Porting your mobile number

How do I keep my mobile number?

Before we dive into the steps, there are 2 important things to remember when you're looking to port your number to a new provider.

• Do not cancel your existing mobile plan before your number's been ported and you've received confirmation. If you do, you could lose your number.
• Make sure the number is under your name. If it's not, you will need to request a change of ownership first.

To transfer your mobile number to a new plan:

1. Confirm the number is under your name

You won't be able to port your number unless you have ownership of it. If it is, you're good to go.

2. Buy your new SIM

Simply buy your new SIM either online or in-store to begin the activation process.

During sign-up, you'll receive a request to 'keep my existing number' or wording similar to this. Select this option and your new provider will handle the rest.

• Good to know: Rules set by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) state that a provider must allow you to port your number to another service if you request this. If your old provider refuses to let you go, you're within your right to complain.

• Keep in mind: Some mobile providers will charge you a port-out fee when you move your number to your new provider. Check your plan's Critical Information Summary (CIS) document, available online, so you're not surprised by any extra fees on your final bill.

3. Wait for porting to complete

Porting only happen during business hours, which is usually between 8am-8pm Monday-Friday and 10am-6pm on Saturday.

You can still request to port your number on a Sunday, but just keep in mind that it will probably take at least 1 business day to complete.

Most mobile numbers take between a few hours to 2 days to be ported. In rare cases, it can take up to a week.

Once you've received confirmation that your number has been ported from your new provider, your old plan will automatically be cancelled.

Remember to pay off any final bills.

Can I use my old SIM while porting?

You should be able to use your old SIM until your number is ported.

There are a few things you should keep in mind of:

• Make sure you've activated your new SIM once your number's been ported. Otherwise, you won't be able to make calls and texts.
• Once you've received confirmation that your number's been ported, pay off any pending bills with your old provider.
• Oftentimes, your last bill will be finalised after a few days but you won't be charged extra. That's because your old plan gets automatically cancelled once porting is complete.

• Good to know: In case you run into any trouble activating your new SIM, you will still be able to browse, stream, WhatsApp and more using Wi-Fi.

Finder survey: How difficult do people find it to switch mobile plans?

Compare mobile plans for a better deal

Haven't decided which plan you're going to transfer your number to? You can check out the latest mobile deals in our comparison table below.

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Updated regularly

Name	Product	Data	Price	Apply	Price
TPG Large PrepaidNo lock-in contract $15/mth for the first 6 months, then $30/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. TPG Large Prepaid $15/mth for the first 6 months, then $30/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Finder Award	Unlimited national calls & texts Vodafone 4G network	45GB	$15 per month	Go to site View details	Finder Award -50% $15/mth for the first 6 months, then $30/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Unlimited standard national calls & texts 45 GB Data $15 per month Go to siteView details	loading Fetching your data...
iiNet Medium Plan PrepaidNo lock-in contract $12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $24.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. iiNet Medium Plan Prepaid $12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $24.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply.	Unlimited national calls & texts Vodafone 4G network	16GB	$12.50 per month	Go to site View details	-50% $12.50/mth for the first 6 months, then $24.99/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Unlimited standard national calls & texts 16 GB Data $12.50 per month Go to siteView details	loading Fetching your data...
felix Subscription Unlimited SubscriptionNo lock-in contract $20/mth for the first 3 months, then $40/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. felix Subscription Unlimited Subscription $20/mth for the first 3 months, then $40/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Finder Award	Unlimited national calls & texts Vodafone 5G/4G network	Unlimited data At speeds up to 20Mbps	$20 per month	Go to site View details	Finder Award GREEN COMPANY $20/mth for the first 3 months, then $40/mth. Use promo code FELIX50. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Unlimited standard national calls & texts Unlimited data At speeds up to 20Mbps $20 per month Go to siteView details	loading Fetching your data...
Dodo $25 PostpaidNo lock-in contract $12.50/mth for the first 3 months, then $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Order by 27.8.24 Dodo $25 Postpaid $12.50/mth for the first 3 months, then $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Order by 27.8.24	Unlimited national calls & texts Optus 4G/3G network	25GB No excess data charges	$12.50 per month	Go to site View details	$12.50/mth for the first 3 months, then $25/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Order by 27.8.24 Unlimited standard national calls & texts 25 GB Data $12.50 per month Go to siteView details	loading Fetching your data...
TPG Small PrepaidNo lock-in contract $10/mth for the first 6 months, then $20/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. TPG Small Prepaid $10/mth for the first 6 months, then $20/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Finder Award	Unlimited national calls & texts Vodafone 4G network	12GB	$10 per month	Go to site View details	Finder Award -50% $10/mth for the first 6 months, then $20/mth. Eligibility criteria, T&Cs apply. Unlimited standard national calls & texts 12 GB Data $10 per month Go to siteView details	loading Fetching your data...

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Frequently asked questions

• What does porting your phone number mean?

  "Porting" your number means transferring it from one mobile phone plan to another, so that you can keep your current mobile number, even if you switch providers.

• What if the number isn't under my name?

  If the mobile number isn't under your name, you will need to fill out a transfer of ownership form through your current provider.

  It will require identification documents and consent from both the current account holder and the person taking ownership. Use our guide to transferring ownership to get started.

• How can I check my porting status?

  There's no real way to check where you are in the porting process. Generally, you'll be notified when the process starts and again when it's all finished.

• Does porting your number cancel a service?

  Yes, it does. Once your number's been successfully ported, your service will be cancelled automatically.

• Can I port my number from a postpaid plan to a prepaid plan?

  Absolutely. Numbers can be ported between any kind of mobile service.

• Is there a fee to port your mobile number?

  Most telcos in Australia will let you port your number to another provider for free, however this isn't always the case. Some mobile provider like TPG will charge a port-out fee for customers who switch providers, so make sure you read the T&Cs whenever you're signing up to a new phone plan.

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Written by

Mariam Gabaji

Editor I Tech and utilities expert

Mariam Gabaji is an editor and tech and utilities expert at Finder with 12+ years of experience as a journalist. She's committed to helping households cut through the industry jargon and save money on their bills. Her expertise is often featured in media including the ABC, Yahoo Finance, 9News, 7News, A Current Affair, The Guardian, SBS and Money Magazine. See full bio

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