How to Borrow Airtime or Data from MTN South Africa

Last Updated on June 3, 2025 by admin

In today’s fast-paced digital age, staying connected is more important than ever, and MTN recognizes that sometimes you may find yourself in need of a little extra help to maintain that connection.

Whether you’re running low on airtime during an important call or need a data boost for streaming your favorite content, MTN offers convenient borrowing services that allow you to access what you need when you need it.

This article will guide you through the process of borrowing airtime and data from MTN, outlining eligibility requirements, step-by-step instruction.

You will also learn how to borrow data and airtime,  repayment processes, and helpful tips to ensure you make the most of these services. With this information at your fingertips, you can enjoy seamless connectivity without any interruptions.

Read: All MTN South Africa ussd to find information and request services quickly, manage your account

MTN South Africa XtraTime and XtraByte and Services

MTN South Africa offers the XtraTime service to its prepaid customers, allowing them to borrow airtime and data when they run out. This service is particularly beneficial for users who need to continue conversations without interruption.

To be eligible, customers must have a registered SIM, an active number for at least three months, and have recharged R20 or more per month also have  a low main account balance.

Eligibility requirements to borrow data and airtime from MTN  South Africa

To borrow data or airtime from MTN South Africa using XtraTime or XtraByte, you must meet certain eligibility criteria:

1. You must be a prepaid customer—postpaid customers are not eligible.
2. Your SIM must be registered with MTN.
3. You must have been active on the MTN network for at least 3 to 6 months, depending on the service.
4. You must have a good repayment history—previous airtime or data loans must be repaid.
5. Your account balance must be below a certain threshold (e.g., R0.50 for airtime loans).
6. You must have recharged regularly—MTN considers your recharge frequency and amount.
7. You must not have any outstanding XtraTime or XtraByte loans

Read: MTN South Africa Dataplan subscription code and prices

How to Borrow Data from MTN South Africa

Borrowing data from MTN South Africa is a convenient option for prepaid customers who need immediate data access.

To borrow data, you can dial *136*2# or *151# and select the ‘Data Advance’ option. After choosing your desired data plan from the available options, you will need to confirm the transaction, which includes a service fee of 15% of the borrowed amount.

You can borrow data from MTN South Africa using MTN XtraByte, a service that lets prepaid customers get data on credit and pay later.

Steps to Borrow Data from MTN South Africa

1. Dial *136*2# or *151# on your MTN prepaid SIM.
2. Select “XtraByte” from the menu.
3. Choose the amount of data you want to borrow.
4. Confirm the transaction, and the borrowed data will be credited to your account.
5. The amount borrowed plus a service fee will be deducted from your next recharge.

Alternative Method (Online)

• Visit the MTN website and log in to your account.
• Navigate to the “Recharge” section and select “Borrow Data”.
• Enter your phone number and choose the data amount.
• Confirm the transaction.

How to borrow Airtime from MTN in South Africa

MTN provides a convenient service for its users in South Africa to borrow airtime when they run out. This service, known as Airtime Advance, allows customers to receive airtime instantly by dialing specific codes. The process is straightforward and ensures that users can stay connected even when they do not have immediate funds to recharge their accounts

To access the Airtime Advance service, MTN users in South Africa need to dial *136*2# or *151# on their mobile phones. After dialing, they should select the ‘Airtime Advance’ option from the menu. Users can then choose the amount of airtime they wish to borrow, up to a maximum of R50. Once the transaction is confirmed, the airtime is credited to their account instantly.

Here is steps by steps

Steps to Borrow Airtime from MTN South Africa

1. Dial *136*2# or *151# on your MTN prepaid SIM.
2. Select “XtraTime” from the menu.
3. Choose the amount of airtime you want to borrow.
4. Confirm the transaction, and the borrowed airtime will be credited to your account.
5. The amount borrowed plus a service fee will be deducted from your next recharge.

Borrowing Airtime via the MTN App

1. Download and install the MTN App from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
2. Log in using your MTN phone number.
3. Navigate to the “Borrow” section on the dashboard.
4. Select “Airtime” and choose the amount you want to borrow.
5. Review the total amount and service fee, then tap Accept.
6. You will receive a confirmation SMS, and the borrowed airtime will be credited to your account.

It is important to note that a service fee of 15% is applied to the borrowed airtime. This fee is deducted from the total amount before the airtime is credited to the user’s account.

For example, if a user borrows R50, they will receive R45 worth of airtime after the service fee is deducted. This fee structure ensures that MTN can continue to offer this service to its customers.

Read: All Vodacom South Africa ussd code to check account balance buy data borrow data

How to pay Borrowed Airtime or Data from MTN South Africa

When you borrow airtime or data from MTN South Africa, the repayment process is straightforward and automatic. The borrowed amount, along with a service fee, is deducted from your main account balance during your next recharge.

For airtime, a 15% service fee is applied, while for data, the service fee is typically 10%. This means that as soon as you top up your account, the repayment is processed without any additional steps required from your side