How to deal with phone blocking in Northern Cyprus?

Many people face the issue that their phone, brought from home with a local SIM card, stops working after three months in Northern Cyprus.

This is because, according to the law, a device purchased outside the country must go through a paid official registration procedure within the TRNC.

Here are a few tips on how to make your phone operational again.

• Register the phone
• Change the SIM card slot
• Buy a phone in the TRNC
• Leave and re-enter
• Frequently Asked Questions

Register the phone

This is the most obvious option, but not simple and costly. First, the applicant must personally visit the specialized center "Bilgi Teknolojileri ve Haberlesme kurumu" located in Nicosia. The next step will be an evaluation of the mobile device by a customs officer in Nicosia, Kyrenia, or Famagusta.

• Read more about all the steps and find the location of the office and customs in our article on registering a phone in Northern Cyprus.

Change the SIM card slot

Since it is the IMEI of your device that gets blocked, not the SIM card itself, you can try solving the issue by moving your SIM card to another slot if your phone supports this function. In this case, it will be considered that you inserted the SIM card into a different device.

Buy a phone in the TRNC

If you do not want to go through the customs process, but still need to stay connected via messengers and access the network, you can buy a cheap device in Northern Cyprus and use it for internet tethering. Calls and SMS will come to the newly purchased phone.

Leave and re-enter

Alternatively, you can leave the TRNC with your phone and return after a while. In this case, upon arrival, the device will be registered as new. You will get another 90 days.

• Interesting fact: On January 1st, blocks are lifted, and you will have 90 more days of phone use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does customs clearance cost?

These figures are not publicly disclosed by the authorities, and you can find out on-site or from those who have recently cleared similar devices. You can ask users on the largest Telegram forum of Northern Cyprus. As a reference, in 2024, unlocking an iPhone 14 Pro Max 512 GB cost $420.

What is the IMEI number?

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is an international identifier for mobile equipment, unique to each mobile device. All mobile phones have this number, which is assigned to the device at the factory and stored in the firmware.

Are foreign SIM cards blocked?

No, this only applies to SIM cards from operators in Northern Cyprus (you can read more about them and compare tariffs in this article). Foreign SIM cards will continue to work as before, roaming in the network.

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