eSIM for Türkiye

What UK travel advice says about eSIMs in Turkey

UK government travel advice for Turkey includes a short section headed “E-sims”. It says that access to some eSIM services is restricted in Turkey, and it advises travellers to check with the company behind their eSIM before travelling. It does not say which services are affected or why.

We cannot tell you that any plan on this page falls outside that restriction, and we do not claim it does. What you can do is install the plan at home, on your own Wi-Fi, and check that it shows up on your phone before you leave. The activation guide explains what to look for and when a plan's term begins, and the troubleshooting guide covers a profile that will not install.

Who Turkey's phone registration rule is for

Turkey's device-registration regulation, enforced by the telecoms regulator BTK, covers phones used with Turkish SIM cards. A phone brought in from abroad and used on a Turkish line can work unregistered for a 120-day period, and its owner has 365 days from entry to apply for registration. Since July 2026, applications have gone through e-Devlet, the government's online gateway.

The same regulation also covers foreign SIMs used on Turkish networks, without voice calls, on more than 90 days in total within any 120 consecutive days, which it calls permanent roaming, and phones found doing that are cut off. It describes no registration step for a visitor on a short stay with a foreign SIM or eSIM. If you are moving to Turkey or staying for months, read the current rules rather than a summary. Rules like this differ from country to country: Mexico's, for example, apply to lines provided by Mexican companies; see who Mexico's phone-line identification rules apply to.

Arriving in Istanbul and getting around

Istanbul Airport offers free Wi-Fi to passengers on the iGA WiFi network. Besides logging in with a mobile line, you can scan your passport or ID at a kiosk in the terminal to get an access code. That is Istanbul Airport's own service; if you fly into another airport, check what it offers.

UK advice notes that app-based and pre-booked taxis are widely available in Turkey, and a ride app needs data to book and follow a car. If your nationality needs an e-Visa, apply on the official site, evisa.gov.tr.

Turkey alone, or Turkey and Europe

Local plans cover Turkey and suit a trip that stays in the country, whether that is Istanbul, Cappadocia or the coast. Regional plans on this page also cover Greece, Bulgaria and Cyprus, as well as Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom, which suits a route that crosses a land border or continues by air. Daily plans give a fixed allowance for each day, useful when every day of the trip means maps, ride apps and messages.