Compliance · Mexico
SMS Compliance in Mexico
A practical overview of the rules that affect SMS messaging and marketing in Mexico, with a checklist before you launch.
Key Rules for SMS in Mexico
In Mexico, marketing messages must respect the consumer protection framework enforced by PROFECO, including the REPEP do-not-contact register, and Mexico's personal data protection law for private parties, which requires notice and consent for marketing uses.
In North America, business texting is shaped by carrier rules as well as law: in the US, application-to-person messaging on standard numbers generally requires brand and campaign registration (10DLC), and the TCPA requires appropriate consent. Other countries in the Americas have their own consumer protection and data laws.
Data Protection
Mexico's federal law on the protection of personal data held by private parties, renewed in 2025, requires a privacy notice (aviso de privacidad) on websites and forms and consent for secondary uses such as marketing.
Keep a record of how each contact was collected, what they agreed to and when, and make it easy for them to withdraw consent.
Practical Checklist
- Collect and record consent (or confirm an existing customer relationship) before sending, with the date and source.
- Use a registered sender ID or number that recipients can recognise as your business.
- Identify your business in every message and keep promotional and service messages separate.
- Give a simple way to opt out of marketing and process opt-outs quickly across all your systems.
- Send in the recipient's local daytime hours and keep frequency reasonable.
Contact data
Format numbers in international E.164 format with the +52 country code, remove duplicates and invalid numbers, and keep consent records linked to each number.
Timing and Language
Mexico spans several time zones; the main business zone we plan around is the America/Mexico_City time zone (UTC-06:00 in October 2026). The usual working week is Monday to Friday. Schedule SMS campaigns for the recipient's local daytime hours, avoid public holidays and religious observances that matter to your audience, and convert send times from IST before scheduling.
In Mexico City, customers commonly use Spanish, with English for international business. Messages in the customer's preferred language usually perform better, but check how local-language text affects character counts (for SMS) and template approval (for WhatsApp).
Digital Habits and Channels in Mexico
Mexico is one of WhatsApp's largest markets, and customers routinely use it to ask questions, book appointments and confirm orders; Facebook, Instagram and TikTok drive discovery. SMS remains common for codes and reminders.
Cards, cash payments at OXXO convenience stores, SPEI bank transfers and Mercado Pago are widely used, and monthly instalments without interest (meses sin intereses) are a strong purchase driver. El Buen Fin in November, Hot Sale in spring, Día de las Madres on 10 May, back-to-school and Christmas are key periods. A new federal personal data protection law took effect on 21 March 2025, replacing the 2010 law.
Mexico is closely linked to the US economy through the USMCA trade agreement, with car and auto parts plants, aerospace suppliers, electronics assembly and maquiladoras concentrated in the northern and Bajío states, and nearshoring has brought new investment. Remittances, tourism, oil and agriculture (avocados, tomatoes, berries and tequila) are also important. VAT (IVA) is 16%, with 8% in the northern and southern border zones. Consumers can register numbers in PROFECO's REPEP to block advertising calls and messages. Cash at OXXO convenience stores, cards and SPEI bank transfers are the main payment methods.
Advertising Alongside Messaging
Advertising must follow the Federal Consumer Protection Law, and health-related products are subject to COFEPRIS advertising rules.
This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reflects our understanding as of October 2026. Rules change, so we check current requirements for Mexico before every launch.
Planning SMS campaigns for Mexico?
We check the rules, set up sender requirements and run compliant campaigns.
SMS in Mexico: FAQs
Do I need consent to send marketing SMS messages in Mexico?
In most cases, yes, or at least an existing customer relationship and a clear opt-out. In Mexico, marketing messages must respect the consumer protection framework enforced by PROFECO, including the REPEP do-not-contact register, and Mexico's personal data protection law for private parties, which requires notice and consent for marketing uses.
Do I need a registered sender ID for Mexico?
Sender ID rules vary by country and operator. Some countries require pre-registration of alphanumeric sender IDs, others only allow numeric senders. We confirm the current requirement before launch.
Can DND Teams run SMS campaigns to Mexico?
Yes. We are based in Bhopal, India, and run campaigns for international markets remotely, after checking the current rules, sender requirements and coverage for Mexico.
Is this legal advice?
No. This guide is general information to help you plan. Regulations change and their application depends on your business, so take local legal advice for significant campaigns.
Related Guides and Services
Other channels in Mexico
SMS rules in nearby markets
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