From 1 July 2026, all alphanumeric Sender IDs used for SMS in Australia must be registered with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA).
If your Sender ID is not registered, your messages will still be delivered, however they will appear as “Unverified” on recipients’ devices. This may reduce customer trust and engagement.
Cellcast manages the registration process on your behalf, however there is one step that requires your approval to complete the registration.
You are required to register if you send SMS using a business name as your Sender ID.
You do not need to register if you only send messages using a shared number or a dedicated mobile number.
The process is managed in stages, with email notifications sent at each step to guide you through.
Once you submit your Sender ID and business details, your request is reviewed by the Cellcast Compliance Team.
At this stage, no action is required from you. The purpose of this review is to ensure that your Sender ID meets ACMA requirements before submission.
You will receive a confirmation email advising that your request has been received and is under review.
After the review is complete, Cellcast submits your Sender ID to ACMA on your behalf.
You will then receive an email advising that your Sender ID has been submitted and that action is required to complete the registration.
At this point, ACMA will send a separate verification email to the email address linked to your ABN or ABR registration.
To complete the registration, you must approve the request through the ACMA email.
The email will come from:
no-reply@digital.acma.gov.au
You will need to open the email, click the secure link, log in to the ACMA portal using your Digital ID (myID), and confirm that you authorise the Sender ID registration on behalf of your organisation.
This step is mandatory. If it is not completed, your Sender ID will remain pending and cannot be approved.
If the verification step has not been completed, a reminder email will be sent after a few days.
If you have not received the ACMA email, you should check your spam or junk folder and confirm which email address is linked to your ABN registration. In some cases, this may be managed by your accountant or business administrator.
Once the verification has been completed, ACMA will finalise their review.
You will then receive confirmation that your Sender ID has been approved and is active on your account.
At this stage, no further action is required and you can begin sending messages using your registered Sender ID.
The review and submission process typically takes up to 24 hours.
ACMA approval generally takes between two and three business days, depending on processing times.
The most critical step in this process is completing the ACMA verification email. Delays in approval are usually caused by this step not being completed.
It is important to ensure that the correct contact email is linked to your ABN and that the verification email is actioned promptly.
If you are unable to locate the ACMA email, are unsure which email is linked to your ABN, or need help completing the process, please contact the Cellcast Compliance Team.
We are available to assist you at any stage to ensure your Sender ID is registered and active as quickly as possible.