Nora

Get a Magti or Geocell SIM at the airport arrivals

Got Magti SIM at the airport kiosk in arrivals. 30GB for 15 GEL ($5.50). Coverage is great in Tbilisi but drops in some mountain areas. Geocell (Silknet) is the alternative with slightly better rural coverage.

Presto card for TTC, GO Train and regional buses

Got a Presto card at Union Station for $6. Load it and tap on every TTC subway, streetcar, and bus. Monthly pass is $156 for unlimited TTC. GO Train to suburbs uses Presto too.

Book gemeente appointment before you arrive — waiting lists are long

I tried to book my BSN appointment after arriving and the first slot was 6 weeks away. Book it from abroad if you can. Use DigiD app once you have BSN — needed for almost every government interaction.

Anmeldung is your first legal step — without it nothing works

Registered at Bürgeramt Pankow 10 days after arriving. Needed: passport, rental contract, Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from landlord. Got Meldebescheinigung same day. Unlocks bank accounts, SIM contracts, everything.

Cash is still king in Berlin — always carry some

Many restaurants, markets, and smaller shops only take cash. Even some supermarkets prefer it. I keep €50 on me at all times. Use Wise or N26 to withdraw free at Deutsche Bank ATMs.

Hotspot usage on Thai plans drains your daily quota extremely fast

Thai mobile plans count hotspot usage against your daily high-speed quota. A 2-hour video call over hotspot will exhaust most daily allowances. If you work remotely and need a reliable hotspot for a laptop, either get a MiFi device with a data-only SIM or subscribe to the highest-tier plan. AIS's top plan (899 THB/month) has a separate 30GB hotspot allowance.

Register your 90-day report online — don't miss it

Most foreign nationals staying over 90 days must file a 90-Day Report to Immigration. The online system at extranet.immigration.go.th is functional but unreliable — start the process 7 days before your deadline. If the online system is down, go in person to your nearest Immigration office with your passport. Missing the deadline triggers a 2,000 THB fine and can complicate future extensions.

Use a certified estate agent (Emlakçı) and ask for their licence number

Turkish estate agents are legally required to hold a licence from the Ministry of Trade. Many operate without one. A licensed agent should be registered on the E-Devlet government portal. Unlicensed agents have no accountability — I met one who pocketed a 2-month deposit from another foreigner and disappeared. Ask for their TC kimlik and name so you can verify on E-Devlet before paying anything.

eSIM is available but only with Turkish ID number

Turkcell and Vodafone TR offer eSIM but it requires your YKN at activation — you can't get it with passport-only. This means you need to wait for your YKN before switching to eSIM. In the meantime, get a physical SIM with your passport and swap to eSIM once your YKN arrives. Good for dual-SIM setups if you want to keep your home country number active.

Open a bank account in week one — Ziraat Bankası is most foreigner-friendly

Ziraat Bankası is the most foreigner-accessible bank — they have English-speaking staff in most branches near expat areas and accept YKN + passport. Bring your YKN, passport, address registration, and your Turkish phone number. The Beyoğlu branch on İstiklal is well-practised with expats. Avoid branches in business districts during lunch (12:00–14:00) — very busy.