Muhammad NaeemUfone eSIM activation costs Rs. 2,000 (excluding the standard number charge) and is done in person at a Ufone Joint Shop, Franchise or Service Centre in a major city. You complete biometric verification, receive a QR code, scan it on your phone, and your existing number, packages and tariffs carry over exactly as they were. The whole visit takes a few minutes once the verification is done.
There is no online or app-based option. You show up with your CNIC, the outlet runs biometric verification, and only then issues the QR code. Below: the iPhone and Android steps, the DIRBS IMEI requirement you must not skip, and an honest look at the recent backlash over the transfer fee.
Ufone eSIM Activation: Key Facts at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
| eSIM charge | Rs. 2,000 (excluding standard number), per the official page |
| Where to get it | Joint Shops, Ufone Franchises and Service Centres in all major cities of Pakistan |
| Verification | Biometric verification required before activation |
| How you receive it | QR code issued at the outlet; do not share it with anyone |
| Multiple profiles | Several eSIM accounts can be added on an unlocked iPhone, but only one is active at a time |
| Existing services | All current services and tariffs carry over to the new eSIM |
| Roaming | Works while roaming |
| Apple Watch | Not supported |
| Carrier-locked handsets | Not supported; unlock the handset first |
| Helpline | 333, [email protected], 033-11-333-100 |
Ufone eSIM Activation at a Franchise or Service Centre
Ufone eSIM activation starts at a physical outlet, not on your phone. The process, in order:
1. Visit an outlet. Go to a Ufone Joint Shop, Franchise or Service Centre. eSIM is available in all major cities of Pakistan. Bring your original CNIC.
2. Complete biometric verification. The outlet runs biometric verification before any eSIM is issued. This is a hard requirement, not optional.
3. Receive your QR code. The outlet provides a QR code for your eSIM profile. For security reasons, do not share this QR code with anyone.
4. Scan it on your phone. Open your phone’s eSIM setup (details for iPhone and Android below), point the camera at the QR code, and the profile downloads and installs.
5. Confirm services. Check that calls, SMS and data work. All of your existing services and tariffs should already be live on the new eSIM.
Ufone eSIM Activation on iPhone
Your iPhone must be unlocked and support eSIM (XS/XR and newer, iOS 12.1 or above). Carrier-locked iPhones are not supported, so unlock the handset before visiting the outlet.
Open Settings, then Mobile Service (or Cellular). Tap Add eSIM, then Use QR Code, and point the camera at the code. The phone downloads the profile and asks you to confirm. Multiple eSIM accounts can be stored on an unlocked iPhone, but only one is active at a time.
One limitation: Ufone eSIM currently does not support Apple Watch.
Ufone eSIM Activation on Android
Only newer Android models with eSIM hardware are supported, and the phone must be unlocked. If unsure, ask the outlet staff to check your model before paying, or call the helpline on 333.
The scan flow on Android: open Settings, go to Network and Internet, then SIMs (on Samsung phones it is under Connections, then SIM Card Manager). Tap Add eSIM, then scan the QR code. The phone downloads the profile, and once confirmed, your Ufone number is live. Enter the eSIM PIN if the phone asks for it.
Android phones show the eSIM IMEI separately from the physical SIM slot’s IMEI. Note both down before you leave the outlet; you need them for the DIRBS step below.
Ufone eSIM Activation Charges
Ufone’s official page states the eSIM charge as Rs. 2,000, excluding the standard number charge. That is the figure you should expect to pay at the outlet.
Disclosure: the third-party site Apna4G lists the same Rs. 2,000 figure but also claims a separate Rs. 500 physical-to-eSIM conversion fee. Ufone’s official page mentions no such fee, so treat it as unverified and confirm the exact total at the service centre before paying.
Your tariffs do not change: all existing services carry over, so the monthly data and call bundles in Ufone internet packages keep working on the eSIM with the same prices and codes.
Ufone eSIM Activation and the DIRBS IMEI Step
Activating the eSIM activates a new eSIM IMEI on your phone. Under PTA’s DIRBS system, an unregistered IMEI can get the device blocked, so register the new IMEI yourself:
1. Send both IMEIs (IMEI 1 and IMEI 2) of your phone to 8484.
2. Take screenshots showing IMEI 1 and IMEI 2 and email them to [email protected] for whitelisting.
3. If phone tax is due on your device, pay it first, because the eSIM IMEI will not stay usable on an unregistered device.
Check the IMEI status by sending it to 8484 and reading the reply, within a day or two of activation. Skipping this risks a device block even though your Ufone line itself is fine.
The Rs. 2,000 eSIM Transfer Fee Backlash
Around 3 October 2026, Minute Mirror reported growing public backlash against Jazz and Ufone over the roughly Rs. 2,000 charged when moving an eSIM to a new phone. Each device change needs a fresh QR code, which means another biometric verification and another in-person visit, and customers are calling it exploitative: the whole point of eSIM was convenience.
The report notes calls for PTA to mandate free, remote eSIM transfers like international carriers offer. Operators, as reported, point to DIRBS IMEI registration as the reason for the new QR code and re-verification per device.
Neither position is settled, and this post takes no side. As things stand, budget Rs. 2,000 and an outlet visit every time you change phones with a Ufone eSIM. If PTA changes the rules, we will update this guide.
Terms and Conditions
Straight from Ufone’s official page:
- Biometric verification is required before eSIM activation.
- The QR code is for your use only; do not share it with anyone.
- Multiple eSIM accounts can be added on an unlocked iPhone, but only one can be active at a time.
- All existing services and tariffs carry over to the new eSIM.
- eSIM works while roaming.
- Apple Watch is currently not supported.
- Carrier-locked handsets are not supported; unlock the handset first.
- Complete the DIRBS IMEI registration steps to avoid device blocking.
- For help: helpline 333, [email protected], or 033-11-333-100.
Our Verdict
Ufone eSIM activation is straightforward but old-fashioned: Rs. 2,000, one outlet visit, biometric check, QR scan, done. Your number stays the same, tariffs carry over, and roaming works. Against that: no remote option, no Apple Watch support, no carrier-locked phones, and another Rs. 2,000 visit each time you change phones.
Switch if you travel with dual SIMs, hate swapping physical SIMs, or want a second line on one phone. Skip it if you change handsets often or use an Apple Watch. And always finish the DIRBS step: it is the one part of this process that can get your device blocked.
Ufone eSIM Activation FAQs
Is biometric verification required for Ufone eSIM?
Yes. Ufone states biometric verification is required before eSIM activation, so bring your original CNIC to the outlet.
How much does Ufone eSIM activation cost?
Rs. 2,000 according to Ufone’s official page, excluding the standard number charge. Some third-party sites mention an extra Rs. 500 conversion fee, but Ufone does not confirm that, so verify the total at the service centre.
Can I convert my physical Ufone SIM to eSIM without changing my number?
Yes. Your number stays the same, and all existing services and tariffs carry over to the eSIM automatically.
Does Ufone eSIM work on Apple Watch?
No. Ufone currently does not support eSIM on Apple Watch.
Does Ufone eSIM work on carrier-locked phones?
No. You must get the handset unlocked before the outlet can issue the eSIM.
Do I need to register the new IMEI with PTA?
Yes. Send both IMEIs to 8484, email screenshots of IMEI 1 and IMEI 2 to [email protected], and pay any due phone tax first. Skipping this can get your device blocked under DIRBS.
For the official details, see Ufone’s own page at ufone.com/esim. If you are pairing the eSIM with a data device rather than a phone, also check the Ufone 4G Blaze device bundles for the current monthly data tiers.
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