Every wedding season, the same story repeats. An overseas Pakistani lands at the airport, buys a local SIM, and a few weeks later the phone simply stops working on Pakistani networks. Most visitors assume the phone is faulty — or that they now owe a huge PTA tax bill for a three-week trip.
Neither is true. PTA runs a temporary registration facility that lets overseas Pakistanis and foreign visitors register one personal phone for up to 120 days, completely free of duties and taxes. This guide explains who can use it, what you need, the exact steps, and one important proposed rule change you should know about.
What Is Temporary Registration?
Temporary registration is an official facility inside PTA’s Device Registration System (DIRBS). It is designed for people who are visiting Pakistan, not living here permanently. Instead of paying the full import tax on your phone, you register it temporarily and use it on Pakistani SIMs for up to 120 days from your arrival.
The application is made online at dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs. When the 120 days end, the temporary registration expires — the phone then stops working on Pakistani SIMs unless you register it permanently and pay the applicable tax.
Who Can Use It — and What You Need
The facility is for overseas Pakistanis and foreign visitors, and it covers one personal phone per visitor. Before you start, make sure you have everything on this list:
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| One personal phone | Only one device per visitor can be registered this way |
| Passport | Used to verify your identity and your visit |
| A Pakistani SIM in your own name | The SIM must be issued against your NICOP, CNIC or passport. A foreign SIM cannot be used for registration |
| The phone’s IMEI | Dial *#06# on the phone to see it |
| Email address | Needed for the application and updates |
| Arrival and departure dates | Entered in the application; FIA validates the arrival date |
One detail matters here: the phone is paired to the SIM numbers you list in the application. So register with the Pakistani SIM you actually plan to use during your stay, not a spare number you will throw away.
Step by Step: How to Apply
- Land in Pakistan and buy a Pakistani SIM in your own name. The SIM must be issued against your NICOP, CNIC or passport. Do not skip this — registration cannot be done with a foreign SIM.
- Find your phone’s IMEI. Dial *#06# on the phone you want to register and note the IMEI number shown.
- Go to dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs and sign up on the DIRBS portal.
- Start a temporary registration application and enter your details: passport information, the phone’s IMEI, the Pakistani SIM number(s) the phone will be paired with, your email address, and your arrival and departure dates.
- Submit the application. FIA validates the arrival date you entered, so make sure it matches your actual date of entry into Pakistan.
- Restart the phone and check for signal. Once the registration is processed, your phone should work normally on your Pakistani SIM.
A practical note: PTA does not publish a fixed approval time for temporary registration. Because of that — and because of the clock explained in the next section — apply as early in your trip as you possibly can.
The 120 Days Start at Arrival, Not When You Apply
This is the detail that catches the most people out. The 120 days are counted from your arrival date in Pakistan, not from the day you submit the application.
So if you land on 1 November and only get around to applying on 30 November, you do not get a fresh 120 days. You have roughly 90 days of registration left. The fix is simple: apply in your first few days in Pakistan, ideally right after buying your SIM.
What Happens After 120 Days?
When the 120 days expire, the temporary registration ends and the phone will no longer work with Pakistani SIMs. What happens next depends on your situation:
- Leaving Pakistan? Nothing to worry about. The registration simply lapses.
- Staying longer, or moving back? You will need permanent registration through DIRBS, which means paying the applicable tax. Normal paid traveller registration is due within 60 days of arrival — after that window, you pay the tax plus a fine.
- Coming back on another visit? You can apply for temporary registration again on your next trip. The facility works per visit.
A Proposed Rule Change: 90 Days of Roaming in 180 Days
Read this section carefully: this is a proposal, not a law. Nothing described here has taken effect.
On 10 October 2026, PTA proposed treating 90 days of foreign-SIM roaming within a 180-day period as “permanent roaming.” At the moment, the idea is open for public comments, and comments can be submitted until 10 November 2026.
Why should visitors care? Many overseas Pakistanis never buy a local SIM at all — they simply roam on their foreign SIM during their trips. If a rule like this were adopted in the future, people who visit frequently and roam heavily on a foreign SIM — for example, two long trips within six months — could find that pattern treated as permanent roaming rather than ordinary visiting. No final rule, date or consequence has been announced, and the proposal may change or be dropped after consultation. For now, your options are unchanged: roam, or use the free 120-day temporary registration with a local SIM.
FAQs
Q: Is temporary registration really free?
Yes. Overseas Pakistanis and foreign visitors can register one personal phone for up to 120 days from arrival with no duties or taxes, through dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs. The cost only appears if you later choose permanent registration, which requires paying the applicable tax.
Q: Can I register my phone using my foreign SIM?
No. Registration requires a Pakistani SIM issued in your own name, against your NICOP, CNIC or passport. A foreign SIM cannot be used for the registration, and the phone is paired to the Pakistani SIM numbers you list in the application — so use the SIM you will actually use during your stay.
Q: I applied three weeks after landing. Do I still get the full 120 days?
No. The 120 days are counted from your arrival date, not your application date. Applying 30 days after arrival leaves you roughly 90 days of registration. That is why it is best to complete the application in your first few days in Pakistan.
Q: What if I stay longer than 120 days?
The temporary registration expires and the phone stops working on Pakistani SIMs. To keep using it, you need permanent registration through DIRBS with the tax paid. Paid traveller registration is due within 60 days of arrival; after that, a fine applies on top of the tax. If you leave and visit again later, you can apply for temporary registration again on that visit.
Sources
- https://pakera.pk/temporary-phone-registration-overseas-pakistanis-120-days/