MCKS stands for Mobile Device Registration System. It was established to register devices with electronic identity information and to disconnect devices with illegal, lost, stolen or cloned/changed IMEI from the electronic communication network.

With MCKS, preventing the unregistered (illegal) mobile phone market that causes unfair competition and tax loss, minimizing problems such as mobile phone theft and subsequently not finding the device, and implementing systematic import processes and bringing legislation to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. It is aimed to distinguish between devices entering through appropriate and inappropriate methods. Everyone http://www.bthk.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09 It has been put into operation within the scope of the "Regulation on Devices with Electronic Identity Information", which can be accessed at /ekbhcd3.pdf.

On our island; All kinds of mobile phones, tablets, smart meters, etc., devices with IMEI (which can be used by inserting a SIM card), including actively used or unused ones and those available for sale in stores, must be registered in the system called MCKS, that is, Mobile Device Registration System. (IMEI: English: International Mobile Equipment Identity, Turkish: International Mobile Equipment Code).

If your device is not registered within the scope of MCKS, it will be closed at the end of the 90th day.

But remember, the shutdown of devices is not only due to MCKS;

• If you are a prepaid line subscriber and have not shared your identity information with the Operator within 90 days, your device will be turned off.

• In cases where the device has a malfunction that prevents it from making/receiving calls on the network and using the internet, the use of the device may be limited.

If your device cannot make or receive calls even if the network is visible at the end of the 90th day, it is turned off.

You can find out the IMEI number of your device by pressing *#06# on the search screen.

IMEI Inquiry button at http://www.bthkmcks.org/imei-sorgulama/ You can check whether your device is registered or not.

The "phone number" specified on the IMEI query page must primarily be the phone number you use on your device with the IMEI number you will query.

If you have not used your device with any phone number yet, you can make inquiries with any phone number you use.

If the information "No record was found for your device" or "Your device is available for temporary use" is returned to your query, it means that your device has not been registered.

If your query returns the information "IMEI available for use" or "IMEI available for use with a certain subscriber number", it means that the IMEI number of your device has been registered. However, if you have just brought your device to the country and have not completed the MCKS registration process, the IMEI of your device has been copied and/or changed and will be disabled by the MCKS system.

If you have purchased your device from a sales point in TRNC, you do not need to register your device, you can use it without any problems. However, before purchasing your device, be sure to inquire about its MCKS registration at the relevant sales point.

If you are currently using your device with one of the Telsim or KKTCell GSM sim cards, and if you have used your device abroad before April 18, 2016, the IMEI number of your device has been automatically registered in the system.

If you have a device or devices with IMEI that are not actively used, but you are not currently using one of the Telsim or KKTCell sim cards, you can register your device by contacting the subscriber registration center of Telsim or KKTCell operators.

Devices brought from abroad or purchased domestically but not registered in the MCKS system can be used without registration for 90 days after receiving an information message stating that the device has started to be used and/or that the device is unregistered. If the device is not registered within 90 days, it is blocked from communication. The device's communication remains disabled until its registration is completed in accordance with the current legislation.

If you have individually imported your device or brought it with you as a passenger, here's what you need to do to register it with the MCKS system: Obtain the import pre-approval document from BTHK, complete the customs procedures, and then proceed to the Subscriber Registration Centers to apply.

First, obtain the import pre-approval document for personal use from BTHK to be declared to customs:

• http://www.bthk.org/download/basvuru-formlari/FRM.022B.pdf Fill out the application form and apply to BTHK.
• The application fee is 5.8 TL including VAT per item, which can be paid during the application with a POS device (cash is not accepted) or deposited in advance to the BTHK bank account and presented with the receipt during the application. Below are the BTHK bank details:

Bank Name: Limasol Turkish Cooperative Bank

Account Name: Information Technologies and Communication Institution

Account Number: 16-304-2561778

Click here for Limasol Turkish Cooperative Bank branches. http://www.limasolbank.com.tr/Subeler.aspx?ID=3625

• Pre-approval documents for personal use import are issued by BTHK for devices that meet technical compatibility requirements.

Then proceed with customs procedures:

• Initiate customs procedures with the import pre-approval document obtained from the institution. Customs Officers appointed by the Customs Directorate are also available at the BTHK building.
• In the Customs room located within the BTHK building, obtain a "Customs Certificate" indicating that all procedures for your device have been completed, and customs duties and/or fees have been paid.

Finally, register your device at Telsim or Kktcell subscriber registration centers (AKM) for MCKS registration:

• After completing customs procedures, you need to apply to the Subscriber Registration Centers to register your device. Subscriber Registration Centers link: http://www.bthkmcks.org/abone-kayit-merkezleri/
• Documents required for registering your device at Subscriber Registration Centers:

i. Application Form: A form containing your Name-Surname, ID, and other information along with the IMEI information of your device, signed by you. It can be obtained from Subscriber Registration Centers or the link http://www.bthkmcks.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/MCKS-Bireysel-Kayit-Basvuru-formu.pdf.

ii. Identification: Official document showing your population and/or identity information. (ID card, Passport, Military or Police ID)

iii. Customs Certificate: Document showing that customs duties and/or fees for the device you want to register with the MCKS system through individual application have been paid.

iv. Fee Receipt: Document showing that the MCKS registration fee has been paid. Payments can be made from the banks listed below. It is sufficient to specify the IMEI number of your device as the explanation information. The registration fee for one device including VAT is 7.52 TL. The bank account number belonging to the institution is stated below:

Bank Name: Limasol Turkish Cooperative Bank

Account Name: Information Technologies and Communication Institution

Account Number: 16-304-2561778

Click here for Limasol Turkish Cooperative Bank branches. (http://www.limasolbank.com.tr/Subeler.aspx?ID=3625)

• By applying to subscriber registration centers with the documents mentioned above, you will complete the MCKS registration application process for your device.
• You can track the status of your application from the address www.bthkmcks.org or through SMS notifications you will receive.

Special for students: Turkish Republic students who received higher education in TRNC. and customs discounts have been made for students from other countries. Students who meet the criteria will be able to benefit from this customs discount by paying the customs fee of 100 TL for the device once every 2 years.

For other subscribers: Customs tariffs are applied to the devices in accordance with the TRNC Customs Legislation.

You can use your device without any time limit without registering it.

However, if you have started using the line of a mobile operator licensed for mobile communication in TRNC, the device brought from abroad with which you will use that line must be registered. Otherwise, your device will be disabled after 90 days.

All the details are on the website http://www.bthkmcks.org.

Instead of registering your existing phone by going through all these processes, you can buy whatever you want from the wide device portfolio offered by Telsim at very affordable prices as an addition to your tariff or as a cash payment.