Get a virtual number and receive your LINE verification code now
In Taiwan and Hong Kong, LINE is far more than a chat app. People book restaurants through it, receive company announcements on it, run LINE Official Accounts for their shops, and organise group buys inside LINE communities. That is exactly why so many users end up needing a second or third LINE account, and why they would rather not buy another SIM card or hand their personal number to an account with an unclear purpose.
This guide is written with Taiwan and Hong Kong users in mind. It covers when LINE requires phone verification, the limits LINE places on virtual numbers, how Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and US numbers compare, and a step-by-step walkthrough of getting a number on smsverification.app, receiving the LINE code, and dealing with the cases where things do not go smoothly.
Why Users in Taiwan and Hong Kong Verify LINE with a Virtual Number
Keeping a personal number private
In both Taiwan and Hong Kong, a mobile number is tightly tied to identity. Banks, carriers, government services and shopping platforms all use it as the primary contact and verification key. Registering a string of LINE accounts with that same number links all of them back to you. If one of those accounts leaks data or ends up on a marketing list, the impact is not limited to that account.
A virtual number puts a layer between you and the LINE account. You use it to register, and after that it has nothing to do with your private life.
Running more than one LINE account
These groups almost always need more than one account:
- Small shops and online sellers: one account for customers, one for suppliers, one that stays personal
- LINE Official Account managers: testing auto-replies, coupons and reward cards requires an account that sees things from the customer's side
- Community and group-buy organisers: separate communities for separate topics, without mixing contact lists
- Marketing and support teams: each team member needs a work account without exposing a personal number
- Freelancers: separating client contact from private contact so that off-hours are really off
LINE is built around one phone number per account. Multiple accounts mean multiple numbers, and virtual numbers are the cheapest way to get them without filling up SIM slots.
Cross-border selling and market research
Many sellers in Taiwan and Hong Kong also serve Japan, Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia, where LINE is equally dominant. A LINE account registered with a local number gives you a customer's-eye view of that market, with region settings, sticker shop and Official Account recommendations that match what local users see.
Development and testing
If you build with LINE Login, the Messaging API or LIFF, or you test push flows for an Official Account, you need a set of clean test accounts. Virtual numbers let you create them without borrowing colleagues' phones.
When LINE Asks for Phone Verification
Knowing when LINE asks for verification helps you decide when to prepare a number and how long to keep it.
New registration
The most common case. After installing LINE and tapping Register, you are asked for a phone number and LINE sends a code by SMS. Only after entering the correct code do you reach the name, password and profile steps.
Switching phones or transferring an account
When you move to a new phone, LINE confirms your identity with a phone number, email address or QR code. If the account was registered with a virtual number that has since expired, you are left with email and password, or scanning a QR code from the old phone. This is why we keep repeating the same advice: link an email and set a password as soon as registration completes.
Unusual login or security alerts
LINE may ask you to re-verify the phone number when it sees something unusual, such as:
- A login from an unfamiliar device or region
- Several failed login attempts in a short time
- Reports against the account, or activity that looks automated
If the original number can no longer receive SMS at that point, the account may be unrecoverable. For accounts you rely on, keep a number that can still receive messages, or make sure email login works.
LINE Pay and other financial features
LINE Pay, LINE Bank and similar services have identity and localisation requirements that typically depend on local carriers and local ID documents. These flows are not a good fit for virtual numbers, and this guide does not recommend using them that way. Virtual numbers belong in registration, testing and everyday messaging.
The Limits LINE Places on Virtual Numbers
A few honest points before you start, so expectations stay realistic.
Why some numbers are rejected
Like most large platforms, LINE keeps a system for classifying phone numbers. The following usually get turned away:
- VoIP and internet phone numbers: LINE generally does not accept them, and may show an error before sending any code
- Heavily reused numbers: a number that has been used for too many registrations may already be flagged
- Numbers already linked to a LINE account: LINE allows one account per number, so a number with an active account attached will cause trouble for a new registration
Having SMS capability is therefore not the only criterion. Where a number comes from and what it has been used for matter just as much.
