Devices of Turks residing abroad can be used unregistered for 180 days

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that the procedures regarding the registration and use of devices with electronic identity information are carried out within the scope of the "Regulation on the Registration of Devices with Electronic Identity Information" and the "Communiqué on the Registration of Devices with Electronic Identity Information."

Reminding that these devices must be registered in the Mobile Device Registration System (MCKS) to be used in Turkey, Uraloğlu said, "Registration procedures can be done in two ways: collectively by companies through import and manufacturing, or individually for devices brought by passengers from abroad. Devices with electronic identity information brought by passengers had a 120-day unregistered usage permit."

Uraloğlu recalled that the IMEI numbers of devices that are not registered are blacklisted at the end of the period determined by the relevant legislation, and their connections to the electronic communication network are cut off.

GRIEVANCES OF TURKS ABROAD ARE BEING ADDRESSED

Explaining that Turkish citizens residing abroad have conveyed their grievances regarding the usage periods of the mobile devices they bring to the country to the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) through various channels, Uraloğlu said, "A regulation was made with the decision taken by the BTK to resolve the grievance regarding the provision of additional communication services to citizens residing abroad and blue card holders."

APPLICATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL USAGE PERIOD WILL BE MADE VIA E-DEVLET GATEWAY

Providing information about the regulation, Uraloğlu noted the following:

"In this context, for devices brought by Turkish citizens residing abroad, limited to only one IMEI number, the applicant's residence must be abroad, and the check regarding whether they have left the country as of the application date must yield a positive result. Subsequently, for those whose 120-day legal unregistered device usage period for devices brought from abroad has expired, an additional 30-day usage period will be defined twice upon application via e-Devlet. Thus, the 120-day legal unregistered device usage period for devices brought from abroad will be extended to 180 days. After the additional usage period expires, the IMEI numbers of the devices in question will be blacklisted. The BTK decision regarding the extension will come into effect on March 1, 2024, after the necessary infrastructure is established."

News Source: 12punto