Cambodia’s EIRS Lets Buyers Check a Device’s IMEI Before Purchase

A device’s IMEI can be checked in four ways

The IMEI can usually be displayed by dialing *#06#, found in the phone’s settings, or read from the original box. Dual-SIM and eSIM-capable phones may have more than one IMEI, and the official EIRS guidance says all of them should be checked.

The service is free. EIRS currently lists four options: its official web portal, the IMEI KH mobile app, the *1205# USSD service, and an SMS sent to 1205 using CHK followed by a space and the 15-digit IMEI. Those channels were still shown on the official EIRS service on 20 September 2026.

For practical context, see Cambodia market and country comparisons. This development also connects with Cambodia Opens 2027 Foreign Manpower Quota Window.

Compliance and network activation are separate results

EIRS does not return a single pass-or-fail message. It distinguishes between an IMEI that is compliant or non-compliant and one that is already activated or not yet activated on Cambodia’s mobile networks, creating four possible status combinations.

The official FAQ says a compliant IMEI is 15 digits long and includes a Type Allocation Code approved by the GSMA, with any additional criteria determined by the ministry. A compliant device that has not yet been activated is not necessarily a warning sign: after first use with a local SIM or eSIM, the status is expected to update within 72 hours.

There is also an important limitation. The ministry’s FAQ says phones with a non-compliant IMEI can still be activated for normal use in Cambodia, and devices already active on Cambodian networks were not affected simply because EIRS was launched. The status therefore should not be taken as a guarantee that a phone will or will not function.

Use EIRS as one check before paying for a phone

The ministry advises consumers to avoid buying a phone or other SIM-enabled device whose IMEI is shown as non-compliant. That makes the service most useful at the point of purchase, when a buyer still has the option to question the seller or walk away.

A compliant result does not cover the phone’s battery condition, repair history, accessories, warranty terms or the reliability of the seller. EIRS is best treated as a check on the device identifier and its network status, not as a certificate that every aspect of the purchase is safe.