Turkey 3G Sim Card Query

[yelken]

If you want to use an item (GSM, tablet etc) which is procured outside of turkey with a SIM card procured in Turkey, you have to register your "outside" procured GSM, tablet etc with the Turkish authorities. this registration can be done via nay of the Telecom Operators, regardless of where you bought the SIM card or dongle from.

This process takes a couple of days. However please note that if you use a foreign passport, the registration/use will be valid for two months ! unless you have a Turkish passport, than there is no limit. So unless you need your own phone or laptop for sure, just buy a cheap GSM locally or bring your old GSMs and use them one by one until they lock out . Locked out phones can be used in non-Turkish networks anyway.

 

[DaveRo]

If you want to use an item (GSM, tablet etc) which is procured outside of turkey with a SIM card procured in Turkey, you have to register your "outside" procured GSM, tablet etc with the Turkish authorities. this registration can be done via nay of the Telecom Operators, regardless of where you bought the SIM card or dongle from.

This process takes a couple of days..

.With both the registrations I did with Turkcell it was done overnight. (But they warned me it could take up to 10 days if there were problems.)

However please note that if you use a foreign passport, the registration/use will be valid for two months.

One phone I registered in May 2011 still works,

unless you have a Turkish passport, than there is no limit. So unless you need your own phone or laptop for sure, just buy a cheap GSM locally ...

Buying a cheap Turkish phone is fine is all you want is voice calls and texts. I doubt if if can buy a cheap phone that does high speed packet data access!

The registration process really is easy - you just have to sit there while they do it. It cost me 25TL in addition to the price of the SIM:
http://yachtvigdis.wordpress.com/mobile-internet-access-in-turkey/

The main problem with these Turkcell SIMs, for me, is their 9-month expiry period. And the fact that they bombard me with spam SMSes - one or two a day

 

[akyaka]

However please note that if you use a foreign passport, the registration/use will be valid for two months ! unless you have a Turkish passport, than there is no limit

Never heard of that one of our phones has been in use for 4 years and the other for 2 years.

The main problem with these Turkcell SIMs, for me, is their 9-month expiry period. And the fact that they bombard me with spam SMSes - one or two a day

As the 9 months is from last top up it should not be a problem to most people. I agree the spam can be irritating but occasionally they contain some good phone use packages.

 

[truscott]

Just an update to my own query; to get a Turkcell SIM card for my phone in Marmaris, first I had to get a Taxfile number, then pay TL 100 at the tax office and supply the phone's IMEI number (the Tax office is about 2km's out of town on the hill above the Migros supermarket). I then took this to Turkcell opposite the park where the Tansas supermarket used to be, and went upstairs where the lovely Semra set it up in about 5 minutes. There is an issue that you buy your talk time separate to your sms and data credit but that wasn't a show stopper. Happily posting as we motor to Palumat Buku.

Cheers PT.

 

[DaveRo]

Just an update to my own query; to get a Turkcell SIM card for my phone in Marmaris, first I had to get a Taxfile number, then pay TL 100 at the tax office...

Was this for a contract?

I didn't need to do that for a PAYG SIM (in May).

 

[truscott]

Was this for a contract?

I didn't need to do that for a PAYG SIM (in May).

No. This was for a PAYG SIM from Turkcell. Not easy but once the process had been explained all it really took was time.

 

[akyaka]

I didn't need to do that for a PAYG SIM (in May).

I don't think he is describing the process for registering a basic UK mobile and obtaining a Sim card which unless the procedure has changed very recently could all be dealt with in the Turkcell shop.

 

[truscott]

I don't think he is describing the process for registering a basic UK mobile and obtaining a Sim card which unless the procedure has changed very recently could all be dealt with in the Turkcell shop.

A basic SIM card for my phone may have been no problem. As per my original post, I wanted to use 3G/4G thru my phone (and use the phone as a personal wife zone). This required getting a Tax File Number, and registering my phone, etc...

I'm just posting about this in case it helps someone else. I'm good to go for 2 years!

PT.

 

[DaveRo]

A basic SIM card for my phone may have been no problem. As per my original post, I wanted to use 3G/4G thru my phone (and use the phone as a personal wife zone). This required getting a Tax File Number, and registering my phone, etc..

You can do that with an ordinary ‘Hazir Kart’ PAYG SIM - as in my previous posts and my guide here.

I didn't, of course, mention in the shop that I mainly wanted it for mobile data access.

 

[truscott]

You can do that with an ordinary ‘Hazir Kart’ PAYG SIM - as in my previous posts and my guide here.

I didn't, of course, mention that I mainly wanted it for mobile data access.

As per your web page, i had to register my phone. In Marmaris, the difference was that neither Turkcell or Vodafone would do this for me, meaning I had to go to the Tax Office.

No worries though, as they say, "This is Turkey!".

PT.

 

[DaveRo]

I wonder if you've actually paid to import your phone - i.e. you're not 'temporarily staying' in Turkey
Individual Import Applications

 

[maxy]

Mobile imports

I think you are correct (DaveRo). Foreigners are only allowed to import one phone per year. The cost is now 100TL and the immigration stamp in your passport must not be more than one month old.

The charge apparently is paid to the Turkish goverment not the operator.

Turkish nationals are subject to the same procedure, except that they can change their phone number wheras the yabaci (foreigner cannot).

Re the comment about Vodaphone 3G in bozukale. Vodaphone does not work there although Turkcell works well. In the restaurant in Dirsek Vodaphone only works if you are stood up! Dont waste your time or money on Vodaphone in Turkish coastal areas.

Kevin

 

[DaveRo]

I think you are correct (DaveRo). Foreigners are only allowed to import one phone per year. The cost is now 100TL and the immigration stamp in your passport must not be more than one month old...

But if you're 'temporarily' staying in the country you are not subject to the 'import' procedure - at least that is my reading of the regulation (my previous link). And it mentions 'Tourist, Expatriate Citizens'.

(This regulation was discussed in other forums when it came out; you supposedly had to register your phone at the airport when you entered the country. Some people tried it and, unsurprisingly, encountered blank looks from customs.)

The Turkcell Shop (I also went to the one in Marmaris last year) would probably have assumed I was a tourist.

So maybe this is just another case of a badly drafted law being variously interpreted. Or maybe customs have seen an opportunity. Or maybe Turkcell see it as a way of discouraging foreigners - lots of paperwork, little profit...

 

[maxy]

(This regulation was discussed in other forums when it came out; you supposedly had to register your phone at the airport when you entered the country. Some people tried it and, unsurprisingly, encountered blank looks from customs.)

.

Registering at customs was the way it was done a few years back, and as has been stated it was variously successful.

Turkey does change its implementation of laws almost daily it feels sometimes. It seems to be where insufficient thought was given to the 'How' and so they try different implementations until one works.