LG-10, Hassan Tower, Gulberg III, Lahore, Pakistan
Mon - Sat: 11:00 AM to 11:00 PM

PTA IMEI Check: Is Your Phone PTA Approved?

Every phone used on a Pakistani network must be registered with the PTA. Check yours in one minute using PTA’s official channels, and read what each status means and what to do next. This guide is free; we do not sell registration or “bypass” services.

Enter the IMEI and we will validate the check digit before you send it to PTA.

Send SMS to 8484 Check on PTA DIRBS

Both checks are run by PTA. We never see or store your IMEI; the SMS and website open on your own phone.

How to check PTA status in three steps

  1. 1

    Find your IMEI

    Dial *#06# on the phone. Dual-SIM phones show two IMEIs; check both. The IMEI is also in Settings → General → About on iPhone.

  2. 2

    Send it to 8484

    Text the 15-digit IMEI to 8484 from any Pakistani SIM (standard SMS charges apply), or enter it on PTA’s DIRBS website.

  3. 3

    Read the reply

    Compliant: approved and usable. Non-compliant: not registered; register before the grace period ends. Blocked: register and pay the tax to restore service.

What each PTA status means

StatusMeaningWhat to do
CompliantThe IMEI is registered and approved.Nothing. Buy or keep the phone with confidence.
Non-compliantNot registered with PTA. It may work for a limited grace period after it is first used on a Pakistani network, then it is blocked.Register it on PTA’s Device Registration System and pay the tax before the grace period ends.
BlockedPTA has instructed networks to refuse it. No calls or mobile data; Wi-Fi still works.Register and pay the tax to restore service. If you are buying, walk away unless the price reflects the tax.
Valid / not foundThe IMEI format is valid but PTA has no record yet, typical for a phone that has never been on a local network.Check again after inserting a Pakistani SIM, or register it proactively.

Buying a used phone in Lahore? Check before you pay

The most expensive mistake we see at the shop is a “great deal” on a used iPhone or Samsung that turns out to be PTA-blocked. Run the 8484 check on the seller’s phone before money changes hands, and check both IMEIs on dual-SIM phones. If you want a second opinion, bring the phone to us in Gulberg III; checking status and identifying the exact model is part of our free diagnosis.

A note on “PTA bypass” offers

Shops and online sellers advertise “PTA patch”, “bypass” or “IMEI change” services. These stop working after network or software updates, can brick the phone, and changing an IMEI is illegal in Pakistan. APEX Repairing Lab does not offer them. The only durable route is PTA registration through DIRBS, and we will happily walk you through it in the shop.

PTA IMEI check: frequently asked questions

Dial *#06# to see your IMEI, then send the 15-digit IMEI by SMS to 8484 from any Pakistani SIM, or enter it on PTA’s DIRBS website. The reply tells you whether the device is compliant (approved), non-compliant, or blocked.

Compliant means the IMEI is registered and approved. Non-compliant means it is not registered; it may work for a limited grace period after first use on a Pakistani network, then gets blocked. Blocked means the network will not serve it until it is registered and any tax is paid.

Through PTA’s Device Registration System (DRS) on the DIRBS website with your CNIC or passport, after which a tax PSID is generated and paid through a bank or mobile wallet. The amount depends on the phone’s value and whether it is registered on a passport within the arrival window or on a CNIC.

We do not do PTA registration on your behalf and we do not offer any “bypass” or “patch” — those are unreliable and illegal. We can check the status for you in the shop, explain the official process, and repair the phone whatever its status.

No. Screen, battery, port, camera and water-damage repairs do not touch the IMEI. Only a logic board replacement changes the IMEI, and we tell you in advance if a repair would need that.

Only if you plan to register it or use it on Wi-Fi only. A blocked phone cannot make calls or use mobile data on Pakistani networks. We will say so honestly during the free diagnosis.

Phone repaired, PTA status explained

Walk in to Hassan Tower, Gulberg III, or message us on WhatsApp for a free diagnosis.

Call 0301 2389090 Chat on WhatsApp