Imported mobile (cell) phones now blocked in Turkey

Created by doina. Last modified on 2006-09-19 09:56:29
Topic: Communications
Countries: Turkey

In the last two weeks all Turkish mobile phone operators have blocked mobile phone handsets, that were not purchased in Turkey, from using a local Turkish SIM card.

If you have a non-Turkish SIM card and are therefore paying premium rates to use roaming services your handset will still work for voice and internet access (GPRS).

I have contacted Turkcell who inform me that the process required to enable your hand set, for a local SIM card, is as follows: 1) you must declare the handset to customs when you enter the country. You will require the original sales receipt to do this. 2) Once you have done this you must visit a main office for the Turkish operator with your passport, customs documentation and the original sales receipt. They will then enable your hand set.

I have not been able to test this procedure as my yacht is already checked in to Turkey. I tried when returning from Rhodes, on the ferry, to declare my mobile to customs, they refused to deal with the issue.

Further more detailed information can be found at http://www.rccpf.org.uk/Publications/GPRS.htm with some suggested solutions.

Has anyone successfully imported a mobile phone in to Turkey? Please let me know. There are very considerable savings to be made by using a local Turkish SIM card.

Matthew Bickerton, S/Y Pina Colada of Harwich

Ann Ftzpatrick also wrote to Noonsite: People sailing into Turkey should be aware that new Turkish mobile phone regulations are causing problems for visitors. The common practice of buying a local sim card and inserting it into an open mobile is no longer permitted unless the phone is registered in Turkey. Many visitors have bought sim cards, only to have their phones cut off/blocked after one month's usage. The staff in the mobile phone shops will happily sell you a sim card without explaining the problem. Many people have either been left with unusable credits on their cards or have been forced into the position of having to buy a Turkish phone. Apparently it is possible to have your own phone registered in Turkey if you declare it on entry, obtain a form from the customs, take that and the original phone receipt to Mugla, together with your passport, and wait two weeks.

Yusuf Civelekoglu of yachtWORKS writes: Since earlier this year all GSM phones (Devices, NOT the SIM cards) operating through Turkish Service Providers have to be registered in Turkey. This way it is attempted to curb the trade of illicit devices. Register your foreign bought phone's IMEI number (press *#06# and you will be prompted by the IMEI number) with the Turkish Customs at the border. If you don't do it, your phone will stop working; unfortunately after a few days and without reporting the cause! Then you still can register it at any Service Provider's Office. It is advised to carry some proof of ownership with you.