Opening a Bank Account in Türkiye as a Foreigner
Foreigners in Türkiye open a bank account with a passport, a Turkish tax number (vergi numarası / VKN), and a Turkish address proof.
With this triad, retail banks such as Ziraat Bankası, Garanti BBVA, and YapıKredi open both Turkish Lira and döviz tevdiat hesabı (foreign-currency deposit) accounts in a single branch visit.
Estimated time
30-60 minutes in branch; account record same-day, online banking and card 3-7 business days
Cost
₺0 account opening; FX statement on request ≈ €0,45
What You Need
Tap to check off items as you gather them
Additional Items
- Turkish mobile number (required for SMS-OTP authentication on most bank apps)
- Notarised Turkish translation of passport pages (branch policy at Ziraat Bankası and other state banks)
- Initial deposit, where the product requires one (Garanti BBVA TRY and FX current accounts publish no minimum; Ziraat Bankası vadeli yabancı para mevduat hesabı requires 5,000 USD/EUR/GBP/CHF/DKK/SEK/NOK at the branch channel for interest eligibility)
- Branch-level discretion for non-resident accounts at Ziraat Bankası is reported around ₺30,000; this is branch policy rather than centrally published, so verify locally before travelling
Step-by-Step
- 1
Obtain a Turkish tax number
Vergi Kimlik Numarası
- Apply online for a potential tax number via the foreigner application service of the Dijital Vergi Dairesi; the canonical route for foreigners is the e-Devlet aggregator service page for the Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı (GİB) digital tax office
- Complete the form in CAPITAL LETTERS; the system returns a PDF certificate immediately
- Alternative: visit any Vergi Dairesi with your passport — the process takes around 15 minutes
- Print or save the certificate; you will hand it over at the bank branch
💡 Tip: The Dijital Vergi Dairesi root domain often blocks anonymous traffic. Reach the foreigner application reliably through the e-Devlet aggregator page at turkiye.gov.tr.
- 2
Prepare your address proof and Turkish mobile number
- Bring a recent utility bill, rental contract, or ikamet card showing your Turkish address
- If you have neither, İşbank explicitly accepts the printed address on your passport; other banks vary by branch
- Acquire a Turkish SIM from any major operator — most banks send SMS-OTP codes for app activation and transfer authentication
⚠️ Watch out: If the bank rejects the address you submit, hotel or short-term-rental receipts are sometimes accepted at tourist-region branches. Otherwise, complete ikamet registration first and return with the residence-permit address.
- 3
Choose a bank and the account type
- Ziraat Bankası — state-owned, broadest branch network, widely reported as accepting non-residents in-branch with passport and tax number
- Garanti BBVA — private bank with the most-detailed English deposit-product catalog, offering TRY current, TRY time deposit, FX current (13 currencies including USD/EUR/GBP/CHF/DKK/SEK/NOK), FX time deposit, and YUVAM accounts
- YapıKredi — private bank publishing a dedicated Banking for Foreigners service menu spanning payments, cards, deposits, mortgage, and safe deposit boxes
- Decide between a Turkish Lira deposit and a foreign-currency (döviz tevdiat) deposit; for foreign-currency time-deposit interest at Ziraat Bankası the branch-channel minimum is 5,000 USD/EUR/GBP/CHF/DKK/SEK/NOK
💡 Tip: Per Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankası Press Release ANO2025-45: "Termination of FX-Protected Deposit Scheme (KKM) for new account openings effective 23 August 2025; existing accounts to continue until maturity." Choose between a plain foreign-currency deposit or, if you are an eligible non-resident citizen or Blue Card holder, the YUVAM scheme.
- 4
Visit a bank branch in person
- Carry your passport, tax-number certificate, address proof, and (if held) ikamet card with YKN
- Plan for a 30-60 minute appointment; foreigner-friendly branches in tourist regions (Aksaray, Sultanahmet, Taksim) and Expat Banking branches at İşbank offer bilingual relationship managers
- Sign the account-opening contract together with the CRS tax-residency self-certification, plus an IRS Form W-9 if you are a US person
⚠️ Watch out: Foreigner-account quotas are reported as saturated at some Istanbul branches. If one branch declines on capacity grounds, try a second branch in a different district rather than a different bank.
