What is A2P 10 DLC: Brand and Campaign Registration

Modified on: Tue, 28 Jul, 2026 at 1:39 PM

SMS Compliance

A2P 10DLC Registration: Brand and Campaign Registration

Register your business for compliant text messaging using US 10-digit local phone numbers
What You'll Learn

If you send business text messages from a 10-digit local phone number, you will need to complete the A2P 10DLC registration to keep messaging active and deliverable. Use the links throughout this article to access step-by-step setup instructions, best practices and troubleshooting resources!

1

What is A2P 10DLC?

A2P 10DLC (Application-to-Person 10-digit long code) is the US carrier registration required for businesses to send text messages to customers using standard 10-digit local numbers. Registration ties your messaging activity to a verified Brand (your business identity) and one or more Campaigns (how you plan to message), which helps carriers evaluate trust and reduce spam.

While you submit the details through HighLevel, the actual review and approval process is handled by US phone carriers and their registration partners. Carriers decide whether a Brand or Campaign meets requirements and if the registration is accepted or rejected.

In HighLevel, A2P 10DLC registration is managed through Trust Center. Trust Center provides a guided workflow for creating and managing Business Profiles, Brands, Campaigns, consent information, and registration submissions from a single location.


Key Terms

A2P — Application to Person. HighLevel is the application, and the recipient you send SMS or MMS to is the person.

10DLC — 10 Digit Long Code. This refers to both the number of digits in US phone numbers and the name of the registration standard.

The Campaign Registry (TCR) — Works with North American mobile operators and messaging companies to register A2P text messaging campaigns, providing visibility into messaging source and content to allow carriers to deliver more reliable messaging services.

2

Who Needs A2P 10DLC Registration?

A2P 10DLC registration is required if your business sends text messages to US recipients using 10-digit long code numbers. This includes messages such as appointment reminders, promotional messages, or customer support communications.

If you send messages to US recipients (including from Canadian numbers), A2P registration is required. If you do not send messages to recipients in the United States or Canada using long code numbers, you may not need A2P 10DLC registration.

Canadian Businesses

If you are a Canadian business only sending SMS to Canadian recipients (CA → CA):

  • Numbers purchased before March 26, 2025: A2P registration is not required.
  • Numbers purchased on or after March 26, 2025: You can send messages either by completing A2P registration or by completing Persona verification (if you choose not to register for A2P).
Toll-Free Numbers

Toll-free phone numbers do not require A2P 10DLC registration. They follow a different registration process. See the Toll-Free Number Verification Guide for more information.

3

How A2P 10DLC Works

A2P 10DLC registration is built around two required components: Brands and Campaigns. Businesses must identify who they are to the carrier networks (Brand registration) and register what type of messages they send (Campaign registration).

1. Brand Registration — Identifies the business sending messages to carrier networks
2. Campaign Registration — Describes the type of messages being sent, such as notifications or marketing

After Brand and Campaign approval, it can take up to 3 business days or longer for all carriers to receive registration information. This is normal as carriers receive your registered information. If the issue persists beyond 4 business days, contact HighLevel Support.


Pro Tip
Start Sending Faster with Dual Registration
Submit both Toll-Free and 10DLC registrations. Toll-Free approval can take as little as two days, while 10DLC takes 4–6 weeks. This lets you start sending sooner while waiting for local number approval.
4

Before You Start: Required Information

Before beginning registration, gather all required business information. Requirements differ based on whether you register as a Standard Brand or Sole Proprietor Brand.

Standard Brand Requirements

Standard Brand registration requires the following business information:

  • Business Name
  • Physical Address (Street, City, State/Province/Region, Postal Code, Country)
  • Business Identity (Direct Customer or ISV/Reseller/Partner)
  • Business Type (Sole Proprietorship/Partnership/Corporation/Co-Operative/LLC/Non-Profit)
  • Company Status (Private/Public)
  • Stock Ticker & Exchange (if Public)
  • Business Registration Number & Type (EIN for US-based companies, other business identifiers for non-US companies)
  • Industry
  • Website
  • Regions of Operations
  • Points of Contact
Authorized Representative

One authorized representative is required with the following information:

  • Name
  • Email
  • Title
  • Phone Number
  • Job Position (Director/VP/GM/General Counsel/CEO/CFO)

A second point-of-contact may also be provided, but is optional.

Sole Proprietor Requirements

Sole Proprietor registration requires the following information:

  • Brand or business name
  • First name
  • Last name
  • Email address
  • Mobile phone number (in US or Canada)
  • Physical address (in US or Canada)
5

Brand Registration

A Brand is the verified business identity behind your messaging. Carriers use Brand details to confirm that a real, legitimate business is responsible for the messages being sent. A2P 10DLC registration has different Brand registration paths depending on your business type. Selecting the correct path upfront helps avoid delays and rejections.

