Telcel prepaid (Amigo)
Local prepaid- Network
- Telcel’s own network (MNO)
- Price
- Top-up based
- Keeping the number
- Per Expansión (April 2026) citing Telcel’s Amigo lifecycle policy: for 119 days after balance or package expiry the line only receives calls and SMS; then 246 days fully suspended; then a 5-day cooling-off before cancellation and number recycling — about 370 days in total. Frozen balance can be recovered with a top-up within 365 days
- ID check
- Registration required: foreigners use a passport (name, country, passport number, no facial check); unregistered lines are suspended by last digit and can only call emergency numbers
- SMS & calls
- A normal Mexican number. Per Holafly: China is in Telcel’s “Mundial Especial A” roaming zone, and SMS sent without a package cost MX$9 each; receiving SMS pricing not verified; prepaid lines need balance to roam
Pros
- Long lifecycle — about a year before the number is recycled
- Foreigners only need a passport, no facial check (CRT)
Watch out
- The line must be registered or it’s suspended by last digit
- Telcel’s site couldn’t be reached from here; lifecycle based on a media report citing the official policy
- Cost of receiving SMS in China not verified
Where to buy: telcel.com