Since July 2025, Turkey’s regulator BTK has been blocking access (from inside Turkey) to several international travel eSIM providers. What’s affected is primarily access to their apps and websites, not the eSIM technology itself. For you, this means: if you plan to buy or activate your eSIM only after you arrive in Turkey, you may end up without data.
What exactly happened (as of October 1, 2025)
-
From July 10–11, 2025, access from within Turkey to several major travel eSIM providers was blocked. Users often can’t open the apps/portals in-country, can’t purchase plans, and can’t reload profiles.
-
Important: eSIM profiles downloaded and activated before entry generally continue to work. The disruption mainly affects purchases, activation, re-installation, or plan changes while you’re in Turkey.
What this means for your trip
-
Last-minute purchases at the airport are risky — many providers can’t be reached/activated inside Turkey.
-
Support & plan changes may be limited during your stay (often only via VPN/Wi-Fi).
-
Already active eSIMs usually keep working — as long as you don’t need to reinstall or change anything.
The simple fix: set up your eSIM before you travel
To land in Istanbul, Antalya & co. already connected, do this before departure (ideally 1–2 days ahead):
-
Choose a plan & buy the eSIM — outside Turkey.
-
Install the profile (scan the QR code) and test activation:
-
Briefly enable data roaming on the eSIM, check the connection, then switch it off again.
-
Check the APN (see your provider’s instructions).
-
-
Save the QR code/installation data (e.g., screenshot) in case you ever need to reload the profile.
-
Keep your primary SIM (your usual number) active, but switch mobile data to the travel eSIM once you land.
-
Optional: Install a VPN in advance if you want to access the app/portal while in Turkey.
TLDR;
Is eSIM “banned” in Turkey?
No. eSIM as a technology is not banned. What’s being blocked is access to certain foreign travel eSIM services from within Turkey.
Will my eSIM work if I activate it before entering the country?
In most cases, yes. The sticking point is activation/re-installation inside the country — which can fail if the app/website is blocked.
What if I’ve already landed and nothing works?
Try hotel Wi-Fi + a VPN. If you still can’t get access, a fallback is a local (physical) prepaid SIM from a Turkish operator.
Our tip from simfly
Plan proactively: buy, install, and activate your Turkey eSIM before you fly — you’ll be online on arrival and sidestep the current blocks. (We’re happy to recommend the right plan for your trip length, data needs, and device.)