MDMS Registration in Nepal: How to Check and Register a Phone Bought Abroad (2026)
Short answer: MDMS registration in Nepal is done online at mdms.nta.gov.np and costs nothing. Dial *#06# for your IMEI and check it on the NTA portal. If it isn't listed, register it with your passport and arrival stamp or boarding pass. Phones from official importers are registered before sale. Whether unregistered phones are still being blocked in 2026 is unclear.
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What is MDMS, and who needs to register?
MDMS (Mobile Device Management System) is the Nepal Telecommunications Authority's register of phone IMEIs. The IMEI is the 15-digit number that identifies any device that takes a SIM. The system exists to stop phones that skipped customs, usually called grey phones, from working on Nepali networks, and to help block lost or stolen sets.
NTA put MDMS into effect from Jestha 1, 2080 (15 May 2023). Its notice, still on the portal, says phones brought from abroad for personal use that pass customs are registered automatically. It also says importers and sellers may only sell registered phones, and that buyers should check before they pay.
Here's who actually has to do something:
| Your phone | Do you need to register it? |
|---|---|
| Bought new from an authorised seller in Nepal | No. Official importers register the IMEI before the phone is sold. |
| Brought from abroad and declared at customs | Possibly automatic. Check the IMEI; if it's missing, register it yourself with your customs papers. |
| Your one duty-free phone, carried in your bag (no customs declaration needed) | Yes. Register it yourself, free, with your passport and travel stamps or boarding pass. A second phone has to clear customs first (see below). |
| Foreigner staying more than 15 days | Yes, under NTA's 2023 rule (reported by The Kathmandu Post): register with passport and visa details, and it then works until the visa expires. |
| Second-hand phone | Check the IMEI before you pay. NTA says buying or selling an unregistered phone is illegal. |
How to do an MDMS IMEI check
It's quick, and it's the first thing to do with any phone you didn't buy from an official seller.
- Dial *#06# on the phone. The IMEI appears on screen. A dual-SIM phone shows two.
- Open the NTA MDMS portal.
- Enter the IMEI in the check box and press Search (खोज्नुहोस).
- On a dual-SIM phone, check the second IMEI as well.
- If it isn't registered, follow the registration steps in the next section.
Buying used? The portal has a separate "check before buying" button (दर्ता भए/नभएको हेर्नुहोस). Ask the seller for the IMEI, check it, and walk away if it isn't registered. Our guide to buying a second-hand mobile or iPhone in Nepal covers the other checks.
How to register a phone in MDMS, step by step
Individual Registration is for phones brought from abroad for personal use. Open NTA's MDMS registration options page, choose Individual Registration, and work through four steps:
- Device details: enter the IMEI, brand and model, and say whether the phone is in use.
- Email: give your own email address and enter the one-time code NTA sends. Updates on your application go to this address.
- Personal details: your Nepali mobile number, your address as it appears on your passport, and your arrival details (the country you came from and the date). Pick "Self" if you'll use the phone, or enter the other person's details if it's for someone else.
- Upload and submit: attach clear scans of your documents, confirm, and submit. NTA reviews the application and emails you an approval or rejection.
You can follow progress on the portal's Check Individual Registration Status page.
Documents you need
- Passport (NTA's notice also accepts a citizenship certificate)
- The passport page showing your departure and arrival stamps, or your boarding pass
- For an extra phone you declared at the airport: the customs declaration (प्रज्ञापनपत्र) or duty receipt. NTA's form doesn't ask for it by name, but NTA has said customs papers are needed for such phones.
- Foreigners: passport and visa details
NTA says it will reject an application if the details don't match or a scan is unclear. Nepali Telecom's guide also says to keep each file under 512KB, so crop and compress your scans before you start.
Lost or stolen phone
The same portal has a Lost/Stolen Registration option. NTA asks you to get the SIM blocked by your operator first, then file the phone so it can be traced.
Is there an MDMS registration fee?
Not for a phone you brought in legally. Registering a personal phone with the right documents is free. NTA said in 2022 that no extra tax applies to MDMS registration. Customs duty on an extra phone is a separate matter, covered in the next section.
