KÜHEYLAN HUKUK
Legal basis: Electronic Communications Law No. 5809, Articles 55, 56 and 63; Regulation on the Registration of Devices with Electronic Identity Information (Official Gazette 12.07.2014, last amendment 02.07.2026); Fees Law No. 492, Tariff (8); Annex-9 to Decision No. 2009/15481. Prepared using legislation in force in 2026 and official sources dated November 2026.
The mobile phone brought with it from abroad must be registered in the Information Technology and Communication Agency (BTK) system so that it can be used continuously on mobile networks in Turkey. Registration is made only through the e-Government from July 2026. The application can be made within 365 days of entry into Türkiye; however, the unregistered device is turned off from the network after 120 days of use on the domestic line. The registration fee for 2026 is approximately TL 54.258, and the same passenger can only register one device in three calendar years. The registered device only works on registered lines in the name of the register holder for three calendar years. Devices whose IMEI number has been modified or copied carry the risk of judicial sanction and seizure under Act 5809.
Why is an IMEI registration mandatory?
The Regulation on the Registration of Devices with Electronic Identity Information based on the Electronic Communications Law No. 5809 stipulates that every mobile device in Turkey must be registered in a central database. In this system, devices imported in accordance with the legislation or completed registration are included in the "white list", while devices that have been smuggled, lost, stolen, or whose identity information has been altered are listed in the "black list" (Regulation m.5, m.6).
A device found in use without registration and not registered within the 120-day period is classified as an illicit device under Article 4(1)(h) of the Regulation. Operators disconnect it at the end of the 120-day period (Article 10/2-c). Access to the 112 emergency call service remains available even when the device is blacklisted.
Under What Conditions and Where is the Record Made?
Registration is possible for devices brought with the passenger and not of commercial nature under customs legislation (Regulation m.4/1-m). With the amendment of 2 July 2026, the application authority was designated only as an e-Government gate, and the physical application period to subscriber registration centers ended (m.4/1-c, m.14/1). It makes the application a parent or legal representative on behalf of those under the age of eighteen (m.14/3).
The passenger must apply within 365 days from the date of entry into Türkiye. However, this period does not extend the 120-day period in which the unregistered device can be used on a domestic line (m.14/4). According to customs legislation, the passenger can bring and register only one mobile phone in three calendar years. The applicant is responsible for the accuracy of the information and documents provided in the application. If BTK detects non-conformity, it removes the IMEI number from the list (m.14/5, m.14/9).
How much is the registration fee for 2026?
The registration fee is the VIII of Schedule 8 attached to the Law on Fees No. 492. It is a "call permit fee brought with the passenger" in its section. The amount is updated annually; it is implemented in 2026 at approximately TL 54.258. In 2025, this amount was TL 45,614.
The allowance is paid according to the tariff on the date of completion of the registration. Therefore, devices brought in near the end of the year directly affect the cost of which year the application will be completed. If the device continues to be used without payment of the allowance or even if the application is rejected, the network connection will be disconnected at the end of the 120-day period.
Legal basis Law No. 5809 Art.55, m.56, m.63; Regulation of Electronic Identity Information on Retention Devices
Unregistered use 120 days on the domestic line; disconnected at the end of time (m.10/2-c)
Can a Registered Device Be Sold to Someone Else?
The IMEI number of the device brought and recorded with the passenger is placed on the "matched white list" for three calendar years. During this time, the device was only used by the passenger's T.C. Works with subscriber lines registered to the identity number (Regulation m.8/1-d, m.14/7). When the three calendar years are over, the pairing is removed and the device switches to the general white list (m.12/3).
Therefore, the device sold before three calendar years have expired from the date of registration does not work with the recipient's line. The seller's failure to report this condition is a common source of discrepancies in second-hand sales based on an obligation to disparage and inform. The device, which does not receive service from the network for an uninterruptible year, is also blacklisted. In this case, the end user may request that the device be re-used via e-Government (m.19/A).
