---
title: "International SMS: what works and what does not"
description: "Business SMS rules vary by country. What is possible, where Sender IDs block replies, and when email is the better channel."
url: https://help.k3x.ai/en/articles/102-international-sms-what-works-and-what-does-not
collection: "Email, Calls and SMS"
updated: 2026-10-04
language: en
---

# International SMS: what works and what does not

Business SMS rules vary by country. What is possible, where Sender IDs block replies, and when email is the better channel.

SMS is global, but the rules for business SMS vary by country. A message you can send freely in the US may be blocked, fined or require months of paperwork elsewhere. International sending is off by default in K3X. Ask support to enable the countries you need. Rates vary by country and are shown as credits before you send.

## The high-level shape

-   **Open countries** (US, Canada, Australia, much of Latin America): send from a regular number with light to moderate registration, similar to 10DLC or toll-free verification.
    
-   **Sender ID countries** (UK, France, Germany, Spain, India, much of Asia): you register an alphanumeric Sender ID such as "ACME". Recipients see "From: ACME" and cannot reply. One-way only.
    
-   **Local-number countries** (Japan, South Korea, China): you need a number registered in-country, often with local business presence.
    
-   **Closed or case-by-case** (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Russia): commercial SMS needs special licenses. Handled per workspace by support.
    

## How to enable international sending

1.  Ask in the SUPPORT chat or email `hey@k3x.ai` with the countries you want to send to and your use case.
    
2.  If a country requires a Sender ID, we send you the registration form: business details, sample messages, intended use. Approval takes one to six weeks depending on the country.
    
3.  Once enabled, texts to that country route with the right Sender ID or number automatically.
    

## Credits

International texts spend credits from your single pool in the Texting category, at a rate that varies by destination. The composer shows the cost in credits before you send. Watch the **Credit breakdown** in your profile if an agent is texting international records, and keep an eye on **Settings → Billing** under Where credits went.

## The Sender ID problem

In Sender ID countries the reply path is gone. For one-way notifications (reminders, codes, shipping updates) that is fine. For sales outreach where you expect a conversation, it is a dealbreaker. Workarounds:

-   Use a local long number where the country allows it. Two-way works, at a higher rate.
    
-   Include a callback number or booking link in the message.
    
-   Use email instead. It is two-way, universal and needs no per-country registration.
    

## Country-specific landmines

-   **India (DLT).** Every business texting India must register with the DLT registry and pre-approve each message template. Plan for weeks.
    
-   **EU and GDPR.** Consent rules apply on top of SMS rules. "Legitimate interest" rarely holds for marketing SMS. You need explicit opt-in. Document it.
    
-   **UK.** STOP works as in the US, but the ICO takes complaints seriously and fines are higher.
    
-   **China.** Effectively impossible from outside the country. Most teams skip SMS for China.
    
-   **UAE and Saudi Arabia.** Local distributor licenses required. Talk to support before promising a rollout.
    

## When SMS is not the right channel

For audiences outside the US and Canada, email usually beats SMS: it is universal, two-way and free of per-country registration. K3X sends email through your connected Gmail or Outlook mailbox. A rule of thumb: SMS for US and Canada, email everywhere else, unless you need SMS badly enough to absorb the registration overhead.

## Troubleshooting

-   **Sent but never delivered.** The destination requires a Sender ID and the country is not enabled on your workspace. Ask support.
    
-   **Aggressive filtering.** Carriers in some countries (Vietnam, Nigeria) filter international traffic hard. A local number is sometimes the only fix.
    
-   **Credits dropped faster than expected.** An agent may be texting international records. Pause it from **Agents** and check its Activity tab.
    
-   **Wrong characters on arrival.** Some carriers strip emoji or transliterate non-Latin text. Send yourself a test first.
    

## Related

-   Send your first SMS
    
-   MMS: images, PDFs and media
    
-   Send email from K3X: the docked composer, templates, snippets and scheduling