>aren't going to confiscate anyone's phone
That's the point, they CAN confiscate the phone and fine you, it's perfectly legal, but it's highly unlikly. And you can't do a thing about it unless you have it documented.

Have the shop, where you buy the SIM register your IMEI and check it it's registered at the database mentioned above. Then it will work.

Gotcha--thanks for clarifying! I'll take my IMEI number/receipt when I buy my SIM card and report back how this goes in May.

My understanding, at least for Turkcel, is that there are two types of shops, those that sell just SIM cards, and the Turkcell ____ shops that sell SIMs and do the paperwork. The name escapes me at this momment, it might be Turkcell Plus, or some such name. You can fill out the paperwork at these shops. The one we went to was at Tacsim.

To be clear, one should
1. have paperwork proving purchase of phone with name on receipt matching name on passport
2. register the phone's IMEI via my local cell phone retailer
3. check this website to be sure it's registered: http://imei.tk.gov.tr/node/37

Is this correct? Am I leaving out anything?

You should get a receipt at customs, this you can present to the phone company (local turkish shop). Registering may take a while!
The fastest alternative may be a prepaid bundle. (SIM plus phone)

Ugh, I might just use a phone card instead.

Here's what Turkey Travel Planner says:

http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/d...istration.html

Here's my new question: How can I take my own cell phone with international roaming to use while I'm traveling en route from the U.S. and elsewhere in Europe but not use the phone while in Turkey? Does that make sense? May I have the phone in my possession while in Turkey even though I won't be able to use it?

Thanks everyone for your patience and for helping me try to understand this.

Thanks again--I have been plugging TTP like crazy but missed that page somehow.
I hope you will find out if your cell phone will be safe in your baggage for use elsewhere.
If anyone else is looking for alternatives, I had bought a phone card from tulumba to have just in case.
www.tulumba.com

>May I have the phone in my possession while in Turkey
Just declare it when you arrive, presenting the receipt from the store where you bought it and you'll be fine.

Thank you, logos.

You should be able to take your US mobile out there and roam without any problems. The worst that can happen is that it may not work after a while or so. Now, if you need to buy a local sim, then you will probably have to fill out all the required paper work. They will probably not even bother to track all the calls from phones that are not correctly registered. Most other countries do not have any kind of restrictions like this.

Just my experience...when I was in Istanbul in November 2006, I used my phone w/regular U.S. SIM card (I have international roaming through AT&T Wireless) several times without problem. I wasn't aware of this rule until now, and even used my phone in the airport arrivals hall (our driver didn't show). There were several police officers around at the time as security was especially high since it was right before the Pope's visit, and no one ever challenged me, nor was I asked on arrival or departure if I had a phone with me. I made several calls back to the US as well, phone connected to the Turkish network and worked fine. I also had my BlackBerry and had no problems using that either. This was over about a 5-day span. So unless they've really cracked down in the last year, I would not worry about it.

Thanks, hlg. I really appreciate your response and your comments do make me feel better. I am experiencing pre-trip jitters about four months too early! I just don't want to arrive in Istanbul and be welcomed with a phone confiscation.

I spent over two weeks in Turkey in Autumn 2006 and a week in June 2007. Neither time did I register my phones and I had no problems. I did not purchase a Turkish SIM card.

The text of the regulation is available in English on the Ministry of Transportation website (http://www.tk.gov.tr/eng/duzenmaineng2.html). It states clearly that "Devices of international roaming subscribers ... are out of the scope of this Regulation."

They won't confiscate your phone on arrival. You're only supposed to register it if you get a local SIM. Then all the documentation you need is your passport.

Thanks so much for posting, Louie_LI!

No problem or whatsoever entering the country with your cell phone......

Happy travelling,
Murat

Thank you, Murat! I was hoping you would see this thread and respond. I will trust your judgement. Why, though, is there such conflicting/hard to understand information out there?

You just wait and see. Most likely nothing will happen. They DO deactivate foreign phones after a while.

Our custom regulations due to high taxes on electronic goods for example may sound strange ( and it is strange) due to some old laws ......

Years ago I tried to import a car from Holland and after seing the bureaucracy I gave up, They asked me if I have a cassette player on the car ? If yes you pay more tax At the end of the day you pay almost double to buy a car but hassle free Difficult to explain and hard to understand but it is so.

Cell phones was another issue so there was a lot of phones coming in without any tax paid. GSM companies making a fortune on cell phones managed to get the law that any unregistered phone entering Turkey after a week or two are banned from communication once you work it with a Turkish sim card.

For your case there is no problem except roaming charges.

Buying a cheap pay as you go phone with Turkish Number can save a lot of money......

Happy travelling,
Murat

Hi lucy_d, I see that you have had plenty of responses, but just as an FYI - I just came back from one week in Turkey and had absolutely no issues with my phone. I was (blissfully) unaware of this documentation requirement and had my phone with me everywhere I went and used it quite a bit. (The roaming charges are going to the painful part!).