# How to get a number for the Verify API

To start sending one-time passwords (OTPs) via SMS or text-to-speech (TTS), you need to own a number.

###  Number types

MessageBird provides the following types of numbers for Verify:

* Mobile
* Local
* Business Voice
* Short Codes
* 10DLC

You can search for and buy numbers directly from your MessageBird Dashboard. Read more about the [types of numbers that we provide](https://docs.bird.com/connectivity-platform/getting-started/number-types), and find up-to-date [number pricing](https://www.messagebird.com/en/pricing/api).

**NOTE:** Toll-free numbers are normally used for contact center/support use cases. Because of this, country-specific local regulations and restrictions apply to toll-free numbers, making them unsuitable for use with Verify.

 

## How to get a number

There are four ways that you can get a number for use with Verify:

* [Buying a number from MessageBird](#h_01F99AV3KBY9ZX5F7S3Q5RJJP7)
* [Back-ordering a number from MessageBird](#h_01F99AVEM73RMNJ79F1C8NESBT)
* [Requesting a number from our Support team](#h_01F99AVTDVEYMQEZ0PJ6H7QTQ9)
* [Porting a number that you already own](#h_01F99AW1N4VAFX5F44NDH98S60)

 

### Buying a number from MessageBird <a href="#h_01f99av3kby9zx5f7s3q5rjjp7" id="h_01f99av3kby9zx5f7s3q5rjjp7"></a>

You can purchase a number directly from your MessageBird dashboard.

1. Log in to your [MessageBird Dashboard](https://dashboard.messagebird.com/).
2. Select the [Numbers](https://dashboard.messagebird.com/en/numbers) icon from the toolbar on the left-hand side of your screen.
3. Click on [Buy a number](https://dashboard.messagebird.com/en/numbers/buy/search).
4. Select the number that you want to purchase and follow the instructions on your screen.

For more detailed instructions, take a look at our [guide to purchasing numbers](https://docs.bird.com/connectivity-platform/virtual-numbers/buy-a-virtual-mobile-number-vmn).

&#x20;

### Back-ordering a number from MessageBird <a href="#h_01f99avem73rmnj79f1c8nesbt" id="h_01f99avem73rmnj79f1c8nesbt"></a>

If you’ve tried to purchase a number from your MessageBird Dashboard, but it isn’t available for the destination you need, you can [place a request with us](mailto:support@messagebird.com) to backorder a number for you. Once we’ve received the number from our provider, we’ll automatically add it to your Dashboard.

**NOTE:** The back-ordering system only applies to Voice numbers.

### &#x20;Requesting a number from our Support team <a href="#h_01f99avtdveymqez0pj6h7qtq9" id="h_01f99avtdveymqez0pj6h7qtq9"></a>

If the number you need isn’t available on your MessageBird Dashboard, and we can’t back-order it, you can place a request with us. Once we’ve received the number from our provider, we’ll automatically add it to your Dashboard.

&#x20;

### Porting a number that you already own <a href="#h_01f99aw1n4vafx5f44ndh98s60" id="h_01f99aw1n4vafx5f44ndh98s60"></a>

If you already own a number from a different provider, you can contact the Support team with your porting request details to get your number ported to MessageBird.

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Number registration
-------------------

Once you have a number, you’ll need to [register it for Verify use](https://docs.bird.com/connectivity-platform/virtual-numbers/registration-number). Different destinations have different registration restrictions, processes, and lead times.