Get a Phone Released From Customs or Courier in Pakistan: PSID Steps
A phone held by customs or a courier is released on proof of a paid PSID, not a PTA NOC. See how to make the PSID, pay in 7 days and what blocks release.
A phone held by customs after arriving by post or courier is released when you show proof that you paid duty and tax through a PSID, not an NOC from PTA. You make the PSID yourself on PTA's DIRBS portal, by dialling *8484# or at an operator's franchise.
Many buyers are told to "get a PTA NOC" and lose a week chasing it. PTA's own FAQ describes a different process. We read it on 8 October 2026. This guide follows that process step by step.
Customs wants a PSID, not a PTA NOC
PTA's FAQ answers this exact question. Phones imported by individuals through the post, a courier or customs detention are released on production of proof of payment of duty and taxes through a PSID. Customs then checks the IMEI status in DIRBS.
A PSID is a Payment Slip ID. It is a number that tells the bank which bill you are paying. FBR's system generates it for your phone, and the amount depends on FBR's tax rules, not on PTA.
| Step | Who does it |
|---|---|
| Generate the PSID | You, through DIRBS, *8484# or an operator service centre |
| Pay duty and tax | You, at a commercial bank in Pakistan |
| Check payment and IMEI | The customs office, using DIRBS |
| Release the phone | Customs, if the IMEI is registered |
| Set the tax amount | FBR, not PTA |
How to generate the PSID
Use one of three routes. Go to dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs, dial *8484# from a phone with a local SIM in your name, or visit any mobile operator's service centre or franchise. Enter your details and the IMEI of the phone that is in transit.
- Get the phone's IMEI from the sender, the box or the invoice.
- Keep a Pakistani SIM issued on your CNIC ready.
- Open dirbs.pta.gov.pk/drs, dial *8484# or go to an operator's service centre.
- Enter your CNIC, SIM number and the IMEI, then submit.
- Wait for the PSID, which arrives by SMS or on the portal.
- Pay at a commercial bank within the PSID's validity period.
- Show the payment proof to the customs office.
Ask the seller abroad for a photo of the box label before shipping. You need the IMEI to start, and it is easier to get it before the parcel leaves.
Pay within seven days
PTA's FAQ says a PSID is valid for 7 days from the day it is generated. Pay at a commercial bank in person within that time. Once FBR confirms payment, DIRBS sends the IMEI to the mobile operators for whitelisting.
The same FAQ says whitelisting is usually done within 3 to 4 hours after payment confirmation reaches DIRBS. That matters little for a phone still held by customs, but it matters once you collect it and insert your SIM.
If service does not return within 24 hours and DVS shows the phone as compliant, PTA tells users to file a complaint on its Complaint Management System. Our guide on complaining to PTA about your mobile network shows how.
How much tax will you pay
PTA does not set it. The FAQ says tax and duty questions go to FBR, which handles them. The amount depends on the phone's declared value and model, and it can be large for a flagship.
Work out a rough figure before you order. Our PTA tax calculator guide explains the online estimate, and the piece on PTA tax on an iPhone 18 Pro shows how big the bill can get. FBR also allows paying PTA tax in instalments in some cases.
Only five phones a year
The Type Approval and DIRBS Regulations 2021 allow one person to register five mobile devices in a calendar year. That limit includes phones received by courier. If you import for friends or family, the sixth phone in a year is a problem.
The FAQ does not say what happens to a sixth device, so ask customs before you order more than five. Using each person's own CNIC for their own phone keeps every application simple.
What if the phone is fake or reported stolen
A phone with a non-compliant IMEI is not released. PTA lists replica, fake, non-standard GSMA and reported-stolen IMEIs. Customs confiscates such a phone and disposes of it under the law. Tax paid on it does not help.
Check before you buy. Dial *#06# on a phone you already hold, or ask the seller for the IMEI, then look it up on DVS. Our guide to checking an IMEI number shows the SMS and website routes.
Common questions
Do I need an NOC from PTA to collect my phone?
No. PTA's FAQ says phones are released on proof of payment of duty and taxes through a PSID.
Who decides the tax amount?
FBR does. PTA checks the IMEI, and tax questions go to FBR.
How long is a PSID valid?
Seven days from the day it is generated, according to PTA's FAQ.
How many phones can I import in a year?
Five, under the Type Approval and DIRBS Regulations 2021.
What happens if the IMEI is fake or stolen?
Customs confiscates the phone and disposes of it under the law.
Can I use a PSID route if I live abroad?
The FAQ does not say. Its channels are the portal, a USSD code from a local SIM on your CNIC, and an operator's centre, so ask your operator or customs whether a family member can act for you.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 8 October 2026. We downloaded and read PTA's DIRBS Frequently Asked Questions document, file dated 14 October 2025, on pta.gov.pk. The release procedure for phones imported through post, courier or customs detention, the three ways to generate a PSID, the seven day PSID validity, the 3 to 4 hour whitelisting time, the 24 hour complaint advice, the confiscation of non-compliant IMEIs and the limit of five devices in a calendar year come from that document. We did not place a real courier import ourselves. Tax rates, fines and the PSID process belong to FBR and PTA and can change, so confirm them on dirbs.pta.gov.pk and with FBR before you pay.
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.
