If you sell software, IT services or IT-enabled services (ITeS) to foreign clients, you will soon be asked: “Are you registered with PSEB?” This guide explains what PSEB registration is, who can apply, what it costs as of 2026, and how to decide whether it is worth doing now.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
What PSEB is and what registration means
The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) supports Pakistan’s IT and ITeS sector through marketing, business development and workforce programmes, working closely with the Ministry of IT & Telecom. Its website, Tech Destination Pakistan, hosts the registration portal.
PSEB registers three categories: companies, call centres and freelancers. Registration is separate from SECP incorporation and FBR tax registration, and PSEB asks for your NTN, so complete your FBR registration first.
Who can register
Companies, firms and proprietorships
PSEB’s company registration page lists documents for SECP companies, partnership firms and proprietors, so you do not need to be a private limited company to apply. As of 2026, it asks for scanned copies of:
- Your business NTN.
- CNICs of all directors, shareholders, partners or the proprietor (both sides), and passports for foreign nationals.
- For SECP companies: the memorandum and articles of association, Form 29 and the incorporation certificate.
- For firms: the partnership deed and the firm registration certificate.
- Business bank statements for the last six months, or a bank letter or certificate for a new account.
Freelancers
Individuals register in a separate freelancer category. PSEB’s freelancer page asks for:
- A personal NTN that is not registered under a business name.
- Your CNIC (both sides).
- A personal bank account letter or certificate.
Call centres
Call centres have their own category and fees. PSEB says it offers a single-window process with PTA for VoIP whitelisting, and that only PSEB-registered call centres are recognised as legally operational. If you run a call centre, treat registration as a requirement.
What it costs as of 2026
These are the fees listed on PSEB’s registration pages as of 2026. Fees can change, so check the portal before you pay.
| Category | New registration | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| IT startup (established within the past 12 months) | Rs 5,000 | Based on revenue (see below) |
| IT/ITeS company (established more than 12 months ago) | Rs 10,000 | Based on revenue (see below) |
| Freelancer | Rs 1,000 | Rs 2,000 per year |
Company renewal fees depend on the previous financial year’s revenue: Rs 10,000 for revenue up to Rs 50 million, Rs 15,000 for Rs 50–100 million, Rs 20,000 for Rs 100–300 million, Rs 25,000 for Rs 300–600 million and Rs 30,000 above Rs 600 million. PSEB also lists a Rs 5,000 surcharge for expired registrations.
You pay through the payment gateway on the PSEB portal, or by pay order or demand draft made out to PSEB. PSEB says it does not accept other payment methods.
How to apply
- Sign up on the PSEB registration portal. Temporary login details are issued automatically.
- Fill in the online form and upload your documents. PSEB says incomplete applications may be declined.
- Wait for initial approval.
- Pay the fee and upload the receipt for final approval.
- Receive your certificate. PSEB says processing usually takes 2–5 working days, and certificates are now issued digitally.
For renewal, export-oriented businesses submit a summary of export revenue with the IT/ITeS code defined by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), plus audited financial statements or the previous year’s income tax return. Freelancers submit the export revenue summary and their income tax return.
What registration can do for you
- Tax treatment of IT exports. PSEB’s website lists “Reduced Income Tax at 0.25% on IT exports” as a membership benefit. The actual rate and conditions come from tax law and can change with each Finance Act, so confirm with FBR or your tax adviser before you rely on it.
- Foreign currency retention. SBP’s Foreign Exchange Manual defines “IT companies”, for its IT export rules, as entities registered with PSEB or P@SHA. Those rules let IT companies and freelancers keep part of their export proceeds in an Exporters’ Special Foreign Currency Account (ESFCA). Our guide to receiving international payments explains how this works.
- Visa recommendations. PSEB issues inbound and outbound visa recommendations for registered companies, call centres and freelancers. It says these usually take 1–3 working days and need a request letter, a copy of your PSEB certificate and the passports.
- No-objection certificates for software imports. PSEB says that, under SBP rules, an IT company buying software from abroad needs a PSEB NOC for remittances above US$100,000.
- Events, training and programmes. PSEB lists international and domestic events, webinars, certifications, internships and skills programmes for the sector.
When registration helps, and when it can wait
Register now if:
- You earn, or expect to earn soon, revenue from foreign clients for software, IT or ITeS work.
- You run a call centre.
- You need visa support for client visits or international events.
- Your bank asks for PSEB registration before applying IT export rules to your account.
It can wait if:
- You only sell to customers inside Pakistan and none of the benefits above apply yet.
- You have not registered with FBR. Do that first.
If you expect export revenue within a year, note that the lower startup fee applies only to businesses established within the past 12 months.
Checklist
- Confirm your FBR registration and NTN.
- Open a bank account in the business’s name.
- Gather the documents for your category.
- Register on the PSEB portal and pay through the gateway.
- Ask your bank how it codes your export receipts, so your renewal revenue summary matches.
- Add the renewal date to your calendar.
- Keep PSEB’s helpline, 0800-01010, for login and registration issues.
Sources and further reading
- PSEB: Registration of a new company and renewal
- PSEB: Freelancer registration
- PSEB: Industry support services
- PSEB: Industry facilitation services
- PSEB: Tech Destination Pakistan FAQ page
- SBP Foreign Exchange Manual, Chapter 12: Exports
- SBP EPD Circular Letter No. 17 of 2023
- Ministry of IT & Telecom: PSEB board meeting
Comments