ISLAMABAD (The Thursday Times) — Every phone, tablet, or other SIM-based device used on a Pakistani mobile network has to be cleared through the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s DIRBSThe Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System, which PTA uses to spot and block phones that have not been registered or whose duty has not been paid. system. Here is how to check a phone’s status, register one you brought from abroad, and pay the duty, based on PTA’s and the Federal Board of Revenue’s own guidance as of 14 November 2026.
First, find your IMEI
Every phone carries at least one IMEIInternational Mobile Equipment Identity: a unique 15-digit number that identifies a SIM-based device on mobile networks., and dual-SIM and eSIM phones carry two or more. PTA says you can find it by dialling *#06#, on the phone’s box, under Settings and then About phone, or on a label under the back cover or battery. Note down every number the phone shows, because PTA says all of them must be registered.
How to check a phone’s status
- Send an SMS: type the 15-digit IMEI and send it to 8484. Repeat for each IMEI on the phone.
- Check online on PTA’s Device Verification System at dvs.pta.gov.pk.
- Use PTA’s DVS app for Android.
If the reply says the phone is compliant or PTA-registered, you do not need to do anything. PTA advises checking every IMEI before buying a phone in Pakistan, new or used. If a used phone shows as registered under the “individual” category, PTA advises getting the payment slip and customs duty record from the seller.
A phone whose IMEI is not a valid GSMA number shows as non-compliant. PTA says such a phone cannot be registered and will be blocked.
When you need to register
According to PTA, you need to register a phone you brought with you from abroad and want to use in Pakistan for more than 60 days, a phone sent to you as a gift from abroad, or any device with a valid IMEI that is not yet registered. A phone used only on a foreign SIM while roaming does not need registering, but it does once a local SIM goes in.
An unregistered phone works for 60 days from the day a local SIM is first inserted, PTA says, and then stops getting service. That 60-day window is not renewed if you bring the same phone back on a later visit.
How to register and pay the duty
- Make sure you have a Pakistani SIM issued in your own name, on your CNIC or passport.
- Apply in one of three ways: online at dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs, by dialling *8484# from a local SIM registered on your CNIC, or at any mobile operator’s customer service centre or franchise.
- Enter your CNIC (or passport, NICOP, and travel details if you are arriving from abroad), your mobile number, and every IMEI on the phone.
- The system works out the duty and taxes and sends you a PSIDPayment Slip ID: the reference number the FBR system generates for paying the customs duty and taxes on your phone.. Pay it at any commercial bank, or through the bank channels linked to the FBR, within seven days.
- Once the payment reaches the FBR, the application changes from Pending to Approved and the phone’s IMEIs are cleared on the network.
An unpaid PSID is deleted automatically after seven days, and you then have to apply again, PTA says. Travellers who register within 60 days of arriving pay the normal duty. PTA says that registering after that, or registering as a local applicant on a CNIC, means extra tax or duty.
How much duty you will pay
The duty and taxes are set by the FBR, not PTA, and depend on the phone’s model and value. They change with each budget, so this guide does not quote figures. You can look up the current amount for your model on the FBR’s Mobile Device Duty Information page on its WeBOC customs system, linked from the FBR’s “Mobile Devices Regularization – DIRBS” page on fbr.gov.pk. The FBR’s current procedure is set out in its Customs General Order 01 of 2024, dated 21 March 2024.
PTA says there is no exemption for a first phone and no discount for tax filers. The FBR withdrew the free baggage allowance for phones on 30 June 2019.
The free 120-day option for visitors
Overseas Pakistanis and foreign nationals on a short visit can register one phone temporarily, without paying duty, for up to 120 days from the date they arrive, according to PTA. Sign up at dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs and choose the temporary registration for overseas Pakistanis and foreigners.
You will need your passport number, CNIC or NICOP (foreigners do not need one), a Pakistani mobile number issued in your own name, the phone’s IMEI, an email address, and your arrival and planned departure dates. PTA checks your arrival date against FIA records. If you apply 30 days after arriving, the phone stays registered for the remaining 90.
The phone is paired with the SIM you register, so it will not connect with any other SIM. You must take the phone with you when you leave, and you apply afresh on each visit. A phone used under this scheme cannot be registered again on someone else’s passport. If you sell or give it to someone in Pakistan, they must register it the normal way and pay the duty.
| Normal registration | Temporary registration | |
|---|---|---|
| Who | Anyone | Overseas Pakistanis and foreigners on a short visit |
| How long | Permanent | Up to 120 days from arrival |
| Duty | FBR duty and taxes, paid by PSID within 7 days | None |
| Phones | Up to 5 a year per person | 1 per visit |
| SIM | Any local SIM | Only the SIM registered with it |
Questions people often ask
Do I need to register a phone bought from a shop in Pakistan?
No, as long as the 8484 check shows it as compliant or registered. PTA says a compliant phone is already registered.
How many phones can I register?
Up to five devices per person in a calendar year, according to PTA. You can delete an application up to five times; the counter can be reset through PTA’s complaint portal.
I paid the PSID, but my phone still shows as not registered. What now?
Payments go from the bank to the FBR through 1-Link, and the status changes only when the FBR confirms it. PTA advises checking with your bank or the FBR. Blocked phones are unblocked hourly once their IMEIs are approved.
I lost the SMS with my PSID. How do I get it back?
Log in at dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs, using “forgot password” with the same mobile number you dialled *8484# from. The account shows your PSID, tracking ID, and IMEIs.
Where do I complain if something goes wrong?
PTA takes complaints through its online portal at complaint.pta.gov.pk. Questions about the amount of duty go to the FBR, because PTA says tax matters are outside its mandate.
Rules and duty rates change, so check dirbs.pta.gov.pk and fbr.gov.pk before you apply. For more step-by-step help, see our other guides, including how to check your filer status.
