SMS destination

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

Dialing code +44 · Europe. Everything you need to send compliant SMS to United Kingdom with the Bird SMS API.

Policy last updated July 13, 2026

What you can send

SMS
WhatsApp

Two-way messaging

Supported

Before you send

Alphanumeric sender IDs must be registered for United Kingdom 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.

How sender-ID registration works →

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.

SenderActivationSetup timeNotes
Short codeShort-code provisioning~40 business daysSupports two-way replies.
Alphanumeric Sender IDSender ID registration~5 business daysOne-way only.
Long code (phone number)Number registration~5 business daysSupports two-way replies.

Rules & regulations

What local regulators expect before you send, as the destination's own policy record states it.

ConsentOpt-in required
Template approvalRequired
Quiet hoursApply
  • United Kingdom enforces strict segmentation between marketing and transactional messaging:
  • Each Sender ID can only be registered for one segment—either marketing or transactional. If your content spans both, you must register separate Sender IDs for each.
  • Generic senders (e.g. Verify), sub-variations of generic senders (verify), and senders which contain part of generic senders (VerifyCode), are not allowed.
  • Following special characters are allowed: "." (dot), "-" (dash), "_" (underscore), " " (space), "&" (ampersand). All other special characters are not supported.
  • Character replacement (e.g. A to 4, or B to 8, etc.) is not allowed.
  • If the company name and requested sender have different names, please make sure to specify what is the connection between them.
  • Sender IDs belonging to Russian companies can not be registered

What this market refuses

Gambling is legal and regulated in this market. All forms of online gambling require a license from the Commission. To register a Sender ID, you must include a copy of your gambling license with your request. Additionally, some senders are protected by UK operators, which may require an authorization letter for registration.

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.

Sending to United Kingdom, answered

What senders ask before their first message to United Kingdom.

Do I need to register a sender before sending SMS to United Kingdom?
Yes. Every sender here must be registered before it can send: a short code, an alphanumeric sender ID, and a long code. Short codes are assigned by Bird rather than bought, and only reach numbers inside the country. For an alphanumeric sender ID the name itself is registered, so recipients see exactly the name that was approved. A phone number is registered for this country before it can send business messages. Each sender ID is registered for either marketing or transactional messages, not both. If you send both kinds you need one sender ID for each.
Can I use an alphanumeric sender ID in United Kingdom?
Yes, once the sender ID has been registered. Generic sender names, or names that contain one, are refused. The only special characters allowed are full stop, hyphen, underscore, ampersand, and space. A letter cannot be replaced with a look-alike digit.
How long does sender registration take in United Kingdom?
Registering a short code takes about 40 business days. Registering an alphanumeric sender ID takes about 5 business days. Registering a long code takes about 5 business days.
Can I receive replies from United Kingdom?
Yes, if you send from a short code or a long code. Replies are delivered to you as signed webhooks.
Are there quiet hours for SMS in United Kingdom?
Yes. Local rules limit the hours in which you can send.
Do I need consent before messaging someone in United Kingdom?
Yes. The recipient must opt in before you send the first message. Every message must offer a way to opt out.
What other channels can Bird reach United Kingdom on?
WhatsApp and Voice, from the same account and API.

The rest of the SMS platform

One API, one set of keys. Explore the other capabilities.

Sender-ID registrationPre-register alphanumeric and dedicated senders where countries require it.Routing190+ countries, 240 direct-to-carrier links, and automatic failover.NumbersLong codes, short codes, toll-free, and alphanumeric sender IDs.SendingThe send API: segments, Unicode safety, batch, and idempotency.Two-wayInbound SMS and conversational replies as HMAC-signed webhooks.All destinationsCoverage, sender types, and rules for every country Bird reaches.

Put it into practice.

Continue with the documentation, guides and examples for this topic. Resources are in English.

Implementation guideSMS overviewExplore the capabilitySMS destinations
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