How to Check Your Phone Status on DIRBS 2026
A quick DIRBS check is the fastest way to find out whether your phone is legally registered with the PTA. DIRBS — the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System — is the database the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority uses to track every mobile handset on local networks. As of August 2026 it holds roughly 270 million IMEI numbers, about 245 million of them active. It takes seconds, is completely free, and can save you from buying a phone that will be blocked.
DIRBS Check: Three Free Methods
Method 1: SMS to 8484
The fastest method. Send your 15-digit IMEI number as a text message to 8484. (Dial *#06# to display your IMEI.) This SMS-based DIRBS check works on any phone. The PTA replies with your device status, plus the brand, model and the date the device first registered on a Pakistani network. There are four possible replies:
- Compliant: your phone is registered and legal — nothing to do.
- Non-compliant: registration and tax payment are required.
- Grace period: the phone is within its 60-day registration window.
- Blocked: SIM functionality is already disabled on this device.
Method 2: DIRBS web portal
Visit the DIRBS portal at dirbs.pta.gov.pk and enter your IMEI in the check section. The web-based DIRBS check shows the full status, brand and model, import channel and registration date. It is also where you apply for a Certificate of Compliance and generate a PSID if tax is due.
Method 3: DIRBS mobile app
The official DIRBS app (available for Android and iOS) lets you check multiple devices, set reminders before your 60-day grace period ends, and submit a registration application directly if your phone is non-compliant.
What your check result means
Compliant means the device’s tax is paid and it is on the PTA whitelist — use it freely on any network. Non-compliant means you have up to 60 days from the phone’s first use on a Pakistani network to register and pay before blocking kicks in. Blocked means calls, SMS and mobile data no longer work on local SIMs (Wi-Fi still works). A blocked handset can usually be unblocked by completing registration and paying the applicable tax through the DIRBS portal.
Check before buying a used phone
This is the single most valuable use of this check. Ask the seller for the IMEI (or dial *#06# on the phone in front of them) and send it to 8484 before handing over any money. If the reply says blocked, walk away — you would inherit someone else’s unpaid tax. If it says non-compliant, factor the registration tax into the price you agree. Thousands of buyers in Pakistan lose money every year on “cheap” phones that turn out to be blocked imports.
Status checks for travellers
Overseas Pakistanis and foreign visitors get a 120-day tax-free temporary registration: insert a Pakistani SIM and the phone registers automatically for the visit. Run a DIRBS check via 8484 or the portal to confirm the temporary status, and register properly before the window closes if you are staying longer — DIRBS will block the phone once the 120 days expire.
Blocking a stolen phone
The system is not only for checking your own device. If your phone is stolen, you can have its IMEI blocked through the PTA so thieves cannot use it on any Pakistani network. File a complaint with your operator and the PTA, providing the IMEI from your phone’s box or purchase record — another reason to keep that box safe.
If your result is non-compliant, follow our PTA mobile registration guide to get approved, and use our PTA tax calculator 2026 guide to see what you will pay. For more walkthroughs, see Sekho’s PTA registration guide and Flare’s PTA tax check guide.
FAQs
1. Is a DIRBS check free?
Yes. All three official methods — SMS to 8484, the DIRBS web portal and the DIRBS mobile app — are completely free of charge.
2. How do I find my phone’s IMEI?
Dial *#06# on the phone, check Settings → About Phone → Status, or look at the original box. Dual-SIM phones have two IMEIs — check both.
3. My DIRBS check says non-compliant. How much time do I have?
You have 60 days from the date the phone first registered on a Pakistani network to complete registration and pay the tax before blocking.
4. Can a blocked phone be unblocked?
Usually, yes. Complete the DIRBS registration, pay the applicable tax through the generated PSID, and the PTA restores network service within a few working days.
5. Does DIRBS check work for tablets and smartwatches?
Yes. The 2026 system covers smartphones, basic 2G/3G/4G/5G handsets, tablets with SIM slots and certain cellular mobile Wi-Fi devices — anything with an IMEI.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough: DIRBS Status Check
A DIRBS check tells you whether your phone is PTA-registered, and dirbs pta mobile verification takes less than a minute. Every phone used on Pakistani networks must comply with DIRBS regulations.
How do I check mobile PTA status?
To check mobile pta status, dial *8484# from any network, send your 15-digit IMEI to 8484 via SMS, or use the PTA website. The reply shows compliant, non-compliant or blocked status.
How does the DIRBS IMEI check work online?
The dirbs imei check online portal on the PTA website accepts your IMEI and displays registration details instantly. Find your IMEI by dialling *#06# on the phone.
How do I check PTA tax by IMEI?
A pta tax check by imei on the PTA portal shows the exact duty for your device model before you pay. Taxes vary by phone value and whether you register on a passport or CNIC.
What if my phone shows non-compliant?
Non-compliant phones get blocked after the grace period. Complete your DIRBS check, pay the assessed tax through the portal, and the device is whitelisted within 24 to 48 hours.
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