The Turkish government has announced new rules to crack down on the use of phones brought into the country from abroad, including a sharp increase in registration fees starting in 2026.
The new decisions include time limits on how long these phones can be used, along with significantly higher device registration fees. All of this will come into effect in 2026.
Under the new rules, people who bring their phones from outside Turkey will be allowed to use them for up to 4 months per calendar year (from January 1 to December 31, 2026) without officially registering the device.
If the phone supports dual SIM, or has one physical SIM plus eSIM, the usage period can be extended to 8 months. This works by using the physical SIM for 4 months, then continuing for another 4 months using the second SIM or the eSIM.
At the same time, Turkish authorities announced that the IMEI registration fee will increase in 2026 to 57,241 Turkish lira, a major jump compared to previous years.
Officials said these measures are part of stricter controls on phones brought in from abroad and aim to limit unregistered use inside Turkey, regulate the mobile phone market, and combat unauthorized usage.
