Skip to main content

Puerto Rico (+1787)

Your handy guide for sending to Puerto Rico

Updated over 2 weeks ago

You can send One-Way & Two-Way SMS and MMS messages in Puerto Rico.


Available Sender IDs

You can choose from a few Sender ID options when sending to Puerto Rico.

Registration and fees may apply.

Not sure which one to choose?

See our Sender ID guide or contact support — we're happy to help.

10-Digit Long Code (10DLC)

Send from a trusted, local number. Your messages will always come from a consistent Sender ID, which is perfect for establishing trust and recognition. 10DLCs are suitable for low to medium message volumes.

Purchase a dedicated number via our Dashboard by going to:

Sender IDs ➔ Buy a Number

10DLC registration usually takes 1-3 business days and costs do apply.

Registration requirements

  • A clear use case for your messaging campaign (e.g. appointment reminders, customer service, promotions)

  • Sample message content, including opt-out instructions

  • A compliant privacy policy and terms of service

  • Proof of opt-in or a detailed description of the opt-in process

  • Brand and company information (e.g. name, address, website)

  • Expected message volume and sending frequency

Toll-Free Number (TFN)

Toll-Free Numbers are 10-digit numbers (e.g. 888, 800, 877 prefixes) that support two-way messaging. Your messages will always come from a consistent Sender ID, which is perfect for establishing trust and recognition. TFNs are suitable for low to medium message volumes.

Purchase a dedicated number via our Dashboard by going to:

Sender IDs ➔ Buy a Number

TFN registration usually takes 1-7 business days and costs do apply.

Registration requirements

  • A clear use case for your messaging campaign (e.g. alerts, promotions)

  • Sample message content, including opt-out instructions

  • Proof of opt-in or a detailed description of the opt-in process

  • Brand and company information (e.g. name, address, website)

  • Expected message volume and sending frequency

Short Code

Short codes are 5-6 digits long and offer superior throughput — ideal if you plan to send a high volume of messages.

To purchase a short code, please contact support.

Short Code registration usually takes 8-12 weeks and costs do apply.

Registration requirements

Your ClickSend account manager will contact you to guide you through the highly regulated short code application process. To complete registration, you’ll need to provide detailed information, including:

  • A clear use case for your messaging campaign (e.g. marketing, 2FA, customer alerts)

  • Sample message content that includes opt-out instructions

  • A compliant privacy policy and terms of service

  • Opt-in proof or a detailed description of the opt-in process

  • Brand and company information (e.g. name, address, website)

  • Expected message volume and frequency

Alpha tags

Alpha tags allow you to use your brand name as your Sender ID instead of a number. Recipients cannot reply to messages sent using an alpha tag.

Register an alpha tag via our Dashboard by going to:

Sender IDs ➔ Manage Senders


Rules and best practices

Messaging regulations in Puerto Rico follow U.S. federal compliance standards, including those set by the FCC, CTIA, and the TCPA. All businesses sending SMS or MMS messages to Puerto Rican recipients must adhere to the following best practices.

CTIA’s Guiding Principles

The CTIA represents the U.S. wireless industry and sets messaging compliance standards. All messaging programs must follow these four guiding principles:

  1. Clear Calls-to-Action: Consumers must clearly understand what they’re signing up for.

  2. Valid Consent Mechanisms: Consent must meet CTIA’s requirements, giving consumers control over what they receive.

  3. Opt-In Confirmation: The first message must confirm the user’s opt-in and include opt-out instructions.

  4. Honor Opt-Out Requests: All opt-out requests must be acknowledged and actioned promptly.

Consent Types: What’s Required?

There are three main messaging categories, each with its own consent requirements:

1. Conversational Messaging

Back-and-forth conversations initiated by the consumer.

  • First message: Sent by the consumer

  • Message type: Two-way

  • Purpose: Response to a specific request

  • Consent: Implied (no formal permission needed)

2. Informational Messaging

Texts sent in response to a request or as part of a service (e.g. alerts, reminders).

  • First message: Sent by either party

  • Message type: One-way or two-way

  • Purpose: Provide requested info

  • Consent: Express (verbal, written, form, or online opt-in)

3. Promotional Messaging

Messages promoting a product, service, or special offer.

  • First message: Sent by the business

  • Message type: One-way

  • Purpose: Marketing, sales, or promotional content

  • Consent: Express Written Consent (e.g. checkbox, signed form)

Note: Promotional messaging is the most regulated and subject to stricter rules under TCPA.

Opt-Out Requirements

All campaigns must include clear opt-out instructions (e.g., “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”).
If sending messages in a language other than English, opt-out instructions must be provided in that language as well.

Link Shorteners

Public link shorteners (e.g., bit.ly) are not allowed. AT&T and other carriers banned them due to their potential to obscure deceptive or malicious URLs. Messages using public shorteners are often flagged and rejected as spam.

If you need to shorten URLs to stay within character limits, ClickSend offers a built-in link shortener.


Content guidelines

Before sending to Puerto Rico, please review our Sending Guidelines to understand prohibited message types. Additionally, you must adhere to the specific local regulations of disallowed content outlined below:

  • High-Risk Financial Services

    • Payday Loans

    • Short Term- High Interest Loans

    • Auto Loans

    • Mortgage Loans

    • Student Loans

    • Debt Collection

    • Gambling/Sweepstakes

    • Stock Alerts

    • Cryptocurrency

  • Get Rich Quick Schemes

    • Deceptive Work from Home Programs

    • Risk Investment Opportunities

    • Multi-Level Marketing

  • Debt Forgiveness

    • Debt Consolidation

    • Debt Reduction

    • Credit Repair Programs

    • 3rd Party Debt collection

  • Job Postings

    • Exceptions permitted if the message sender is the one doing the hiring

  • Gambling

  • Deceptive Marketing

  • Lead Generation (All Affiliate Marketing must be carrier approved)

Did this answer your question?