- 5
Receive your account details and debit card
- The branch issues your IBAN and internet-banking credentials the same day
- Garanti BBVA reports that non-resident accounts activate 3-4 business days after the branch visit
- Debit cards print same-day at well-stocked branches; otherwise they arrive by mail within several business days
- Garanti BBVA non-resident internet-banking transfers are capped at ₺800.000 per day, and the non-resident debit card is issued in TRY only
💡 Tip: While waiting for the physical card, ask whether the bank's app supports a virtual card so you can transact online immediately.
- 6
Activate online and mobile banking
- Download the bank's mobile app and complete first-login with the SMS-OTP code sent to your Turkish number
- Set internet-banking transfer limits and configure beneficiaries
- Residents holding a Turkish biometric ID card can complete remote onboarding for additional accounts entirely through the Garanti BBVA app under their published eligibility (over 18, not currently a customer, biometric T.R. ID card)
💬 Say:
Yabancı uyruklu olarak hesap açtırmak istiyorum.
yah-bahn-juh oo-yook-loo oh-lah-rahk heh-sahp ach-tuhr-mahk ees-tee-yoh-room
"I would like to open an account as a foreign national."
📋 Use when: Arriving at the branch counter
💬 Say:
Vergi numaramı çıkarttım, pasaportum da yanımda.
vehr-ghee noo-mah-rah-muh chuh-kahrt-tuhm pah-sah-pohr-toom dah yah-nuhm-dah
"I have obtained my tax number; my passport is with me."
📋 Use when: When the teller asks which documents you brought
Local Tips from the Community
- Tourist-region Ziraat Bankası branches (Istanbul: Aksaray, Yenikapı, Sultanahmet, Taksim) handle the highest foreigner volumes and most often have English-speaking tellers, but their foreigner-account quotas saturate fastest.
- İşbank Expat Banking is the only bank that publishes an explicit foreigner document checklist in English; arrive with that checklist printed if you visit one of its branches.
- If you travel between branches looking for capacity, ask for the Müşteri Hizmetleri (customer service) counter rather than queueing at a general teller.
Costs
| Item | Amount | Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account opening (TRY or FX current account) | ₺0 | N/A | Free at Ziraat Bankası, Garanti BBVA, and YapıKredi for both TRY and FX current accounts |
| Account management fee — FX current account (Garanti BBVA) | ₺0 | N/A | Garanti BBVA publishes ₺0 management fee on its domestic-branch FX Current Account |
| FX statement on customer request (Garanti BBVA) (Optional) | ₺0.45 | Deducted from account | Cited as a worked example; verify the current schedule locally at branch |
| Vergi Kimlik Numarası issuance | ₺0 | N/A | Free at any Vergi Dairesi and online for foreigners through the e-Devlet aggregator |
- Payment:
- N/A
- Notes:
- Free at Ziraat Bankası, Garanti BBVA, and YapıKredi for both TRY and FX current accounts
- Payment:
- N/A
- Notes:
- Garanti BBVA publishes ₺0 management fee on its domestic-branch FX Current Account
- Payment:
- Deducted from account
- Notes:
- Cited as a worked example; verify the current schedule locally at branch
- Payment:
- N/A
- Notes:
- Free at any Vergi Dairesi and online for foreigners through the e-Devlet aggregator
FAQ
General
Can I open a Turkish bank account as a tourist?
Yes, at the three canonical-trio retail banks (Ziraat Bankası, Garanti BBVA, YapıKredi). The decisive prerequisite is a Turkish tax number (Vergi Kimlik Numarası), which is issued free to passport holders the same day. With passport, tax number, address proof, and a Turkish mobile number, a non-resident foreigner can open a Turkish Lira or foreign-currency deposit account with full retail capability — debit card, SWIFT, mobile banking — subject to cap limits. Garanti BBVA, for example, publishes a ₺800.000 per-day internet-banking limit for non-resident accounts and issues the non-resident debit card in TRY only.
Do I need a Yabancı Kimlik Numarası (YKN) to open an account?
Not for in-branch onboarding. The three canonical-trio banks accept passport plus tax number for non-resident in-branch account opening. The YKN — the 11-digit foreigner identification number starting with 99 — is issued only once you hold an ikamet izni. It is, however, required for biometric remote onboarding through bank mobile apps. Garanti BBVA's published remote-onboarding eligibility names a biometric T.R. ID card, which presumes YKN issuance.
What is the difference between a TRY account and a foreign-currency account?
