SMS Sender ID Register Information

Last updated: May 2026

SMS Sender ID Register

The Australian Government has established the SMS Sender ID Register under Part 24B of the Telecommunications Act 1997.

From 1 July 2026, if an SMS/MMS message is sent using a sender identification that is not registered in the SMS Sender ID Register, that message will be labelled as "Unverified".

If your organisation wishes to send SMS/MMS messages using a sender identification, you must:

  1. register your sender identification in the SMS Sender ID Register; and
  2. ensure that you use one or more participating telecommunications providers to send those messages.

A list of participating telecommunications providers that are originating telecommunications providers will be made available on the ACMA website.

Who can apply to register a sender identification?

The following types of entities can be approved to make applications to register sender identifications in the SMS Sender ID Register:

  1. an individual;
  2. a body corporate;
  3. a corporation sole;
  4. a body politic;
  5. a government entity, within the meaning of the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999;
  6. a partnership;
  7. any other unincorporated association or body of persons;
  8. a trust;
  9. a superannuation fund, within the meaning of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993.

To have a sender identification registered, the entity must demonstrate that it has a valid use case for the sender identification.

Entities with an ABN

An entity with an ABN can apply to register its sender identification through any participating telecommunications provider that is an originating telecommunications provider, or through a partner of a participating telecommunications provider.

To obtain approval to make an application:

  1. the person making the request for the entity must be listed as an authorised contact for the entity on the Australian Business Register, or be otherwise authorised by that entity;
  2. the person making the request must pass an identification check; and
  3. the person making the request must agree to the Register's terms of use.

Once the provider has made the application for registration of the sender identification on behalf of the entity, the person making the request for the entity will receive instructions from the ACMA about how to access the Register.

Once the entity is approved by the ACMA, the entity will be able to confirm the registration of the sender identification.

Any cost for registering a sender identification, including any ongoing annual charge, will be payable by the entity.

Once the entity's sender identification is registered, the entity can authorise other participating telecommunications providers to send messages using that sender identification.

An entity with an ABN can also register its sender identification through an originating telecommunications provider that is a certified telecommunications provider.

Entities without an ABN

An entity without an ABN can only apply to register its sender identification through an originating telecommunications provider that is a certified telecommunications provider, or through a partner of a certified telecommunications provider.

That provider or partner will conduct similar checks to those required for entities with an ABN.

An entity without an ABN that makes an application through a certified provider or partner will not be able to gain access to the Register.