Mobile phone registration for overseas Pakistanis is simple: they can use their own phone on a Pakistani SIM for up to 120 days without paying import tax, provided they register it with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) through its online Device Registration System. Registration is free for that period, covers one personal phone per person, and is done on the PTA portal after you have a SIM in your own name. The 120 days count from the day you arrived, not the day you apply.
If you only use roaming on your foreign SIM, you do not need to register anything. This guide is for people who want a local number on the handset they already own.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Portal | dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs (PTA Device Registration System) |
| Cost | Free for the temporary period |
| Validity | Up to 120 days, counted from arrival |
| Devices | One personal phone per applicant |
| You need | Passport number, CNIC or NICOP number, Pakistani SIM in your name, IMEI, email, arrival and departure dates |
| After 120 days | Register permanently and pay FBR duties and taxes, or stop using the phone on a local SIM |
Why registration matters
Pakistan tracks every handset by its IMEI number through PTA's DIRBS system, so that phones imported without paying tax do not work on local networks. A phone that is not registered can be blocked once you insert a local SIM. Roaming is treated differently: PTA has said that users on international roaming can continue using their phones without registration, but must register if they insert a local SIM.
For overseas Pakistanis, PTA introduced a temporary facility so that a phone brought in for a visit does not attract tax. It was announced in April 2025 and is still running in 2026.
How to register your phone
- Get a Pakistani SIM in your own name. The SIM used for registration has to be issued against your own CNIC, NICOP or passport. A SIM registered to a relative will not work for this.
- Find your IMEI. Dial *#06# on the phone. A dual-SIM phone shows two numbers; enter both if the form asks.
- Create an account on the Device Registration System portal, activate it from the email link and log in.
- Choose temporary registration and enter your passport number, CNIC or NICOP number, arrival and expected departure dates, email address, mobile number and IMEI.
- Review and submit. Once verified, the phone is paired with your SIM.
Do this within your first few days. If you apply thirty days after arriving, you have about ninety days left, not a full 120.
SIMs and where to buy them
You will need to buy the SIM in person, with your ID and a fingerprint scan, at an operator outlet or a franchise. Buy from the operator's own shop or an authorised franchise rather than a roadside stall. See our Pakistan SIM card guide for how the process works and which networks cover the northern valleys, and our note on eSIM options.
What if you stay longer than 120 days?
After the temporary period ends, you have two options: register the phone permanently through the regular PTA process and pay the FBR duties and taxes that apply to the model, or stop using it on a Pakistani network. The tax depends on the phone and on rates set by FBR, which change, so use PTA's own calculator rather than figures quoted on forums. For a short trip, temporary registration is nearly always the sensible choice.
You can use the temporary facility again on a later visit, but you must submit a fresh application each time.
Customs and registration are different things
Bringing the phone into the country is a customs matter; using it on a local SIM is a PTA matter. A phone you carry as personal luggage is normally fine at the airport, while a boxed phone brought as a gift will draw questions and needs its own registration and tax. Our customs allowance guide covers that side, and the FAQs answer other practical questions.
Who does this suit?
Registration is worth doing if you are staying more than a week and want a local number for taxis, food delivery, banking apps and family calls. If you are in the country for a few days, or spend most of your time in the mountains where coverage is limited, roaming or a second phone may be simpler.
Frequently asked questions
Do overseas Pakistanis have to register their phone with PTA?
Only if they insert a Pakistani SIM. Phones on international roaming can be used without registration.
How long does temporary registration last?
Up to 120 days from your arrival date. It starts from arrival, not from when you apply.
Is temporary phone registration free?
Yes, it is free of FBR tax for the allowed period.
How many phones can I register?
One personal phone per applicant. Family members register their own.
What happens after 120 days?
You can register permanently and pay the applicable taxes, or the phone will stop working on Pakistani networks.
