SMS destination
South Africa
Dialing code +27 · Africa. Everything you need to send compliant SMS to South Africa with the Bird SMS API.
What you can send
Two-way messaging
Supported
Data residency required
Not available
Before you send
Alphanumeric sender IDs must be registered for South Africa before traffic can deliver. The lead time is listed with the sender types below. File once from the dashboard and track approval through the API.
Sender types
Every way you can originate a message to this country, with how each is cleared for use and how long that takes. Listed best route first.
| Sender | Activation | Setup time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short code | Instant activation | Same day | Supports two-way replies. |
| Alphanumeric Sender ID | Sender ID registration | Varies | One-way only. |
| Long code (phone number) | Instant activation | Same day | Supports two-way replies. |
Rules & regulations
What local regulators expect before you send. Bird applies opt-out handling on every message; the rest depends on the destination.
One API
How sending works
You send to every destination through the same endpoint and the same keys. Bird picks a compliant route for the country, applies opt-out handling on every message, and reports delivery from carrier receipts. The country-specific part is which sender you register. The API call does not change.
The rest of the SMS platform
One API, one set of keys. Explore the other capabilities.
Start sending to South Africa
Create a workspace, register a sender, and send your first message from the same API you will scale on.