02.01.2026 12:48
The Information Technologies and Communications Authority provided information about the IMEI registration process offered through e-Government. As of January 1, citizens whose IMEI registration has been reset and who receive warning messages regarding this on their phones will have their devices blocked from network access within 120 days.
The Information Technologies and Communications Authority made a statement regarding the IMEI registration process offered through e-Government. As of January 1, citizens whose IMEI registration has been reset will be able to use their foreign phones.
120-DAY USAGE PERIOD
Citizens need to register their IMEI through the BTK to continue using their phones after 120 days.
WHEN DOES THE 4-MONTH PERIOD START?
Those who do not want to buy phones at prices in Turkey can use the devices they purchased from abroad for 4 months within a calendar year (referring to a calendar year between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026). If the phone has a dual SIM card slot or one SIM card slot and an e-SIM, this period extends to 8 months. For the first 4 months, a physical SIM card is used, and for the other 4 months, communication can be provided using an e-SIM or another physical SIM card slot.
THE SIGNALS OF MOBILE PHONES HAVE BEEN CUT
In dual SIM devices, the system allowed the entry of two IMEI numbers during registration. Thus, two IMEI registrations were made under one passport. Those who wanted to abuse this application entered the IMEI number of a different foreign device in the second IMEI field, registering two separate phones with a single passport. The BTK cut the signal of the phones using this method during its investigations.
HOW WILL THE PROCESS WORK?
With the arrival of January 1, 2026, due to the new calendar year, devices with a single SIM card will provide service for another 120 days. Devices with e-SIM will provide another 120 days of usage after the first 120 days. Therefore, the critical 240-day period for phones used without IMEI registration from abroad has started as of today.
WHAT DOES THE BTK ANNOUNCEMENT SAY?
In the announcement made by the BTK, it was stated, "In the technical examinations conducted by our Institution regarding the applications made by declaring IMEI in the IMEI-1 and IMEI-2 fields through the IMEI Registration service offered via e-Government, it has been determined that in some applications, the declared first and second IMEI numbers do not belong to the same mobile phone. Accordingly, in the registration processes carried out in this manner, the first IMEI number will be left open for communication services (registered), while the second IMEI number, which is determined to belong to another mobile phone, will be taken out of registration and will be closed after being kept open for communication services for one hundred and twenty (120) days."
In the continuation of the BTK statement, it was stated, "To learn whether the IMEI number belonging to your mobile phone has been closed or not for communication services, you can query the IMEI numbers displayed on the screen by dialing *#06# through the IMEI Query service. If the statement indicating that the IMEI number is registered is seen in the "Status" section of the query made, please disregard the message sent to you. It is possible to change the IMEI number left open for communication, limited to the other IMEI number subject to the registration process, and you can apply through the IMEI Usage Preference Notification service regarding this matter. As a result of this application, the preferred IMEI number will be left open for communication, while the other IMEI number that is not preferred will remain in a closed status for communication."