How to Get PTA Type Approval to Import Phones, Radios or Trackers in Pakistan: 7 Steps
Import phones, radios or SIM trackers into Pakistan: PTA type approval takes 7 steps, one working sample and about a week. See the papers and when to refile.
Short answer: To import phones, two-way radios or SIM trackers for sale in Pakistan, you need PTA type approval for each model. PTA's procedure has seven steps, needs one working sample, and says approval comes within one week of a complete application. You also need a Certificate of Compliance to clear the goods through customs.
An importer lands 500 tracking devices and finds customs will not release them. The missing paper is a PTA approval for that exact model. The rules for who needs it, what to file and what changes later are in PTA's own procedure and FAQ sheets.
We downloaded PTA's Type Approval Procedure User Guidelines and its Type Approval FAQ sheet on 14 October 2026 and read both. This page is for importers and makers. If you are a buyer, use our check for whether a router or radio is PTA type approved.
Every commercial import of terminal equipment needs approval
PTA says anyone who imports terminal equipment for commercial use in Pakistan needs a type approval certificate. Section 29 of the Telecom Act, 1996 bars connecting unapproved terminal equipment to the public network. The rule covers locally made and imported equipment.
The covered list is wide: mobile phones, tablets, dongles and smartwatches, IP phones and PABX systems, satellite terminals, SIM or IMEI based trackers, IoT and machine to machine devices, short range and ultra wide band equipment, and modules built into finished products.
PTA's FAQ exempts networking gear such as switches, firewalls and servers, laptops and desktops without a SIM, and GPS only devices. It also says it does not issue approval for jamming equipment, including anti-drone and GPS jammers.
The seven step process
The steps run from the application and a local representative to payment, a sample, testing, a compliance check and the certificate. A separate application is needed for each model. A foreign applicant can name a local representative to deal with PTA.
- Submit the application on PTA's form with the undertaking and documents.
- Appoint a local representative if you are a foreign applicant.
- Pay the non-refundable processing fee when you submit.
- Send one working sample with all accessories. A device with an IMEI must be registered in DIRBS first.
- PTA tests hardware and software, and may inspect the board and use accredited labs.
- PTA checks the standards and, for SIM devices, the GSMA device code database.
- PTA issues the certificate, which is valid only for that model and cannot be transferred.
The certificate fee is paid after the technical evaluation is confirmed. PTA's procedure lists local and imported fees by category, in rupees for local goods and dollars for imported goods, but the table in the file is hard to read, so confirm the amounts on PTA's form before you pay. Payment is by pay order or demand draft to the PTA Fund account at National Bank of Pakistan.
The documents PTA asks for
PTA's checklist marks eight items. Seven are mandatory: the application form, the fee, an undertaking to follow PTA regulations, a working sample with accessories, a Declaration of Conformity from the maker, a technical data sheet and the test reports. A demonstration is added only if PTA asks.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Application form and undertaking | Mandatory |
| Processing fee | Mandatory |
| Working sample with accessories | Mandatory |
| Declaration of Conformity (RF, EMC, safety, SAR) | Mandatory |
| Technical data sheet | Mandatory |
| Test reports for every standard in the declaration | Mandatory |
| Physical or remote demonstration | As required |
The FAQ adds more. Individuals give a CNIC; local companies give SECP or city government registration and an NTN. Equipment on restricted bands, such as HF, UHF, LPWAN or satellite, needs a licence or authorisation as well, and drones and ground radar need clearance from the relevant authorities. The maker must also state that the device is for mass consumer use, has no unauthorised encryption and protects user data.
Test reports from foreign labs are accepted if the lab is accredited internationally and nationally. Phones must meet the SAR limit of 2 W/kg averaged over 10 grams of tissue.
Timing, samples and changes after approval
PTA's FAQ says approval is granted within one week of a complete application. It can take longer if the file is incomplete or PTA wants more tests. Samples valued under US$2,000 may not be returned, and PTA may take them apart, which can void the warranty.
- A new model or variant needs its own approval.
- Hardware changes, such as a new board or a different memory size, need a fresh approval. A software only update does not.
- A new GSMA device code for an approved model is added to DIRBS without a new approval.
- If the maker's ownership changes, a fresh approval is needed.
- Small changes are handled by an addendum, with a processing fee if the request comes more than 90 days after approval.
PTA can revoke a certificate if the holder breaks its rules, if the device on sale differs from the tested sample, or if the product is unsafe.
Type approval and the Certificate of Compliance are different papers
Type approval clears a model for sale. The Certificate of Compliance clears a particular import shipment through customs after PTA checks it. You need both, in that order. Every approved device must also carry a mark with its PTA number and the words "Approved by PTA".
PTA also notified separate equipment standards regulations in September 2026, which we cover in the new PTA rules for phones and devices. Trackers have a licence side as well: PTA licenses vehicle tracker companies. And for radios on amateur bands, see the amateur radio licence.
Common questions
How long does PTA type approval take?
PTA's FAQ says within one week of a complete application. Incomplete files take longer.
Do I need a separate approval for each model?
Yes. Each model and variant needs its own certificate, and a hardware change needs a fresh one.
Can a foreign company apply?
Yes, and it may appoint a local representative to deal with PTA on its behalf. It must file company registration and shareholder papers from its home country.
Do I get the sample back?
Not usually. Samples under US$2,000 may not be returned, and PTA may open them during testing.
Does PTA approve signal jammers?
No. PTA says jammers are not terminal equipment and sends such cases to an inter-ministerial committee.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 14 October 2026. Sources: PTA, Type Approval Procedure User Guidelines, and PTA, Type Approval FAQs, both dated 23 July 2025 on pta.gov.pk. We did not file an application and could not read the fee table reliably. PTA can change the process, and the September 2026 equipment standards regulations may add steps we did not review here.
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.