The fees you see quoted online come from a one-time scheme in 2023 for phones that had skipped customs. Onlinekhabar reported on 1 June 2023 that the government set these amounts, with payment due by 16 July 2023:
| Phone | One-time fee (2023 scheme) |
|---|---|
| iPhone, or any phone over Rs 1 lakh | Rs 10,000 |
| Other smartphones | Rs 3,000 |
| Feature (bar) phones | Rs 300 (Nepali Telecom lists Rs 200) |
Fees as reported in June and December 2023. Not a current price list.
Don't plan around those numbers. When we checked on 3 November 2026, NTA's registration page listed only Individual, Dual IMEI and Lost/Stolen registration, with no paid option for grey phones. Nepali Telecom also reports that the grey-phone portal was closed.
How many phones can you bring from abroad?
This is a customs question, not an NTA one, and the answer has changed several times. Here is what the Department of Customs announced on 14 May 2023, when MDMS came back:
| Traveller | Duty-free | Extra phone |
|---|---|---|
| Anyone (students, tourists, visitors and others) | One phone | Duty applies to a second phone |
| Worker abroad on a labour permit, at least 6 months' continuous work | Two phones (one new and one used, or both used) | The second is fully duty-free; collect a free customs declaration for it |
Rules as announced by the Department of Customs in May 2023. Check the latest notice before you travel.
In December 2022, Customs said duty on a second smartphone could be up to 18%, and a third phone would be seized. The Kathmandu Post reported the same 18% tax on smartphones in November 2023.
What has changed since 2023
The baggage (jhitigunta) rules were amended again in 2025. Nepali Telecom reported on 4 June 2025 that a worker returning on a labour permit after six months may bring one brand-new phone duty-free. It also reported that such phones get a stamp saying they can't be sold, and can be confiscated if found being sold.
It's not clear from that report whether the second-phone allowance still applies.
The Department of Customs published its latest notice on goods passengers may bring on 20 Jestha 2083 (early June 2026). We couldn't read its phone section online, so we haven't confirmed the 2025 details. Check that notice, or ask at the customs desk, before you count on any allowance.
Phones bought in India or sent as gifts
Buying in India and coming by road
Travellers crossing land borders don't get the same customs allowances as air passengers. ShareSansar reported on 3 June 2026 that the Ministry of Finance raised the duty-free limit for personal goods carried through land border points from Rs 100 to Rs 500.
Even a basic phone costs more than that, so expect to pay duty, and ask at the border customs office if you're unsure.
Phones sent as gifts
A phone posted to you still has to clear customs. In December 2022, NTA said a phone received as a gift needs the customs invoice to be registered. Nepali Telecom reported a US$500 cap in June 2025 on goods and gifts sent to relatives, with a fine on the amount above it. Keep every customs receipt.
Is MDMS still blocking unregistered phones in 2026?
Honestly, it isn't clear. We couldn't find a recent NTA statement on enforcement. Here's the record, with dates:
- May 2023: MDMS takes effect. Onlinekhabar reports that an unregistered phone from abroad will stop working 15 days after a Nepali SIM goes in.
- November 2023: NTA cuts calls and texts on SIMs in 804 unregistered iPhone 15s and says unregistered sets "will be eventually blocked", in phases (The Kathmandu Post).
- May 2024: The Auditor General reports MDMS is still not complete and its hardware isn't installed (Kantipur).
- May 2025: The FY 2082/83 budget brings back the requirement to register every phone's IMEI (Kantipur).
- February to May 2026: Nepali Telecom reports MDMS isn't fully active, operators' systems aren't linked to NTA's, and blocking is done by hand.
The equipment deal behind MDMS also became a corruption case. Nepali Telecom reported at the end of 2024 that the CIAA had charged 20 people over the deal, including former NTA chairman Digambar Jha.
Our verdict: an unregistered phone may keep working for now, but the rule hasn't been scrapped and the portal is live. In 2023 NTA gave just 15 days' notice before it started cutting service. If you brought a phone in legally, register it now, while it's free and quick.
Buying a phone in Nepal from an authorised seller
The easiest way to skip MDMS paperwork is to buy from an official seller. Importers register officially imported phones before sale, and NTA allows sellers to sell only registered phones. You also get a VAT bill and the official local warranty, which grey phones usually don't come with.
Quality Computer is an authorised Apple reseller in Birtamode, Jhapa, and we sell online across Nepal. Our iPhone price in Nepal list and iPhone 18 price in Nepal guide list the models and our prices. iPhones come on 0% interest EMI with a 20% down payment, through Nabil Bank or Machhapuchchhre Bank credit cards.
