GREY Answer Centre · Last checked: 31 Oct 2026 · Türkçe

International students in North Cyprus: will your phone work, and how do you register it? (2026)

Short answer: A phone you bring from your home country works with a North Cyprus SIM (Telsim or KKTCell) for a total of 90 active days per calendar year. After that it is blocked on local networks unless you register it with BTHK. As a foreign student you can register one phone at a reduced rate: the 580.60 TL pre-registration fee plus a fixed 4,000 TL customs tax. A phone bought at GREY is already BTHK-registered, so none of this applies to it.

Your home-country SIM is not blocked; it keeps working in roaming. The 90-day limit applies only when the phone is used with a North Cyprus SIM.

Option 1: Register the phone you brought (student exemption)

  1. Who can use it: foreign students who are not TRNC citizens, at a university approved by the TRNC Ministry of Education.
  2. Bring: the phone, your original passport, an original student certificate approved by your university with a current date, and at least one North Cyprus mobile line registered in your name.
  3. Step 1, pre-registration: at the BTHK Registration Unit, Rauf Raif Denktaş Street, Aydemet, Nicosia. In person only, no online registration. Card or bank deposit only, no cash.
  4. Step 2, customs: pay the fixed 4,000 TL tax at the BTHK Customs Unit in the same building.
  5. Step 3, finish: hand the customs document to the BTHK Registration Office or a Telsim / KKTCell (Turkcell) subscriber centre. Your registration is not complete until you do this.

Rules to know: the reduced rate covers one phone and cannot be used again for 24 months. The phone may only be used with lines registered in your name. If you sell or give it away within 24 months, it is blocked and the full taxes plus a 50% penalty are charged. In autumn BTHK also opens registration desks on some university campuses; check BTHK's website for dates.

Option 2: Buy a phone that is already registered

Every phone sold at GREY is BTHK-registered and works with Telsim and KKTCell from day one: no 90-day limit, no BTHK queue, no 4,000 TL tax and no 24-month restrictions. You can choose new phones, or checked second-hand and outlet phones with a 1-week return. See current phone prices in USD and TRY.

Paying at GREY

Prices are in USD; you can also pay in Turkish lira at the day's rate. We accept cash, credit card, bank transfer and crypto, plus card or cash on delivery. Collect from our Nicosia store or our pick-up points in Nicosia and Kyrenia. Our sales team speaks English and helps customers in Arabic, French, Russian and other languages with live translation devices. Come in and try the latest technology yourself, or message us on WhatsApp in your language.

Frequently asked questions

Will my phone from home work in North Cyprus?

Yes, for a total of 90 active days per calendar year with a Telsim or KKTCell SIM. After that it must be registered with BTHK or it is blocked on local networks. Your home SIM keeps working in roaming.

How much does phone registration cost for international students in North Cyprus?

Foreign students who are not TRNC citizens pay the BTHK pre-registration fee (580.60 TL, July 2026) plus a fixed 4,000 TL customs tax for one phone. Payment is by card or bank deposit; cash is not accepted.

What documents do students need for BTHK registration?

The phone, your original passport, an original student certificate approved by your university with a current date, and at least one North Cyprus mobile line registered in your name.

Do phones bought at GREY need registration?

No. Every phone sold at GREY is already BTHK-registered and works with Telsim and KKTCell from day one.

Can I pay with crypto at GREY?

Yes. GREY accepts crypto as well as cash, credit card, bank transfer, and card or cash on delivery. Prices are in USD.

More guides in English

GREY Teknoloji · Vakıflar İş Hanı No:1, Walled City (Surlariçi), North Nicosia (Lefkoşa), North Cyprus · Mon–Sat 09:00–17:00 · WhatsApp +90 539 107 44 97 · We speak English and serve every language with live translation devices.