How to legalize an iPhone imported to Ukraine from abroad
Since July 1, Ukraine has been using stupid rules for selling mobile phones, requiring the unique identifier of each phone — the IMEI code (International Mobile Equipment Identity — as if MIMO), to be entered in the “white database”. From now on, phones with gray IMEIs will be able to work in the networks of operators for 3 months, after which they will be blocked. When buying phones in ordinary stores should not be a problem - distributors of phones register them in bulk. The main thing is not to run into smuggled phones.
But there is such a popular model on the market as the iPhone, which official dealers do not sell, but carry “hitech shuttles” in small quantities or people buy abroad on their own for themselves or friends. Unlocked or never blocked iPhone can be bought in Ukraine, but you will have to significantly overpay. For example, in the Kiev online stores MacStore.org.ua and iPhone-Center.com.ua, fresh iPhone 3GS models cost $ 1300-1400 (the previous generation iPhone 3G costs $ 650-850). In the first store, mobile phones are brought in to order from European countries, where phones are sold without being tied to the operator, and guarantee that the IMEI code will be "white and fluffy." In the second, there are several phones available, but their friendship with the IMEI database is not guaranteed.
However, it is better to hit the road on your own with cheap airlines to Europe than to pay for a courier trip. According to VertygoTeam.com, the iPhone 3GS, which works with any operator, is sold in Switzerland for 340 euros and in Italy for 500 euros. UPD 22:00: They say that iPhone 3GS in Switzerland costs about 650 euros for a 16GB model and 800 euros for 32GB, and you also need to contact a support service to officially unlock it. And on the MacRumors forum, Europeans bring similar prices to different countries.
Here is the instruction on how to add the IMEI code of the iPhone brought for personal needs to the national database (the text was shared by Yevgeny Svirsky, analyst at the press center of the Ukrainian State Center of Radio Frequencies):
According to the current legislation, a citizen has the right to import into Ukraine from abroad without obtaining permission to import two mobile phones from the UCRF. In this case, according to the customs legislation of Ukraine, when crossing the customs border, a citizen must fill out a customs declaration, in which the type of mobile phone that is imported and its IMEI code are entered in the “radiating devices” section.
To enter into the generalized database of IMEI codes of mobile phones that were purchased abroad and imported into Ukraine according to the customs declaration, a citizen applies to the UCRR with a request to enter IMEI codes of such terminals to a generalized database indicating the IMEI codes of imported mobile phones. The application is also accompanied by the original customs declaration, which recorded mobile phones. The application with the application is sent by registered mail to the Ukrainian State Center of Radio Frequencies (Victory Avenue, 15th km, Kiev, Ukraine) or is transmitted personally to one of its branches, which are located in all regional centers. Based on these documents, IMEI codes of citizens' phones will be included in the white list and, when connected, will be served by all mobile operators.
If a larger number of telephones are imported into Ukraine, then, according to the legislation, it is necessary to obtain permission from the Ukrainian State Center of Radio Frequencies to import them. The procedure for obtaining permits can be found on the website of the UCRF.
The application form is also located on the UGCR website.
So, if you are traveling in Switzerland or Italy, do not forget to buy 2 iPhones and fill out documents in Ukraine - your friends will be very grateful, or you can resell them profitably.
For more information about the “white lists” and recommendations for the acquisition of mobile phones in the new conditions, see, for example, Life.pravda.com.ua: Rose for clarified mobile phones.
My conclusion about the new rules is this: legal phones will become more expensive, bribes and smuggling proceeds will flow into other pockets, and Ukrainian citizens will get another hemorrhoids on their own from their favorite Ukrainian officials.
But there is such a popular model on the market as the iPhone, which official dealers do not sell, but carry “hitech shuttles” in small quantities or people buy abroad on their own for themselves or friends. Unlocked or never blocked iPhone can be bought in Ukraine, but you will have to significantly overpay. For example, in the Kiev online stores MacStore.org.ua and iPhone-Center.com.ua, fresh iPhone 3GS models cost $ 1300-1400 (the previous generation iPhone 3G costs $ 650-850). In the first store, mobile phones are brought in to order from European countries, where phones are sold without being tied to the operator, and guarantee that the IMEI code will be "white and fluffy." In the second, there are several phones available, but their friendship with the IMEI database is not guaranteed.
However, it is better to hit the road on your own with cheap airlines to Europe than to pay for a courier trip. According to VertygoTeam.com, the iPhone 3GS, which works with any operator, is sold in Switzerland for 340 euros and in Italy for 500 euros. UPD 22:00: They say that iPhone 3GS in Switzerland costs about 650 euros for a 16GB model and 800 euros for 32GB, and you also need to contact a support service to officially unlock it. And on the MacRumors forum, Europeans bring similar prices to different countries.
Here is the instruction on how to add the IMEI code of the iPhone brought for personal needs to the national database (the text was shared by Yevgeny Svirsky, analyst at the press center of the Ukrainian State Center of Radio Frequencies):
According to the current legislation, a citizen has the right to import into Ukraine from abroad without obtaining permission to import two mobile phones from the UCRF. In this case, according to the customs legislation of Ukraine, when crossing the customs border, a citizen must fill out a customs declaration, in which the type of mobile phone that is imported and its IMEI code are entered in the “radiating devices” section.
To enter into the generalized database of IMEI codes of mobile phones that were purchased abroad and imported into Ukraine according to the customs declaration, a citizen applies to the UCRR with a request to enter IMEI codes of such terminals to a generalized database indicating the IMEI codes of imported mobile phones. The application is also accompanied by the original customs declaration, which recorded mobile phones. The application with the application is sent by registered mail to the Ukrainian State Center of Radio Frequencies (Victory Avenue, 15th km, Kiev, Ukraine) or is transmitted personally to one of its branches, which are located in all regional centers. Based on these documents, IMEI codes of citizens' phones will be included in the white list and, when connected, will be served by all mobile operators.
If a larger number of telephones are imported into Ukraine, then, according to the legislation, it is necessary to obtain permission from the Ukrainian State Center of Radio Frequencies to import them. The procedure for obtaining permits can be found on the website of the UCRF.
The application form is also located on the UGCR website.
So, if you are traveling in Switzerland or Italy, do not forget to buy 2 iPhones and fill out documents in Ukraine - your friends will be very grateful, or you can resell them profitably.
For more information about the “white lists” and recommendations for the acquisition of mobile phones in the new conditions, see, for example, Life.pravda.com.ua: Rose for clarified mobile phones.
My conclusion about the new rules is this: legal phones will become more expensive, bribes and smuggling proceeds will flow into other pockets, and Ukrainian citizens will get another hemorrhoids on their own from their favorite Ukrainian officials.