How to register a phone with PTA in 2026 (passport or CNIC) and how much tax you pay

By Bilal Naeem · Updated: 13 October 2026

Work it out with the PTA tax calculator →

A phone brought from abroad keeps working on a Pakistani SIM only if it is registered on PTA’s DIRBS. You apply online at dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs, pay FBR’s duty and taxes against a payment slip (PSID) at a bank, and the phone is approved once the payment is confirmed. In 2026-27 the tax depends on the phone’s value: a US$600 smartphone costs about Rs 83,813 on CNIC and Rs 72,313 on passport, at Rs 280 per dollar.

What DIRBS is and how it works

DIRBS (Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System) is PTA’s system that reads the IMEI of every phone on every network. Compliant phones already on the networks are registered automatically. A phone bought or brought from abroad gets 60 days from the first time it is used here with a SIM; if it is not registered in that time, mobile service stops.

Step 1: check the phone’s status

Dial *#06# and note the IMEI. A dual-SIM phone has two.
Send the 15-digit IMEI by SMS to 8484. The same check is on dirbs.pta.gov.pk and in the DIRBS DVS app.
Read the reply. “Compliant” means the phone is approved and you need do nothing. “Valid, not Approved/Registered” means you must register and pay. “Non-compliant” means the IMEI fails the standard and the phone will be blocked; it cannot be registered. “Blocked” means it was reported stolen, lost or misused.

Do this check before buying any used phone. If you are travelling, note the IMEIs before you fly; they are also printed on the box. A phone found “compliant” needs no tax, so check first rather than paying for a phone that is already approved.

Passport or CNIC: what is the difference

On passport: if you travelled from abroad and the phone was in your baggage, you can register it on your passport within 60 days of arrival. No income tax is charged, because phones brought in personal baggage under the Baggage Rules are exempt from it. Every other duty and tax still applies; the free baggage allowance for phones was withdrawn on 30 June 2019.

On CNIC: a phone sent by a relative, ordered online, or one past the 60-day window is registered on CNIC. This adds income tax, which is doubled for people not on FBR’s Active Taxpayers’ List (non-filers).

Either way you need a SIM issued in the applicant’s own name. PTA says a traveller without one should first get a SIM from an operator.

How to register, step by step

Create an account at dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs, or dial *8484#, or visit a mobile operator’s franchise or service centre. PTA says there are no registration counters at airports.
Enter your passport number (for travellers), CNIC or NICOP number, the number of a SIM in your name, and every IMEI of the phone.
The system works out the tax through FBR’s WeBOC and issues a PSID. It shows the value customs applied, the exchange rate and the total.
Pay at any commercial bank within 7 days. After 7 days the PSID is deleted and you must apply again.
Once the payment is confirmed, the IMEI is whitelisted. If the status does not move from Pending to Approved, check with your bank or FBR, then confirm with another 8484 check.

How much tax in 2026-27

The tax has five parts: customs duty of Rs 250 a set; a fixed regulatory duty for the phone’s value band; sales tax on the value plus both duties (18% up to US$500, 25% above); income tax on CNIC only; and the mobile handset levy on smartphones. The value is customs’ own valuation for each model, not your receipt.

Value (US$)	Regulatory duty	Income tax, filer	Income tax, non-filer	Handset levy	Sales tax
≤ 30	240	100	200	100	18%
30 – 100	2,400	100	200	200	18%
100 – 200	6,000	100	200	200	18%
200 – 350	8,800	970	1,940	1,800	18%
350 – 500	12,000	5,000	10,000	4,000	18%
> 500	17,600	11,500	23,000	8,000 / 16,000	25%

All amounts are rupees per set. Income tax applies on CNIC only. A basic phone up to US$30 pays Rs 70 income tax and no levy. Above US$500 the levy is Rs 8,000 up to US$700 and Rs 16,000 above that.

Two worked examples

US$600 smartphone, filer: value Rs 168,000. Customs duty Rs 250, regulatory duty Rs 17,600, sales tax at 25% Rs 46,463, levy Rs 8,000. On CNIC, add income tax of Rs 11,500 for a total of Rs 83,813. On passport, Rs 72,313.

US$250 smartphone, non-filer: value Rs 70,000. Regulatory duty Rs 8,800, sales tax at 18% Rs 14,229, levy Rs 1,800. On CNIC the doubled income tax of Rs 1,940 brings it to Rs 27,019. On passport, Rs 25,079, since there is no income tax.

Both examples use an assumed Rs 280 per dollar. For your own model, use the PTA tax calculator with the value and rate printed on your PSID.

Common mistakes

Waiting past 60 days. The passport saving only applies within 60 days of arrival. Later, you pay income tax and possibly a fine.
Entering one IMEI only. Enter both IMEIs of a dual-SIM phone; the application asks for every IMEI the device has.
Letting the PSID expire. If it is not paid within 7 days, the whole application has to be made again.
Working from the receipt price. Customs applies its own value, so the real bill can differ from your estimate.
Buying a “non-compliant” phone. It cannot be registered even if you pay. Check with 8484 first.
Using someone else’s SIM. The SIM number you enter must be issued in the applicant’s name.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if my phone is PTA approved?

Dial *#06# to see the IMEI, then send the 15-digit IMEI by SMS to 8484, or use the check on dirbs.pta.gov.pk or the DIRBS DVS app. “Compliant” means it is registered; “valid, not Approved/Registered” means you still have to register it and pay the tax.

Can I register a phone on passport without paying tax?

No. PTA’s DIRBS FAQ says FBR withdrew the free baggage exemption from 30 June 2019, so every phone registered pays duty. Passport registration only saves the income tax line, because phones in personal baggage are exempt from it.

How long is a PSID valid?

Seven days from the day it is generated. If it is not paid in that time the application is deleted and you have to apply again for a new PSID.

What happens after 60 days?

An unregistered phone stops getting mobile service once its 60 days on a Pakistani network run out. You can still register it later, but on payment of the duty and taxes plus a fine, according to PTA. The passport route is only for phones registered within 60 days of arrival.

How many phones can I register?

PTA allows an individual to register up to five phones in a calendar year. The temporary registration for visitors covers one phone only.

Is there a cheaper option for short visits?

Overseas Pakistanis and foreigners on a short visit can apply for temporary registration of one phone for up to 120 days from arrival, checked against FIA passport data. The phone must leave Pakistan with you. PTA’s FAQ does not state a fee for it.

Calculators for this guide

PTA tax calculatorWork out the PTA (DIRBS) tax on an imported phone for 2026-27 on passport or CNIC: customs duty, regulatory duty, sales tax, income tax and handset levy.

Sources

This guide explains the rules for general information. It is not official, legal or tax advice. Rules change, so check the official source or a qualified professional before acting. See how we check our information.