Porting Phone Numbers

Overview

Number porting allows you to transfer your existing phone numbers to FlyNumber while maintaining business continuity. Keep your established phone numbers while gaining access to FlyNumber's advanced features and capabilities.

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You can create a FlyNumber account before starting the porting process. This lets you set up your account details and prepare for the port without needing to order a number first.

Porting In Numbers

Starting the Port Request

To initiate a number port:

1. Navigate to My Account > Tickets
2. Create a new ticket with the following information:
   • Full phone number you want to port
   • Current carrier/provider billing the number
   • Underlying carrier (if known)

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The porting process is free for most countries. Switzerland has a one-time fee of $75 USD. Additional fees may apply for rejected ports ($15 USD) or POV requests ($15 USD) as detailed below.

Required Documentation

After submitting your initial request, you'll need to provide:

1. Completed Porting Form: We'll send this after confirming portability
2. Recent Invoice: A copy of your most recent bill for the number

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For online service providers like Skype or Google Voice that don't issue traditional invoices, screenshots of your account dashboard showing the number and account details may suffice as proof of ownership.

Additional Requirements

Depending on your situation, we may also need:

• Photo ID of the account holder
• Tax ID information
• PIN code (if number is carrier-locked)
• Additional carrier-specific documentation

Service-Specific Requirements

Some providers have unique requirements for porting out:

Google Voice

• You must first unlock your number in your Google Voice settings
• Unlocking costs $3 USD (free if the number was ported into Google Voice)
• Provide your 10-digit Google Voice number and voicemail PIN as account credentials
• Do not delete your Google Voice number during the porting process

Other VoIP Providers

• Check for number locking or porting restrictions
• Obtain any required PINs or authorization codes
• Ensure your service is active and in good standing

tip

Having all documentation ready can significantly speed up the porting process. Make sure the information on your bill matches your porting request exactly.

Porting Timeline by Country

US and Canada Porting

Porting US and Canadian numbers is a straightforward process:

• Timeline: Typically 2-7 business days
• Success Rate: High portability rate
• Process Flow:
  1. Submit porting request
  2. Current carrier reviews request
  3. Carrier approves and schedules port
  4. Number transfers to FlyNumber

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The exact porting timeline depends on how quickly your current carrier processes and releases the number. Some carriers may take longer than others.

UK Porting Considerations

UK number porting requires special attention to detail:

• Strict Verification: UK carriers enforce strict verification of account details
• Rejection Fee: If a port request is rejected due to incorrect information, a $15 USD rejection fee may apply
• Common Rejection Reasons:
  • Incorrect postcode
  • Mismatched name or address information
  • Wrong account details

tip

Always confirm your account details with your current carrier before submitting a UK port request. Sometimes, the provider you're dealing with is just a reseller, not the underlying carrier who actually holds the number. Knowing the underlying carrier can significantly smooth the porting process.

Hungary Porting Requirements

Hungary has specific documentation requirements for both national and local number porting:

• Fee: One-time port-in fee of $95 USD
• Timeline: 7-14 business days
• Applies to: Both national and local Hungarian numbers

Required Documentation:

1. Letter of Authorization (LOA):

   • Must use the Hungary-specific template (cannot be altered)
   • Requires your place of birth
   • Requires mother's maiden name

2. Proof of Ownership:

   • Most recent invoice from current provider showing the number
   • For online providers like Skype: screenshot of account dashboard showing the number

3. Personal Identity Verification:

   • Full legal name
   • Contact phone number (not the one being ported)
   • Passport or national ID copy
   • Date of birth
   • Personal Tax ID

4. Address Verification:

   • Complete Hungarian address (street, building number, postal code, city)
   • Proof of address document (required if local address is not shown on the provider invoice)

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Hungary has strict documentation requirements. Ensure all information matches exactly across all documents to avoid delays or rejection.

POV (Proof of Verification) Request

If you're unsure who the underlying carrier is for your number, we can submit a POV (Proof of Verification) request:

• Cost: $15 USD
• Timeline: Typically 2-3 business days
• Benefits: Provides concrete information about who owns the number
• Purpose: Reduces the chance of rejection (though doesn't completely eliminate the risk)

This service is particularly valuable for UK numbers but can be useful for complex porting situations in any country.

Other Countries

Porting requirements and processes vary significantly by country:

Country	Timeline	Special Requirements
Switzerland	5-10 business days	One-time fee of $75 USD
Hungary	7-14 business days	One-time fee of $95 USD; additional documentation required
UK	7-14 business days	PAC code from current provider may be requested; strict verification of account details
Germany	3-5 business days	Provider cancellation confirmation
Australia	5-15 business days	Service verification code may be requested
France	7-10 business days	RIO number from current provider
Other Countries	Varies	Contact us for details

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Most countries have a straightforward porting process requiring just basic documentation. UK and Hungary have more specific requirements due to their regulatory frameworks, which we've detailed above. For all other countries, the process is typically simpler - we'll guide you through the specific requirements for your region during the porting process.

General Porting Information

Understanding the porting process helps set proper expectations:

What Can Be Ported

• Most landline numbers
• Mobile numbers
• VoIP numbers (including Google Voice, Skype, etc.)
• Toll-free numbers

What Cannot Be Ported

The main restriction for porting is that the number must be active with your current carrier. Canceled or inactive numbers cannot be ported.

Best Practices

1. Keep your current service active until porting completes
2. Ensure all account information matches exactly
3. Respond promptly to any additional information requests
4. Have a backup communication plan during the port
5. Confirm details with your current carrier before submission
6. For UK numbers, verify postcode and account holder information

tip

Before initiating a port, verify that your number is not under contract and that there are no outstanding balances with your current provider. For international ports, especially in the UK, take extra time to confirm your account details to avoid rejection fees.

After Porting

Once your number is successfully ported to FlyNumber:

• Configure your preferred call handling
• Set up any needed forwarding rules
• Test incoming and outgoing calls
• Cancel your old service if no longer needed

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Do not cancel your existing service until the porting process is complete. Early cancellation can prevent the port from completing successfully.

Porting Out Numbers

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While we'd love to know why you're thinking of leaving (we're not crying, it's just something in our eye 😢), we understand that sometimes you need to move your number elsewhere. If you've had any issues with our service, please let us know - we often can work with carriers to resolve problems you might be experiencing!

Port Out Process

We believe in making the porting process as smooth as possible, whether you're coming or going. Here's what you need to know about porting out:

1. No Restrictions: We never block legitimate port out requests or lock numbers with PINs
2. Account Information: Your new carrier will need details from your Account Settings
3. Email Confirmation: We'll confirm port out requests via email
4. Proactive Notification: You can open a ticket to let us know about planned ports

Port Out Fee

There is a one-time $3 USD fee to port out a number. Please ensure your prepaid balance has at least $3 USD available. If needed, you can add funds to cover this fee.

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If you're planning to port out a number, consider opening a ticket to let us know in advance. This helps ensure a smooth transition and gives us a chance to address any concerns you might have.