Launching RCS internationally: the information to prepare, country by country

1. The information to prepare for all countries

Before submitting a launch request, prepare the following items. They are required in every country:

Complete our online form: Agent Form RCS

Exact legal name of the company and its official identification number (trade register or equivalent), exactly as they appear on your legal documents;
Registered address of the company and the brand website (publicly accessible);
Privacy policy and terms of use available online;
Brand contact email (internal) and customer-facing contact details (email, phone, website);
Agent name (display name), description, logo, colours and use cases (transactional, promotional, OTP, multi-use);
Proof of opt-in: agent launch video, web opt-in URL (or screenshot of the call-to-action) and a message example including the opt-out wording.

⚠️ Brands related to gambling and betting (casino, lottery, online betting) are not accepted.

2. Country-specific requirements and documents

Country	Market specifics	Documents to provide
Austria	Brand approval letter mandatory (one document for all networks)	Brand approval letter, filled in, signed and stamped — Austria RCS Buisness Approval Form
Belgium	Brand approval mandatory; the brand contact must match the one in the Google console; 1 agent = 1 brand; region = Europe; STOP mandatory Belgium - Guide	Brand Verification Letter signed (template provided by smsmode), sent to the three operators — Belgium_Brand_Verification_Letter · Belgium_TELENET RBM registration
Brazil	Brand verification by email (to be confirmed by the brand); duplicate agents are reviewed	— (email validation)
Canada	STOP/HELP/INFO responses bilingual French/English; compliance with Canadian regulations	Business Number (BN) or provincial registry ID — Complete the following document: Canada_CTA-RCS-for-Business-Agent-Application-Form-April-2026
Spain	The agent name must be registered with the CNMC before launch	CNMC registration certificate — CNMC Spain
United States	Concrete agent description required; brand verification by email (code valid 7 days, review 45 days, token valid 1 year) — USA Agent Onboarding Guide	EIN (Employer Identification Number) — Complete the following document: USA Agent Form
Finland	Brand verification authorisation required by the operator DNA	DNA brand verification authorisation (template provided by smsmode) — Finland_DNA - Authorisation for Brand Verification
Germany	Agent name unique within the country; phone number in +49 format; privacy policy and terms of use in German	Brand authorization letter signed (PDF, template provided by smsmode) — GERMANY_BRAND AUTHORIZATION LETTER (2)
Italy	Brand verification mandatory; Google approval email to be confirmed by the brand	Reply to the Google approval email + complete the Vodafone brand verification letter: Italy_Brand Verification Letter Vodafone_English_2024-07-01
Mexico	Region = North America; transactional/promotional separation; sending time window (ASTW) for promotional traffic	—
Netherlands	Proactive brand approval depending on the operator	Brand Verification Letter signed (Vodafone, Odido, KPN) — Netherland_Annex 3_Brand Verification Letter_VF_Odido_KPN_June2026 (4)
Norway	No specific requirement	Core requirements only
Portugal	Proactive brand approval depending on the operator	Brand Verification Letter signed (template provided by smsmode) (in progress)
Romania	No specific requirement	Core requirements only
South Africa	No specific requirement	Core requirements only
United Kingdom	Agent name unique; phone number in +44 format; opt-out in the message example; verification by email (2FA code valid 7 days, 45-day process)	Company Registration Number (CRN) verified against Companies House (or equivalent depending on the organisation type) — UK_Email template_Carrier Approval Vodafone
Czech Republic	No specific requirement	Core requirements only
Sweden	No specific requirement	Core requirements only

3. Good to know before launching

Document templates are provided by smsmode: brand verification letters, operator forms, etc. are shared when the launch request is submitted for the relevant country.
Verification deadlines: some countries impose strict validity windows (2FA codes within 7 days, full process within 45 days). Make sure your brand contact is available during this period.
Local language: several markets require information in the local language (Germany, Canada, Spain). Check the translation of your legal pages before submitting.
Service availability: RCS coverage changes regularly.

4. Frequently asked questions

How long does an international RCS launch take?
Generally from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the country, the number of operators to approve, and the brand's responsiveness (signing letters, answering verification emails).

Can one agent cover several countries?
Yes, but each country is validated separately by its own operators, with its own requirements.

Can one agent represent several brands?
No. One agent corresponds to a single brand (1 agent = 1 brand), but a brand can have several agents depending on its use cases.