İMEİ Registertion

In this article, we’ll explain the detailed process of registering mobile phones brought from abroad, which is a common challenge for students. When you insert a SIM card from any Turkish GSM operator into a phone brought from another country, it will be detected by the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), initiating the registration process. Within a few days, you will receive an SMS notification about this. Starting from 2024, the usage period for unregistered phones is four months, though it may extend beyond that in some cases.

There are three main ways to address this:

     1. Register the phone.
     2. Buy a cheaper phone in Turkey and use it to share internet access with your other device. This is more convenient for iPhones, as iCloud and other features allow you to answer calls on one device from another connected device.
     3. Purchase a new mobile phone in Turkey.

1. Registering Your Mobile Phone

As of January 01, 2025, the registration fee is 45.614 TL. Each person is allowed to register one phone every three years. To complete the registration, you must have a valid residence permit. You can register online or at GSM operators' special service points. For online registration, follow these steps:

First, go to any tax office and make the payment for your IMEI registration, or visit https://dijital.gib.gov.tr/ and select “Cep Telefonu Harcı Ödeme” to pay online. Be sure to enter your IMEI number correctly. Detailed instructions with images are available. If you receive an error saying your TC number does not match, check the Turkish characters İ and I carefully. For phones with two IMEI numbers, entering the first IMEI is sufficient. Choose the city where you are located. While selecting a specific tax office doesn’t matter for the registration itself, selecting one close to you is beneficial in case you need to request a refund. Only Ziraat, Vakıf, and Halkbank cards can be used for payments under the "domestic cards" section on the payment screen.

     

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After payment, log into your e-Devlet account at turkiye.gov.tr. In the search bar, type Information and Communication Technologies Authority to access the BTK page (click). Here, you can check your registration eligibility. When filling out the form, be sure to indicate whether your IMEI is physical or electronic (e-SIM). Complete the form carefully, and if your payment has been successfully processed, the system will verify it automatically, allowing you to finalize the registration.

Within 48 hours, your phone will be registered and ready for use.

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*The registration fee is valid until December 31, 2025