Holafly not working in Turkey? Here's what's really going on

Why is Holafly blocked in Turkey?

In July 2025, BTK (Bilgi Teknolojileri ve İletişim Kurumu) began restricting access from Turkish networks to the websites and apps of foreign eSIM providers. The major providers were caught up in the decision, including Holafly, Airalo, Saily, and Nomad.

The regulator's core demand is that eSIM providers:

• handle activation through Turkish operators;
• store user data inside Turkey;
• stop using a "permanent roaming" model.

Foreign companies that don't meet these requirements are treated as providing unlicensed telecom services.

Holafly itself confirmed the block in Turkey in an official statement. So the problem isn't with the Holafly platform, your account, or your phone — it's a regulatory decision, and it remains in force in 2026.

An installed Holafly eSIM keeps working

The key point is this: the block targets the provider's website and app, not the eSIM itself.

If you installed your Holafly eSIM before arriving in Turkey, your mobile data will keep working just as before. The only thing blocked is access to Holafly's website and app from Turkish networks.

The restriction is applied on the Türk Telekom, Turkcell, and Vodafone TR networks using DNS/SNI filtering.

The table above shows which eSIM stores are currently open from Turkey and which are blocked.

What you won't be able to do inside Turkey

Without a VPN, the following actions aren't possible on Turkish networks:

• opening the Holafly website or app;
• buying a new Holafly eSIM;
• installing a new eSIM;
• topping up or repurchasing an existing plan.

This matters especially for Holafly users, because the company's main product is unlimited data plans. If your plan runs out mid-trip, you won't be able to renew it from inside Turkey.

That's why it's smart to plan the data you'll need in advance.

What actually works right now?

If your Holafly eSIM is already active, there's nothing to do. It'll keep working until your plan runs out.

A second option is using a VPN. You can reach the Holafly website through a VPN — but for that, the VPN has to be installed and working beforehand. On top of that, some VPN providers' own websites can be slow in Turkey from time to time.

A third option is to use an eSIM store that's open from Turkey. To be upfront about it, LimitSim is our store. It's not currently on BTK's block list, and as of August 2026 it can be used from Turkey without a VPN. Plans start at €0.50. Unlimited plans are also available for supported destinations.

Alternatively, you can buy a tourist SIM card at the airport or an operator's store. But these plans usually start at 1,900 TL, and the lines — especially at airports — tend to be long.

A tip for your next trip to Turkey

Installing your eSIM before you set off for Turkey is the easiest approach. It keeps the risk of running into blocks later to a minimum.

If you're planning to use an unlimited plan, buy one that covers your whole trip in advance — because inside Turkey, topping up without a VPN may not be possible.

And if you'd rather not fuss with a VPN or other workarounds, using an eSIM store that's reachable in Turkey is the more convenient choice.