The lost SIM is blocked, you get a new SIM with the same number, and the phone is blocked on every network in India. If the phone is found, you can unblock it.
For whom: People in Andhra Pradesh whose mobile phone is lost or was stolen.
Published on 30-10-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.
Answer a few questions to see which steps apply to you. The whole guide is below.
Documents you need
•
The phone's IMEI number (15 digits)
copy
Two IMEI numbers for a dual-SIM phone
Not confirmed: CEIR's list of prerequisites asks for the IMEI "if available", but the form makes the first IMEI compulsory. We found no official page saying where to find it. Look at the phone's box and purchase bill, or ask the shop that sold it.
•
Copy of the police complaint (FIR or lost report) and its number
copy
For upload: a PDF, JPG or PNG file
If you don't have it:
From the police station of the area where the phone was lost (see the steps).
•
Copy of your identity card
copy
Any one of: masked Aadhaar (the first 8 digits hidden), PAN card, voter ID, driving licence, or another identity card. For upload: a PDF, JPG or PNG file.
•
The phone's purchase bill (if you have it)
copy
•
Your original identity card (Aadhaar, for Aadhaar e-KYC)
original
Not confirmed: The papers we read do not list which cards are accepted for digital KYC without Aadhaar. Ask at the store.
•
CEIR Request ID (18 digits)
copy
If you don't have it:
The number CEIR gave when you blocked the phone. If you have lost it, use "Forgot Request ID" on CEIR.
Steps
Only if
Where are you now? My phone is lost or was stolen · Has money gone from your bank account or UPI through that phone? Yes, or I think so
1.
If money was taken through the phone, call 1930 at once. This cyber crime helpline is free and works round the clock, every day. The "Report a cyber fraud" guide says what to do next.
📞 National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930
💰 Fee: Free · Toll-free number
Only if
Where are you now? My phone is lost or was stolen
2.
From another phone, call your mobile company's customer care and ask them to block the lost SIM. Airtel: 121 or 198 from an Airtel number, 1800 103 4444 from any other number. Jio: 1800 889 9999 from a non-Jio number. Vi: 199, or "Block your SIM" on myvi.in.
📞 Your mobile company's customer care
Not confirmed: These numbers are from the companies' own websites (October 2026) and may change. We could not check BSNL's website: BSNL users, ask at a BSNL customer service centre.
3.
Report the loss at the police station of the area where the phone was lost. Give the phone's brand, model and IMEI number, and the date and place of the loss. Take the complaint number and a copy of the complaint: CEIR needs both to block the phone.
🏛️ The police station of the area where the phone was lost
📎 The phone's IMEI number (15 digits)
Not confirmed: The Andhra Pradesh Police citizen portal has "Submit a Complaint": you log in with your mobile number and an OTP, and you get a Petition ID. But no official page says whether it can be used for a lost phone, or whether CEIR accepts that number as the complaint number. Ask at the police station.
4.
Go to your mobile company's store for a new SIM with the same number. They will do Aadhaar e-KYC (fingerprint, iris or face) or digital KYC. The new SIM starts working only if your details and photo match the company's records.
🏛️ Your mobile company's store
📎 Your original identity card (Aadhaar, for Aadhaar e-KYC)
Not confirmed: No official paper we read gives the charge for the new SIM; the company sets it. Ask at the store and take a receipt.
5.
For the first 24 hours the new SIM cannot send or receive SMS. CEIR sends its OTP to this number, so wait 24 hours before the next step.
✋ You do this yourself
6.
On the CEIR site, fill in the form "Request for blocking lost/stolen mobile": the mobile numbers that were in the phone, its IMEI numbers, brand, model and price; the place and date of the loss; the state (Andhra Pradesh), district, police station, complaint number and a copy of the complaint; your name, address and identity card. Submit it with the OTP sent to the new SIM. You can also do this in the Sanchar Saathi app.
📎 The phone's IMEI number (15 digits), Copy of the police complaint (FIR or lost report) and its number, Copy of your identity card, The phone's purchase bill (if you have it)
7.
After you submit, you get an 18-digit Request ID. Keep it safe, with the police complaint number and the IMEI number: you need them to check the status and to unblock the phone once it is found.
✋ You do this yourself
8.
On CEIR, check the status under "Check lost/stolen Mobile Request Status" with your Request ID. When it says "Blocking Request is successfully processed", your phone is blocked on every company's network and nobody can use it.
If anyone puts a SIM in your phone, an alert goes to you and to the police station where you complained. An SMS tells you which police station to contact. Contact that station.
🏛️ The police station named in the SMS
Only if
Where are you now? I blocked my phone and now I have it back
10.
Tell the police station where you complained that the phone has been found. Keep the complaint number and the copy of the complaint: the unblocking form asks for both.
🏛️ The police station where you complained
📎 Copy of the police complaint (FIR or lost report) and its number
Not confirmed: We saw no official page saying you must tell the police before unblocking. The CEIR form does ask for the complaint number and a copy, and has an "Update Police Complaint" option. Ask at the station.
11.
On CEIR, in the form "Request for un-blocking recovered/found mobile", give the Request ID, the mobile number you gave when blocking, the police complaint number, a copy of the complaint and the reason ("Recovered by police" or "Found by self"). Submit it with the OTP.
📎 CEIR Request ID (18 digits), Copy of the police complaint (FIR or lost report) and its number
12.
When "Check Request Status" says "Un-Blocking Request is successfully processed", the mobile companies unblock the phone on their networks. After that the phone works again.
If CEIR does not accept your request, read the error message it shows, correct the details and try again. If it still fails, complain to Sanchar Saathi through the "Grievance" link at the bottom of the CEIR site.
Not confirmed: The grievance page itself did not open for us (the site refused our request); the link is on the CEIR site.
If it is late
If the company does not block the SIM or give a new one, complain on its customer care number and take the docket number. If it is not solved in time, appeal to the company's Appellate Authority within 30 days after that time runs out. An appeal is free; the Appellate Authority's details are on the company's website.
The company's complaint centre, then its Appellate Authority
Not confirmed: This is from TRAI's 2018 handbook and may have changed since. Check the current rules on the company's website.
Also
If a new phone was lost or stolen before any SIM was used in it, contact the district CEIR nodal police officer with a copy of the FIR or police complaint that has the IMEI numbers.
District CEIR nodal police officer
Also
If you have lost the Request ID, open "Forgot Request ID" on CEIR and give the mobile number you used when blocking, with the OTP. It shows the Request IDs of the requests made with that number.