How to Register Your Mobile with PTA (DIRBS Guide)
To register a mobile with PTA, apply through the DIRBS website (dirbs.pta.gov.pk), by dialling *8484#, or at a mobile operator franchise. You enter your CNIC or passport details, the phone's IMEI numbers and a mobile number in your name. FBR then generates a PSID with the tax amount, which you pay at a bank. After payment is confirmed, PTA whitelists the IMEIs and the phone works with any Pakistani SIM.
Updated 21 October 2026
Before you start: what you need
Keep these ready: - Your CNIC (local registration) or passport number (travellers within 60 days of arrival); overseas Pakistanis may also need CNIC or NICOP - All IMEI numbers of the phone, found by dialling *#06# - A Pakistani mobile number registered in your own name - An email address for the DIRBS web account - For travellers: arrival date and passport details, which DIRBS checks against FIA data
The DIRBS FAQs say one person can register up to five devices in a calendar year.
Last checked: October 2026.
Option 1: Register on the DIRBS website
This is the most common method: - Go to dirbs.pta.gov.pk and open the device registration system (DRS) - Create an account with your email and mobile number and verify it - Choose the type of registration, such as local (CNIC) or traveller (passport) - Enter the IMEI numbers and the requested details - Submit the application; the system checks the details and generates a PSID with the tax amount from FBR - You also receive a tracking ID by SMS
Keep the PSID and tracking ID safe. If you lose the SMS, the FAQs say you can recover your login through the forgot password option.
Option 2: Register by dialling *8484#
You can also start registration from a phone: - Dial *8484# from a SIM registered in your name - Follow the menu to choose registration - Enter your CNIC or passport number and the IMEI numbers when asked - You receive the PSID and amount by SMS
This is handy if you do not have a computer, but the website makes it easier to review details and track the application.
Option 3: At an operator franchise or service centre
The DIRBS FAQs list mobile operator franchises and customer service centres as another channel. Take your original CNIC or passport and the phone. Staff can help you submit the application, and you then pay the PSID the same way. This is useful if you are unsure about the online steps.
Paying the PSID
The PSID is a payment slip ID generated by FBR. Important points: - Pay it at a commercial bank in Pakistan; many banks also accept FBR PSID payments through their apps - The PSID is valid for 7 days from the date of application - If it is not paid in time, the application is deleted automatically and you must apply again - The amount depends on the phone's value in US dollars and on passport vs CNIC registration
FBR announced an installment facility for the tax in the Finance Act 2026-27, with the procedure to be set by the government. Check DIRBS or FBR for whether it applies to your case. The tax structure is explained in PTA tax on mobile phones (PTA Tax on Mobile Phones: How It Is Calculated and Paid).
After payment: how long it takes
Once the bank payment is confirmed, the application status on DIRBS changes from Pending to Approved and the IMEIs are whitelisted. The FAQs do not promise a fixed number of days, but they say unblocking data is sent to operators hourly. In practice, restart the phone after approval and give it some time.
To confirm, send the IMEI to 8484 by SMS. Our guide on how to check PTA status (How to Check PTA Status of Any Mobile Phone) explains the replies.
Should you register now or later?
There is no penalty for registering later, but a few points help you decide: - If the phone will be your main phone with your main SIM, register it before the 60-day free period ends so you do not lose service - If you mainly use it on Wi-Fi, you can wait and register only if your needs change - Tax rates are revised from time to time through budgets and FBR notifications, so the amount can go up or down; check the PSID amount when you are ready - A registered phone is easier to sell later and usually fetches a better price
Whatever you choose, keep the box and the IMEI details safe. You need the IMEI numbers to apply, and the box label helps prove the phone is genuine if a question ever comes up.
Temporary registration for overseas Pakistanis and foreigners
If you are visiting Pakistan, DIRBS offers temporary registration for one device for up to 120 days from your arrival date. You need your passport number, CNIC or NICOP (not needed for foreigners), a Pakistani mobile number in your name, the IMEI, your email, and your arrival and planned departure dates. A foreign SIM is not accepted for this.
If you apply late, you get only the remaining days. For example, applying 30 days after arrival leaves 90 days. The device must leave Pakistan with you.
Mistakes to avoid
- Do not use someone else's CNIC or passport to save tax; DIRBS links the device to the person and checks travel records
- Do not let the PSID expire after paying part of the process; pay within 7 days
- Register every IMEI you plan to use, not just one slot
- Never use 'patch' or IMEI-change services; IMEI tampering is an offence under PECA 2016 and such phones can be blocked permanently
If a phone has an invalid or blocked IMEI, it cannot be registered. That is another reason to buy only genuine phones with original IMEIs, such as the Non PTA mobiles (Non PTA Mobiles) we sell.