Looking at Android? Our mobile price in Nepal list and Samsung mobile price guide cover the main brands. Wherever you buy, run the IMEI check before you leave the shop.
Key takeaways: Check any phone at mdms.nta.gov.np with the IMEI from *#06#. Register a phone you brought from abroad; it's free with your passport and travel stamps. Duty on extra phones is a customs matter, so read the latest Customs notice before you fly. Blocking is patchy in 2026, but the registration rule still stands.
Frequently asked questions
Is MDMS registration free?
Yes. Registering a phone you brought from abroad for personal use costs nothing if you have your passport and travel stamps or boarding pass. Customs duty on an extra phone is separate.
How do I check if my phone is registered in MDMS?
Dial *#06# to see the IMEI, enter it at mdms.nta.gov.np/public and press Search. On a dual-SIM phone, check both IMEIs.
Will my phone stop working if it isn't registered in MDMS?
It might. NTA cut service on unregistered iPhone 15s in November 2023, but 2026 reports say the system isn't fully active and blocking is done by hand. Registration is free, so don't wait to find out.
Do I need to register a phone bought in Nepal?
No. NTA said in 2021 that phones imported and bought in Nepal don't need registering again, and official importers register IMEIs before sale. Check the IMEI anyway, especially on a used phone.
Can tourists use a foreign phone in Nepal?
Yes. Under the rule NTA announced in May 2023, a foreigner staying more than 15 days registers the phone with a passport and visa details, and it then works until the visa ends. NTA said then that it charges no fee.
How many phones can I bring from abroad without paying duty?
Under the May 2023 rules, one phone for any traveller, and two for workers with a labour permit and at least six months abroad. The rules were revised in 2025 and Customs issued a new notice in June 2026, so check it before you travel.
Sources
- Mobile Device Management System (MDMS): notice and IMEI check, Nepal Telecommunications Authority, notice dated 30 Baisakh 2080 (13 May 2023), checked 3 November 2026
- MDMS registration options, Nepal Telecommunications Authority, checked 3 November 2026
- MDMS Individual Registration, Nepal Telecommunications Authority, checked 3 November 2026
- Information on private-use goods passengers may bring and take, 2083, Department of Customs, 20 Jestha 2083
- More than 800 SIM cards on iPhone 15 deactivated, The Kathmandu Post, 8 November 2023
- Telecom regulator implements mobile device management to check grey market, The Kathmandu Post (republished by SAMENA Council), 15 May 2023
- Nepali migrant workers can bring home two mobile phones, The Himalayan Times, 14 May 2023
- MDMS rules come back: Migrant workers can bring 2nd phone without tax; students, visitors can't, Onlinekhabar English, 14 May 2023
- विद्यार्थी र घुम्न गएकाले विदेशबाट ल्याएको दोस्रो मोबाइलमा भन्सार लाग्ने, Onlinekhabar, 31 Baisakh 2080 (14 May 2023)
- MDMS system renders 5 million phones in Nepal 'illegal', Onlinekhabar English, 23 May 2023
- Govt sets one-time tax for unregistered smartphones, Onlinekhabar English, 1 June 2023
- Mobile phones purchased abroad or received as gifts required to show invoice from customs office for registration, Aawaaj News, 28 December 2022
- PM Prachanda's directive not to impose excise duty on mobile phone, The Rising Nepal, 30 December 2022
- IMEI of mobile sets purchased in Nepal need not be registered, The Himalayan Times, 8 July 2021
- 1.6 million 68 thousand dollars paid to MDMS, still no hardware connected, Kantipur, 26 May 2024
- Additional powers to Telecom Authority, Kantipur, 31 May 2025
- Nepalese can't sell phones brought from abroad: Govt rules, Nepali Telecom, 4 June 2025
- Register your grey phone in MDMS: costs for iPhone, Android and bar phones, Nepali Telecom, 12 December 2023
- Top telecom moments of 2024 in Nepal, Nepali Telecom, 31 December 2024
- Smartphones worth Rs 26.68 arba imported till Magh 2082/83, Nepali Telecom, 24 February 2026
- MDMS in Nepal: done and dusted? 2026 update, Nepali Telecom, updated 5 April 2026
- NTA's online registration of mobile phone IMEI in MDMS, Nepali Telecom, updated 25 May 2026
- Government raises duty-free limit at land border points to Rs 500, ShareSansar, 3 June 2026