Sender ID (DLT Header) Generator

Enter your registered entity or brand name and get 6-letter header ideas for DLT, each checked against the rules operators use. Then see the top reasons headers are rejected and what to do so yours is approved first time.

6-letter header ideasLive DLT rule check12 rejection reasons explainedFree, no sign-up

Quick Answer

A DLT header (sender ID) is the 6-character name shown as the sender of a business SMS in India. Service and transactional headers are 6 letters that clearly relate to your registered entity or brand, such as SGHUBS for SMSGatewayHub. Promotional headers are 6-digit numbers assigned by the DLT portal. Generic words, other brands and government words are rejected.

Generate and check your header

1. Registered entity or brand name

2. Header category

3. Check your own header idea (optional)

Type your own header idea to check it against the rules.

This tool checks format and naming rules only. Whether a header is still free can only be seen on your operator's DLT portal, and the final decision is the header registrar's.

Header ideas

Click a header to copy it. "Shows as" uses VM- as an example operator prefix; the prefix changes with the operator and circle.

Want us to file it? Free DLT entity, header and template registration help with every account.Get free trial

How to get a header approved on DLT

Register your entity
Register the business as a Principal Entity on one operator DLT portal with PAN, GST or incorporation proof and an authorised person. You get a PE ID that works on every operator.
Pick the category
Most businesses use Service Implicit. Transactional is for banks and financial institutions. Promotional headers are numbers the portal assigns.
Choose 6 letters
Build the header from your entity or brand name with the generator above, then type it on the portal to see if it is still free.
Attach proof if needed
If the header uses a brand or trade name that is not obvious from the entity name, upload a trademark, GST trade name, website proof or brand authorisation letter.
Submit and link
Submit and pay the portal fee. After approval, link your templates to the header and add SMSGatewayHub as your telemarketer so messages can go out.

DLT header types at a glance

Category	Header format	Used for	Shows on the phone as
Service Implicit	6 letters, from your name	OTPs, order, delivery, account and payment updates to existing customers	VM-SGHUBS-S
Transactional	6 letters, from your name	Banks and financial institutions: OTPs and transaction alerts	VM-SGHUBS-T
Service Explicit	6 letters, from your name	Messages a customer has given recorded consent for	VM-SGHUBS-P
Promotional	6 digits, assigned by the portal	Offers and marketing to non-DND numbers, 10 AM to 9 PM	VM-561234-P
Government	6 letters, from the department name	Central, state and local government bodies	VM-ABCGOV-G

The -S, -T, -P or -G suffix is added by the DLT system from the category of the matching template. You do not register it or send it yourself.

Why headers get rejected, and how to avoid it

Rejection reason	Example	What to do instead
Does not match the entity name	XYZSMS for Sharma Electronics	Build the header from letters of your entity or brand name, in order: SHRMEL, SHAELE.
Generic or dictionary word	ALERTS, OFFERS, UPDATE, INFORM	Use a header only your business could own. Add your brand letters.
Another company's brand or a look-alike	AMAZNN, HDFCBN for a non-bank	Never imitate a known sender. Using a client's brand needs that brand's written authorisation.
Government, regulator or public-service word	GOVTIN, RBIALR, UIDAIS, POLICE	These are kept for the bodies themselves. Remove the word.
Celebrity, politician or obscene word	Names of public figures, slang	Use your business name only.
Wrong format	SGH-01, SG HUB, SGHUB (5 characters)	Exactly 6 letters A-Z: no digits, spaces, hyphens or symbols.
Wrong category	Transactional header for a retail shop	Choose Service Implicit unless you are a bank or financial institution.
Header already taken	A popular short word in your industry	Headers are unique across DLT. Check availability on the portal and keep 2 or 3 alternatives ready.
Missing supporting document	Brand name differs from the legal name, no proof	Upload a trademark certificate, GST trade name, website or domain proof.
Letter of Authorisation does not match	LOA names a different header or entity	Put the exact header, the entity name and PE ID on the brand owner's letterhead, signed and stamped.
Meaningless or repeated letters	AAAAAA, QWERTY	Pick letters a customer can link to your brand at a glance.
Entity details incomplete	PAN or GST name differs from the entity name entered	Register the entity exactly as on PAN or GST, then apply for headers.

When do you need a supporting document?

Header from the entity name

SHRMEL for Sharma Electronics Pvt Ltd. Usually no extra document: the link is visible from the registered name.

Header from a brand or trade name

Brand name differs from the legal name. Upload a trademark certificate, the GST certificate showing the trade name, or proof of your website.

Header for a brand you do not own

An agency or group company sending for a brand needs a Letter of Authorisation from the brand owner naming the exact header.

Government header

An authorisation letter from the department, signed by the competent officer, with the department registered as a government entity.

Checklist before you submit

Exactly 6 letters A-Z, in capitals.
Every letter can be traced to your entity or brand name.
No generic word, other brand, public figure or government word.
Category matches what you will send: Service Implicit for most businesses.
Availability checked on the DLT portal, with 2 or 3 alternatives ready.
Trademark, GST trade name or LOA ready if the header is a brand name.
Templates ready to link to the header after approval.
Send at least once every few weeks: headers unused for over 90 days can be returned to the pool.

Related tools & guides

SMS Template Generator →

DLT-ready templates to link to your header.

DLT Template Checker →

Check a message and header format before sending.

SMS Sender ID →

Header categories and the -P, -S, -T, -G suffixes.

DLT Registration →

Entity, header and template registration help.

DLT Error Codes →

Fix header and template failures.

All Free Tools →

Counters, checkers and generators for SMS and WhatsApp.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a sender ID or header in DLT?

A header is the 6-character name shown as the sender of a business SMS in India, for example VM-SGHUBS-S. The business registers it on an operator DLT portal and links it to approved templates before it can send.

How many characters can a header have?

Exactly 6. Service, transactional and government headers use 6 letters A-Z. Promotional headers are 6-digit numbers given by the DLT portal. Spaces and symbols such as @, &, $ or % are not allowed.

Can I choose my promotional header?

No. The DLT portal assigns a 6-digit numeric header for promotional SMS based on your business category. Only service, transactional and government headers carry your brand letters.

Why was my header rejected?

The most common reasons are a header that does not match the entity or brand name, a generic word such as ALERTS or OFFERS, a look-alike of another brand, a government or regulator word, a missing supporting document, or a header another business already holds.

Does the header have to match my company name?

It must clearly relate to the registered entity or a brand you own. If it uses a brand or trade name that differs from the entity name, upload proof such as a trademark certificate, GST trade name, website or a brand authorisation letter.

What does -S, -P, -T or -G after the header mean?

It is the category suffix the DLT system adds from the template used: -S for service, -P for promotional and service explicit, -T for transactional and -G for government. You do not register or send it yourself.

How long does approval take and how long is a header valid?

Operator portals say the header registrar usually reviews a request within an hour, though document checks can take longer. An approved header has lifetime validity, but a header unused for more than 90 days can be returned to the header pool.

Can I transfer a header to another company?

No. Headers cannot be transferred between entities. A business can surrender a header it no longer needs, and another business then has to register it under its own entity with its own documents.

Is this sender ID generator free?

Yes. It is free, needs no sign-up and runs in your browser. Your entity name is not sent to our servers; only an anonymous count of tool use is kept. The final decision is always made on the operator DLT portal.

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