New policy requires all mobile phone users to link service to biometric identification by mid-2026 or face suspension of service.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Mexico is advancing a nationwide biometric identification system that will be tied to mobile phone access, requiring users to register personal biometric data in order to maintain active service.
Under the policy, all mobile phone lines—covering both prepaid and postpaid accounts, as well as physical SIM cards and eSIMs—must be linked to a government-issued biometric identity by July 2026. Numbers that are not registered will be suspended beginning July 1.
The system centers on an updated version of Mexico’s population registry, known as the Clave Única de Registro de Población (CURP). The new biometric version expands the existing alphanumeric identification code into a digital identity record that includes facial recognition data, fingerprints, iris scans, a QR code, and a digital signature.
Enrollment is conducted through government offices, including the National Population Registry and Civil Registry locations. Individuals are required to provide documentation such as a valid photo ID, certified CURP record, and a birth certificate. During registration, officials collect biometric data including all ten fingerprints, both irises, and a facial image, along with a digital signature.
The federal government has described the system as a tool to support identification efforts related to missing persons. The biometric database will be integrated into a Unified Identity Platform that connects population records with forensic databases and information held by prosecutors and security agencies, enabling real-time identity searches.
The structure of the system allows multiple government entities, including law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and the National Guard, to access biometric and personal data. The framework does not include a requirement to notify individuals when their information is accessed.
The requirement to link mobile phone service to biometric identification stems from legislation enacted on January 9, 2026. Telecommunications providers are required to verify subscriber identities against the national database, effectively making biometric registration a condition for maintaining phone access.
The policy eliminates the continued use of anonymous mobile lines. Prepaid SIM cards, which have been used by individuals seeking privacy or security, will no longer function unless tied to a verified identity before the deadline.
This marks Mexico’s third attempt to implement a nationwide mobile registration system. A previous registry, RENAUT, launched in 2008, required users to associate phone numbers with identification records. That system was discontinued by 2012 after reports that personal data from millions of users had been exposed.
A second initiative, PANAUT, required biometric data collection but was challenged in court. In 2022, Mexico’s Supreme Court ruled the program unconstitutional, citing concerns related to privacy protections.
Despite those earlier outcomes, the current biometric CURP system expands the scope of data collection and integrates it into a broader national identity infrastructure with multiple access points across government agencies.
Additional developments related to the rollout include a recent court action in Yucatán, where a federal tribunal suspended biometric data collection tied to the national ID system. Meanwhile, the broader rollout continues under the timeline outlined by federal authorities, including the requirement detailed here.
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