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Technology Desk | June 2026 | 6 min read |
| ⚡ QUICK TAKEAWAYS |
| • PTA’s 120-day facility allows overseas Pakistanis to temporarily register one personal phone per visit — free of FBR duties. |
| • The 120-day clock starts from the date of arrival in Pakistan, not the application date — so apply as soon as you land. |
| • The phone is paired with a specific SIM; that SIM must be registered in your own name (CNIC/NICOP/passport). |
| • Only one mobile device can be temporarily registered per applicant per visit; this facility cannot be used for commercial purposes. |
| • If you stay beyond 120 days or want to gift/sell the phone in Pakistan, you must complete the regular PTA registration and pay FBR taxes. |
Overseas Pakistanis visiting home often face an immediate problem: the phone they brought from abroad stops working on Pakistani networks within days of arrival. PTA’s 120-day Temporary Mobile Device Registration facility is the official solution — a free, online process that lets you use your personal phone with a local Pakistani SIM for up to four months per visit, without paying FBR taxes. Here is everything you need to know to use it correctly.
| 120
Days Maximum from date of arrival |
1
Phone Per Visit personal use only |
Free
FBR Tax for the temporary period |
Who Can Use This Facility
The facility is open to overseas Pakistanis visiting Pakistan for any purpose — vacation, family visit, business, wedding, or emergency — as well as to foreign nationals visiting Pakistan. It applies to visitors who bring a personal mobile phone from abroad and want to use it with a Pakistani SIM card. People already using a foreign SIM on roaming in Pakistan do not need to register their device — roaming continues to function without registration. The facility is specifically for those who want to insert a local Pakistani SIM into their foreign device.
Key Facility Details
| Detail | Information |
| Facility Name | Temporary Mobile Device Registration |
| Authority | Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) |
| System | Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) |
| Duration | Up to 120 days from the date of arrival in Pakistan |
| Cost | Free — no FBR duties or taxes for the temporary period |
| Application Mode | Online via PTA Device Registration System (DRS) portal |
| Devices Allowed | One personal mobile phone per applicant per visit |
| Frequency | Can be renewed on every visit with a fresh application |
| ⏰ THE CLOCK STARTS ON ARRIVAL, NOT APPLICATION
The 120 days run from your arrival date in Pakistan — not from the date you submit the application. If you land on June 1 and apply on June 20, you only have 100 days of valid registration remaining, not 120. Submit the application as early as possible after arriving — ideally on the same day. |
What You Need Before Starting
| Required Item | Note |
| Passport number | Valid passport used for travel to Pakistan |
| CNIC or NICOP | For overseas Pakistanis; foreign nationals use passport only |
| Pakistani mobile number | Must be issued and registered in the applicant’s own name |
| IMEI number(s) | Dial *#06# to retrieve; note both numbers if dual SIM |
| Email address | For account activation and notifications |
| Date of arrival in Pakistan | Must match passport entry stamp |
| Expected departure date | Approximate is acceptable |
The SIM Rule — Read This Carefully
The Pakistani SIM you use for registration must be issued in your own name, registered against your CNIC, NICOP, or passport. This is a hard requirement — PTA will not complete the registration if the SIM belongs to someone else. If you land in Pakistan and take a SIM from a family member to use, that SIM will not work for this process.
Once the registration is approved, PTA pairs the registered device IMEI with that specific SIM. If you insert a different SIM into the phone, mobile services will stop working. For dual-SIM phones, you can add a second SIM registered in your own name through the same DRS account — but it must also be in your name.
How to Find Your IMEI Number
Open your phone’s dialer, type *#06#, and press call. Your IMEI number will appear on the screen immediately. If your phone has two SIM slots, two IMEI numbers will appear — note both. The IMEI is also usually printed on the back of the device or visible in Settings > About Phone.
Step-by-Step Registration Process
| # | Step |
| 1 | Open the PTA Device Registration System (DRS) portal online. |
| 2 | Sign up by entering your personal details to create an account. |
| 3 | Check your email inbox and click the activation link sent by PTA. |
| 4 | Log in to your DRS account. |
| 5 | Accept the terms and conditions. |
| 6 | Select the temporary registration option for overseas Pakistanis or foreign nationals. |
| 7 | Enter your passport number, CNIC/NICOP, arrival date, expected departure date, email address, mobile number, and IMEI number. |
| 8 | Review all details carefully before submitting — especially the IMEI and SIM number. |
| 9 | Submit the application. |
| 10 | After verification, PTA will pair the device IMEI with the SIM number provided. Your phone is now registered. |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Common Mistake | Consequence |
| Wrong passport number | Application rejected or delayed |
| Wrong IMEI number | Phone not paired correctly; network access fails |
| SIM not in your own name | Registration will not complete — most common error |
| Applying late after arriving | 120-day window is already partially consumed |
| Registering more than one phone | Facility is for one device only per visit |
| Using another person’s passport for the same IMEI | Prohibited; PTA blocks IMEI from re-registration by other passports |
| Assuming phone works after 120 days automatically | Network access blocked; regular registration required |
| Selling or gifting the phone in Pakistan | New owner must register via regular process and pay FBR taxes |
Rules to Know Before You Apply
| 📋 RULES SUMMARY
One phone per visit. One SIM at a time (unless dual SIM). The same applicant can re-register on every future visit with a fresh application. The same IMEI cannot be temporarily registered under another person’s passport — PTA tracks this. If you gift or sell the phone in Pakistan during or after the temporary period, the new owner must go through the regular PTA registration and pay the applicable FBR taxes. |
What Happens After 120 Days
When the 120-day temporary registration expires, the phone will lose access to Pakistani mobile networks on the paired SIM. To continue using the phone in Pakistan after this point, you must complete the standard PTA/DIRBS permanent registration process and pay the applicable FBR import taxes — the amounts vary by device model and are calculated based on declared value and applicable duty rates at the time of registration.
This is an important consideration for overseas Pakistanis planning to extend their stay or permanently return to Pakistan. The 120-day window is designed for temporary visits — not for long-term residence. Planning around this deadline in advance can save both money and frustration at the end of the visit.
Getting Help If Something Goes Wrong
If the phone is not paired with the SIM after your application is approved, first recheck your passport number, IMEI number, SIM ownership details, and arrival date. The most common reason for failed pairing is a SIM that is not registered in the applicant’s own name, or an incorrect IMEI entry. If the problem persists after rechecking, contact PTA through its official complaint system or helpline for assistance.
Disclaimer: This article is based on information published by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) regarding the temporary mobile device registration facility. Processes and requirements may be updated by PTA at any time. Readers are advised to verify the latest instructions at the official PTA Device Registration System portal before applying.
