A person holds an umbrella while checking their phone near the waterfront during heavy rain in Istanbul, Türkiye. (Adobe Stock Photo)
By Newsroom
April 13, 2026 06:21 PM GMT+03:00
Türkiye is implementing stricter controls on mobile phones brought from abroad to curb registration irregularities.
The Information Technologies and Communication Authority (ICTA/BTK) identified widespread misuse involving dual-SIM devices where users registered a second IMEI number to a different phone to bypass fees.
While the standard regulation allows travelers to use a foreign phone for 120 days before registration, the current crackdown targets those who used technical loopholes to extend this period.
Officials state this method allowed multiple devices to appear registered under a single passport, violating the rule that permits travelers to bring only one phone every three years.
BTK recently completed a technical review and discovered hundreds of thousands of devices using these unauthorized IMEI registrations.
These specific devices will lose network access unless owners pay the official registration fee by the upcoming deadline.
A person scrolling through social media on a smartphone. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Deadline set for next month
The grace period for devices flagged for unauthorized usage ends on May 1, 2026.
BTK began tracking these specific handsets on January 1 and issued warning messages to affected users, granting them a final 120-day window to comply. This specific window closes at the start of May.
Owners must pay a registration fee of ₺54,258 ($1,213.22)for the year 2026 to maintain service. Failure to settle this amount will result in the device being completely blocked from all Turkish mobile networks.
To avoid sudden disconnection, users should dial *#06# on their handsets to find their IMEI number and verify their registration status through the e-Devlet portal immediately.
Foreigners in Türkiye must register mobile phones by May 1 to avoid network blocks. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Strict enforcement replaces temporary fixes
New measures effectively end popular methods used to extend phone usage without payment.
Previously, owners of dual-SIM or e-SIM phones often shifted their SIM cards between slots to gain an additional 120 days of time. This “usage extension” tactic is no longer viable.
“The practice of extending the usage period with two lines in dual-SIM and e-SIM phones is ending. With the new application, this advantage disappears,” reports Sabah.
Key Compliance Requirements
Registration Limit: One phone per passport every three years.Time Limit: Devices must be registered within 120 days of entry.Registration Fee: ₺54,258 for the 2026 calendar year.Payment Method: Payments and registration must occur through the e-Devlet system.
Devices that do not meet these legal requirements by the May 1 deadline will fail to receive signals from any Turkish carrier.
This crackdown aims to prevent tax losses and ensure all foreign-sourced hardware complies with national communication laws.
April 13, 2026 06:21 PM GMT+03:00