Philippine SIM Card Expiration by Carrier: Smart, Globe, DITO, TNT, TM and GOMO

TL;DR

  • A Philippine prepaid SIM is not permanent. Every carrier has an inactivity timer that can permanently disconnect the number.
  • Regular prepaid load is generally valid for one year from the latest top-up (per NTC-DICT-DTI Joint Memorandum Circular No. 05-12-2017), but load validity and SIM validity are separate rules.
  • Globe: permanent disconnection after no regular load top-up for one year. Globe also applies a 120-day zero-balance window. TM appears to follow Globe-family support flows, but no separate TM-only 2026 expiry source was found.
  • Smart and TNT: loaded value valid 365 days; after balance hits zero, 180 days to reload before disconnection.
  • DITO: if load drops below ₱1.00 and no promo is active, temporary disconnection starts. If that state lasts 90 days or more, the SIM is permanently disabled and the number is blocked.
  • GOMO: SIM expires if no paid transaction is made within one year. "No Expiry" data refers to data-offer validity, not guaranteed perpetual SIM life.
  • Smart Bro: separate 120-day zero-load-or-promo disconnection rule (not the same as standard Smart/TNT handset prepaid).
  • DITO Home WoWFi Pro: separate 120-day no-loading rule (not the same as DITO mobile prepaid).
  • Promos, Data Bundles, and "No Expiry" data do not automatically preserve SIM validity unless the carrier explicitly says otherwise.
  • An expired or permanently disconnected SIM usually cannot be revived by sending load. PinoyLoads can send load to the number you provide; the carrier controls whether the recipient can use it.

Why a Philippine SIM Can Expire Even If the Number Looks Correct

A phone number sitting in your contacts list gives no warning when the underlying SIM has been disconnected. Philippine carriers enforce inactivity rules: if no qualifying activity happens within a set period, the carrier may temporarily disconnect the line, then eventually permanently disconnect it. Once that happens, the number may be recycled, reassigned, or blacklisted depending on the carrier.

Several things can mask this:

  • The number still exists in your messaging app, but the SIM is no longer active.
  • A contact saved the number years ago and assumes it still works.
  • The recipient once had load or a promo, but that expired months ago.
  • You are trying to send load so the person can receive a bank OTP, but the SIM has been gone too long.

Understanding each carrier's expiration window helps you diagnose a failed top-up before spending money.

Carrier-by-Carrier SIM Expiration Table

The table below summarizes the key inactivity rules. Always check the carrier's official terms for the most current policy.

Carrier Standard Inactivity / Expiration Rule After Permanent Disconnection Confidence
Globe Prepaid No regular load top-up for 1 year from last top-up → permanent disconnection. Also: 120-day window after zero regular load balance (or promo expiry with zero regular load balance). Calls, texts, data use, zero-rated use, and emergency use do not count as qualifying activity. Number may be reassigned. Cannot be reconnected. High (official Globe terms)
TM Treated as part of the Globe family. Official Globe/TM support pages combine them. Same as Globe for practical support purposes. Medium (no separate TM-only source found)
GOMO Philippines No paid transaction within 1 year → SIM expires. Not stated in available terms. Medium
Smart Prepaid Loaded call/text card value valid 365 days from loading. If balance reaches zero, 180 days to reload before account is disconnected. User must buy a new prepaid SIM. High (official Smart help article)
TNT Same as Smart Prepaid. Loaded value valid 365 days; after zero balance, 180 days to reload. Same as Smart. High (same official Smart help article)
Smart Bro 120-day zero-load-or-promo disconnection rule. Separate from standard Smart/TNT handset rules. High
Sun Cellular (legacy) No current standalone Sun expiry source found. Treat as Smart-serviced legacy line. — Low
DITO Mobile Prepaid If load falls below ₱1.00 with no active promo, temporary disconnection begins. If temporary disconnection lasts 90 days or more, the SIM is permanently disabled. Number is blocked/blacklisted and not reissued. High (official DITO terms)
DITO Home WoWFi Pro SIM may expire after 120 days of no loading. Separate rule from DITO mobile prepaid. High

Key takeaway: Carrier inactivity rules vary significantly. A one-year silence can kill a Globe or GOMO SIM. Smart and TNT give 180 days after balance hits zero. DITO acts faster — 90 days of temporary disconnection is enough for permanent shutdown. For TM and Sun legacy lines, use cautious wording because current standalone expiry sources are limited.

