eSIM for Turkey
Plans from $1.72 per day
Turkey
Turkish coverage comes via Turkcell and Vodafone Turkey, with widely-available 5G in Istanbul, Ankara, and the Mediterranean coastal cities of Antalya and Bodrum, and broad 4G across inland Anatolia and Cappadocia.
Turkey has a quirk that makes the eSIM especially valuable: a 120-day IMEI registration rule means local SIMs stop working in an unregistered foreign phone after about four months, and registration itself needs a passport and a Turkish tax number. A foreign-routed eSIM bypasses this entirely — important for long stays and digital nomads. For the smoothest start, install and activate before you land.
Western messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram) work normally, though FaceTime can be intermittently restricted. Tethering may be limited on some plans, so confirm hotspot support if you need to work from a laptop. Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés.
When to activate
Activate before arrivalSTRONGLY recommended to install AND activate BEFORE landing. Turkey enforces a 120-day IMEI registration rule on foreign phones — local SIMs stop working after that window unless you pay to register your device. A foreign-routed eSIM bypasses this entirely.
Things to know about Turkey
- Turkey's 120-day IMEI rule blocks unregistered foreign phones from local SIMs after 4 months. Foreign-routed eSIMs are unaffected.
- Some VoIP apps (FaceTime) may have intermittent restrictions — Western messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram) work normally.
Network partners
Turkcell
Vodafone Turkey
Connection details
Networks
Turkcell · Vodafone Turkey
Speed
5G / 4G / LTE
Hotspot
Limited
From
$1.72/day
Country context
Currency
TRY
Emergency
112 (universal) · 155 (police)
Plug type
C / F
Time zone
TRT (UTC+3)
Why eSIM here, not a local SIM
Turkish SIMs are tied to your phone's IMEI — and that registration expires after 120 days, leaving long-stay travelers stuck. The registration process itself requires a passport and a Turkish tax number.
Free Wi-Fi: Common. 5G is widely available in Istanbul, Ankara, and Mediterranean coastal cities. Inland Anatolia drops to 4G but coverage remains broad.
From order to online in 4 steps
Step 1
Buy your plan
Pick a data plan that fits your trip, pay with card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
Common questions about Turkey
I've heard Turkey blocks foreign phones after 120 days, am I affected?
Turkey's IMEI registration rule applies to local SIMs, not foreign-routed eSIMs. Esim70's Turkey plans aren't subject to the 120-day block. Your phone will continue to work on our eSIM regardless of how long you stay.
When does my plan's validity start in Turkey?
Validity starts when your eSIM first connects to a local Turkey network, that's usually as soon as you land and switch off airplane mode. Installing the eSIM at home days before your trip doesn't burn any days.
Can I use my phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot in Turkey?
Yes, all Esim70 plans support tethering by default with no separate daily cap. Your phone can share its data connection with a laptop, tablet, or travel companion's phone.
Will my home number still work in Turkey?
Yes, modern phones support dual-SIM. Your home SIM stays active for calls and SMS while the Esim70 eSIM handles data abroad. You can keep WhatsApp / iMessage tied to your home number too.
