Airalo, Holafly, Saily and Nomad are confirmed blocked from Turkish networks — you can’t buy, top up or manage them once you land, though a plan installed before arrival keeps working. Lyca Mobile was never affected, because it runs on Turkish carrier infrastructure rather than a foreign storefront. Everything else below sits somewhere between “reportedly blocked” and “check directly,” and we’ve marked each one accordingly.
If you want the full story of why this is happening, we’ve covered the regulatory background separately in our in-depth explainer: Turkey’s eSIM Ban 2026, explained. Here, we’re tracking who’s affected and what to do about it.
Live Status Table (August 2026)
| Provider | Blocked in Turkey? | Confidence / Source | Recommended Workaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | 🔴 Yes (Blocked) | Confirmed — Named in BTK’s original July 2025 decision and every independent test since | Buy and fully activate before you fly; app and storefront will not load on Turkish IP addresses |
| Holafly | 🔴 Yes (Blocked) | Confirmed — Same original BTK decision | Buy and activate before arrival; in-country top-ups are blocked |
| Saily | 🔴 Yes (Blocked) | Confirmed — Same original BTK decision | Buy and activate before arrival |
| Nomad | 🔴 Yes (Blocked) | Confirmed — Same original BTK decision | Buy and activate before arrival |
| Ubigi | 🟠 Reportedly Yes | Named in several independent lists and a May 2026 on-the-ground test from Istanbul | Treat as blocked; buy and activate before departure |
| GigSky | 🟠 Reportedly Yes | May 2026 Istanbul test found app/site inaccessible on local networks | Treat as blocked; buy and activate before departure |
| Yesim | 🟡 Contested | Independent testing in May 2026 found it blocked; provider confirms pre-activated plans work smoothly | Buy and activate before you fly to sidestep the argument entirely |
| Jetpac | 🟡 Contested | Markets itself as unaffected, but independent testing in May 2026 encountered blocks | Don’t rely on in-country access; activate before departure as a precaution |
| Breeze SIM | ⚪ Unconfirmed | Not named in BTK’s decisions or in the independent test lists | Check status page before travel; pre-activate early |
| DrimSim | ⚪ Unconfirmed | Not named in BTK’s decisions or test lists | Check DrimSim’s own status page before you travel |
| Roamic | ⚪ Unconfirmed | Not named in BTK’s decisions or test lists | Check Roamic’s own status page before you travel |
| Lyca Mobile | 🟢 No (Unblocked) | Runs on local Turkish network agreements rather than a foreign storefront | No workaround needed — operates normally throughout Turkey |
We check this table against provider status pages, independent access tests, and BTK’s published decisions roughly every four to six weeks, or sooner if a new decision or credible report surfaces. If you’re reading this more than two months after the “last updated” date above, treat the “reportedly” and “contested” rows with extra caution.
Blocked-from-Turkey vs. Fine-if-Pre-Activated: Know the Difference
This is the distinction that trips people up most. BTK’s decisions block access to the provider’s website and app from Turkish mobile networks — they don’t disable eSIM technology, and they don’t retroactively kill a profile you’ve already installed. Practically:
- Buy and install before you land: A blocked provider’s eSIM will keep working for the length of your trip, same as if nothing had happened.
- Try to buy, top up, or open the provider’s app once you’re in Turkey: You’ll likely hit a dead page or an app that won’t load, regardless of how reputable the provider is.
So “blocked” in the table above means blocked from inside Turkey — not that the eSIM itself stops functioning. It’s a purchase-and-account-management problem, not a cellular connectivity one, provided you’ve done your buying at home.
Why Lyca Mobile Is a Different Case Entirely
Lyca Mobile isn’t a travel eSIM reseller routing you onto a Turkish network via a roaming agreement — it’s a mobile operator with its own infrastructure arrangements inside Turkey. That’s a structurally different setup from Airalo, Holafly, or the other names on BTK’s list, all of which sell access to Turkish networks as outside storefronts.
Because Lyca’s local presence was never the kind of arrangement BTK’s decisions targeted, its site and app have stayed reachable throughout. If your priority is not having to worry about in-country top-ups or pre-trip timing, take a look at our detailed Lyca Mobile Turkey eSIM Review.
If Your Provider Isn’t on This List
Don’t assume either way. New providers get added to the blocked list on a rolling basis, and BTK doesn’t publish an official, exhaustive index — most of what we and other trackers work from is a mix of independent on-the-ground testing and BTK’s own published decisions, which lag behind what’s actually happening on Turkish networks.
Before you travel:
- Check the provider’s status page: Check their website for a Turkey-specific status note (most affected providers now carry one).
- Look for recent reports: Search for traveller reports from the last few weeks specifically — older forum posts will not reflect current BTK blocks.
- Pre-activate before flying: When in doubt, buy and activate before you fly. It costs you nothing extra and removes the question entirely.
Which Providers Are Actually Worth Buying, Blocked or Not?
Being blocked from in-country top-ups doesn’t necessarily rule a provider out — plenty of blocked providers are still exceptional value if you plan ahead and buy before departure. For the full breakdown of pricing, data allowances, and network performance, see our comprehensive guide: Best Turkey eSIM 2026: Compare All 12 Plans.
For the full regulatory background on how and why this started, read Turkey’s eSIM Ban 2026, explained. If you’re choosing a provider from scratch, start with our Best Turkey eSIM comparison instead.