SIM Validity vs Load Validity vs Promo Validity

These three terms are often confused, and mixing them up is a common reason people think a SIM is still alive when it is not.

SIM validity (account validity)

SIM validity is the carrier's rule about how long the account stays active based on activity or balance. Each carrier sets its own inactivity timer (see the table above). SIM validity is controlled by the carrier, not by the user's last promo or data balance.

Regular load validity

Regular prepaid load — the kind you get from a physical card, a retailer, or a service like PinoyLoads — is generally valid for one year from the date of loading under Philippine regulations. This is the broad rule from the NTC-DICT-DTI Joint Memorandum Circular No. 05-12-2017. However, load validity does not equal SIM validity. A SIM can expire even if the user once had load on it, if that load was consumed or expired and no new top-up followed within the carrier's inactivity window.

Promo and data validity

Promos (e.g., Globe GoPLUS, Smart GIGA) and Data Bundles have their own validity periods — often 3 days, 7 days, 15 days, or 30 days. "No Expiry" data offers from carriers like GOMO refer to the data allocation not expiring as long as the SIM remains active. Neither a promo nor a "No Expiry" data offer automatically preserves SIM validity unless the carrier's official terms explicitly state that promo registration counts as qualifying activity.

For Globe, the one-year rule depends on regular load top-ups; in the 120-day zero-balance window, Globe also mentions promo registration. Ordinary calls, texts, data use, zero-rated use, and emergency use do not count as qualifying activity.

SIM registration (RA 11934)

Separate from validity rules, all Philippine SIMs must be registered under the SIM Registration Act (RA 11934) before activation. Tourist SIMs registered by foreign nationals are valid for 30 days unless the user presents an approved visa extension to the carrier. If you are a foreigner needing a local SIM, see our guide on SIM registration for foreigners.

What Happens If You Send Load to an Expired SIM

Sending load to a number does not guarantee the recipient can use it. Here is what typically happens:

  • SIM still active, low/zero balance, within grace window: Top-up usually works. The recipient gets the load and can use it. This is the best-case scenario and the one where sending load solves the problem.
  • SIM temporarily disconnected (e.g., DITO under 90 days): Top-up may reactivate the line, but this depends on the carrier. DITO explicitly says temporary disconnection is reactivated upon load top-up.
  • SIM permanently disconnected: Top-up may fail entirely, or the transaction may go through but the recipient cannot use the load because the account no longer exists.
  • Number reassigned: The top-up can go through if the reassigned number is active, but the load reaches a different person — a stranger who now owns that number. Globe explicitly warns that numbers may be reassigned after disconnection. DITO, by contrast, blocks and blacklists permanently disconnected numbers rather than reissuing them.

PinoyLoads can send load only to the number you provide. The platform auto-detects the carrier and delivers the top-up, but carrier account status controls whether the recipient can actually use it. If you suspect the SIM is expired, check first (see the next section) before sending.

