Switching to giffgaff: The Complete Guide

Before you start, it's important to choose the right code. Text one of these from your OLD SIM:

• To KEEP your number: text PAC to 65075
• To GET a new number: text STAC to 75075

You'll get your code by text within 60 seconds — free of charge.

A PAC (Porting Authorisation Code) lets you keep your existing phone number and move it to giffgaff. Your old account is closed automatically once the number is transferred.

A STAC (Service Termination Authorisation Code) cancels your old account and gives you a fresh new number from giffgaff. Your old number is lost forever once the STAC is used.

Most people want a PAC. Only use a STAC if you specifically want to ditch your old number and start fresh.

• Your old SIM card (and a phone it works in) — you'll need this to send the text that requests your PAC.
• Your new giffgaff SIM or eSIM, already ordered from giffgaff.com.
• Your old mobile phone number — make sure you know it exactly.
• An email address and payment method to create your giffgaff account and activate the new SIM.
• A few minutes on the day of the switch — you'll need to be in the UK when the transfer happens.

From your old SIM (not your new giffgaff one), send a text with the word PAC to 65075. This is the UK-wide Text-to-Switch service introduced by Ofcom — it works with every UK mobile network (EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Smarty, Lebara, etc.).

Within 60 seconds, you'll receive a reply with your PAC code and any information about exit fees or remaining credit.

Your PAC is valid for 30 days. If you don't use it within 30 days, it will expire and you'll have to request a new one. The text to 65075 is always free of charge, regardless of your current network.

Pop your giffgaff SIM into your phone and head to giffgaff.com/activate. Follow the activation steps — we've got a dedicated giffgaff SIM Activation Guide if you need the full walkthrough.

You'll get a temporary giffgaff number to use until the switch takes place — so your new SIM works straight away, even before your old number has moved over.

Once your giffgaff SIM is active, log in to your giffgaff account and go to giffgaff.com/support/transfer/pac (or find 'Keep your number' in your profile).

Enter the PAC code you received and the phone number you want to transfer.

giffgaff will ask you when you'd like the switch to happen. Weekdays work best — requests at weekends or bank holidays are processed the next working day.

Transfer schedule: Friday 17:01 – Monday 17:00 → Tuesday. Monday 17:01 – Tuesday 17:00 → Wednesday. And so on — each request is processed for the following working day.

On the day of the transfer, keep both SIMs handy. The transfer usually completes by 5 pm, but in some cases can take until 9 pm.

You'll experience a brief loss of service while the switch happens, but you'll be back up and running by 9 pm at the latest.

After that, your old number is live on the giffgaff network and your old account is automatically closed. Congratulations — you've just made one of the easiest mobile switches in the UK market.

If you've ordered a giffgaff eSIM instead of a physical SIM, the process is identical — the only difference is that you need to make sure your eSIM is turned on in your phone settings before the switch.

On iPhone: Go to Settings > Mobile Data, find your giffgaff eSIM under SIMs, tap it and make sure 'Turn On This Line' is switched on.

On Android: Go to Settings > SIM and mobile networks, scroll down and tap 'Manage eSIM', check your giffgaff eSIM is listed and turned on.

Left your previous network before getting a PAC? Don't worry — you can still bring your old number across, as long as you act quickly.

You have 30 days from the date you left your old network to request a PAC. Contact your previous provider directly to ask for it. Once you have the PAC, you then have another 30 days to enter it on the giffgaff website.

After that, the number is released back into the pool and cannot be recovered.

• No contracts: monthly rolling plans and pay-as-you-go. Change or cancel any month.
• Runs on the O2 network with 99% 4G population coverage and growing 5G reach.
• Unlimited UK calls and texts included on every plan.
• EU roaming included — use up to 5 GB of your data abroad at no extra cost.
• 5G included at no extra cost on all plans.
• eSIM support for quick, physical-card-free activation.
• No credit checks on pay-as-you-go or monthly rolling plans.