Expatriates must register mobile phones if staying more than 60 days

Expatriates visiting Bangladesh can use smartphones without registration for up to 60 days, but must register them if staying longer, according to a notice by the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology on Wednesday.

The notice said important decisions on reducing import duties on legally imported phones were taken in a meeting involving the NBR, commerce ministry, telecom division and BTRC.

The meeting was held on December 1 at the Secretariat, presided over by special assistant Fayez Ahmad Tayyeb on behalf of the chief adviser.

Key decisions:

Expatriates can use smartphones without registration for up to 60 days. If staying longer, registration is mandatory.

Expatriates with BMET registration cards can bring a total of three phones for free—one for personal use and two additional new phones. A fourth phone will require duty. Those without BMET cards may bring their personal phone plus one extra phone free, provided they keep valid purchase documents to prevent smuggling.

Import duties on smartphones will be significantly reduced, lowering prices of legally imported devices. The current duty is nearly 61 percent.

Duty and VAT on phones produced in Bangladesh’s 13–14 factories must also be reduced to protect foreign investment.

Citizens must ensure no SIM is registered in their name without their knowledge to avoid cybercrime, online fraud, mobile banking crimes and other offences. Clone phones, stolen phones and refurbished imports will be banned.

Illegal stock phones imported before December 16 that have valid IMEI numbers may be legalised at reduced duty by submitting the IMEI list to BTRC. This does not apply to clone or refurbished phones.

Phones already active before December 16 will not be blocked. Citizens should beware of rumours.

The NEIR system will be launched from December 16; phones without valid IMEI numbers should not be purchased. Illegal, smuggled and clone phones will be blocked.

Authorities will also curb dumping of old foreign phones disguised by casing changes. Customs surveillance at airports and land ports, especially flights from India, Thailand and China, will be intensified.

The draft Telecommunication Ordinance (Amendment) 2025 includes provisions for safeguarding eKYC and IMEI registration data, with penalties for violations.

The government has urged the public not to believe baseless rumours.