Frequently Asked Questions

As part of our overall venue and citywide security plan in partnership with the Spanish, Catalan & Barcelona Authorities and the Catalan Police (Cos de Mossos d'Esquadra), we are committed to ensuring a safe and secure environment at MWC. 

This is achieved through our “validate & verify” registration and entry process.

Our “validate & verify” registration and entry process consists of:

1. Validating the authenticity of your ID document to certify your identity (ID Validation) and prevent fraudulent activities such as false representation or identity theft; and
2. Verifying your identity each time you access the venue to ensure that only authorized attendees with a previously validated ID document are granted access to the event.

You can choose to have your ID document validated and your identity verified through any of the following options:

Option 1: Biometric:

The Biometric option enables instant validation of your ID document and instant verification of your identity. You will be requested to present your ID document during your registration. Our online registration system will collect the required information from your ID document and undertake image analysis to compare your ID portrait photo with the separate photo you provide. 

As we will generate and compare biometric information from both photos for the purpose of verifying your identity, we will ask for your consent to the processing of your ID document and biometric information.

Option 2: Non-Biometric:

The Non-Biometric option enables instant validation of your ID document. You will be requested to present your ID document during your registration. Our online registration system will collect the required information from your ID document and a GSMA representative will then visually compare your ID portrait photo with the separate photo you provide to verify your identity. The process of verifying your identity in this manner may take longer. There is no biometric information involved in this option. However, we will ask for your consent to the processing of your ID document

Option 3: Live Video:

The Live Video option involves your ID document being validated and your identity being verified through a video call with a GSMA representative. While you will not be requested to upload your ID document to our online registration system, you will have to present your ID document to the GSMA representative and manually input the required information from your ID document so that it can be entered into our online registration system.

You will also need to provide a separate photo of your face to ensure that your identity can be verified each and every time you access the venue.

This option is subject to availability.

Once your registration is completed, and prior to the event opening, you will be able to access your Digital Access Pass on your mobile device, either within the MWC Series App or your Registration account, in the form of a QR code. When entering the venue each day, our access system will scan the QR code, and the photo of yourself which you provided during registration will be displayed on our screen. Our staff will compare: (i) the photo you provided during registration; and (ii) your face, to verify your identity in order to access the event.

When you first present or upload an image of your ID document, it is handled locally on your device. Due to the technical limitations of third-party devices, for validation to take place, certain essential operations are then performed through our secure online registration system.

In line with our privacy-by-design approach, data collection, processing and retention are minimised to the fullest possible extent.

The entire process takes less than a second. Within this fleeting moment, the system performs a series of automated, instantaneous functions. These include receiving, depersonalising and extracting only the necessary information required for verification (with all other data being immediately discarded). These steps occur simultaneously and inseparably, via a single API call.

Given that receipt of the ID document cannot be differentiated in either process or time from the depersonalisation, the extraction of required information and the discarding of obsolete data, our online registration system never retains your full ID document as an identifiable record - the data exists only transiently, solely for the purpose of validation. 
 

The information required from your ID document is:

1. Full name
2. Date of birth
3. Nationality
4. Type of ID document
5. ID document number
6. Country issuing the ID document
7. Expiry date of the ID document
8. ID portrait photo.

MWC Barcelona attracts attendees from hundreds of countries all over the world. As you can imagine, there are a number of differences between the form of ID document issued by individual countries.

As such, we require the entire ID document to be able to ensure its validity (see 'What happens..' in the FAQs). If we only processed the limited data we actually require, it would be impossible to successfully validate the authenticity of the ID document.

We are committed to minimising the data that we collect during “validate and verify”. Where future technology can deliver ID document validation from only partial data contained in an ID document, then we would look to update our registration and entry process accordingly.

No. Only the data identified in the FAQ 'What information is required from my ID document?' is retained in addition with the separate photo you provide.

Our system does not, at any point, collect, process or retain a usable version of your full ID document.

Only valid passports or EU national ID cards are accepted to complete your registration for MWC Barcelona.  Spanish Residence Cards / NIE are not accepted.

Yes. Attendees whose ID document has not been previously validated and whose identity has not been previously verified will not be able to complete their registration, access their Digital Access Pass or enter MWC.

