Quick answer: To complete SMS Sender ID registration in Singapore, create an account on the SSIR portal with your UEN and Corppass. Pay the S$545 set-up fee, submit your Sender ID, then pay S$218 per year to whitelist it. Use an IMDA-licensed Participating Aggregator. SGNIC says the process usually takes about 19 calendar days.
SMS Sender ID registration in Singapore is compulsory if you text customers under a brand name. This guide explains who must register, what it costs, and how to do it. We checked every figure against official sources, and we link to each one.
What changed since 2023?
Our 2023 article covered the rules before they began. Since then, the rules have settled and the details have moved on. Earlier guides quote S$500 and S$200, but the set-up fee is now S$545 and a whitelist Sender ID is S$218 per year, both including GST (SSIR User Agreement). You can also register blacklist Sender IDs now. This guide reflects all of that.
What is the Singapore SMS Sender ID Registry (SSIR)?
Who must register an SMS Sender ID in Singapore?
You must register if you send SMS to Singapore mobile numbers with an alphanumeric Sender ID. That means a name made of letters, or letters and numbers. Registration has been mandatory since 31 January 2023 (SGNIC).
The rules do not apply to SMS sent from a plain mobile number. They target alphanumeric IDs (IMDA factsheet). You can also register 5-digit short codes starting with 7, and 10-digit long virtual numbers from the 8 or 9 series. Both must be unique to you (SGNIC FAQ).
What happens if you don’t register your Sender ID?
SGNIC says unregistered Sender IDs are marked “Likely-SCAM” (SGNIC). AWS also warns that regulators may filter or block unregistered traffic at their discretion (AWS documentation). Either way, customers lose trust in your messages, or never receive them.
What you need before you register
Prepare these four items first:
- A Singapore UEN. Foreign companies can get one through a local subsidiary or foreign branch registered with ACRA.
- CorpPass, which SGNIC uses to verify your company.
- A Participating Aggregator (PA). This is an IMDA-licensed SMS provider on the official PA list.
- Your Sender ID, which follows the rules below.
How to register your Sender ID with SSIR: step by step
- Step 1: Create your account. Open the official SSIR portal. Add your company details and complete Corppass verification. Then select your Participating Aggregator. If a vendor sends your SMS, ask which PA they use.
- Step 2: Pay the account set-up fee. SGNIC emails you once it accepts your account. You then have 30 calendar days to pay in the portal.
- Step 3: Submit your Sender ID. Apply for the name you want. SGNIC assigns IDs on a first-come, first-served basis. If the name isn’t clearly yours, SGNIC may ask for proof, such as your website or brochures.
- Step 4: Choose whitelist or blacklist. A whitelist ID is one you send from. A blacklist ID blocks others from using that name.
- Step 5: Sign a Letter of Authorisation if needed. If an agency sends SMS for you, they need your Letter of Authorisation. They give it to the aggregator.
- Step 6: Pay for your Sender ID. After SGNIC accepts the ID, you have another 30 calendar days to pay. If you miss the deadline, the ID is released for others to register.
- Step 7: Wait for whitelisting. SGNIC passes approved IDs to aggregators weekly. Don’t send before the portal status says “Live”. Otherwise your message may show as “Likely-SCAM”. The SSIR Portal User Guide shows each screen.
How much does SSIR registration cost in 2026?
These fees include GST and apply from 2 January 2026 (SSIR User Agreement):
For example, one whitelist Sender ID costs S$763 in year one (S$545 + S$218). Fees are non-refundable. You can pay by Visa, Mastercard or PayNow QR, but not by bank transfer (SGNIC FAQ).
How long does SSIR registration take?
SGNIC says the full process takes about 19 calendar days. This assumes your documents are correct and you pay promptly (SGNIC FAQ). So start well before your next SMS campaign.
Whitelist vs blacklist Sender IDs
A whitelist Sender ID lets you send SMS. A blacklist Sender ID does the opposite, because it stops anyone from using that name. Blacklisting is useful for look-alikes. For example, if you register “XYZ”, you can blacklist “XYZ Info” so scammers can’t use it (SGNIC FAQ).
Rules for choosing a Sender ID
Follow these rules to avoid rejection:
- Use 11 characters or fewer, including spaces and hyphens.
- Don’t use Chinese or Cyrillic characters, and don’t use a generic name.
- Don’t share the ID with another organisation.
- Don’t suggest a link to the Singapore Government or a statutory body.
SGNIC lists all of them in its Rules of Registration.
Common mistakes that stop SMS delivery
- Wrong capitalisation. “PineApple” and “PineAPPLE” count as different IDs.
- Unregistered variants. Register every ID you plan to use.
- A non-participating aggregator. Whitelisted IDs sent through one are blocked.
- Missing aggregator paperwork. Your PA may need extra documents from you.
- Skipping a test. Send a test SMS before a full campaign.
- Late PayNow payment. The QR code expires after 10 minutes.
How do you renew a Sender ID?
Registration lasts one year. The portal sends reminders on the 1st, 15th and 28th of the month before expiry. Pay before the last day. Otherwise SGNIC removes the ID without further warning, and anyone can register it (User Agreement).
Beware of fake payment links
SGNIC emails never contain a payment link. Always pay inside the official portal at smsregistry.sg (SGNIC FAQ).
Need to send voucher or campaign SMS in Singapore?
FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
Yes. Organisations sending SMS with alphanumeric Sender IDs to Singapore numbers must register with SSIR. This has applied since 31 January 2023.
The one-time set-up fee is S$545. A whitelist Sender ID costs S$218 per year, and a blacklist ID costs S$54.50 per year. All prices include GST
Yes, but it needs a Singapore UEN first. Foreign firms get one by registering a local subsidiary or foreign branch with ACRA.
No. Delete the wrong ID and submit a new one. If you already paid, the new ID needs a new payment.
Use SGNIC’s Sender ID Query.
No. Whitelist protection applies to Singapore mobile numbers only.
