Portable Number Types
| Type | Portable | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local | Yes | Geographic numbers |
| National | Yes | Non-geographic national numbers |
| Toll-Free | Yes | Same requirements as local/national |
Required Documents
All Number Types
- ☐ Letter of Authorization (LOA) — Signed authorization to port. National address is mandatory on the LOA. Template available for download.
- ☐ SIRET Code — Required for business accounts. Must be exactly 14 digits long. This is the INSEE code used for geographic identification of French business establishments.
- ☐ RIO Code — Must be exactly 12 characters long. Obtained by dialing 3179 or 0 805 92 3179. If these numbers are unavailable, request the RIO directly from the current carrier.
- ☐ Latest Invoice — Most recent invoice from the current service provider.
- ☐ Proof of Address — Must be dated within 3 months of the porting request.
Port Types
| Port Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Isolated | Porting a single number |
| Full Portability | Migrating a main number (BTN) along with ALL associated numbers |
| Partial Portability | Migrating SOME of the associated numbers to a BTN, without porting the actual BTN itself |
| Complex Portability | Migrating a main phone number (BTN) without the associated numbers — a new BTN must be designated for the remaining numbers |
Porting Timeline
| Aspect | Timeline |
|---|---|
| All port types | Minimum 8 business days |
| Available time slots (morning) | 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM |
| Available time slots (afternoon) | 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM |
| Re-submission after rejection | After a rejection, there is a waiting period while your current carrier formally closes the rejected request before a new port can be submitted |
Common Rejection Reasons
- Business address mismatch — Address on the LOA does not match the carrier's records
- SIRET code invalid — The provided SIRET is incorrect or not 14 digits
- Business name mismatch — Company name does not match the current carrier's account
- Pending porting request with another carrier — An existing port-out request is already in progress with a different provider
Key Definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| SIRET | A 14-digit INSEE code that geographically identifies a French business establishment. Required for all business porting requests. |
| RIO | Releve d'Identite Operateur — A 12-character operator identity code unique to each phone line. Required for all French porting requests. |
| BTN | Billing Telephone Number — The main/primary number on an account, to which other numbers may be associated. |
| Isolated Port | A port involving a single standalone number. |
| Full Portability | Porting the BTN and all associated numbers together. |
| Partial Portability | Porting some associated numbers without the BTN. |
| Complex Portability | Porting the BTN without its associated numbers (requires designating a new BTN). |
Notes
- Information verification before submission is critical — mismatches cause rejections and multi-day delays.
- The proof of address must be recent (within 3 months).
- France requires both a SIRET code and a RIO code, which is more documentation than most European countries.
