Porting Phone Numbers to Signal — Process, Timeline, Requirements
Number porting (local number portability, LNP) moves your existing phone numbers from your current carrier to Signal. Your numbers, and service on them, continue working at the old provider until the moment the port completes — there is no gap if the cutover is sequenced correctly.
How long does a port take?
Typical timelines: 7–10 business days for standard local numbers with clean paperwork; toll-free numbers and large multi-number ports can take longer. The single biggest cause of delay is a mismatch between the information on the port request and the current carrier's billing record.
What you need before submitting
Item | Detail |
|---|---|
Current carrier bill | A recent copy showing the numbers and billing name |
Authorized name & address | Exactly as the losing carrier has it on file |
Account number & PIN | From the current carrier, if they use one |
Letter of Authorization | Signed LOA (Signal provides the form) |
Complete number list | Every DID, including fax lines and forgotten numbers |
What can go wrong
- Rejection for mismatched records — fix the field and resubmit; each round trip costs days.
- Numbers you forgot — audit your current bill line by line; numbers left behind get disconnected when you cancel the old account.
- Canceling the old service too early — never cancel before the port completes; canceled numbers can be lost permanently.
Keeping service live during the move
Build and test your Signal system on temporary numbers first (see the go-live checklist). On the confirmed port date, inbound calls simply start arriving at Signal. Keep the old service active until you've verified every ported number rings correctly.
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Last reviewed August 6, 2026. Still stuck? Contact Signal Support from your portal — include what you expected, what happened instead, and one example phone number or extension.