A Turkish phone number is +90 followed by ten digits. Mobile numbers start with 5, for example 53X or 54X, and landlines with a city code such as 212 for the European side of Istanbul. Written at home, a 0 often comes first; in apps and from abroad you drop it after +90.
How a Turkish mobile number is built (+90 5xx)
- Country code
- +90
- Length
- Always ten digits after the country code, mobile or landline
- Mobile networks
- Ranges starting 50, 53, 54 and 55, for example 532 or 545
- Virtual operators
- Their own 5XX ranges, such as 510
- Landlines
- City codes starting with 2, 3 or 4, such as 212 and 216 for Istanbul or 312 for Ankara
You cannot tell the network from the first digits with certainty: numbers can move between operators. What you can tell is mobile or landline, from the 5 at the front.
Writing it correctly in apps
| How to write it | |
|---|---|
| Written at home | 0 5XX XXX XX XX |
| In apps and from abroad | +90 5XX XXX XX XX |
| App with a country list | Pick Turkey, then type 5XX XXX XX XX |
| Typical mistake | +90 0 5XX…: the 0 makes it invalid |
X stands for any digit.
WhatsApp's help asks you to remove leading zeros, because they cause registration errors. The same applies to Telegram, BiP and most sign-up forms. More on the general rule: entering a number with country code.
Getting a Turkish number from abroad
| Right for | Keep in mind | |
|---|---|---|
| A SIM or eSIM from a Turkish operator | Living in Turkey, or long stays | The only option you keep for years |
| Your home number abroad | Holidays | Turkish apps may want a +90 number |
| A one-time Turkish number | One sign-up code for one app | Receives SMS only, gone after the code |
A Turkish number for one verification code
Some Turkish shops, classifieds and messengers expect a +90 number at sign-up. If you only need to get past that step, the app gives you a Turkish number for the single SMS code.
- Choose the service, then Turkey, and look at the success rate before paying.
- Copy the number as shown: +90 and ten digits, no 0.
- Request the code by SMS and enter it within the ten minutes the number is yours.
- No code after about two minutes? Take another number; you pay nothing for one that stays silent.
Country pages: Turkish numbers and WhatsApp with a Turkish number.
Common questions
How many digits does a Turkish phone number have?
Ten after the country code +90. The 0 used at home is a dialling prefix, not part of the number.
Which digits do Turkish mobile numbers start with?
With 5. The ranges in Turkey's numbering plan include 50X, 53X, 54X and 55X, plus separate 5XX ranges for virtual operators.
How do I write a Turkish number in WhatsApp?
Pick Turkey (+90) and type the ten digits starting with 5, without the leading 0.
Can I get a Turkish number without living in Turkey?
For a single verification code, yes, through a one-time number. A number you keep comes from a Turkish operator.