How to Check If the Recipient SIM Is Still Active

Before you buy load for someone in the Philippines, run through this checklist:

  1. Ask the person directly. A simple "Is your SIM still active?" message via a different channel (Facebook Messenger, Viber, WhatsApp) can save you money.
  2. Check for live signal. If the person is in the Philippines, ask them to look for signal bars. No signal for an extended period may indicate a disconnected SIM (or a device/coverage issue).
  3. Try calling or sending an SMS. If calls go straight to a "number not in service" message or SMS consistently fails, the SIM may be disconnected.
  4. Check the carrier app. GlobeOne, the Smart App (MySmart), the DITO App, or the GOMO App can show account status if the person can still log in.
  5. Confirm the correct carrier. A number that was once Smart may have been ported, or you may have the wrong carrier written down. PinoyLoads auto-detects the carrier when you enter the number, but if the number is inactive, detection may not work.
  6. Check SIM registration status. Under RA 11934, unregistered SIMs were deactivated. If the person never registered, the SIM is dead.
  7. Check roaming status (for overseas Filipinos). A SIM can be technically active but fail to receive OTPs abroad because roaming is not enabled. Smart roaming requires sending ROAM ON to 333 before leaving the Philippines. For Globe roaming issues, see our guide on Globe roaming no signal abroad.
  8. Consider how long the number has been inactive. If the person has not made a qualifying top-up or paid transaction in over a year (Globe or GOMO; TM should be treated cautiously as a Globe-family line), over 180 days after zero balance (Smart, TNT), or over 90 days of temporary disconnection (DITO), the SIM may be permanently gone.

What to Do If You Need OTPs for GCash, Maya or a Philippine Bank

One of the most common reasons people abroad try to send load to a Philippine SIM is to receive one-time passwords (OTPs) from GCash, Maya (formerly PayMaya), BDO, BPI, and other Philippine financial services. If the OTP is not arriving:

  1. Confirm the SIM is still active. Use the checklist above. An expired SIM cannot receive anything.
  2. Check roaming. The SIM must have roaming enabled to receive SMS abroad. Smart users should send ROAM ON to 333 before leaving the Philippines. Globe users should check Globe roaming settings. Read more about Smart roaming and maintaining balance.
  3. Make sure there is load on the SIM. Some roaming actions and outgoing texts require load, while incoming OTP SMS rules depend on the carrier and roaming partner. Sending regular load through PinoyLoads helps keep the account usable if the SIM is still active.
  4. Check if the bank or e-wallet uses a different number. GCash, Maya, and banks sometimes send OTPs to the registered mobile number on file — which may be different from the SIM you are checking.
  5. Contact the service provider. If the SIM is active and roaming is on but OTPs still fail, the issue may be on the bank or e-wallet side. Some services have alternative verification methods.

For a deeper walkthrough, see our guide on Philippine bank OTP not working abroad.

When PinoyLoads Can Help — and When Only the Carrier Can Help

PinoyLoads is a top-up delivery service. Here is a clear breakdown of what the platform can and cannot do:

PinoyLoads can help when:

  • The recipient SIM is still active or within the carrier's reload grace window and needs regular load.
  • You want to send load from abroad using PayPal or a credit/debit card — no Philippine bank account needed.
  • You need to top up Smart, Globe, TNT, TM, DITO, or GOMO instantly. PinoyLoads auto-detects the carrier when you enter the number.
  • The person needs load for OTPs, calls, texts, or to register a promo.
  • You want a $5 Data Bundle for convenient usable load and data — note this is for data/load convenience only, not a SIM-validity solution.

Only the carrier can help when:

  • The SIM is permanently disconnected. No third-party service can revive it.
  • The number has been reassigned to a different person.
  • The SIM was never registered under RA 11934 and was deactivated.
  • Roaming needs to be enabled or a roaming-specific issue exists.
  • The person needs a new SIM with the same or a different number.

PinoyLoads has served customers since 2013 with instant Philippine load delivery. If the SIM is still active, you can send load with no registration, no KYC, no sign-up — just enter the number, choose an amount, and pay.

Recharge Your Philippine SIM Now

1

Enter Mobile Number you want to recharge:

2

Choose Load Amount:

Conclusion

Philippine prepaid SIM cards have real expiration timers, and they vary by carrier. Globe and GOMO have one-year inactivity or paid-transaction rules, while TM appears to follow Globe-family support flows but lacks a separate current expiry source. Smart and TNT allow 180 days after balance reaches zero. DITO acts within 90 days of temporary disconnection. Sun Cellular legacy lines are best treated cautiously as Smart-serviced legacy lines because official documentation is limited.

