How to Create a Revolut Account Without a Phone Number
You can't. Revolut requires a mobile number to open an account, and there's no email-only or username-only signup. What you can do is get a number that works for Revolut without tying the account to your main SIM, and that's the safe path this guide covers.
If you're avoiding your own number because you've lost your SIM, you're abroad, or you don't want a bank account linked to your personal line, you have workable options. If the goal is to skip phone verification entirely, stop here. It doesn't exist for this app.
Quick answer
Revolut sends a text code to the number you enter at signup, so you need a number that can receive SMS (short message service) messages. A prepaid SIM, an eSIM, or a second line on your own phone is the reliable route. Free online inboxes and many virtual numbers are commonly rejected or unreliable for banking apps.
Why Revolut insists on a phone number
Revolut is a regulated financial app, not a social network. The phone number does three jobs: it verifies you're a real person at signup, it acts as a second login factor (2FA, two-factor authentication) on new devices, and it's one of the ways the company contacts you about suspicious card activity.
That last point matters. The number isn't just a formality at the start. It stays attached to your identity on the account for as long as you use it.
What you need before you start
Gather these first so the process doesn't stall halfway through.
- A phone number that can receive SMS in a country Revolut supports. A landline won't do, because it can't receive texts.
- An email address you can open right now.
- A government photo ID, usually a passport, national ID card or driving licence.
- A well-lit spot, since you'll take a selfie or short video for identity checks.
- A home address that matches your documents or proof of address.
One detail trips people up: the country you pick as your residence should line up with the number you're using. A number from a different country than your stated address isn't automatically blocked, but it can add friction at the identity stage.
Realistic ways to get a number if you don't want to use your own
A prepaid SIM or eSIM
This is the cleanest option. A prepaid SIM from a local carrier gives you a real mobile number that behaves like any other to Revolut. Many phones now support an eSIM, which you can set up in minutes without a physical card. Keep the line alive afterwards. Top it up occasionally, because carriers recycle inactive numbers, and a recycled number could end up in someone else's hands while still linked to your bank app.
A second line on your current phone
If your phone has dual SIM support, add a cheap secondary line and use that for Revolut only. You keep your main number private and the bank number separate.
A family member's number
Technically it works, since they'll receive the code and read it to you. Practically, it's a bad idea. Every future login on a new device sends a code to them, and you're stuck if they change their number or lose their phone.
Virtual numbers
Here's the honest limitation. Banking and fintech apps often screen out numbers from voice over internet protocol (VoIP) ranges, and Revolut is widely reported to be one of them. Public or free inboxes are worse, since the same number is visible to strangers and has usually been burned by earlier users. Some paid rental numbers can receive codes from certain apps, but for a bank account you can't count on it, and you shouldn't build anything important on it. If you want to test whether a private rental number gets through, PVACodes offers rentals for many countries, though availability varies and a bank-grade check can still refuse it. We cover how this plays out with a similar finance app in our guide to virtual numbers for Venmo.
Step-by-step signup
Menu names change between app versions, so treat the labels below as a guide rather than exact wording.
- Install the official app. Download Revolut from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Check the developer name matches Revolut before you tap install, because fake banking apps exist.
- Choose your country. The first screens ask where you live. Pick the one that matches your ID and address.
- Enter your phone number. Type the number in international format. Use the country selector for the code and drop any leading zero from the local number. A UK mobile written 07700 900123 locally becomes +44 7700 900123. Typing the zero in addition to the country code is the most common reason a code never shows up.
- Enter the code. The text should arrive within a minute or so. Type it into the app. If nothing comes, wait before asking again, and use the resend option once the timer allows.
- Add your email and set a passcode. You'll confirm your email and create a passcode for the app. Pick one you'll remember, since it protects the account day to day.
- Fill in your personal details. Name, date of birth and address need to match your ID exactly. Nicknames cause problems here.
- Verify your identity. The app asks you to scan your ID and take a selfie or short video. Take your time. Glare on the document or a cropped corner is the usual reason for a retry.
- Wait for approval. Some accounts are approved within minutes. Others go into manual review that can take longer, particularly if details don't line up.
Once approved, you can order a card and add money. That's the whole flow. There's no hidden side door that skips step three.
Where people get stuck, and how to tell
The code never arrives
Check the format first. A stray leading zero, a missing country code or a number saved with spaces and brackets copied from elsewhere can all break delivery. Next, look at your own phone. Poor signal, a full inbox, or a carrier filter that blocks short-code senders can swallow the text. If your carrier is the suspect, this troubleshooting guide on missing verification codes walks through the carrier-side checks that apply to most networks, not only AT&T.
Timing is a clue. Codes from banking apps typically show up within seconds. If two minutes pass with nothing, the message probably isn't coming.
The app says the number can't be used
This usually means the number was flagged, often because it's a VoIP number or because it's already linked to another Revolut account. A number can only sit on one profile. If you previously signed up and forgot, try logging in instead of creating a new account.
Identity check fails repeatedly
Retaking the photo in daylight fixes more failures than anything else. If it still fails, contact support through the app's help section rather than trying many times in a row. Repeated rapid attempts can look like fraud and slow the review.
Your number changes later
If you lose the SIM or switch carriers, you'll need to update the number on the account. Revolut handles this inside the app and expects extra identity checks. It's doable, but not instant, and it's much harder if you've also lost access to the phone. That's the strongest argument for using a stable, long-term number from day one.
Privacy and safety
Never use a shared or public number for a bank account. Anyone watching that inbox could see your login codes. Don't give someone else a code you receive, even if they claim to work for Revolut. Real staff don't ask for it.
Also be aware of SIM-swap fraud, where an attacker convinces a carrier to move your number to their SIM. Setting a port-out PIN with your carrier reduces that risk. Whatever number you pick, treat it as part of your bank security, not a throwaway.
Opening accounts with numbers or identities that aren't yours, or creating multiple accounts to get around limits, breaks Revolut's terms and can get everything frozen. Stick to one account in your own name.
FAQ
Can I sign up for Revolut with just an email?
No. Email is collected during signup, but the phone number is mandatory and verified by SMS before you can continue. There's no email-only option in the standard flow.
Does Revolut accept VoIP or virtual numbers?
Often not. Many users report rejections for internet-based numbers, and acceptance can change without notice. A real prepaid SIM or eSIM number is the dependable choice.
Can I use a landline?
Not reliably. The standard check is a text message, and most landlines can't receive one. Some services offer a voice call fallback, but you shouldn't plan around it for Revolut.
Can I use a foreign number?
Often yes, provided it's a real mobile number and Revolut supports the region. Expect more questions during identity checks if the number's country doesn't match your address.
What if I lose my phone number after signing up?
Open the app's support section and follow the steps to change your number. You'll probably need to verify your identity again. If you can't get into the app at all, recovery takes longer.
Can two Revolut accounts share one number?
Generally no. A number is tied to a single profile, which is why a previously used number may be refused at signup.
Is a prepaid SIM safe for a bank account?
Yes, if you keep it active and secure it with a carrier PIN. The risk is letting it expire, after which the carrier may reassign the number.
How long does the SMS code take?
Usually seconds, sometimes up to a minute on busy networks. Past two minutes, recheck the number format and your signal rather than requesting codes repeatedly.
The practical call
Get a real mobile number you control, such as a prepaid SIM or eSIM, and use it for Revolut. If your aim is to avoid giving any phone number at all, this app isn't the right fit, and no workaround is worth risking a frozen account. Pick the number first, confirm it can receive texts, then start the signup.