A Turkish Lira account holds balances in TRY and pays any interest in TRY. A foreign-currency deposit account (döviz tevdiat hesabı) holds balances in a non-TRY currency. Garanti BBVA's FX Current Account supports 13 currencies including USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD, CHF, DKK, NOK, SAR, SEK, and RUB, and Ziraat Bankası's foreign-currency time deposit product publishes USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, DKK, SEK, and NOK with terms up to 1.098 days. The underlying onboarding documents and procedure are identical; only the account product differs.
Is the KKM FX-protected deposit scheme still available?
No. The Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankası terminated all new openings and renewals of FX-protected deposit accounts on 23 August 2025 (TCMB Press Release ANO2025-45). Earlier sunset milestones closed the 6-month and 12-month FX-/gold-converted terms on 20 January 2025 (ANO2025-04) and removed legal entities on 15 February 2025 (ANO2025-12). Accounts opened prior to 23 August 2025 continue until maturity, after which the relevant Communiqués will be repealed. The YUVAM scheme remains active for eligible non-resident citizens, Blue Card holders, and certain foreign nationals.
Which bank is the most foreigner-friendly?
Three banks dominate retail foreigner onboarding. Garanti BBVA publishes the most-detailed English deposit-product catalog and a remote-onboarding flow for biometric ID card holders. İşbank operates dedicated Expat Banking branches with bilingual relationship managers and publishes the most-explicit English document checklist. Ziraat Bankası is state-owned with the largest branch network and is most commonly reported as accepting non-residents without an ikamet permit. YapıKredi publishes a dedicated Banking for Foreigners service menu but generally targets customers who already hold an ikamet. Compare branches in your district before choosing — language coverage varies by branch.
Do US persons need to do anything extra?
Yes. US persons sign IRS Form W-9 at account opening in addition to the standard CRS tax-residency self-certification. The bank reports the account to the Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı under Türkiye's FATCA arrangement, which exchanges with the IRS. HSBC Türkiye publishes the most detailed retail FATCA documentation in English among Turkish banks; the procedure at Ziraat Bankası, Garanti BBVA, and YapıKredi is procedurally equivalent.
What is the BDDK and how does it affect me?
The Bankacılık Düzenleme ve Denetleme Kurumu (BDDK) is the banking regulator that supervises Türkiye's banks under Banking Law No. 5411 and the AML/KYC framework of Law No. 5549. For retail customers the most consumer-visible BDDK rule is the Remote Customer Identification Regulation, which authorises video-based remote identification for account opening when paired with biometric verification. The 2022 BDDK and Treasury Communiqués that mandate Turkish Lira pricing in certain private contracts apply to corporate movables-sale transactions between Turkish-resident entities and do not restrict retail foreigners from holding foreign-currency accounts.
After This Process
- → Salary deposits — share your IBAN with your employer's payroll team
- → Rent payments — set up a standing order (düzenli ödeme talimatı) for monthly rent
- → Direct debit (otomatik ödeme talimatı) for electricity, gas, and water bills
- → Apply for an additional FX or YUVAM account through the bank's app once you hold a Turkish biometric ID card
- → Annual income tax — your IBAN will be requested on your yıllık gelir vergisi beyannamesi when filing through the Dijital Vergi Dairesi
Sources
- TCMB — KKM scheme phase-out (Press Release ANO2025-45) (tcmb.gov.tr ↗)
- BDDK — Regulations regarding Banking Law (bddk.org.tr ↗)
- GİB Dijital Vergi Dairesi via e-Devlet (foreigner application) (turkiye.gov.tr ↗)
- Garanti BBVA — FX Current Account (garantibbva.com.tr ↗)
- Ziraat Bankası — Vadeli Yabancı Para Mevduat Hesabı (ziraatbank.com.tr ↗)
- İşbank — Become Our Customer (foreigner document list) (isbank.com.tr ↗)
Was this helpful?
More in Turkey
- Filing Annual Income Tax (Yıllık Gelir Vergisi) in Türkiye as a Foreigner
- Claiming İşsizlik Ödeneği (Unemployment Insurance) as a Foreigner in Türkiye
- Enrolling a Foreign-National Child in a Public School in Türkiye
- Enrolling in SGK General Health Insurance as a Foreign Resident in Türkiye
- Exchanging a Foreign Driving Licence in Türkiye
- Foreigner Identification Number (Yabancı Kimlik Numarası) in Türkiye
7 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-24
T1 official portal · T2 embassy/consulate · T3 news · T4 community — higher tier wins on conflict. methodology →
- T1Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankası (TCMB) — Press Release ANO2025-45 2026-05-24
TCMB Press Release ANO2025-45: termination of FX-Protected Deposit Scheme (Kur Korumalı Mevduat, KKM) for new account openings effective 23 August 2025; existing accounts continue until maturity, after which the relevant Communiqués will be repealed. The YUVAM scheme remains active. Earlier sunset milestones: ANO2025-04 (20 January 2025) terminated 6-month and 12-month FX-/gold-converted KKM accounts; ANO2025-12 (15 February 2025) removed legal entities from KKM eligibility.
