How to Register Your Phone with IMEI.tj

How to Register Your Phone with IMEI.tj was originally published in January 2026

Let’s set the scene: you’ve just landed in Tajikistan, fresh off a marshrutka adventure over the border or a groggy morning flight from Almaty. You head to Tcell or Megafon to get online, pop your Tajik SIM into your phone, only to find out that in 30 days, your phone is blocked from use in the country if you don’t register your IMEI numbers with the government. Yup, your phone’s IMEI needs to be registered with IMEI.tj to keep using local SIM cards legally and avoid disconnection after 30 days in the country.

Tajikistan’s IMEI registration system is part of efforts to “curb phone theft and control the influx of grey-market devices that aren’t paying their import taxes” (what this really is, is a massive bureaucratic money grab, if we are being completely honest).

While it is a bureaucratic pain in the arse, the process is surprisingly straightforward if you know the steps.

Here’s your no-BS, traveler-tested guide so you don’t end up SIM-locked while trying to WhatsApp your Pamir guesthouse owner.

Registering on IMEI.tj

Check if Your Phone is Already Registered

IMEI.tj Registration, Adventures of Nicole

Before you dive into paperwork, check your IMEI status:

Dial *#06# on your phone to see your IMEI number (write it down).
Go to www.IMEI.tj (yes, it loads slowly on some networks, be patient).
Enter your IMEI number into the “Check IMEI” section.

If it says Registered, you’re golden (this is almost definitely not the case in your situation). If it says Not Registered, you’ll need to proceed with registration.

Create Your Account on IMEI.tj

Click ‘Application for individuals’ under the ‘Submitting an application’ tab at the top of the page.
Enter your:
- Full name as it appears in your passport.
- For the INN box, click the checkbox to the right for ‘foreign citizen’, and then in the INN box, enter your passport number.
- After you’ve clicked the ‘foreign citizen’, an upload box will appear. Upload a scan of the info page of your passport here.
- Select the country your phone was purchased in.
- For the ‘Customs point’ section, select the point of entry where you entered Tajikistan.
- Tajik phone number.
- Enter IMEI numbers 1 & 2.
You’ll receive a confirmation of account creation by SMS to your local Tajik phone number.
You will receive another SMS with the cost breakdown of the IMEI registration.

Pay the Registration Fee

For many tourists, registration within the first 30 days is free, but this can vary depending on your visa status and phone type.

If you need to pay, you will receive a payment invoice on your IMEI.tj account with a payment link to DushanbeCity (a local bank).

This is where it gets to be a pain. DushanbeCity is a local bank, and their cards run on a local banking system, hence why foreign cards don’t work with their ATMs.

The easiest solution? Having a local friend who has a DushanbeCity next account who can pay your Tajik IMEI registration fee for you, and you pay them in cash.

Allegedly, you can go to the nearest customs point and try to pay in person (we tried this in Khorog), and were turned away. They didn’t seem to even get why we were there (and yes, I was with a local friend whose language skills are far, far better than mine).

Confirmation and SIM Continuity

Once approved (usually within an hour), your phone will remain usable with your Tajik SIM without risk of blocking. You’ll receive a confirmation SMS, and your IMEI status on the site will show as Registered.

If your device is blocked in the meantime, registration should automatically unblock it once complete.

Why is it so Expensive to Register Your IMEI Numbers in Tajikistan?

I honestly cannot figure it out, and I think the whole system is stupid. I understand that it’s to prevent illegal importation of phones, but slapping people with fees this high is insane, especially for the locals.

Other countries have begun doing this, such as Kyrgyzstan and Syria, but at least in the case of Kyrgyzstan, it seems to be a reasonable flat fee (about 600 KGS), whereas Tajikistan’s IMEI registration is highway robbery in my opinion.

For reference, my IMEI registration for my phone cost over 20% as the IMEI site valued my phone at being worth $460, and the fees totaled to $78.40 USD in VAT + $10 USD in customs duty + 50 TJS in procedural fees, which totaled to $93.70 USD. But I do not have much of a choice, as I spend so much time in the country. Now, let’s just hope the Galaxy S22 that I have holds up.

Things to Know (from a Traveler’s POV)

Your Tajik SIM may still work for a few weeks before blocking if you haven’t registered, but don’t gamble with this if you plan to stay longer.
Registration is device-specific, not SIM-specific, so you can swap SIMs freely after registration.
If you bought your phone in Tajikistan, it is often pre-registered, but always check.
If your phone is blacklisted, it will still work on WiFi.

A Sneaky Work Around

If you purchase a Tajik eSIM from an online shop such as Airalo. The whole IMEI registration doesn’t apply, and even if your phone is blacklisted, the eSIM will still work. That said, Airalo and all the other online eSIM providers partner with “Sarez Telecom,” which is a front for Zet Mobile. Their coverage absolutely sucks outside of major cities such as Dushanbe or Khujand (as in non-existent).

Conclusion

Registering your phone with IMEI.tj might sound like an annoying bit of admin in your Silk Road journey, but it’s a quick step that saves you the headache of having your phone blacklisted after 30 days while trying to navigate shared taxis to Bartang or WhatsApp your next Pamiri homestay.

It’s a small part of the unique travel experience in Tajikistan, where even the bureaucracy has its own “rhythm”.