Switching from Virgin Mobile to giffgaff? It's a straightforward process to keep your existing phone number.
Step 1: Get a PAC Code from Virgin Mobile
If you’d like to move your phone number from Virgin Mobile to giffgaff, the first step is getting your Porting Authorisation Code (or PAC Code) from Virgin Mobile.
There are three ways to get a PAC Code from Virgin Mobile:
- Online: You can get a PAC Code from Virgin Mobile by logging in to the Virgin Mobile Account website.
- By Text Message: You can get a Virgin Mobile PAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text PAC followed by your date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format to 65075 to receive a PAC Code from Virgin Mobile.
- By Phone: You can get a PAC Code by calling Virgin Mobile. To do this, call them on 789 using your Virgin Mobile handset. Alternatively, dial 0345 6000 789 from any other phone. You'll need to call during Virgin Mobile's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-11.59pm, Saturday 8am-11.59pm, Sunday 8am-11.59pm).
Here are some key things to know:
- The PAC Code from Virgin Mobile should consist of six numbers with VRG at the start (e.g. VRG 123 456).
- Your PAC Code is valid for 30 days. If you don't use it during this time, the PAC Code will expire and you'll need to request a new one.
- You shouldn't close your account at Virgin Mobile: it'll be closed automatically when your phone number is transferred to giffgaff.
Still in contract with Virgin Mobile? If so, you may need to pay an early exit fee on your bill from Virgin Mobile. To find out how much this would be, text INFO followed by your date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format to 85075.
Don’t want to keep your Virgin Mobile phone number? You can switch to giffgaff without taking your phone number with you. If you'd like to do this, get a STAC Code from Virgin Mobile instead.
Virgin Mobile STAC Code (Leave Virgin Mobile Without Keeping Your Number)
If you’d like to leave Virgin Mobile without keeping your phone number, you’ll need to request a STAC Code rather than a PAC Code. There are three ways to get a STAC Code from Virgin Mobile:
- Online: You can get a STAC Code from Virgin Mobile by logging in to the Virgin Mobile Account website.
- By Text Message: You can get a Virgin Mobile STAC Code sent to you via SMS text message. Text STAC followed by your date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY format to 75075 to receive a STAC Code from Virgin Mobile.
- By Phone: You can get a STAC Code by calling Virgin Mobile. Call them on 789 using your Virgin Mobile handset. Alternatively, dial 0345 6000 789 from any other phone. You'll need to call during Virgin Mobile's opening hours (Monday-Friday 8am-11.59pm, Saturday 8am-11.59pm, Sunday 8am-11.59pm).
Once you’ve gotten your STAC Code from Virgin Mobile, the rest of the process for joining giffgaff remains the same.
Step 2: Order your new phone or SIM card from giffgaff's website
You should now order your new phone or SIM card using the giffgaff website. Please select the type of tariff you're intending to move to:
If you're looking for a SIM card from giffgaff, the following deals from £6/month are currently most popular:
| Network | Minutes | Texts | Data | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 2GB | £6.00 1 month |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 6GB | £8.00 18 months |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 25GB | £10.00 18 months |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | 120GB | £20.00 18 months |
| Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | £25.00 18 months |
For a full list of available tariffs and the latest giffgaff deals, please refer to this page on giffgaff's website.
giffgaff will assign you with a temporary phone number during the transition process. This will allow you to test out the service before you finally transfer your phone number to giffgaff.
Step 3: Give the PAC Code to giffgaff
Once your new phone or SIM card arrives from giffgaff, switch it on and make sure everything's working properly. If, for whatever reason, you need to return or change the handset or SIM card, it's best to do this before transferring your phone number.
Once you're happy to continue with the phone number transfer, contact giffgaff and provide them with your PAC Code from Virgin Mobile.
Your PAC Code should be entered on giffgaff's online form.
If you have a STAC Code from Virgin Mobile rather than a PAC Code, this can be provided to giffgaff in the exact same way.
Remember:
- You must provide the PAC Code to giffgaff within 30 days of it being issued by Virgin Mobile. If the PAC Code has already expired, you'll need to return to step 1 and request a new PAC Code from Virgin Mobile.
Step 4: Phone Number Transferred (Next Working Day)
As long as you've submitted your PAC Code to giffgaff before 3pm, your phone number transfer will normally be scheduled for the next working day (Monday to Friday only, excluding English bank holidays). After 3pm, you'll need to wait one extra working day for your number to be transferred.
On the day of the transfer, you'll momentarily lose coverage on both mobile networks. When this happens, restart your handset on giffgaff. You should find that the giffgaff phone or SIM card will now associated with your original phone number.
- If you see an error message (e.g. "SIM card registration failed"), this means it's time to restart your phone.
- Once the phone number has been transferred to giffgaff, your account on Virgin Mobile will automatically be closed. You'll receive a final bill from Virgin Mobile for any outstanding charges.
Get the Latest Deals from giffgaff →
Any Other Questions?
In case of any problems during the transfer of your phone number, you should contact your new mobile network (giffgaff) with details of the problem.
If you have any other questions on using a PAC Code, please see my in-depth guide to transferring your phone number between networks. You can also read the comments below from other visitors to this website.
← Full Article: "PAC Codes - How to transfer your mobile number when switching networks"
Wendy Jones said:
Hi,
Having bought a new phone and decided to change network, I thought I had successfully ported my number from Virgin on a 30 day rolling contract to Giffgaff. The new phone is working well on the Giffgaff network with my old number. The old phone, however, is still allowing me to use Facebook and other apps such as Google Maps. Phone calls, texting and WhatsApp don’t work. I am confused about this as I thought that once my number ported over, everything would stop working on my old phone. Do I still have internet access for the rest of the 30 day contract that I had with Virgin? Has my contract with Virgin definitely been cancelled? Any help gratefully appreciated.
Ken replied:
Hi Wendy,
Many thanks for getting in touch! Is your old phone (previously on Virgin Mobile) connected to wi-fi? Your old handset will still function fine and will allow you to access the internet over wi-fi without a functioning SIM card inside it (hence, the ability to use apps such as Facebook, etc). Of course, phone calls and text messages rely on you having a functioning SIM card so that’s why they’re no longer working after you transferred your phone number out. WhatsApp is a little bit of a special case – technically speaking, it doesn’t require you to have an active SIM card and works fine over wi-fi, but each phone number can only be registered to one phone (so it would have been deactivated on your old phone, when you set up and registered your number on your new phone).
Hope this helps,
Ken