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A phone plan rarely feels like travel planning until it becomes the first problem at the airport. In several destinations, SIM and eSIM access is tied to device registration, passport scans, or strict validity windows, and the surprise is how quickly a trip can lose its rhythm when data drops. These places are not anti-tourist. They are enforcing identity, tax, and security systems that sit behind the network. With a little awareness, connection stops being a gamble and becomes one more detail handled before the fun begins.
Turkey’s IMEI Registration Clock
Turkey can feel easy on day one, then suddenly strict on day 121. Phones brought from abroad may work on Turkish networks for about 120 days, but once the limit hits, the device can be blocked unless its IMEI is registered through official channels and the required fee is paid. The check follows the handset, not the SIM, so swapping to an eSIM does not reset the timer. Registration is also limited by passport rules, with only one phone allowed within a set window, which can surprise frequent visitors. For longer stays, many people carry a backup phone or register early so maps, ride-hails, and bank OTPs do not fail mid-trip.
Indonesia’s Customs IMEI Block
Indonesia’s IMEI controls catch travelers because Wi-Fi can keep working while cellular service quietly disappears. The government’s CEIR system can deny mobile-network access to devices whose IMEI is not registered, and customs guidance ties registration to the passenger-baggage process for phones brought from abroad. The surprise often lands after inserting a local SIM or eSIM, when calls, data, and OTP texts stop even though the handset looks fine. Travelers who plan to stay longer, work remotely, or rely on local banking apps usually treat IMEI registration like immigration: a first-day chore that prevents a week of workarounds.
Brazil’s CPF and CEP Activation Gate
Brazil’s prepaid SIM system surprises many visitors because activation can hinge on fields that feel like local bureaucracy. ANATEL’s Cadastro Pré-Pago flow notes that after inserting a new prepaid chip, the user is prompted to provide a CPF number, date of birth, and a CEP postal code, and the carrier verifies those details before enabling service. In practice, foreigners may need a carrier store to register the line using passport details, while kiosks can sell a SIM that cannot be activated on the spot. The pattern is common: the SIM is cheap, but the working number costs time, and sometimes patience with language barriers
Philippines Tourist SIM 30-Day Expiry
In the Philippines, the surprise is not buying a SIM. It is how quickly it can expire. Republic Act No. 11934 states that SIMs registered to foreign nationals visiting as tourists are valid for 30 days and are automatically deactivated afterward, unless the visitor can qualify for an extension under approved status. That clock can collide with island-hopping itineraries and long stays, because the phone still looks normal while banking OTPs, ride-hails, and airline alerts stop arriving. Smart travelers treat SIM registration as a dated checklist item and keep a backup option like hotel Wi-Fi or roaming ready.
China Mainland’s In-Store eSIM Reality
Mainland China can surprise eSIM users because the rules are tied to the exact handset and where activation happens. Apple’s guidance says China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom support eSIM for iPhone Air, but activation must be done at a carrier store, and only iPhone Air model A3518 can be activated in mainland China. An eSIM-only traveler expecting a quick QR code may instead need in-person setup and an ID check, which can be awkward after landing. Apple also notes that eSIMs from non-mainland carriers cannot be installed while in mainland China, so many visitors lean on roaming or Wi-Fi until the paperwork is handled.
India’s Tourist SIM Validity Clock
India can be easy to navigate online, but getting a local number is not always instant, and the validity rules can surprise first-time visitors. An official Embassy notice about pre-loaded tourist SIMs notes they are valid for 30 days from activation or the e-Visa expiry date, whichever is earlier, and the connection auto-disconnects when that limit is reached. Even outside that specific program, activation can still involve document checks and a local address, so a SIM bought in a hurry may not go live right away. The practical risk is simple: the trip still runs, but app logins and OTP codes become fragile unless a backup channel exists.
United Arab Emirates Passport-Limited Visitor Lines
In the UAE, the surprise is not that a passport is needed. It is how tightly visitor lines are capped. e&’s Visitor Line terms state that a maximum of two visitor SIMs are eligible per passport, and additional requests cannot be issued, which can catch families who assumed one adult could set up everyone. Major airports also promote tourist eSIM offers tied to verification steps, so the purchase can feel less like retail and more like a short compliance ritual. The upside is speed once the rules are understood, but the first attempt can derail group arrivals when only one or two lines can be activated under a single passport.