Overseas Pakistanis visiting Pakistan can temporarily register their mobile phones for up to 120 days during each visit. The facility has been introduced by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to help visitors use their personal mobile phones in Pakistan without facing service blockage during a short stay.
For many overseas Pakistanis, mobile connectivity becomes a problem soon after landing in Pakistan, especially when they bring a phone from abroad and insert a local SIM. To make the process easier, PTA is offering a temporary registration facility through its Device Registration System under DIRBS.
The good thing is that this temporary registration is free of FBR tax for the allowed period. It is mainly designed for short-term visitors who want to stay connected with family, use banking apps, ride-hailing services, mobile internet, WhatsApp, and other daily services while they are in Pakistan.
PTA’s temporary mobile registration facility allows overseas Pakistanis and foreign nationals to register one personal mobile phone for temporary use in Pakistan.
Once approved, the phone can be used on Pakistani mobile networks for up to 120 days from the date of arrival in the country. The facility can be availed on every visit to Pakistan, but the applicant has to submit a fresh application each time.
This facility is not meant for permanent use. If a person wants to keep using the same phone in Pakistan after the temporary period ends, they will have to follow the regular PTA mobile registration process and pay the applicable FBR duties and taxes.
The temporary registration facility is available for:
This facility is especially useful for overseas Pakistanis coming to Pakistan for vacations, family visits, business trips, weddings, emergencies, or short-term stays.
Before starting the online registration process, applicants should keep the following information ready:
The Pakistani SIM used for temporary registration must be issued in the applicant’s own name. It should be registered against the applicant’s CNIC, NICOP, or passport.
If the SIM is not in your name, the registration will not be completed. In that case, you should first get a SIM issued in your own name from a mobile operator after arriving in Pakistan.
PTA has also clarified that foreign SIM users can continue using roaming services in Pakistan without registering the device under this temporary facility. However, if they want to use a Pakistani SIM, they will have to complete temporary registration.
The IMEI number is required to register the mobile phone.
To check the IMEI number:
Overseas Pakistanis can follow these steps to register their mobile phone temporarily with PTA:
The registration is valid for 120 days from the date of arrival in Pakistan, not from the date of application. For example, if someone applies on the same day they arrive, they can use the facility for the full 120 days.
However, if a person applies 30 days after arriving in Pakistan, the phone will be temporarily registered for the remaining 90 days only. This is why visitors should complete the registration process as early as possible after arriving in Pakistan.
No. The phone will only work with the SIM number or mobile number provided at the time of registration.PTA pairs the registered IMEI with the provided SIM number. If another SIM is inserted in the phone, mobile services may not work.
However, if the phone has dual SIM or multiple IMEIs, the user can provide details for another SIM registered in their own name through the same DRS account. Once added, the approved SIM numbers can be used with the registered device.
PTA allows temporary registration for only one mobile device per applicant under this facility. This means the facility is for personal use only. It cannot be used to register multiple phones, commercial devices, or phones brought for sale in Pakistan.
The facility can be used during every visit to Pakistan by the same applicant. However, the user must apply again with the same credentials used during the previous temporary registration. PTA has also clarified that an IMEI already used under this facility cannot be temporarily registered again through another person’s passport.
If the device is gifted or sold in Pakistan, the new user will have to register it through the regular process and pay applicable FBR duties and taxes.
The temporary registration facility is only for short-term use. If a visitor stays in Pakistan for more than 120 days or wants continuous mobile network access, they will have to register the device permanently through the regular PTA/DIRBS process and pay the applicable FBR taxes.
This is important for overseas Pakistanis who plan to stay in Pakistan for an extended period or permanently shift back to the country.
Applicants should avoid these mistakes while applying:
If the registration process does not work or the phone is not paired with the SIM after verification, users can contact PTA through its official complaint system or helpline.
Before filing a complaint, applicants should recheck their passport number, IMEI number, SIM ownership, arrival date, and email details. In most cases, incorrect details or a SIM not registered in the applicant’s name can delay the process.
PTA’s 120-day temporary mobile registration facility is a useful step for overseas Pakistanis and foreign visitors who come to Pakistan for short stays. It helps them use their personal mobile phones with local SIMs without paying FBR tax for the temporary period.
However, users should remember that this is not a permanent registration. The facility is valid for up to 120 days from the arrival date, applies to one mobile phone, and works only with the SIM number provided during registration. Anyone planning to use the phone in Pakistan beyond the allowed period will need to complete the regular PTA registration process and pay the applicable taxes.
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