Getting a SIM Card and Home Internet in Türkiye

The 120-day trap

This is the thing to know before anything else.

A phone brought into Türkiye from abroad can generally be used on Turkish mobile networks for up to 120 days without IMEI registration. After that, the device can be blocked from Turkish mobile networks unless the IMEI is properly registered. The 120-day period relates to the device, not simply the SIM card.

Changing to another Turkish SIM does not solve an IMEI block.

The phone itself can still work on Wi-Fi after mobile-network access is blocked, so this is not the same as the handset becoming completely unusable.

And then there is the fee

For 2026, the IMEI registration fee is 54,258 TL. The amount is set by regulation and can change from year to year.

That makes registration a serious financial decision.

Before paying it, compare the cost of registering your existing phone with the cost of buying a phone in Türkiye. For some expensive or recently purchased phones, registration may make sense. For a cheaper phone, buying a locally registered device can be more economical.

Your three practical options

Register the IMEI
If you are eligible and intend to stay in Türkiye for a significant period, you can register the device through the appropriate e-Devlet process and pay the required fee. However, not every foreign visitor is eligible to register a foreign phone. For example, Türk Telekom states that tourists entering with a foreign passport who do not have a residence permit cannot complete the normal IMEI registration process. Check your eligibility before paying anything.

Buy a phone in Türkiye
A locally sold phone is already registered for use on Turkish networks. Compare the local price with the IMEI registration cost before deciding.

Do nothing
Use your foreign phone on Wi-Fi and, if necessary, use a separate locally registered phone for your Turkish SIM. For a short stay, this can be perfectly practical.

Getting a SIM

Go to an official operator shop rather than relying on an informal kiosk.

Turkish mobile lines are registered to an individual. Foreigners can obtain Turkish mobile lines using appropriate identification documents. The exact requirements depend on the operator and the type of subscription.

For example, Turkcell states that foreign nationals can obtain a prepaid line with a valid passport or other accepted identification documents. Vodafone likewise states that foreigners can obtain prepaid lines using a valid passport or certain alternative identity documents.

So don't assume that you automatically need a Turkish tax number or residence permit simply to buy a SIM. Ask the operator what documents apply to your specific status and type of line.

Keep the line in your own name

This is important.

Do not casually accept a SIM registered to a friend, landlord or someone else just because it is easier.

A phone number registered to you is much more useful when dealing with services that rely on SMS verification and identity matching.

There are also limits on how many individual mobile lines can be registered to foreigners. Vodafone currently states that the limit is three lines for foreign residents and one line for tourists.

The three main operators

Türkiye's major mobile operators — Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom — all operate in Istanbul.

For most newcomers, the differences that matter are less about the brand and more about:

• Your neighbourhood

• Your usual commute

• Indoor coverage at your apartment

• The amount of mobile data you need

• Whether you want prepaid or contract service

If you spend a lot of time underground, on ferries or in particular buildings, ask people who actually use those routes rather than relying only on general coverage claims.

Home internet

Istanbul has extensive fixed-line and fibre infrastructure, but availability and maximum speed depend on the exact building and even the individual address.

A provider may advertise 1 Gbps service in your neighbourhood while your particular building only supports a slower connection.

Before signing anything, check the provider's infrastructure availability for the exact address.

Ask what is already installed

Find out what connection the apartment currently has.

If the building already has compatible fibre or another fixed-line connection, getting service activated may be much simpler than installing new infrastructure.

Also ask the previous tenant or landlord whether there is already a modem, fibre termination equipment or an existing connection.

Check the contract length

Many home-internet campaigns are offered with a fixed-term commitment.

For example, current Türk Telekom campaigns include 12- and 18-month commitments, with early cancellation potentially resulting in charges related to discounts, equipment or other campaign benefits.

If you are only planning to stay for a few months, don't automatically take the cheapest promotional package.

Ask what happens if you cancel early.

Ask what happens after the promotion

Some campaigns offer a lower price for a defined period and then move to the provider's prevailing tariff.

Ask:

• What is the monthly price today?

• How long is that price guaranteed?

• What will I pay after the campaign?

• Is there a modem fee?

• Is installation free?

• What happens if I cancel early?

The headline price is not always the price you will ultimately pay.

Someone needs to be there

Installation or activation may require an appointment at the apartment.

Don't assume the technician will arrive at an exact time. Give yourself some flexibility, particularly if you work remotely.

If you are not staying long

For someone staying only a few months, a large mobile-data package with tethering/hotspot can be surprisingly practical.

It avoids:

• A long home-internet commitment

• Installation appointments

• Potential cancellation charges

• Waiting for a fixed-line connection

It can also give you time to decide where you actually want to live before committing to home internet.

For remote workers, however, mobile data should not automatically replace fixed internet. If you depend on a reliable connection for work, test the mobile signal inside the apartment before making that decision.

One important rule for newcomers

Check the exact address before choosing the internet provider.

Don't choose an internet company simply because someone tells you, "They have very fast fibre in Istanbul."

Ask the provider to check your building and apartment address and confirm:

• Available technology

• Maximum available speed

• Installation requirements

• Monthly price

• Contract length

• Modem cost

• Cancellation conditions

The building next door may have fibre. Yours may not.

Check the current rules

The 120-day foreign-device period and IMEI registration rules are regulatory and can change, as can the registration fee. The 2026 IMEI registration fee is currently 54,258 TL.

Mobile operators can also change their packages, documentation requirements and promotional offers.

So before paying an IMEI fee, buying a SIM or signing a long-term internet contract, check the current rules and prices with e-Devlet or the operator itself.

Don't rely on an old blog post — including this one — for a payment or eligibility decision.