We utilise industry-recognised encryption within the systems that collect personal data. Additionally, the GSMA and our venue partner Fira commission a third-party penetration test and systems audit to ensure the security of personal information.

MWC Barcelona is delivered by GSMA in partnership with the Spanish, Catalan & Barcelona Authorities and, from a safety & security perspective, Cos de Mossos d’Esquadra.

The “validate & verify” registration and entry process is the tried, tested and proven way these parties deliver a safe and secure MWC each year. 

Yes, of course.  We have tutorial videos in three different languages for you to watch:

• English Version
• Spanish Version
• Chinese Version

If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it by visiting the registration website, clicking on the ‘Sign In’ button and then the ‘Forgot Password’ link. You will be offered a choice of receiving a reset link via email or SMS.

Please check your junk / spam folders for the email if you did not receive it.

To unlock your account please contact: registration@mwcbarcelona.com

There are many factors why emails may not be received and is probably down to the individual mail server settings or the spam filtering used by your company. Please check your spam folder and contact the IT department of your company to ask them to whitelist registration@mwcbarcelona.com

A valid email address is required to register for MWC. If you do not use a valid address, you will not receive any invitations, confirmation of your registration, visa support letters, password recovery and other important registration emails.

If you wish to manage other emails that the GSMA may send to you, please access the Email Preference Centre to manage your opt-in choices.

All attendees are required to provide an e-mail address to complete their registration. We use the email address to create your account and send you confirmation of your registration as well as other important registration information.

You can opt to add an additional email address during the registration process, or you can log back into your registration account and update your Contact Information
 

You will receive copies of your registration emails (except password reset or visa support letter) to this additional address.

If any of your information has changed, just log back into your account and edit your Contact Information. Please note, you will not be able to change your email address. Please contact registration@mwcbarcelona.com for assistance.

You can unsubscribe from GSMA emails here. You will still receive all emails relating to your registration.

We accept payment by American Express, MasterCard, or Visa.

Note: Visa debit cards may not be accepted outside of the country of origin and / or your bank may decline large transaction amounts. For more information, contact your bank directly before attempting payment.

Payments are accepted in Euros only.

This facility is only available for large payments (currently €5,500 incl. VAT) and will become automatically available in the system when you reach the payment stage.

The deadline for making payment is 13 February 2026. As there are no onsite facilities, payment must be made prior to this date. Registrations after this date must be paid for by credit card.

ALL SALES ARE FINAL. Cancellations, as well as ‘no shows’ will be liable for the full registration fee. Cancellation of travel and hotel reservations are the responsibility of the registrant. Please consult the GSMA’s Attendee Terms & Conditions for Events for full details.

• Client Portal users with complimentary allocations should log into their account and check the registration status of the pass they wish to cancel. Please consult your Client Portal User Guide for further information.
• If you received your pass from an Exhibitor, Partner, Sponsor or GSMA, please contact them to let them know you will be unable to attend.
• Attendees who have purchased their passes can use the Substitution function in their accounts to give their pass to someone else (though you will still be liable for the full cost)

Downgrades of passes are permitted but will still be liable for the full registration fee of the original pass purchased. For more information, please see our GSMA’s Attendee Terms & Conditions for Events.

Please email registration@mwcbarcelona.com specifying precisely what details would you like to change and how would you like them to appear on the invoice. Once received, we will proceed with the modification as soon as possible.

The GSMA does not promote a tax compliance and recovery service for MWC. This is due to differing standards of service and delivery available to different attendees and exhibitors in different countries. You may wish to undertake a search in your country for a reputable service provider and/or engage with your accounts or auditors for a recommendation specific to your organisation and country.

If you are no longer able to attend and want to give your pass to a colleague, you have two options:

• If you received your pass from an Exhibitor, Partner, Sponsor or GSMA, please contact them to let them know you will be unable to attend.
• Attendees who have purchased their passes can use the Substitution function in their accounts to give their pass to someone else (though you will still be liable for the full cost). Log in to your registration account and look for the option 'Request to Substitute My Pass' on the top right-hand side of the page.

The app is available via the Play Store, App Store and Huawei App Gallery

Your login details are the same details that you used for your registration account. If you have forgotten your password, please go to your registration account and follow the instructions to reset your password via the login button.

If you are unable to download the app from any of the available stores, you can access your Digital Access Pass from your registration account. However, if you can download the app, please do so.