Mandatory SIM Verification for Expats in Turkey by July 25, 2026
⚠️ URGENT WARNING / CONNECTION IN TURKEY 2026
Attention to foreign nationals in Turkey: identity must be urgently confirmed with mobile operators by July 25
This official and mandatory requirement from Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) applies to all expats who registered SIM cards with a foreign passport. Ignoring it will result in complete blocking of phone numbers.
Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), together with the country's largest mobile operators - Turk Telekom, Vodafone and Turkcell - has introduced new strict rules for monitoring mobile communications usage by foreign nationals. According to the official decree, all foreigners whose subscriber numbers (SIM cards) are linked to a foreign passport or outdated registration data must undergo identity re-verification.
Specialists from the licensed real estate agency RestProperty strongly recommend that all owners of Turkish SIM cards not ignore incoming SMS notifications from operators. The deadline for data confirmation is set for July 25, 2026. If this requirement is not met by the specified date, the mobile line will be blocked.
🚫 Consequences of refusing verification: how blocking will occur
Operators warn that the deactivation procedure for unverified numbers will be swift and strict. If data is not updated by July 25, 2026:
- First stage (Service restriction): Your line will be partially blocked. You will lose the ability to make outgoing calls, send SMS messages, and use mobile internet. Incoming calls and SMS will temporarily continue to be received.
- Second stage (Full deactivation): If the verification procedure is still not completed after restrictions are imposed, your subscriber number will be permanently deactivated. Restoring the lost number, which is often linked to Turkish mobile banking and government applications, will be technically impossible.
Two official ways to verify personal data
To successfully confirm your identity and keep your Turkish phone number, you must provide a valid current residence permit in Turkey (İkamet Kartı), starting with 99, or an official work permit (Çalışma İzni). This can be done in two ways:
Method 1. Personal visit to your operator's official service center
You need to take the original plastic ikamet (residence permit) card and visit any nearest official Turk Telekom, Vodafone or Turkcell service center. It is recommended to visit central major offices rather than small dealer points.
The office employee will verify your documents and enter your foreign identification number into the system. Important advice: After your data is entered, the employee will print out an updated contract form for you. Be sure to carefully check the spelling of your first name, last name, and ikamet number in Latin letters. Due to a random typo by a Turkish employee, the BTK system may not confirm the data, which will lead to automatic blocking.
Method 2. Remote confirmation through the Immigration Service application (GöçBil) with e-Devlet access
If you are already a resident of the country and have access to the e-Devlet government portal, you can complete the verification procedure remotely, without visiting the office.
- Follow the official verification link sent by your operator via SMS (for example, with Turk Telekom it is
https://turktelekom.ly...) - Enter your personal data on the opened authorization portal.
- The system will redirect you for integration with the e-Devlet government portal.
- Start the identification procedure through the official migration management application (Göç İdaresi Başkanlığı - GöçBil).
- Complete biometric facial scanning on your smartphone's camera to match with the photo in the ikamet database. After status confirmation, your line will be automatically unblocked.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Mandatory SIM card verification in Turkey
This is a requirement of Turkey's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) as part of the fight against illegal use of mobile communications and strengthening control over subscriber number registration for foreign nationals.
The requirement applies to all foreign nationals living in Turkey who initially registered and purchased a Turkish SIM card with a foreign passport but have not yet linked it to their valid Turkish residence permit (ikamet).
All data with mobile operators must be updated strictly by July 25, 2026.
Your SIM card will be blocked. First, outgoing calls, SMS, and mobile internet will be disabled. If data is still not updated, the number will be canceled without the possibility of recovery.
You will need to provide the original plastic residence permit card (İkamet) or work permit (Çalışma İzni).
Yes, provided you have active access to the e-Devlet portal and the GöçBil application installed. The procedure will require biometric facial matching through your phone's camera.
For tourist SIM cards registered with a passport, the law sets a usage limit of 90 days from the date of entry into the country. After this period expires, without a residence permit, the number is automatically blocked.
For most operators, the personal data update procedure (verification of an existing contract) is free. However, some franchise points may attempt to charge a commission fee.
No. If at the time of purchase or later you already transferred the contract to your ikamet (number starting with 99) and receive bills or notifications to your current details, no additional verification is required.
Yes, of course. Our after-sales service is always ready to help RestProperty clients with adaptation: we accompany you to operator offices, help set up e-Devlet government services, and resolve any administrative issues in Turkey.
