Turkey Blocks Most International eSIMs: What Travelers Need to Know

In July 2025, Turkey quietly pulled the plug on many international eSIM providers. The country’s telecommunications authority, BTK (Bilgi Teknolojileri ve İletişim Kurumu), introduced new rules that effectively block access to services like Airalo, Holafly, Saily, Nomad, and other top eSIM providers within Turkish borders.

Turkey now requires eSIM companies to work directly with local mobile operators, store all SIM profile data inside the country, and prevent long-term roaming on foreign networks. The official explanation is that this helps protect national security, ensure compliance, and keep tighter control over telecom infrastructure.

For digital nomads and frequent travelers, this is a big deal. If you’ve been using a global eSIM to dodge expensive roaming charges, you might find your connection cut off once you enter Turkey. You’ll likely need to switch to a local provider.

The ban also affects IoT devices that rely on eSIMs for constant connectivity. If those devices operate continuously in Turkey, they could be flagged or fined for non-compliance.

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