On January 16, the Kurbanoff.net channel reported that registering a new phone’s IMEI code would no longer be as simple as it was previously. Now, mobile devices brought into Uzbekistan must be declared upon entry. The SUE "Telecommunication Network Management Center" and the Customs Committee issued clarifications.
It is noted that this procedure has been in effect for several months.
Now, bringing a new mobile device into Uzbekistan requires completing a customs declaration. If this step is skipped, the device owner will need to pay a customs fee equal to 30% of the device’s customs value when registering it in the UzIMEI system. This new regulation was introduced at the beginning of 2024, and the integration between the Customs Committee and the UzIMEI system was finalized in October 2024.
What does this mean for users?
For instance, if you own a mobile phone of a specific brand (Samsung, Xiaomi, or iPhone) manufactured abroad and want to register its IMEI code in the UzIMEI system, you need to input the device’s IMEI number on the uzimei.uz website. The system will then check the customs database. If no record is found, you will need to pay a customs fee of 30% of the device’s value since the phone is classified as an imported product.
Under the simplified rules implemented in 2023, individuals could bring up to two mobile devices each time they crossed the border starting January 28, 2024. The combined value of one or two phones brought in via air travel must not exceed $2,000, via train $1,000, and via road or on foot $300. If the value of phones brought via air travel exceeds $2,000 (e.g., $2,300), a 30% customs duty is applied to the excess amount ($300). For international courier shipments, the customs-free limit for each individual is $1,000 per calendar quarter.
Thus, new mobile devices must be declared. Declaring a phone — informing customs that you are bringing in a new device — exempts it from taxes (if you bring up to two devices). However, if you bring in a new phone but fail to declare it, you will need to pay a 30% customs fee on the device’s customs value when registering it in the UzIMEI system.
When crossing the border, mobile phones, smartphones, tablets, and portable devices with SIM modules must be declared. Devices such as modems, computers, communication modules, terminals, vehicles, and other equipment with SIM modules are not subject to declaration.
Officials, particularly the SUE "Telecommunication Network Management Center," have urged individuals to check devices before purchasing them.
“When buying mobile devices at markets, retail stores, or online stores, don’t forget to check them on the website www.uzimei.uz. If the phone is not registered, customs fees must be paid independently,” the notice states.
Will prices increase? What are the implications?
As noted earlier, individuals personally bringing devices from abroad can resolve the issue by declaring them. The cost of registering a new device in the UzIMEI system is 20% of the base calculation unit, which is currently 75,000 UZS.
However, not all Uzbek citizens can travel abroad to bring in new devices. Most people purchase phones from local stores, online platforms, or markets like "Malika" or "Abu-Sahiy." If the above rules are strictly enforced, it could impact the prices of new devices in two ways.
Consumers who purchase a new phone may have to pay the 30% customs fee themselves if the device’s IMEI is not registered, and sellers fail to complete registration within the promised timeframe (e.g., one week or one month). For example, the price of a new iPhone 16 Pro Max may rise from $1,200 to $1,560 due to the 30% customs fee. An additional 75,000 UZS will also be charged as the IMEI registration fee. The high cost of registering an IMEI code remains a contentious issue.
If there are no cases of personal data misuse, businesses importing new devices will need to pay full customs duties and taxes to officially register devices in the IMEI system. This will likely lead to higher prices for new phones. For instance, a $1,200 iPhone 16 Pro Max may cost approximately $1,500 after adding a 10% customs duty, 12% VAT, and the 75,000 UZS IMEI fee. This estimate does not include the retailer’s profit margin.
In October 2023, biometric identification (Face ID) was introduced in the UzIMEI system to verify the identity of users during registration. This measure aimed to prevent the misuse of citizens' personal information.
Despite these changes, new devices purchased at major markets are reportedly being registered in the IMEI system through unclear methods. This raises questions: With hundreds of sellers and thousands of phones sold across Uzbekistan, where are they obtaining so many biometric Face ID verifications? Or how are devices being registered without the mandatory declaration system introduced in October? Are certain individuals or groups registering devices in bulk in the UzIMEI system?
These are legitimate concerns that currently remain unanswered. If resourceful individuals can still avoid customs fees by using others’ personal data to register phones, the system risks becoming a bureaucratic exercise.
The public has not forgotten previous scandals, such as law enforcement officers selling the personal data of 40,000 citizens before the mandatory Face ID implementation or legal violations in quarantine zones.
Additionally, the fate of the billions generated by the UzIMEI system remains undisclosed since 2022, raising further questions.
