How to Get an Amateur Radio Licence in Pakistan: Rs 1,000 for Five Years, PTA Test and Rules
Apply for a PTA amateur radio licence in Pakistan: age 16 plus, written test and interview, Rs 1,000 for five years, security check and the documents you need.
Short answer: You can hold an amateur (ham) radio licence in Pakistan if you are a Pakistani citizen aged 16 or older, pass PTA's written test and interview, and clear a security check. PTA charges Rs 1,000 for a licence valid for five years. You apply on Form AW-01 to PTA's Radio Based Services office in Islamabad.
Amateur radio is a hobby where licensed people talk to each other over radio, often across cities or countries, without a phone network. It is not the same as a walkie-talkie from a shop, and it is not the same as a mobile SIM. It needs its own licence from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
We read PTA's standard operating procedure (SOP) for amateur radio licences, dated 5 November 2019, and its application Form AW-01 on 13 October 2026. We also read PTA's published list of amateur licence holders. We did not find a newer SOP on PTA's site, but PTA says its fees can change, so confirm the current amount before you pay.
Check the eligibility rules before you apply
An individual must be a Pakistani citizen, at least 16 years old, able to communicate in English, and able to pass PTA's written test and interview. You must also have been a short wave listener with the Pakistan Amateur Radio Society or another club PTA accepts.
The listening period depends on your age. PTA's SOP asks for at least one year of listening if you are 18 or older. It asks for at least two years if you are 16 or 17. You should also be able to show a good number of QSL cards. A QSL card is a note that confirms a radio contact between two operators.
A club, school, college or university can also hold a licence for training or experiments. It needs at least one licensed amateur on its staff to run the station. Foreigners can apply too. They need a valid passport and visa, a valid amateur licence from their home country, and a work permit or paper that shows how long they will stay.
Send two sets of the application and documents to PTA
You send two complete sets of Form AW-01 and the documents to the Director (Radio Based Services), PTA Headquarters, F-5/1, Islamabad. PTA says it will tell you about missing papers within seven working days, or return the file for you to fix.
The form asks for your name, address, date and place of birth, qualification, CNIC or Form-B number, the radio equipment you plan to use and its frequency range, the exact location of the station, and two references. If you are a minor, your supervisor signs a declaration.
The form says to attach these documents, in duplicate:
- An attested copy of your CNIC or Form-B.
- Two attested recent passport size photographs.
- A police character certificate.
- A list of your equipment with a sketch of the antenna layout.
- Proof of your short wave listener membership.
- A sketch of the exact location, so a PTA inspector can find the station.
- For a minor, the supervisor's name, CNIC, licence number and consent.
Expect a security check, a test and then a payment slip
After PTA finds the file complete, it sends your details to law enforcement agencies for security clearance. The agencies have 12 weeks to reply. If they do not reply in that time, PTA moves your case forward. If they reject you, you are told and the case is closed.
PTA then sets a date for the written test and interview at its headquarters or a zonal office. The pass mark is 50 percent. You get three attempts. After three failures you must apply again. PTA can excuse an experienced person from the test on a case by case basis if the person brings an experience certificate from a relevant body.
If you pass, PTA issues a demand note. You must pay within 20 days. If you miss it, you get one week more. After that PTA treats the case as closed. A provisional permission comes first, and the licence card is printed once the security clearance arrives. PTA cancels the provisional permission at once if the agencies do not approve.
Know what the licence costs and how to pay
PTA's 2019 SOP sets an exam fee of Rs 100 and a licence fee of Rs 1,000 for five years. Renewal is Rs 1,000 for the next five years. A change of location or a duplicate licence costs Rs 200 each. Fees are not refunded.
| Item | Amount in the SOP | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Written test and interview | Rs 100 | Pay before the exam |
| Licence, first five years | Rs 1,000 | Pay within 20 days of the demand note |
| Renewal, next five years | Rs 1,000 | Late renewal means a fresh application |
| New location | Rs 200 | Needs PTA's approval first |
| Duplicate licence | Rs 200 | Write to the Director (RBS) |
Pay by demand draft or pay order in the name of "Pakistan Telecommunication Authority", addressed to the Director (RBS). The SOP says all payments can be revised by PTA, so ask before you buy the draft. Senior citizens aged 60 and above get lifetime renewals.
Follow the limits on age, power and moving your station
A licence is tied to the address on it. You cannot move the station, even inside the same city, without PTA's approval. Mobile or portable use is not allowed, except on a special authorisation that PTA gives for a short time.
A 16 or 17 year old gets a provisional permission with a maximum power of 10 watts. The supervisor must be a licensed amateur at the same location. The young applicant does not need security or police clearance until the age of 18, but the other terms stay.
A special mobile or portable authorisation needs an application 15 days in advance, except in a flood, earthquake or similar emergency. The holder must be 18 or older. It lasts at most 30 days and can be extended once for 30 days. Output power cannot go over 10 watts and the call sign must carry the "/M" suffix. PTA can cancel it at any time.
The licence ends if the holder dies, becomes unfit to run the station, is found guilty of a crime or misconduct, or does not pay the renewal fee on time. If you let a licence lapse, you can ask again on a fresh form, and PTA says it can skip the security check and test.
Look for your name on PTA's licence list
PTA publishes a list of amateur radio licensees, updated on 23 July 2026, with 163 names, licence numbers, call signs and valid-until dates. Some dates are already past, and some entries read "Life Time". Write to rbs@pta.gov.pk if the list is wrong.
The list is a good way to see what a real licence number and call sign look like before you apply. Call signs on it start with "AP2". Use the list also to check if a person who claims to be a licensed amateur is really on it.
A licence for this hobby does not cover every radio device. If you are buying other radio, repeater or networking gear, check the rules in our pages on mobile signal repeaters and PTA certification and on checking a satellite phone is PTA approved. For a problem with your phone service, use the PTA complaint guide instead.
Common questions
Is an amateur radio licence the same as a walkie-talkie licence?
No. This SOP covers amateur wireless stations only. We did not verify PTA's rules for walkie-talkies or other radios, so check with PTA's helpline on 0800-55055 before you buy or use one.
How old do I have to be for a PTA amateur radio licence?
You must be at least 16. A 16 or 17 year old gets a lower power limit of 10 watts and needs a licensed amateur supervisor at the same address.
How much does a PTA amateur radio licence cost?
The 2019 SOP sets Rs 1,000 for five years, plus a Rs 100 exam fee. PTA can revise the amounts, so confirm before you pay.
How long does the security check take?
The agencies have 12 weeks to reply. If they say nothing in that time, PTA processes your case for provisional permission.
Can I use my radio in a car or while travelling?
Not by default. Mobile or portable use is not allowed unless PTA gives a special authorisation of up to 30 days. You must apply 15 days ahead and be 18 or older.
Where is the application sent?
Send two complete sets to the Director (Radio Based Services), PTA Headquarters, F-5/1, Islamabad. Ask the PTA helpline on 0800-55055 if you are not sure about a step.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read PTA's SOP for issuance of amateur radio licence dated 5 November 2019, PTA's Form AW-01, and PTA's list of amateur radio licensees updated 23 July 2026 on the licensing page. The SOP is seven years old. We could not confirm from PTA's site whether the process or fees changed since, and we did not check any walkie-talkie rules.
About the author
Technology Journalist & Multimedia Producer
Ahmad Ali is a technology journalist and multimedia producer at Pakistan Era, joining the team in October 2026. He covers consumer technology and digital life for Pakistani readers, combining research with hands-on product testing.
