Overview

The Toll-Free Messaging Verification process allows Twilio customers to send more important business messages, and make sure your customers see them. Our users who adhere to their stated use case and all applicable rules (including Twilio's Messaging policy) should see greatly reduced message filtering on Toll-Free traffic towards all major networks in the US and Canada. To help aid customers in the Toll-Free registration process, we have created this comprehensive overview.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who Needs to Verify?

Toll-Free Verification is required for sending messages over Toll-Free phone numbers to the US and Canada. Users who don't complete verification are blocked from sending any messages over Toll-Free numbers as of January 31, 2024. We recommend all users submit their registration as soon as possible to avoid delays in processing, and verification. For more information, see What happens if I don't complete Verification.

If you are a Developer, Hobbyists and/or just starting out at Twilio, see this article to help navigate the new industry restrictions for Programmable Messaging in the US and Canada: Toll-Free Verification and Developers: Navigating the New Restrictions

Is Verification Required for ISVs?

ISVs and aggregators are required to verify Toll-Free numbers. For full details, see Toll-Free Verification for ISVs.

Verification Process

We allow users to verify their Toll-Free phone numbers for messaging via Console or our Messaging Compliance API:

Messaging Compliance API

With the Messaging Compliance API, submit your North American Toll-Free phone number for verification to ensure that you’re sending compliant messaging traffic through Twilio. Please see our onboarding guide for a step-by-step walkthrough of the various API calls you will make to register for Toll-Free Verification capabilities using Twilio APIs.

Console

Submit your toll-free phone number for messaging verification directly from the Twilio Console and also review your verification status for any of the toll-free numbers in your account. Please see our onboarding guide for a step-by-step walkthrough of the process to register for Toll-Free Verification using the Twilio Console.

Verification Processing

Upon receipt of your submission, Twilio reviews and processes your verification request. Please allow approximately 3-5 business days for this process.

Verification Status

Once you submit your verification request, you can monitor verification status as they change during processing through the Console or API.. Please see below for a full overview of each status.

 

What Happens if I Don't Complete Verification?

As of January 31, 2024, all unverified (Restricted & Pending) Toll-Free numbers are blocked from sending messages to the US and Canada until verified. Messaging traffic will be blocked with error code 30032. See the table above for messaging traffic statuses.

How do I Check the Status of My Verification?

You can check the status of your toll-free submission directly through the Twilio Console by taking the following steps: 

1. Access the Active numbers page in Console.
2. Click the Toll-Free phone number that you have submitted for verification.
3. Click the Regulatory Information tab.
   
4. The status will be displayed.
   

For more information on how to check the status of verification, please see step 3 of our onboarding guide here.
You can also check the verification status programmatically via API by using the "List Toll Free Verifications Records" endpoint as described here.

I’ve Verified My Twilio Toll-Free Number Previously and My SMS Traffic Has Been Sending Without Issue, but the Console/API Shows That I Still Need to Submit a Verification Request. What Should I Do Now?

If you are not experiencing 30032 or 30007 filtering errors in your messaging traffic sent from this number, and are certain you’ve previously had it verified, you likely do not need to submit a new verification request at this time. We do still recommend you submit a new request through the Twilio Console/API when possible in order to ensure we have the latest information on your business and use case, and so that you see the proper status on your account for the number going forward.

Please note that there have been numerous changes and improvements to Toll-Free verification and messaging compliance standards across the industry over the past few years, so the latest verifications Console/API experience we’ve introduced here in 2023 reflects most, but not all, historical verification submissions. If in doubt, you can always go through and submit a new verification request for your number so that everything is up to date.

For the time being, other reasons you may not see your Toll-Free number as ‘verified’ in the Console/API despite going through that process before are as follows:

• If you’ve verified the number on one account but later transferred that number to a different account or subaccount (currently, verification records cannot transfer between accounts).
• If you’ve verified the number through a different provider before porting or hosting the number’s SMS services through Twilio (verification records cannot transfer between providers).
• If you’ve verified the number in a previous year when less information was collected in this process (the number(s) would still be treated as ‘verified’ at this time, and SMS traffic is not impacted, but there may not sufficient information to create the respective verification records for visibility in Console/API).
  
  

What Can I Do if My Verification Request Is Rejected?

If your Toll-Free verification request is rejected, you may be able to re-submit a corrected request. Rejections for content, or Acceptable Use Policy / Messaging Policy violations are ineligible, and can't be re-submitted. For full details, see Why Was My Toll-Free Verification Rejected.

What Are the Industry-Wide Thresholds for Sending Traffic Over Unverified (Restricted and Pending) Toll-Free Numbers?

As of January 31, 2024, messages sent from any unverified (Restricted or Pending) Toll-Free phone numbers (TFPN) are blocked. Only fully verified Toll-Free phone numbers are eligible to send messages to the US & Canada.

To check your Toll-Free Number's message activity, please visit the Messaging Insights page in your Twilio Console.

Why Are the Sending Limits Changing?

With the introduction of US A2P 10DLC routes in 2020, the messaging industry began its shift towards a more compliant and transparent ecosystem for Application-to-Person (A2P) messaging. In April, 2023, we communicated new industry requirements that made toll-free numbers the latest phone number types that required registration and vetting. These requirements are consistent with industry-wide, global moves to require registration for all A2P messaging traffic. For more information, see our Blog post.

Is an API Available?

Yes! An API for Toll-Free Verification is available. Please refer to the onboarding guide that describes the step-by-step walkthrough of the various API calls you will make to register for Toll-Free Verification capabilities using Twilio APIs.

You can also submit your Toll-Free phone number for messaging verification directly from the Twilio Console and also review your verification status for any of the Toll-Free numbers in your account.

How Can I Get Higher-Throughput Toll-Free Messaging?

If you need higher throughput than the standard 3 messages per second (MPS) on a Toll-Free number, Twilio offers High-Throughput Toll-Free messaging. Traffic verification is included as part of the High-Throughput setup process.

• For further information, see Toll-Free SMS and MMS messaging throughput (MPS).
• If you are interested in High-Throughput Toll-Free messaging, please talk to our Sales team.
  
  

Do I Need to Go Through the Verification Process Again for Toll-Free Numbers That I'm Porting to Twilio?

Yes, as currently there is no way to transfer toll-free verifications between providers. In order to minimize any downtime, we highly recommend submitting your verification request as soon as the porting process completes for your number.

Please do not submit a new verification request through the Twilio Console/API before the port process completes, or your verification request may be rejected with error 30447. If this occurs, you can delete the failed record and submit a new request after the port completes.

Also, please note that your toll-free SMS traffic should remain treated as Verified until your new submission (via Twilio Console/API) is reviewed.

I See a New "Delete" Option in Console or via API for My Verification Request, When Might I Want to Use This?

There are two methods you can use to delete your Toll-Free Verification request; via Console or API. Before you start using this functionality, please review the different scenarios here to make sure you understand when to and not to use it.

NOTE: Twilio cannot restore a verification record once deleted, so it should only be used as a last resort option when necessary.