What is the Penalty of Clone or IMEI Modified Device?
Article 55 of Law No. 5809 prohibits recreating, altering or copying device identity information without BTK permission. Importing, distributing or possessing devices with altered identity information is also prohibited. Under Article 63, paragraph nine, breach of this prohibition carries a judicial fine of between 1,000 and 15,000 days. Unauthorised copying and use of identity information carries a judicial fine of between 1,000 and 5,000 days under Article 56, paragraph one, and Article 63, paragraph ten. Such devices may be seized under Article 127 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Article 55/3).
Supreme Court 19. In its decision dated 21.06.2018 and numbered E.2018/759, K.2018/7581, the Criminal Office stated that the provisions 55/2 and 63/9 should be applied to the defendant holding a device with copied (cloned) IMEI. In its decision dated 31.05.2018 and numbered E.2017/6247, K.2018/6660, the same Office requested to investigate whether there was a separate case under Anti-Smuggling Law No. 5607 if unregistered telephones were available for sale in the workplace. For this reason, unregistered telephones of a commercial quantity are at risk for both electronic communications and smuggling legislation.
Event Summary Form: Fictional example: A buyer purchased the phone, which is said to have been brought from abroad and registered from a second-hand sales platform. When he plugged in his own line, the device was not connected to the network, the operator reported that the IMEI number was on the paired list. Process: In the interrogation, it was understood that the device was registered with the seller's passport in 2025 and could only work on lines registered in the vendor's name because three calendar years were not completed. The buyer notified the seller of his will to return from the contract by sending a notice through the notary. Conclusion: The device sold before the matching time expires is not suitable for use that the buyer expects. The seller's failure to disclose this situation provides a strong basis for the buyer in terms of rights based on debauchery. Referee, correspondence records and BTK query result are decisive evidence in such disputes.
How much is the IMEI registration fee in 2026?
The telephone permit fee brought with the passenger for 2026 is approximately TL 54.258. The amount is updated every year.
How many days to register?
The application can be made within 365 days of arrival at home. However, the device can only be used for 120 days indifferent to the domestic line; at the end of this time the connection is disconnected.
Can the phone be registered with someone else's passport?
The registration is made on behalf of the person who brought the device with the passenger, and the applicant is responsible for the accuracy of the information in the application. The record made with statements contrary to the truth may be cancelled and cause liability.
If a registered phone is sold, can the buyer use it?
As of registration, the receiver cannot use the device on its own line until three calendar years have expired. When the time is up, the device switches to the general white list and can be used on any line.
Can the phone be turned off because it has not been used for long?
Re-opening the blacklisted device because it does not receive service from the network for an uninterruptible year may be requested by the end user via e-Government.
Can the phone be shipped from abroad?
According to the Commerce Department application, a mobile phone cannot be brought by mail or fast shipping. IMEI registration forgotten abroad
Phones that are available can be sent within certain periods of time.
Mixing 120 days of use with 365 days of application time. Bringing the device near the end of the year, without regard to registration date and tuition amount. The sale of an unpaired device without information to the buyer. The factual registration of another passenger via his passport. The purchase and sale of identity information-modified or cloned devices for commercial purposes.
The IMEI record is not just a technical process; it is a legal process that must be assessed along with tuition, duration, matching and criminal liability dimensions. Küheylan Law Office provides legal support for BTK applications on closed devices, disputes arising from the sale of second-hand telephones, and investigations and prosecutions conducted under Laws 5809 to 5607.
Important Legal Notice: The legal statements contained in this guide are prepared by the Küheylan Law Office for general informational purposes and do not qualify as legal counsel. The unique conditions of each file can change the result. Legal support from a lawyer is recommended before the process begins so that application, appeal and trial deadlines are not missed. © 2026 Küheylan Law Office. All Rights Reserved.
KÜHEYLAN HUKUK