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To register for A2P 10DLC, you confirm your number type, choose a brand type, gather your details, and submit a Brand and a Campaign. Give the Campaign extra care, because Twilio's own quickstart says: "Most application failures occur in step 3 (campaign registration)."
This checklist uses Twilio's published requirements as the example, checked on 9 November 2026. Other providers ask for similar information, but their forms and fees differ. It is part of our AI Front Desk guide.
New to the term? Start with what A2P 10DLC is. This checklist is general information, not legal advice.
Key Takeaways
- Decide your brand type first, because it depends on whether you have a Tax ID.
- Twilio trial accounts can't register, so upgrade before you start.
- Your campaign description needs a full explanation, and Twilio says single-word answers are insufficient.
- You need two sample messages, and Twilio asks for an opt-out mechanism in every message.
- Budget for fees and allow time, since Twilio gives up to 5 business days for standard campaign reviews.
Step 1: Confirm you need it
- Your software sends texts to US numbers.
- You send from a regular 10-digit number. Toll-free and short code numbers are not part of A2P 10DLC.
- You know who your provider is. The Campaign Registry says: "Currently, direct registration with TCR is not available for Brands."
Twilio's A2P 10DLC documentation says: "Anyone sending SMS/MMS messages over a 10DLC number from an application to the US must register for A2P 10DLC."
Step 2: Check your account
The Twilio quickstart says: "Twilio trial accounts can't register for A2P 10DLC."
- Your account is upgraded from trial.
- You know who will respond to verification requests during registration.
Step 3: Pick your brand type
| If you... | Choose | Limits to know |
|---|---|---|
| Have no business Tax ID | Sole Proprietor | One Campaign, one phone number, up to 1,000 segments a day to T-Mobile |
| Have a Tax ID and low volume | Low-Volume Standard | Up to five Campaigns, up to 2,000 segments a day to T-Mobile |
| Have a Tax ID and need more volume | Standard | Up to five Campaigns, 2,000 segments a day to T-Mobile and up, depending on Trust Score |
Twilio notes exceptions, including higher limits for Russell 3000 companies on Low-Volume Standard. Each Tax ID can register up to five Standard or Low-Volume Standard Brands. Additional Brands register, but their Campaigns may be rejected during manual vetting.
Step 4: Gather your details
If you have a Tax ID:
- Your business registration ID, such as a US EIN.
- Your business details, entered by hand or from an existing compliance profile.
If you register as a Sole Proprietor, Twilio's Sole Proprietor overview asks for:
- An email address with a valid domain, not a disposable one.
- A valid US or Canadian address.
- A US or Canadian mobile number for a one-time passcode. It can't come from a provider such as Twilio.
Twilio says the email and the address can each be used a maximum of 10 times across registrations. The mobile number can be used no more than three times for Sole Proprietor Brands. You must respond to the passcode within 24 hours.
Hobbyists who have no business should use personal details in the fields asking for business details, according to the quickstart.
Step 5: Prepare your website
- Your website is real and working. The quickstart says a linked website must be a real, functional business website.
- Your privacy policy is public.
- That policy states no mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.
Have someone with the right legal training review the policy wording before you submit it.
Step 6: Write the campaign description
The quickstart says: "Provide a thorough explanation of the campaign's objective." It also says single-word answers, such as "Marketing," are insufficient.
- It names your business and who receives the messages.
- It says what the messages are for, such as appointment reminders.
- It matches the messages you will actually send.
For an AI front desk, a useful description states that texts follow a customer inquiry, and what those texts contain. Avoid describing uses you don't plan to run.
Step 7: Write two sample messages
- Write two examples that reflect your real content. If you send only one template, Twilio says you can duplicate it for the second.
- Include an opt-out method in each. The quickstart says: "Indicate an opt-out mechanism in every message."
- Include your business name, so the recipient can tell who is texting.
Step 8: Document the opt-in
This part deserves extra care. Twilio asks for your explicit end user opt-in process.
- You can describe where and how people agree to receive texts.
- You don't ask for opt-in by text. The quickstart says: "You can't solicit opt in through a (not-yet-consented-to) SMS message."
- Your consent matches the message type.
Twilio's Messaging Policy, last updated 13 April 2026, requires prior express consent for informational messages. It requires prior express written consent for promotional ones.
The policy also says recipients must be told who the sender is and how their number will be used. They must also know the message subject and how to withdraw.
A missed call is not a text, so it doesn't count as a texted opt-in. Ask an attorney to review your consent wording and any missed-call text-back flow.
Step 9: Set up opt-out and help replies
- Your first message includes "Reply STOP to unsubscribe" or an equivalent keyword.
- Opt-outs are handled in a single step.
- Your system stops messaging people who opted out, unless they opt in again.
- You keep proof of consent, including the date and method.
The quickstart recommends keeping the default opt-out and help values Twilio provides. The policy says you must keep proof of consent for as long as legally needed, and at least until a recipient withdraws. Consent can't be bought, sold, rented or transferred.
Step 10: Budget the fees
Twilio's two public pages list different amounts. These were read on 9 November 2026, so confirm the fees shown at signup.
| Item | Twilio brand docs | Twilio marketing page |
|---|---|---|
| Standard brand | $4.50 TCR fee plus $41.50 vetting | $44 one-time |
| Low-Volume Standard or Sole Proprietor brand | $4.50 TCR fee | $4 one-time |
| Campaign vetting | Not a brand fee | $15 per campaign, one-time |
| Campaign monthly | Not a brand fee | $1.50 to $10, or $2 for Sole Proprietor |
The brand docs also list an $11 appeal for Standard Brand vetting rejections.
Step 11: Submit and track
- Register the Brand. "TCR typically approves brands within a few minutes of submission."
- Register the Campaign. "Campaign reviews take up to 5 business days for standard use cases."
- Add your phone number to the Campaign or Messaging Service.
- Follow up if needed. "If your campaign is still in progress after 10 days, reach out to Support."
Twilio's marketing page says there isn't an exact timeline, because approval involves carriers, Twilio and outside vetting partners. Don't promise a launch date that depends on a campaign you haven't had approved yet.
After approval
- Send only the kinds of messages you described.
- Update your Campaign if your use case changes.
- Test STOP and HELP from a real phone.
For help with texting tied to your CRM or booking tools, see our AI software and CRM development service.
Frequently asked questions
How long does A2P 10DLC registration take?
Twilio's quickstart says brands are typically approved within a few minutes and campaign reviews take up to 5 business days for standard use cases. Twilio's marketing page estimates under one week for campaign approval, without an exact timeline.
Why do A2P 10DLC campaigns get rejected?
Twilio says most application failures occur in the campaign registration step. Twilio's quickstart warns against thin descriptions and says a linked website must be real and working. Check your description, samples, opt-in process and privacy policy against the provider's form before you submit.
Can I use one Tax ID for several brands?
Twilio says each Tax ID can register up to five Standard or Low-Volume Standard Brands. Additional Brands can register, but Twilio says their Campaigns may be rejected during manual vetting.
Do I need a privacy policy?
Twilio's quickstart tells you to make a privacy policy publicly available. It must state that no mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.
Who should submit the registration?
Whoever has accurate business details and can respond to verification requests quickly. Sole Proprietor registration requires a response to a one-time passcode within 24 hours. If someone registers on your behalf, make sure they use your real business information.
