date of Birth;
(3) sex;
(4) Present/ Official Address (Choice by end-user);
(5) Type of ID Presented; and
(6) ID Number Presented.
By juridical entity end-user:
(1) Business Name,
(2) Business Address; and
(3) Full Name of Authorized Signatory.
By foreign national end-user:
(1) Full Name,
(2) Nationality;
(3) Date of Birth;
(4) Passport;
(5) Address in the Philippines;
(6) For Persons of Concern or POCs, the Type of Travel or Admission Document Presented; and
(7) Number of Document Presented. ID Number or
B. Presentation of valid government-issued identification (ID) card or other similar form of document with photo.
C. Inputting of the assigned mobile number of the SIM with its serial number.
- The PTEs (Globe, Smart and Dito) shall be enjoined to include processes to verify the submitted information and data, subject to the applicable provisions of the Data Privacy Act, its IRR, and other relevant issuances of the National Privacy Commission.
List of Acceptable Valid government-issued Identification (ID) cards or other similar forms of documents with photo that will verify the identity of the end-user.
- For individual end-user, ANY of the following identification cards or documents with photo shall be presented: Passport, Philippine Identification System ID, or the Philippine Identification Card, Social Security Service ID, Government Service Insurance System e-Card, Driver’s License, National Bureau of Investigation clearance, Police clearance, Firearms’ License to Own and Possess ID, Professional Regulation Commission ID, Integrated Bar of the Philippines ID, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration ID, Bureau of Internal Revenue ID, Voter’s ID, Senior Citizen’s card, Unified Multi-purpose Identification Card, Persons with Disabilities card or Other valid government-issued ID with photo.
- For juridical entity end-user, ALL of the following shall be presented.
Certificate of Registration and in the case of corporations, duly adopted resolution designating the authorized representative, and in the case of other juridical entities, a special power of attorney.
- For minor end-user, the registration of a SIM shall be under the name of the minor’s parent or guardian and ALL of the following shall be presented:
ANY of the identification (ID) cards identified above of this IRR and Consent of the minor’s parent or guardian, to register the SIM.
- For foreign national end-user visiting as tourists under Section 9(a) of Commonwealth Act No. 613, as amended, ALL of the following shall be presented
Passport (i.e., copy of the bio-page and pages where the current 9(a) visa is stamped or shown);
Proof of address in the Philippines (i.e., booking in a hotel or other type of accommodation, or in the absence thereof, an affidavit/letter from the owner of the house or residence where such foreign national will stay); and
Return ticket to own country of the tourist or any other ticket showing the date and time of departure from the Philippines.
- For foreign national end-user with other types of visas, ALL of the following shall be presented:
Passport (i.e., copy of the bio-page and pages where the type of visa is stamped or shown);
Proof of address in the Philippines (i.e., booking in a hotel or other type of accommodation, or in the absence thereof, an affidavit/letter from the owner of the house or residence or contract of lease of residence/space where such foreign national will stay); and
Other pertinent document, whichever is applicable:
(1) Alien Employment Permit issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE);
(2) Alien Certificate of Registration Identification Card (ACRI Card) issued by the Bureau of Immigration
(BI) or other types of official ID issued by any other visa-issuing agency;
(3) School registration and ID for students; or (4) For Persons of Concern or POCs, the type of travel or admission document validly issued by the Department of Justice.
(4) For Persons of Concern or POCs, the type of travel or admission document validly issued by the Department of Justice.
SIM card registration on other parts of the World.
According to the GSM Association, approximately 70% of the global population, or over 5.2 billion people, own mobile phones. Of the approximately 160 national governments worldwide, a majority require mandatory SIM card registration, meaning that individuals must provide their real name and personal details in order to sign up for phone service. In addition, over 30 of these governments also require biometric identification, such as fingerprints or a facial scan, as part of the SIM card registration process.
In the following countries, SIM card registration is not required: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Cabo Verde, Comoros, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Moldova, Namibia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vanuatu. In some of these countries, such as Cabo Verde and Estonia, SIM card registration is under discussion. In other countries, bills and laws have been introduced but later retracted, including Namibia, Romania, and Vanuatu.