If you buy a Turkish SIM card and use it with a foreign mobile phone, you have 120 days from your arrival in Türkiye to pay the mobile phone use tax and register the device in the Central Equipment Identity Register. Once your phone is blocked you will only be able to reach emergency numbers.
Paying the tax on site
- 01Find your phone’s IMEI number by dialling *#06#.
- 02Go to any local tax office (Vergi Dairesi) and ask for the payment desk (Vezne).
- 03Take your passport, residence permit and the payment amount with you.
- 04Write your IMEI, name and passport number carefully on paper — there must be no mistakes.
Paying the tax online
- 01Find your phone’s IMEI number by dialling *#06#.
- 02Open the online Tax Office portal and choose “Harç ve Değerli Kağıt Bedeli”, then “Cep Telefonu Harcı Ödeme”.
- 03Enter your information — your residence permit number is required.
- 04Enter your IMEI carefully and complete the card payment.
- 05Save the online receipt file.
Registering with a residence permit (recommended)
- 01Open your e-Devlet dashboard and search for “IMEI Kaydet”.
- 02Fill in the required information on the next page.
- 03Your phone will be registered within a very short period of time.
Registering without a residence permit
- After receiving the receipt, visit a store of your mobile operator to register the phone.
- Operators charge roughly ₺80–100 for registration, excluding the SIM card fee — expect around ₺250–270 in total (subject to change).