Acceptance changes over time
LINE does not publish its filtering rules and adjusts them without notice. A country that works well this month may behave differently in a few weeks. The practical approach is to avoid fixating on a single country and instead check the current success indicators and stock for the service before choosing.
No service can promise a 100% success rate
Any provider that guarantees success should be treated with suspicion. A realistic expectation is that most attempts succeed on the first number, and a minority need one or two more. Our refund rule exists for exactly this reason: an order that receives no code is refunded automatically, so failed attempts do not cost you anything.
Choosing a Number: Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan or the US
Below is a qualitative comparison. Live prices and stock are shown on the service page.
Taiwan numbers
- Best for: users who mainly operate in Taiwan and want the account to look and behave like a Taiwan account
- Strengths: region settings, sticker shop and Official Account recommendations match Taiwan users
- Keep in mind: stock and pricing tend to be tighter than US numbers, and there may be a wait at busy times
Hong Kong numbers
- Best for: Hong Kong residents and sellers who need a Hong Kong presence on LINE
- Strengths: features aligned with the Hong Kong market
- Keep in mind: supply of Hong Kong numbers is comparatively limited; if none are available, register with a Japan or US number and adjust region settings afterwards
Japan numbers
- Best for: cross-border sellers who need a Japan-region account, or users who want Japan-only stickers and Official Accounts
- Strengths: Japan is LINE's home market and Japanese numbers generally enjoy good acceptance
- Keep in mind: usually pricier than US numbers, and stock fluctuates
US numbers
- Best for: test accounts, developer accounts and any use where region does not matter
- Strengths: large stock, often the lowest price, cheap to swap if one fails
- Keep in mind: the US number pool is diverse, and some numbers may be classified as VoIP by LINE; simply move to another number when that happens
General rules for picking a number
Whatever country you choose:
- Read the success indicators on the service page for the "Line messenger" service
- Prefer fresh numbers that have not been used on the platform before
- One number per LINE account: never reuse a number across accounts
- Let the purpose decide the region: long-term accounts get a matching region, test accounts get whatever is cheap and easy to replace
Step by Step: Verifying LINE on smsverification.app
Preparation
- Create an account and add credits: choose a plan on the pricing page. A single LINE verification uses only a small amount of credit, but larger packs are cheaper per verification if you will do this regularly.
- Prepare the device: LINE registration happens in the mobile app, so install LINE first but do not enter a number yet.
- Keep two screens open: LINE on your phone, and the SMS dashboard on a computer or second phone, so you see the code the moment it lands.
Step 1: Find the LINE service
- Sign in to smsverification.app
- Type "Line" or "Line messenger" into the service search, or open the LINE service page directly
- Select "Line messenger" to open the country list
Step 2: Pick a country and get a number
- Choose a country using the guidance above, watching the price and stock next to each entry
- Click "Get number". Credits are deducted and a number is assigned to you
- The dashboard shows the full number with country code and the order's time window. Note the window, because the code must arrive inside it
Step 3: Enter the number in LINE
- Back in LINE on your phone, tap Register
- Pick the same country from LINE's list and confirm the country code shown matches
- Enter the number without repeating the country code
- Tap Next and confirm the prompt that a code will be sent by SMS
Step 4: Wait for the code in the dashboard
- Switch to the dashboard. The order status reads "Waiting for SMS"
- The code usually appears within a minute and the dashboard refreshes on its own
- Type the code into LINE
- If LINE says the code is wrong, check that you did not copy an extra space or character
Step 5: Finish registration and secure the account right away
After verification, LINE moves on to name and profile setup. Once that is done, do these three things immediately:
- Link an email address: Settings > Account > Email
- Set a password: in the same Account section
- Record which number belongs to which account: you will need it when switching phones or recovering the account
With those in place, you can still sign in with email and password even after the virtual number expires.
