Step-by-step procedure for customs clearance of a phone — real experience

First-hand story: a resident of Northern Cyprus shared their personal experience of IMEI registration after customs clearance of an iPhone. Formal instructions often do not reflect the real nuances of the process, and here is a live example of how everything happens in practice.

• Initial data
• IMEI registration process
• Result and conclusions
• Unexpected SIM card feature

Initial data

What was available before starting the IMEI registration:

1. iPhone 12 Pro 128 GB — a device imported from abroad.
2. SIM card with a local number, registered in the name of the phone owner.
3. Since the phone was registered by the spouse, an additional SIM card in her name was purchased (the chat mentioned that a SIM card registered to the person actually clearing the phone might be required).

IMEI registration process

The procedure turned out to be quite fast and transparent:

• Registration cost: 2550 TL + 111 TL for services.
• The staff asked: “Are you a student?” — after the answer “no,” no further questions about SIM cards or paperwork were asked.
• They took the passport, checked the phone's IMEI and device parameters.
• Payment was made on the spot.
• After 3–4 hours, an SMS notification about IMEI registration was received.
• After that, the phone was tested — three local SIM cards registered to different people were inserted. All three worked without restrictions.

Result and conclusions

Outcome: the registration was successful, no additional checks were required.

It is important to note that the free usage period of a foreign phone is 90 days from the first activation with a local SIM card. After this, official IMEI registration is required, otherwise the device will stop working with local operators.

Unexpected SIM card feature

The phone was used from January 1, and the free period expired on March 31. When on March 24 a new SIM card in the spouse’s name was inserted, it did not detect the network. A Telsim operator staff immediately asked: “Was the old card local?”

It turned out that if at least one local SIM card was inserted during the free period, then another local SIM card will not work until the phone is officially cleared and registered by IMEI. After registration, all cards start functioning again.

Tip: if you plan to register IMEI later, use the same local SIM card until the registration is completed.