tcmb.gov.tr - T1Türkiye Cumhuriyet Merkez Bankası (TCMB) — Press Release ANO2021-62 2026-05-24
TCMB Press Release ANO2021-62 (21 December 2021) launched the KKM scheme as the Encouraging Conversion of FX Deposits to TL Time Deposits arrangement. The scheme was extended on 29 December 2021 (ANO2021-65) to gold deposit conversions, and supplemented in 2022 with the YUVAM scheme (ANO2022-10) targeting non-resident Turkish citizens, Blue Card holders, and certain foreign nationals.
tcmb.gov.tr - T1Bankacılık Düzenleme ve Denetleme Kurumu (BDDK) — Banking Law regulations index 2026-05-24
BDDK publishes the consolidated regulations issued under Banking Law No. 5411, which establishes the licensing, supervision, and operating framework for banks in Türkiye including customer secrecy under Article 73. The BDDK Remote Customer Identification Regulation (published in the Resmî Gazete on 1 April 2021, issue 31441; effective 1 May 2021) permits video-based remote identification with biometric verification. The 2022 Communiqué 2022/32-66 amending Decision No. 32 on the Protection of the Value of the Turkish Lira mandates Turkish Lira pricing for movables-sale contracts between Turkish-resident private entities, and the June 2022 Communiqué 2022/20 requires banks to maintain TRY-denominated securities against FX deposits; neither restricts retail foreign nationals from holding foreign-currency deposit accounts.
bddk.org.tr - T1Garanti BBVA — FX Current Account product page 2026-05-24
Garanti BBVA FX Current Account supports 13 currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD, CHF, DKK, MTL, NOK, SAR, SEK, RUB) with deposit and withdrawal via Garanti BBVA ATMs and FX transfers. The bank publishes ₺0 account management fee on the domestic-branch FX Current Account and a €0,45 statement fee for FX statements issued on customer request. Non-resident foreigner internet-banking transfers are capped at ₺800.000 per day and the non-resident debit card is issued in TRY only. Remote onboarding through the Garanti BBVA app is restricted to customers over 18 who hold a biometric T.R. ID card and are not currently Garanti BBVA customers.
garantibbva.com.tr - T1Ziraat Bankası — Vadeli Yabancı Para Mevduat Hesabı product page 2026-05-24
Ziraat Bankası vadeli yabancı para (döviz) mevduat hesabı accepts USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, DKK, SEK, and NOK with a stated branch-channel minimum of 5.000 currency units and term options up to 1.098 days for USD and EUR. The corresponding TRY and FX current accounts at Ziraat Bankası, Garanti BBVA, and YapıKredi are free to open and require passport, tax-number certificate, and Turkish address proof; YapıKredi additionally publishes a dedicated Banking for Foreigners service menu covering payments, cards, deposits, mortgage, and safe deposit boxes.
ziraatbank.com.tr - T1İşbank — Become Our Customer page 2026-05-24
İşbank publishes the most-explicit English foreigner-onboarding document checklist among major Turkish retail banks: a passport not older than 10 years, a Turkish tax number (Vergi Kimlik Numarası) or Yabancı Kimlik Numarası (YKN), and address proof in Türkiye — with the explicit alternative that İşbank accepts the printed address on the passport as address proof for foreigners without Turkish residential documentation. İşbank Expat Banking branches operate with bilingual relationship managers.
isbank.com.tr - T1Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı (GİB) — Dijital Vergi Dairesi via e-Devlet aggregator 2026-05-24
The Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı (GİB) Dijital Vergi Dairesi foreigner application is reached via the e-Devlet aggregator service page at turkiye.gov.tr; the foreigner identification-number application path issues a potential Vergi Kimlik Numarası certificate as a PDF on submission, free of charge. Foreigners without an ikamet receive a potential tax number that functions identically to a standard VKN for bank-account purposes.
turkiye.gov.tr