How to Transfer a SIM to Another Person's Name in Pakistan
PTA says the old and new SIM owner must both be present, with original CNICs and a fingerprint check. Steps to transfer SIM ownership in Pakistan and the risks.
To move a SIM into another person's name in Pakistan, the current owner and the new owner must both go to an authorised outlet with their CNICs. PTA says the presence of both is mandatory. Both give a fingerprint, checked against NADRA. PTA does not publish a fee for it, so ask for the charge before you sign.
A father hands his old number to his son, a shopkeeper passes a business line to a partner, a wife takes over the number her husband registered years ago. In each case the SIM works fine, but the name behind it is still the old owner's. That name is who PTA and the operator hold responsible for every call made on it.
We read PTA's own pages on 7 October 2026, plus the operators' terms we could open. Operator pages for this exact service, between two living people, were thin. Most operator pages we found cover a SIM of a person who has died. So this guide sticks to what PTA says and flags what we could not confirm.
Both people have to be present
PTA's page on change of ownership says the presence of both the transferor, the current owner, and the transferee, the person who will hold the SIM, is mandatory. You cannot send a relative with a photocopy of your CNIC.
PTA allows an exception in "exceptional cases where the current owner is not alive or at abroad". Then "additional verification" is carried out under the procedure in force. PTA does not list what that involves on the page. If the owner has died, the steps are in how to transfer a deceased family member's SIM.
Only an authorised biometric outlet can do it
PTA lists change of ownership among the transactions that need its fingerprint system, the Multi Random Finger Biometric Verification System, after online verification from NADRA. Go to an operator's customer service centre, a franchise, or a registered retailer that has the device and an authorisation.
PTA says to visit only an authorised sale outlet with this device for these transactions. A roadside stall with a notebook is not one. If someone offers to "change the name" without both of you at the counter, that is not the PTA process.
The fingerprint check is the same one used for a new SIM. Ufone's terms say the same procedure applies to duplicate SIMs, change of ownership and disowning a SIM that was activated through biometric verification. Our guide to PTA biometric SIM verification explains what to do if your fingerprints are rejected.
What each person should bring
PTA's biometric page says a valid CNIC number is required. Bring the original, valid CNIC of each person, and the SIM itself. An expired CNIC is the usual reason people are sent home.
| Who | Bring | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Current owner | Original valid CNIC, the SIM, and themselves | Proves the number is theirs to give |
| New owner | Original valid CNIC, and themselves | The number will be registered to this CNIC |
| Either person | Last recharge details, if the counter asks | Operators check recent use on some transfers |
The last row is not from PTA. Jazz, Zong and Ufone check recent recharge or call history on deceased SIM transfers, so it is sensible to know yours. We could not find an operator page that lists the exact documents for a transfer between two living people. Call the operator before you travel.
How to transfer a SIM to another person, step by step
Choose the operator's own customer service centre if you can, since it is the safest outlet. Both people go together, show their original CNICs, and give fingerprints. Then wait for the confirmation message.
- Check the new owner's SIM count. Each CNIC can hold a limited number of SIMs. The new owner can check their CNIC by sending it in an SMS to 668, which PTA names as one way to verify SIM status.
- Empty the number of anything personal. Move bank alerts, wallet accounts and app logins to another number first.
- Ask for the fee and the time in advance. PTA's pages show no fee. The counter should tell you the charge and when the change takes effect.
- Visit an authorised outlet together. Take both original CNICs and the SIM.
- Give fingerprints and sign the form. The system checks each person against NADRA. PTA says a maximum of two successful finger impressions is needed.
- Keep the receipt and the confirmation SMS. They are your proof if a dispute starts later.
After the transfer, the new owner holds the legal risk
Once the name changes, the new owner answers for the number. The old owner should check their CNIC afterwards and confirm the SIM is gone from their list. Our guide to checking SIMs registered on your CNIC shows how.
If a SIM stays in your name after you gave it away, any misuse lands on you. That is why a handshake handover is risky. An unknown SIM on your CNIC can be reported through reporting a SIM you do not recognise.
Jazz's own FAQ adds a wait of 60 days after a change of ownership before the number can be ported to another network. Our guide to changing your SIM network covers porting, so plan any switch around that gap.
One more caution. Our new SIM card rules page reports a PTA advisory of 24 May 2026 that bars transferring a newly activated SIM for 365 days. We could not find that wording on PTA's site on 7 October, so ask the operator whether a recently activated SIM can be transferred.
Common questions
Can I transfer my SIM to someone else without going to a franchise?
No. PTA says change of ownership needs an authorised biometric outlet and both people present. We found no PTA page that allows an online transfer.
Do both people really have to be there?
Yes. PTA says presence of both the current owner and the new owner is mandatory. The only exception is where the owner has died or is abroad, and then extra verification applies.
How much does a SIM ownership transfer cost?
PTA's pages do not publish a fee, and we found no operator page that states one for living owners. Ask the outlet for the charge in advance and get a receipt.
Which documents do I need?
The original valid CNIC of each person and the SIM. PTA's biometric page asks for a valid CNIC number. Operators may ask for more, so check with yours.
What if the old owner is abroad?
PTA names this as an exceptional case where additional verification is carried out under its procedure. It does not say what that is, so call the operator and PTA's helpline on 0800-55055 before you start.
Can I port a SIM right after a transfer?
Not at once. Jazz says 60 days must pass after activation or a change of ownership before the number can be ported.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 7 October 2026. The requirement that both the transferor and transferee are present, the exception for an owner who has died or is abroad, and the PTA helpline were read on PTA's page on how to perform a change of ownership of a SIM. The biometric system, the authorised outlet types and the CNIC and fingerprint requirements were read on PTA's biometric verification page. The same procedure for change of ownership was read in Ufone's general terms. The 60 day porting wait was read in Jazz's FAQ, and the SMS 668 check on a PTA advisory. We did not carry out a transfer ourselves. Operator pages for transfers between living owners were not available, and fees are unconfirmed.
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.
