How to Port In a Short Code

Migrating a short code you already lease keeps the five digits your clients recognize while eCourtDate becomes the aggregator that sends and receives your messages. You add the code on the **Agency Phones** page, then generate the transfer form from the **Short Code** card.

### Overview

- **What it is:** The **Short Code** card on an agency phone's edit page, where you look up your code in the US Short Codes registry, download the authorization form, and generate a transfer form for your current aggregator
- **Why it matters:** Keeping your existing short code means your clients keep texting the same five digits, and the generated form carries the details your aggregator and the carriers need to move it
- **Who uses it:** Agency administrators with access to **Admin** > **Settings** > **Agency Phones**
- **Expected outcomes:** Your short code is listed as an agency phone, and you have a signed transfer form naming eCourtDate as the new aggregator

### Prerequisites

- Access to **Admin** > **Settings** and the **Agency Phones** tab
- Permission to create agency phone numbers and to view settings
- A short code you already lease. New short codes must be purchased through the US Short Codes registry
- A code that is exactly five digits, since eCourtDate activates short codes at that length only
- The name of your current aggregator (for example Twilio) and the date you want the migration to happen

### How-To Steps

#### Step 1: Open the Agency Phones page

1. Go to **Admin** > **Settings**.
2. Click the **Agency Phones** tab.

#### Step 2: Add your short code

1. Select **Short Code** under **Phone Number Type** in the **Create Agency Phone** form.
2. Enter your five digit code in **Short Code**.
3. Leave **Gateway** on its default, or select a specific gateway.
4. Click **Create**. eCourtDate confirms with "Agency Phone added" and opens the edit page for that short code.

![Create Agency Phone form for a short code](https://assets.ecourtdate.com/images/articles/phone-numbers-add-short-code-phone-number.png)

#### Step 3: Download the authorization form

1. Find the **Short Code** card on the edit page.
2. Click **Short Code Lookup** to open the US Short Codes registry and confirm your lease details.
3. Click **Download Authorization Form** to save the short code authorization PDF.
4. Complete the authorization form with your agency details and the short code.

#### Step 4: Generate the transfer form

1. Enter your current aggregator in **Migrate From (Current Aggregator)**.
2. Select the **Migration Date** you want the transfer to happen.
3. Click **Generate Form**. eCourtDate downloads a PDF named transfer-form followed by your short code.
4. Review the **Short Code Transfer Form**. It authorizes the transfer of the short code to eCourtDate Inc. and lists your organization name and address, the eCourtDate US short code account 3021717, the aggregator you entered, and a **Transfer Details** table with the **Phone Number**, **Type**, and **New Aggregator**.
5. Sign and date the **Authorization** block at the end of the form.

#### Step 5: Send the completed forms

1. Email the signed transfer form and the completed authorization form to help@ecourtdate.com.
2. Keep your current aggregator active until eCourtDate confirms the migration is finished.

### What to Expect

The transfer form downloads as soon as you click **Generate Form**, and both fields clear so you can produce another copy with different details. Adding the short code in eCourtDate does not move any traffic on its own. Routing changes happen at the carriers after your current aggregator and eCourtDate act on the signed forms, and each carrier works on its own cycle.

| Carrier | Est. Time | Provisioning Day | Notes |
|---------|-----------|------------------|-------|
| AT&T Mobility | 1-2 weeks | Usually Sunday to Monday | |
| Verizon Wireless | 1-2 weeks | Usually Monday | May require two cycles for completion |
| T-Mobile | 1-2 weeks | Usually Monday to Tuesday | |
| US Cellular | 2-5 business days | N/A | Typically completes within 2-5 business days of the migration start date |
| Interop (Tier 2/3) | 2-5 business days | N/A | Generally completes within 2-5 business days of the migration start date |
| Google Voice | 2+ weeks | N/A | No fixed migration cycle. Timelines are variable |
| Claro Puerto Rico | 2-5 business days | N/A | Typically completes within 1-2 weeks after carrier approval |
| Truphone | 2-5 business days | N/A | Typically completes within 1-2 weeks after carrier approval |
| MetroPCS | 2-5 business days | N/A | Typically completes within 1-2 weeks after carrier approval |
| Clearsky | 2-5 business days | N/A | Typically completes within 1-2 weeks after carrier approval |

Carrier timelines are subject to change based on carrier availability and other factors. Inbound messages (Mobile Originated) may migrate at a different time than outbound messages (Mobile Terminated).

### Best Practices

- Check your code in **Short Code Lookup** before you generate the form so the registry lease details match what you send
- Enter your current aggregator exactly as it appears on your account, because the value you type in **Migrate From (Current Aggregator)** prints on the form your aggregator and the carriers read
- Choose a **Migration Date** far enough ahead that your current aggregator has time to schedule the release
- Keep your current aggregator active and sending until every carrier has finished routing to eCourtDate
- Enter a **Name** on the edit page and click **Save** so the code is easy to identify in the **Agency Phones** table

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Why does eCourtDate reject my short code when I click Create?**

A: Short codes activate at five digits only, so any other length returns "The phone number is not available". If the same number is already active as an agency phone, eCourtDate returns "Agency Phone is not available".

**Q: Where do I find the short code authorization form?**

A: Click **Download Authorization Form** in the **Short Code** card on the number's edit page. The same PDF is available as **Short Code LOA** in the **Create Agency Phone** form when you select **Port** under **Phone Number Type**.

**Q: What does the generated transfer form contain?**

A: It carries the requested migration date, your organization name and address, the eCourtDate US short code account number, your current aggregator, a **Transfer Details** table listing the short code and the new aggregator, and a signature block for you to sign and date. A short code left on the default **Gateway** of auto prints SINCH as the new aggregator.

**Q: Can I generate the transfer form more than once?**

A: Yes. **Migrate From (Current Aggregator)** and **Migration Date** clear after each download, so enter the details again to produce another PDF with a different date or aggregator.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** The **Short Code** card does not appear on the edit page

**Symptoms:** The edit page shows the phone details and **Gateway Settings**, but no **Short Code Lookup**, **Download Authorization Form**, or **Generate Form**.

**Solution:** The card appears only for numbers created with the **Short Code** type. Numbers added as **Local**, **Toll-Free**, or **Port** show different cards. Add the code again under **Phone Number Type** > **Short Code**.

**Issue:** Clicking **Generate Form** does not download a file

**Symptoms:** The button appears to do nothing and no PDF is saved.

**Solution:** **Migrate From (Current Aggregator)** and **Migration Date** are both required, and eCourtDate skips the request when the date is empty. Complete both fields, then click **Generate Form** again. Downloading the form also requires permission to view settings.

### Related Articles

- [How to Manage Agency Phone Numbers](/how-to-manage-agency-phone-numbers)
- [How to Port In a Local Area Code Phone Number](/how-to-port-in-a-local-area-code-phone-number)
- [How to Complete Carrier Registration](/how-to-complete-carrier-registration)
- [About eCourtDate Regions](/about-ecourtdate-regions)