How to register a phone with PTA, step by step

Registering a device yourself is free apart from the tax. It takes about twenty minutes if you have everything ready. Here is what the process actually looks like.

Before you start

  • Your IMEI. Dial *#06# on the phone. Dual-SIM and eSIM devices show more than one number; note them all.
  • Your ID. A CNIC, or the passport of the traveller who brought the phone into Pakistan.
  • A mobile number registered on that same CNIC. The verification code goes there, so it has to match.
  • The phone itself, with you. You may need it during verification.

The steps

  1. Create an account on DIRBS. Go to dirbs.pta.gov.pk and register as an individual.
  2. Start a new registration request. Choose whether you are registering on CNIC or on passport. The two routes are priced differently, so it is worth checking both first.
  3. Enter the IMEI and your details. Type the IMEI carefully. A single wrong digit means registering a phone that is not yours.
  4. Submit and wait for the PSID. DIRBS issues a PSID: a payment reference with the exact amount owed. This number, not any calculator, is what you actually pay.
  5. Pay the PSID. Through online banking, an ATM, or a mobile wallet like Easypaisa or JazzCash. Keep the receipt.
  6. Wait for whitelisting. Once the payment clears, the IMEI is whitelisted and your SIM starts working normally. This is usually quick but can take a day or two.

Checking an IMEI before you buy

You can check the status of any IMEI for free by sending it in a text message to 8484. Do this before handing over money for a used phone, not after.

Things that go wrong

  • The mobile number is not on the same CNIC. This is the single most common failure. The OTP never arrives.
  • The 60-day window has passed. Passport registration is tied to a period after arrival in Pakistan. Leave it too long and the route closes or a penalty applies.
  • The IMEI is blocked or already registered. A stolen or duplicate IMEI cannot be registered, which is exactly why you check on 8484 first.
  • Someone asks for your OTP. No official process requires you to read a code out to a stranger. If someone asks, stop.

If you would rather not do it yourself

We register phones for customers for a flat service charge, separate from the tax itself. Use the calculator to see the estimated tax, then message us and we will handle the paperwork.