Saily not working in Turkey? Here's what's going on and what you can do

Why is Saily blocked?

Since July 2025, BTK has restricted access from Turkish networks to the websites and apps of the major foreign eSIM providers, including Airalo, Holafly, Nomad and Saily. That decision remains in force in 2026.

Saily itself has confirmed on its official blog that this is a regulatory decision, not a technical glitch. Holafly has also published a separate statement about the same issue.

BTK's main requirements are:

• eSIM services must be provided through Turkish operators;
• user data must be stored inside Turkey;
• services must not run on a "permanent roaming" model.

Foreign eSIM providers that don't meet these requirements are treated as companies offering unlicensed telecoms services in Turkey, and access to their sites is blocked.

Does an already-installed Saily eSIM still work?

Yes.

This is the point people mix up most. The block targets the seller's store, not the eSIM itself.

If you installed your Saily eSIM before arriving in Turkey, it will keep working there just as before. Mobile data runs over roaming, and that connection is exactly what BTK does not block.

If your plan is active and you still have data left:

• there's nothing you need to change;
• don't delete the eSIM profile;
• don't try to reinstall it.

The problem only appears when you need to buy a new plan, top up, or reinstall the eSIM.

What can't you do from inside Turkey?

While you're on a Turkish network:

• saily.com won't open;
• you can't complete a payment in the app;
• you can't buy a new eSIM;
• you can't top up an existing plan.

This restriction is applied at the internet-provider level. Because Türk Telekom, Turkcell and Vodafone TR use DNS and SNI filtering, switching between mobile data and a hotel or café Wi-Fi usually doesn't change anything.

This isn't a Saily-specific problem. Every foreign eSIM provider blocked by BTK is in the same situation.

If you're already in Turkey, what are your options?

Realistically, there are four options.

1. Keep using the eSIM you already have. If you still have data left on your plan, there's nothing you need to do.

2. Top up through a VPN. With a VPN, you can usually still reach the Saily store. But the VPN has to be installed and working ahead of time. On top of that, some VPN services' own sites are periodically throttled in Turkey too.

3. Use an eSIM store that still opens from Turkey. To be upfront: LimitSim is our own store. It isn't on any of the published block lists, and as of August 2026 it opens from Turkey without a VPN. Plans start from €0.50.

4. Buy a tourist SIM card from a local operator. Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom offer tourist plans at the airports. But prices usually start from 1900 TL, and the queues — especially at airports — tend to be long.

The best approach for your next trip

The simplest way to sidestep this whole problem is to buy and install your eSIM before you travel to Turkey.

Do that, and the eSIM will work normally in Turkey, with the block only affecting you when you want to buy a new plan or top up.

If your trip is going to be a long one, it makes sense to pick a data plan that fits your needs in advance. And if there's a chance you'll need to buy an extra plan while you're there, it's worth working out ahead of time which eSIM store still opens from Turkey.