Sanctions for dual IMEI users: Unregistered phones to be blocked from access

The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) has taken a significant step against unregistered transactions made via phones brought from abroad that possess more than one IMEI number. It has been announced that at the beginning of 2026, devices belonging to those who registered a second phone with the same passport will be completely shut down at the end of the granted period. The deadline for paying the registration fee is the end of the day on May 1.

In recent months, the BTK determined that some dual-SIM phones brought from abroad were being used to commit registration irregularities by showing the second IMEI number to different devices. In Turkey, an individual can only register one mobile phone every three years. However, this practice carried out via dual IMEI numbers led to multiple devices appearing as registered and resulted in tax losses. Investigations revealed that in some phones, IMEI data belonging to other devices was entered into the system instead of the phone's actual IMEI.

The BTK took action on the grounds that these arrangements made with a second IMEI were irregular, given that the right to register is granted for only one device. It was learned that thousands of phones fall within this scope.

Intensifying its investigations since the first days of the year, the BTK notified users identified as having committed irregularities via SMS and granted an additional 120-day period. As of May 1, 2026, all phones that are unregistered and for which the registration fee has not been paid will be blocked from networks. Methods that previously allowed for time extensions, especially on dual-SIM or e-SIM supported phones, are also coming to an end with this change.

In accordance with the regulation, citizens who wish to learn their device's IMEI information can access this data by dialing *#06#. Additionally, IMEI registration status can be easily queried via e-Devlet. The BTK mandates that owners of unregistered phones pay the 54,258 TL registration fee valid for 2026 by the specified date. Otherwise, these devices will be completely blocked from communication.

News Source: 12punto