If the code does not arrive: refund rules
If no code arrives inside the order window:
- The order closes automatically and the credits are returned to your balance with no manual request
- You can immediately request a new number, ideally from a different country
- If LINE clearly says the number cannot be used, cancel the order in the dashboard right away rather than waiting for the window to end, so you get credits back faster
More detail is available in the OTP troubleshooting docs.
Troubleshooting
"This phone number cannot be used"
LINE shows this before sending any code. Typical causes:
- LINE classified the number as a type it does not accept, such as VoIP
- The number is already tied to a LINE account
- The number's range has been flagged
What to do:
- Cancel the order and pick another number
- If two or three numbers from the same country are rejected, switch country
- Do not retry the same number repeatedly; it only raises the chance of further flagging
The code never arrives
LINE says it sent the code, but nothing shows in the dashboard. Check in order:
- The number was entered correctly, especially that the country code was not duplicated and no leading zero was added
- The order is still inside its window; after it closes the dashboard stops receiving
- LINE did not switch to a voice call: in some cases LINE offers to read the code over the phone, which the platform cannot receive, so choose SMS
- Wait out the full window: SMS is occasionally delayed, so do not close the page early
If nothing arrives, credits are refunded automatically and you can request a new number. If three or more numbers fail in a row, delivery to that country is probably affected on LINE's side, and switching country is the fastest fix.
Account restricted right after registration
Some users report restrictions on adding friends or sending messages shortly after signup. This is usually about behaviour rather than the number:
- Adding many friends or sending bulk messages immediately
- Creating several accounts from the same device and network in a short period
- Using emulators or obvious automation
Prevention:
- Complete the profile, photo and status message first
- Use the account at a normal pace for the first few days
- Space out the creation of multiple accounts
- Use mobile data or a home connection rather than datacenter IPs
"Too many attempts"
LINE limits how often a code can be requested. When this appears:
- Stop retrying the same number
- Cancel the current order and wait before trying a new number
- If the same device keeps triggering it, switch network or use another device
Best Practices
Right after registration
Worth repeating: link an email, set a password, record the number-to-account mapping. These decide whether the account remains usable once the number expires.
Managing several accounts
- Every account gets its own number
- Leave time between creating accounts
- Keep a simple sheet of purpose, registration date, number and country per account
- Let an account run normally for a while before handing it to a team or attaching it as an Official Account manager
Keep the number or let it go
- Test and one-off accounts: let the number go once you are done
- Customer-facing accounts: keep a number that can still receive SMS, or at minimum make sure email login works, so a security check does not lock you out
- LINE Pay and financial features: use your own real number and identity, not a virtual number
Respect the platform
A virtual number is a tool. Use it for privacy, multi-account management, testing and legitimate business. Using it for spam, fraud or ban evasion violates LINE's terms and our own usage policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a LINE account registered with a virtual number any different from one registered with a real SIM?
Functionally no. You can add friends, create groups, follow Official Accounts and use stickers. The difference is account security: the virtual number may expire, so email and password become your guarantee of continued access.
How long does the code take?
Usually under a minute. The dashboard refreshes on its own.
Can I register two LINE accounts with one number?
No. LINE is strictly one number per account. Reusing a number will either invalidate the old account or be rejected outright.
What happens to the account when the number expires?
The account stays. As long as email and password are linked, you can keep signing in. Problems only arise if LINE asks for phone re-verification and you have no other login method.
What if Taiwan numbers are out of stock?
Register with a Japan or US number and adjust region settings afterwards. Stock is replenished periodically, so check back later.
Do you have guides for other apps?
Yes. See the WhatsApp SMS verification guide and the Yahoo verification guide. The flow and number selection principles carry over.
Related Reading
Ready to register your LINE account?
- Get a number from the LINE verification service
- Check the credit pricing plans
- Having trouble? Start with OTP troubleshooting