PTA Announces 120-Day Tax-Free Mobile Registration for Overseas Pakistanis

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced a temporary mobile registration facility that lets overseas Pakistanis use their personal mobile phones in Pakistan for up to 120 days per visit — without paying any import duties or taxes. The facility applies under the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) policy and is aimed at making life easier for expatriates who travel home for short stays.

The announcement, made on 29 October 2026, confirms that eligible visitors can register their handsets online through PTA’s automated Temporary Mobile Registration System instead of going through the regular tax-paid registration process. The phone stays registered for a full 120-day period on every visit, as long as the application is approved.

What the 120-day facility covers

The PTA 120-day mobile registration scheme is strictly for temporary use. It covers one personal mobile device per person and is meant for the visitor’s own handset — not for gifts, resale stock, or commercial devices. The 120 days are counted from the date of arrival in Pakistan, which the system confirms through Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) immigration records, not from the day the application is submitted. Applying late simply eats into the 120 days.

Once verification is complete, the device is registered temporarily under PTA’s Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) and works on all local mobile networks for the full period. The facility can be used on every visit, but a fresh application must be filed each time the traveller returns to Pakistan.

How to register your phone step by step

Registration is handled entirely online through the PTA’s DIRBS portal. After signing up, applicants select the “Temporary Registration for Overseas Pakistanis and Foreign Nationals” option and provide their Computerized National Identity Card (CNIC) or National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) details, along with passport information that matches their immigration records. Foreign nationals provide their passport details instead.

Applicants must also submit the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of the device — found by dialling *#06# on the handset — and indicate whether the phone supports one SIM or two. A Pakistani mobile number registered in the applicant’s own name is required, and the traveller selects their network operator. After the details are submitted, verification is completed through a one-time password (OTP), and the phone is registered for 120 days.

PTA advises applicants to make sure their identity, passport, phone number and device details are accurate before submitting, as mismatches can delay approval. Anyone unfamiliar with the process can review the regular guide on registering your phone with PTA to understand how DIRBS works in general.

The rules every visitor must know

There are a few strict conditions attached to the scheme. First, the application must be submitted after entering Pakistan — the system verifies the arrival date against FIA records, and the 120-day clock starts from that date. Second, only one handset per applicant is allowed, and a device registered under this facility cannot be registered again under another person’s passport. Third, the scheme does not extend to phones left behind in Pakistan; it is for visitors, not residents.

PTA has also made clear that the temporary cover cannot be converted into permanent registration. After the 120 days expire, the IMEI is suspended from local mobile network services until the device is registered through the normal route.

What happens after the 120 days end

Travellers who decide to keep using the same phone in Pakistan permanently must complete the standard PTA registration and pay the applicable FBR duties. According to PTA’s guidance, regular registration for a traveller runs through the same DIRBS portal, the *8484# USSD code from a phone with a local SIM, or a mobile operator’s service centre — and it should be completed within 60 days of arrival. After that window, PTA asks for the tax plus a fine. Travellers can check what they might owe using a PTA mobile tax check before they commit.

Separately, PTA has also put out a consultation proposing that 90 days of foreign-SIM roaming within 180 days be treated as permanent roaming, with comments open until 10 November 2026. Overseas Pakistanis who rely on their home-country SIM while visiting should keep an eye on that proposal, since it could change the cost of roaming on long visits.

For the millions of Pakistanis living abroad who visit home every year, the 120-day window removes one of the most common travel headaches: the fear that a phone will stop working on local networks or attract a surprise tax bill. Because PTA’s procedures can change, travellers should always confirm the latest requirements on the official portal before applying — but as it stands, the message from the regulator is simple: arrive, register online, and use your phone tax-free for up to four months.