Regular load, promos, Data Bundles, and "No Expiry" data offers each have their own validity periods — and none of them automatically keeps a SIM alive unless the carrier's terms say so. The safest way to keep a Philippine SIM active from abroad is to send regular load periodically. If you need to keep a Philippine SIM active abroad, a small top-up every few months is far cheaper than losing the number.

If a top-up fails or the recipient reports no service, work through the checklist above before assuming the worst. And if the SIM is confirmed permanently disconnected, only the carrier can help — a new SIM and fresh registration will be needed.

FAQ

How long does a Philippine prepaid SIM stay active without loading?
It depends on the carrier. Globe can permanently disconnect after one year of no regular load top-up, while TM appears to follow Globe-family support flows but has no separate current expiry source. Smart and TNT disconnect 180 days after balance reaches zero. DITO permanently disables the SIM if temporary disconnection lasts 90 days or more. GOMO expires the SIM if no paid transaction is made within one year.
Can I reactivate an expired Philippine SIM card?
Generally, no. Once a carrier permanently disconnects a SIM, the account is gone. Globe says disconnected SIMs cannot be reconnected. Smart says the user must buy a new prepaid SIM. DITO permanently disables and blacklists the number. You would need a new SIM and fresh registration under RA 11934.
Does sending load through PinoyLoads keep my SIM active?
Sending regular prepaid load can help on carriers that use periodic loading or reload windows, such as Globe, Smart, TNT and DITO, while the SIM is still active or still within the carrier's reload window. For GOMO, the safer wording is a paid transaction within one year. A promo or Data Bundle alone may not count depending on the carrier's rules.
What is the difference between SIM validity and load validity?
SIM validity is the carrier's rule about how long the account stays active based on inactivity. Load validity is how long the loaded credit remains usable — generally one year from loading under Philippine regulations. They are separate: load can expire while the SIM is still active, or the SIM can expire even if the user once had balance.
Does a "No Expiry" data promo keep my SIM from expiring?
Not necessarily. "No Expiry" refers to the data allocation itself not expiring, not to the SIM account. Unless the carrier's official terms state that promo registration or data use resets the SIM inactivity timer, do not assume it does. Globe, for example, specifies that data use does not count as qualifying activity.
Can I send load to a Philippine number that has been reassigned to someone else?
It can, if the reassigned number is active. In that case, the load may reach the new owner of that number, not the person you intended. There is no way for a top-up service to detect every reassignment scenario. This is why checking the recipient's SIM status first is important.
Why is my Philippine bank OTP not arriving while I am abroad?
The most common reasons are: the SIM is expired or disconnected, roaming is not enabled on the SIM, the SIM has insufficient balance to receive SMS while roaming, or the bank is sending the OTP to a different registered number. See our detailed guide on bank OTP not working abroad.
Do tourist SIMs in the Philippines expire faster?
Yes. Tourist SIMs registered by foreign nationals under RA 11934 are valid for 30 days unless the user presents an approved visa extension to the carrier. After 30 days without an extension, the SIM may be deactivated.
Can PinoyLoads tell me if a SIM is expired before I send load?
PinoyLoads auto-detects the carrier when you enter a number, but the platform cannot check the carrier's internal account status. If you are unsure whether the SIM is active, use the diagnostic checklist in this article before purchasing.
How often should I send load to keep a Philippine SIM active abroad?
A small regular load top-up every few months is the safest approach. For Globe, top up before the one-year mark; for TM, treat it cautiously as a Globe-family line unless the carrier confirms otherwise. For Smart and TNT, top up before 180 days of zero balance. For DITO, keep load above ₱1.00 or maintain an active promo. For GOMO, make sure there is a paid transaction within one year. For more tips, see our guide on keeping a Philippine SIM active abroad.