To learn more about brand registration and how to select the correct brand type, see: Registering Your A2P Brand.

Brand Type 1
Standard Brand

Used for registered businesses who have an EIN (for example, LLC, corporation, or other formally registered entities). Within Standard Brand, there is a High Volume and Low Volume option.

Brand Type 2
Sole Proprietor Brand

Used when the business is not formally registered as a separate legal entity. To qualify for Sole Proprietor registration, you must not have an EIN (Employer Identification Number). Any business with a Tax ID (EIN) is not eligible and should instead register for a Low Volume Standard Brand. Sole Proprietor Brands are limited to individuals in the US and Canada.

Brand Limits

Each mobile phone number can only be used to validate up to 3 Brands. Each email or physical address can only be used to validate up to 10 Brands. This limit applies for all A2P registrations within the ecosystem, even Brands registered outside of LeadConnector.

6

Campaign Registration

Campaign registration connects your approved Brand to a specific messaging purpose. Carriers review Campaign details to understand what type of messages you plan to send (for example, appointment reminders, account notifications, or marketing) and whether your opt-in language and sample messages align with that purpose.

To learn more about campaign registration, see: A2P Campaign Registration.

Campaign Use Cases

Use cases describe the type of messaging a Campaign will send. Selecting the correct use case matters because carriers approve (or reject) Campaigns based on whether your messaging content, opt-in flow, and stated intent match the use case requirements. Use cases vary from notifications and fraud alerts to customer care to social updates.

Some companies may only need to register one campaign use case. In other scenarios, you may have multiple. For example, if you send authentication codes to validate new users but also send marketing messages, you should register two campaign use cases.

Learn More

For more information on Campaigns and a full list of campaign use cases, see the Campaign Types and Use Case Types article.

Forbidden Messaging Categories

Some business use cases and messaging content is prohibited. Businesses submitting a registration for prohibited categories will not be approved. Businesses sending SMS/MMS messages with prohibited content, regardless of approved campaign status, may result in the revoking of approved campaigns, carrier fines, and other penalties.

Important

For more information on restricted categories and use cases, see the Forbidden Message Categories article.

7

What Happens After Submission

HighLevel has no part in the vetting or approval process after submission. However, the platform provides guidance to help you submit detailed and accurate information to ensure a smooth review process.

Best Practice

Review common reasons for failure before submitting your Brand or Campaign. This helps avoid common failure reasons and ensures the fastest approval time possible. Submitting accurate information during your first submission assists in a faster review.

8

A2P 10DLC Fees

A2P 10DLC includes fees for registration and for sending messages. Planning for both the submission fees and ongoing carrier-related charges helps avoid surprises once your numbers are in use.

One-Time Registration Fees — Brand and Campaign submissions include fees during the application process
Monthly Campaign Fees — Monthly Campaign fees apply and vary based on campaign type
No Resubmission Fee — If a Brand or Campaign is rejected and you need to correct and resubmit, there is not an additional resubmission fee
Learn More

For detailed information about registration pricing and fees, see the Pricing and Fees article.

10

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do Toll-Free numbers require A2P 10DLC registration?
A2P 10DLC registration is required for standard 10-digit local phone numbers. Toll-free numbers (like 1-800) do not require A2P 10DLC registration. For more information on Toll-Free requirements, see the Toll-Free Number Verification Guide.
Q: Does HighLevel approve or reject my Brand/Campaign?
No. You submit through HighLevel, but US carriers and their registration partners review and make the approval decision.
Q: Is there a fee to resubmit after a rejection?
No. If you need to resubmit a Brand or Campaign after a rejection, there is not an additional resubmission fee.
Q: What's the difference between a Brand and a Campaign?
A Brand identifies the business sending messages. A Campaign describes the purpose and content type of the messages the Brand will send.
Q: Is cold texting allowed?
Cold texting is when someone sends an SMS to a recipient who did not opt-in or agreed to receive messages. This breaks TCR guidelines, carrier guidelines, and Phone System messaging policy. If you have not received explicit consent to message someone via SMS, do not message them. Those found cold messaging may not be approved for increased sending limits and are at high risk for SMS suspension.
Q: How long does registration take?
Brand registration can typically be completed in a few minutes if you've collected all required information. However, if there is a discrepancy with the information you provide, a manual review may be required for Secondary Vetting, which can take up to 7 days. To avoid delays, review A2P 10DLC Brand Approval Best Practices before submitting.
Q: Can I start texting the same day I register?
No, messages will get filtered after a couple are sent and will receive a "30007: Message filtered" error. A workaround until the Brand is approved would be to get a toll-free number.
Q: Does A2P 10DLC registration differ if we are using Twilio numbers through HighLevel?
Yes, if you use your own Twilio account directly, you will complete the registration through your Twilio console. However, it is still necessary to complete registration, even if you are not using LeadConnector.

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