I just arrived
Get in from the airport, then a working phone, a transport card and a way to pay — the first-week essentials.
Written by the Smileys team, not professional advice. These guides explain how things work in practice; they are not legal, immigration, tax or medical advice. Where a guide links official sources, those set the current requirements.
Mobile & Digital
Getting a SIM Card and Home Internet in Türkiye
Getting connected in Türkiye is relatively easy — but there are a couple of Turkish-specific rules that can catch newcomers by surprise. The big one is the 120-day limit on foreign phones. You also need to understand how Turkish mobile lines are registered, what documents you need, and why checking the internet infrastructure in your actual apartment matters more than the provider's headline speed.
Links official sources Last reviewed 30 September 2026
Getting Around
Eskart: One Card for Eskişehir’s Trams and Buses
Eskişehir’s Eskart works on ESTRAM trams and city buses, with discounted transfers within 60 minutes — physical or virtual in the Estram Mobil app. Plus the online top-up delay, student cards, the tram lines, and getting here from Istanbul by YHT.
Links official sources
Money & Banking
Opening a Turkish bank account as a foreigner
You can open a Turkish bank account as a foreigner, but the required documents depend on whether you’re a resident or a visitor. Residents usually open with their residence permit and Foreigner Identification Number (YKN); some banks also take non-residents with a passport, a tax number and proof of address. Requirements differ by bank and branch, so check the bank's own list and, if you're refused, ask what was missing.
Links official sources Last reviewed 28 September 2026
Mobile & Digital
e-Devlet for Foreigners: Getting Your Password and What You Can Do With It
e-Devlet is Türkiye's government services portal. Who can use it as a foreigner, how to get your password at PTT, and what it's useful for once you're in.
Links official sources Last reviewed 26 September 2026
Money & Banking
Getting a Turkish Tax Number as a Foreigner (Vergi Kimlik Numarası)
Why you need a Turkish tax number, how to apply for one online with your passport, and why you won't need one once you have a foreign ID number (YKN).
Links official sources Last reviewed 26 September 2026