Bank accounts and transfers in Türkiye: documents for a foreigner
A Turkish bank account is needed not just for daily life but for a property deal and for citizenship: the price should move through a bank with a documented source. The system is supervised by the BDDK; anti-money-laundering rules follow Law No. 5549 (MASAK).
The real hurdle for a foreigner is KYC and source of funds, not citizenship. In practice many banks ask for an address or an İkamet card.
What you need
- tax number (vergi numarası) — required;
- passport and ID;
- proof of address;
- proof of the source of funds;
- often an İkamet card or address registration.
Typical document set
- foreign passport;
- tax number from the tax office;
- address statement/proof;
- source of funds (contract, foreign bank statement);
- for a company, incorporation documents and the trade-registry record.
Banks
| Bank — official page | Account for non-residents | Documents | Minimum balance / deposit | Opening: time and branch visit | Online banking and card | Languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ziraat Bankası · 10.10.2026 | Yes, in practice — without a residence permit, with passport and tax number; the decision is branch-level and the bank does not publish this | Passport (often with a notarised translation), tax number, address proof; sometimes an İkamet card | Current account — no published minimum; FX time deposit — from 5,000 USD/EUR/GBP/CHF | In branch, usually the same day (30–60 min); a personal visit is required | Yes; debit card in 3–7 days | Turkish; English — no confirmed data |
| İş Bankası · 10.10.2026 | Yes — in branch with passport and tax number; online (İşCep) only with YKN (residence needed) | Passport, tax number or YKN; for the online application YKN and passport | No minimum balance on the TRY current account (per the bank) | Via İşCep — minutes with YKN; otherwise in branch | Yes; card digital immediately, plastic by post in a few days | Turkish; English — no confirmed data |
| Garanti BBVA · 10.10.2026 | Yes — for foreigners meeting the bank's conditions; online onboarding via biometric ID (YKN needed) | Passport/ID with NFC, tax number, address proof; online — biometric ID | TRY and FX current account — no published minimum | Online in the app (video call 08:30–01:00) — minutes; otherwise a branch | Yes; card — yes | Turkish; English — no confirmed data |
| Yapı Kredi · 10.10.2026 | Yes — a dedicated Banking for Foreigners section; tax number and İkamet/work permit required | Passport, tax-number proof, İkamet or work permit, address proof | No published minimum | In branch; ~14 days per unofficial sources — not confirmed | Online banking (incl. English) — yes; card — yes | English — online banking; Turkish |
| QNB Finansbank · 10.10.2026 | Yes — a dedicated programme for foreign customers | Passport, tax number, address proof (exact list at the branch) | No confirmed data | Via a relationship manager or the international branch (Vadistanbul, Istanbul) | QNB Mobil — yes, EN/AR interface; cards — yes | English and Arabic — 24/7 line, app, ATM; Turkish |
| Denizbank · 10.10.2026 | Yes — in branch; remote onboarding only for Turkish citizens | Passport, tax number, address proof | No confirmed data | In branch; a personal visit is required for a foreigner | Yes (MobilDeniz, after opening); card — yes | No confirmed data |
| Kuveyt Türk · 10.10.2026 | Yes — mobile account opening via video call (participation bank) | Passport, tax number, address proof | No confirmed data | App with video call or a branch | Yes; card — yes | Turkish; Arabic — not confirmed by the bank |
Each row links to the bank's official page (terms or a foreigners section) with the check date beside it. The list is not a recommendation: document and deposit requirements differ by branch.
Transfers and control
- Individual transfers follow the currency-protection framework (Law No. 1567).
- Banks screen the source of funds under MASAK rules.
- For a property deal, using the bank and documenting the FX sale is often required.
- Keep statements from your home bank if you move often.
Frequent questions
- Do I need a residence permit for an account?
- Formally the key barrier is KYC and source of funds, not citizenship; practically many banks ask for an address or İkamet card.
- Can I open an account remotely?
- Most Turkish banks open accounts in person at a branch.
- Are there transfer limits?
- Limits come from Law No. 1567 and bank policy; check current values with the TCMB and your bank.
- What is a participation bank?
- An interest-free (Islamic) bank on a profit-and-loss basis, e.g. Kuveyt Türk, Albaraka Türk, Ziraat Katılım.
- What does a company account need?
- Incorporation documents, the trade-registry record and signature circulars.
Checked on 10.10.2026 on the banks' official websites. Requirements and fees vary by branch and change over time — verify before you visit. “No confirmed data” means the bank does not publish it.