Money and SIM Cards for a Short Visit to North Cyprus
The official currency is the Turkish Lira. Rents are often quoted in pounds sterling, but day-to-day spending is in TL.
Current rates
TRNC Central Bank selling rates for 2026-08-2626 Aug 2026 ↗:
- 1 USD = 48.098226 Aug 2026 ↗ TL
- 1 EUR = 56.090126 Aug 2026 ↗ TL
- 1 GBP = 65.69826 Aug 2026 ↗ TL
Banks and exchange offices handle currency exchange. On the exchange-office side, the Cyprus Turkish Foreign Exchange Bureaus Association (KTDBB), a trade association, keeps a member list:
- KTDBB (Cyprus Turkish Foreign Exchange Bureaus Association) — Abdi İpekçi Caddesi, Lefkoşa/Nicosia; phone +90 542 852 0073; email info@ktdbb.org; office hours 09:00–17:00; ktdbb.org
- Exchange bureaus on the KTDBB member list: Sun Döviz, Tatis Döviz, Denizatı Döviz, Cyprus Metehan Exchange, Trust Exchange, Gesfi Döviz, Musmer Exchange, Vippay Exchange, Yalınca Exchange, Ducat Exchange, Alav Change&Exchange, Ahmet Bayraktar Exchange Office, Ahmet Pehlivanoğlu Döviz Bürosu, Hüseyin Galipoğulları Döviz Bürosu — current list on the KTDBB members page
This list does not give branch addresses; confirm the location and hours of a given bureau directly with it. Numbers and hours can change — confirm the current ones on the institution's own page.
Current central bank exchange rates:
| Currency | Buy | Sell |
|---|---|---|
| USD | 48.0117 | 48.0982 |
| EUR | 55.9892 | 56.0901 |
| GBP | 65.3573 | 65.698 |
SIM cards
Roaming on your home line may work in North Cyprus and is often enough for a trip of a few days. For a longer stay, a local SIM is usually cheaper. Two GSM operators verified for this guide: North Cyprus Turkcell (KKTCELL) and TRNC Telsim (Vodafone North Cyprus).
- North Cyprus Turkcell (KKTCELL) — Şht. Arif Salih Sok. No.12, Yenişehir/Nicosia; customer service on a KKTCELL line: 533, from other lines/abroad: 0533 878 0 533 (WhatsApp on the same number); contact page
- TRNC Telsim (Vodafone North Cyprus) — Ali Rıza Efendi Caddesi, No: 33/A, Ortaköy-Nicosia; customer service +90 542 888 05 42, WhatsApp +90 548 810 05 48, email vmol.info@vodafone.com; contact page
Numbers and addresses can change — confirm the current ones on the operator's own page.
KKTCELL lets you order a prepaid tourist line online in advance and collect it at the Turkcell service centre at Ercan Airport. Placing the online order does not activate the line on its own; it is switched on only after delivery, identity verification, and the contract steps. The online form asks for a Turkish national ID number, so that particular channel is geared to Turkish citizens. The second operator, TRNC Telsim (Vodafone group), also offers tourist lines.
For third-country citizens, the only requirement is an original passport. A photocopy, a residence permit or a driving licence is not accepted; the dealer records the passport's photo page and your North Cyprus entry stamp with BTHK, the telecoms authority. Current tourist packages (change often with operator campaigns — confirm the latest at kktcell.com or kktctelsim.com):
- KKTCELL Turist Mini — 15 days, 30 GB data + 75 minutes domestic/ Turkey + 25 minutes international, ~429 TL.
- KKTCELL Turist Plus — 15 days, 30 GB data + 100 minutes domestic/ Turkey + 50 minutes international + 500 SMS, ~699 TL.
- Telsim eSIM Tourist — 14 days, 25-55 GB + unlimited WhatsApp/ Messenger + 125 minutes domestic/Turkey + 25 minutes international + 100 SMS, ~899 TL.
- Telsim Standard — 15 days, 10 GB data, ~909 TL.
IMEI and device registration (MCKS): a phone brought from abroad works
on a local SIM for up to 90 days per calendar year (1 January-31
December); the clock starts from the device's first network connection
and resets at year-end. Once the 90 days run out, BTHK's MCKS system
blacklists the device from local networks (Wi-Fi/roaming are unaffected).
Registration is only possible at the BTHK building in Nicosia
(Aydemet/Ortaköy) — there is no online channel and none at Ercan Airport.
Required: original passport (or Turkish ID) + the phone (check the IMEI
by dialling *#06#) + a student document if applicable (for the
discounted customs fee). On a dual-SIM phone, both IMEIs must be
registered separately.
FAQ
What currency is used in North Cyprus, and why is rent quoted in pounds?
The official currency is the Turkish Lira, and day-to-day spending is in TL. Some larger payments, such as rent, are often quoted in pounds sterling, but that does not change the official currency — everyday purchases are still made in TL.
Where can I exchange currency?
Banks and exchange offices handle currency exchange. On the exchange-office side, the Cyprus Turkish Foreign Exchange Bureaus Association (KTDBB), a trade association, keeps a member list with current contact details on its own site.
Is roaming on my home SIM enough for a short trip?
Roaming on your home line may work in North Cyprus and is often enough for a trip of a few days. For a longer stay, a local SIM is usually cheaper.
Which GSM operators are available in North Cyprus?
Two GSM operators are verified for this guide: North Cyprus Turkcell (KKTCELL) and TRNC Telsim (Vodafone North Cyprus). Contact details for both are listed on this page.
Can I pick up a tourist SIM at Ercan Airport?
KKTCELL lets you pre-order a prepaid tourist line online and collect it at the Turkcell service centre at Ercan Airport. Placing the online order does not activate the line on its own; it is switched on only after delivery, identity verification, and the contract steps.
Can I get a tourist SIM if I'm not a Turkish citizen?
Yes. For a third-country citizen, the only requirement for a tourist SIM is an original passport — a photocopy, residence permit or driving licence is not accepted. The dealer records the passport's photo page and your North Cyprus entry stamp with BTHK (the telecoms authority). KKTCELL's online Turkish-ID-number form is a separate, Turkish-citizen-only channel; a third-country citizen instead opens a line directly at an operator store with a passport.
What are the current tourist SIM packages?
KKTCELL Turist Mini: 15 days, 30 GB data + 75 minutes domestic/Turkey + 25 minutes international. KKTCELL Turist Plus: 15 days, 30 GB + 100 minutes domestic/Turkey + 50 minutes international + 500 SMS. Telsim eSIM Tourist: 14 days, 25-55 GB + unlimited WhatsApp/Messenger + 125 minutes domestic/Turkey + 25 minutes international + 100 SMS. Telsim Standard: 15 days, 10 GB data. Prices and inclusions change often with operator campaigns (mid-2026 figures, confirm current pricing per operator at kktcell.com or kktctelsim.com).
How long can a phone I brought from abroad work on a North Cyprus SIM before it needs registering?
Up to 90 days per calendar year (1 January-31 December); the clock starts from the device's first network connection and resets at year-end, so the same phone gets another 90 days in the new calendar year. Once the 90 days are used up, BTHK's MCKS (Mobile Device Registration System) blacklists the device from local networks (Wi-Fi and roaming are unaffected). Registration is only possible at the BTHK building in Nicosia (Aydemet/Ortaköy) — there is no online channel and none at Ercan Airport. You need: original passport (or Turkish ID) + the phone (check the IMEI by dialling `*#06#`) + a student document if you want the discounted rate. A dual-SIM phone needs both IMEIs registered separately.
Legal note: This page is for general information only and is not legal advice. Confirm current details with the relevant authority before acting.
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