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France Short Code Best Practices

The following topics are discussed in this guide. Click a topic to skip directly to this information:

To apply for French Short Code please follow the guidelines here.

French Short Code Content Restrictions

See the table below for the type of content that is or is not allowed in France. Please also refer to Twilio’s AUP for additional content restriction details. 

Type of Message Content Allowed  Not Allowed
Adult   (error)
Alerts (tick)  
Gambling / Casinos   (error)
Illegal products or services   (error)
Malware   (error)
Marketing (tick)  
Multilevel trading   (error)
Notifications (tick)  
OTP (tick)  
Political causes / politicians   (error)
Promotions (tick)  
Religious   (error)
Sensitive data (end user)   (error)
Sexual content (explicit)   (error)
Spam / phishing   (error)
Special offers (tick)  
Third-party rights violations (copyrights, registered trademarks)    (error)

Other French Short Code Restrictions

Restriction type Explanation

Time

Marketing Short Codes: 

  • Traffic is not allowed between 10pm - 8am. 
  • Traffic is not allowed on Sundays and public French holidays.
  • If messages are sent during these restricted time periods, they will be queued until the window of time opens again. 

OTP, Alerts, Notifications Short Codes:

  • Undefined traffic will be treated as marketing messages and schedule restrictions will apply.

Message Length

The maximum you can send is 10 segments (1 segment means = 160 characters).

SMS Communication

In France, when you open a SC, you have to identify the type of message that the Short Code will be used for:

  • For Marketing, a specific SC starting by 36XXX will be opened.
  • For Notification, a specific SC starting by 38XXX will be opened.

Mandatory Keywords

STOP - Must inform the end-customer that the request is taken into account.

CONTACT - The keyword is similar to INFO. 

The keyword must respond with this information:

    • the name of the company
    • support toll-free number or e-mail 

Opt-In Requirements 

There must be an explicit, express, prior consent to send a message to a subscriber. This consent should be collected by means of a checkbox. Pre-checking the default box is against the law.

Advertising by SMS is possible provided that subscribers have explicitly agreed to be approached, at the time of collection of their mobile phone number.

Two exceptions to this principle:

  • If the person being prospected is already a client of the company and the prospecting concerns products or services similar to those already provided by the company.
  • If the prospection is not of a commercial nature (charitable for example).

In both cases, the person must, at the time of collecting his telephone number:

  • Be informed that their mobile phone number will be used for prospecting purposes.
  • To be able to oppose this use in a simple and free way.

Each message must:

  • Specify the identity of the advertiser.
  • Propose a simple way to oppose the receipt of new requests (for example, a non-premium phone number where it is possible to unsubscribe at the end of the message).

Customer must send SMS on an opt-in database. 

Opt-out Requirements 

  • Short codes must handle STOP. The subscriber's phone number must be removed from the list when they opt-out.
  • For each STOP request, the customer must respond back with a confirmation saying that the subscriber has been opted-out (example: “Merci, nous avons bien pris en compte votre demande").   

All opt-outs must be managed by the customer.

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