Can Foreign Nationals Open a Bank Account in Türkiye?

Published: 11 September 2026 · Reading time approximately 6 minutes

The short answer: yes. You do not have to be a Turkish citizen to open a bank account in Türkiye. In practice two points hold the procedure up: the tax identification number and the address and identity verification that the bank requires.

This article covers accounts to be opened in Türkiye. We do not provide a service for opening bank accounts abroad; that procedure is subject to the banking legislation of the country concerned.

The process step by step

1. 1

   Potential tax number

   Obtained from the tax office or through the Interactive Tax Office. The passport and, where necessary, its notarised translation are requested. This is the first step of the whole process and the one most often skipped.

2. 2

   Notarised translation of the passport

   Requested for passports issued in a non-Latin alphabet, and in every case by some banks. It is important that the spelling of the name matches the passport exactly.

3. 3

   Address declaration

   The bank will ask for a document confirming your contact address: a residence permit, an address declaration, a tenancy agreement or a utility bill issued in your name.

4. 4

   Branch application and identity verification

   The account is opened face to face at the branch. Under its know-your-customer obligation the bank will ask about the intended use of the account and your source of income.

5. 5

   Account type and card

   Turkish lira and foreign currency accounts are opened separately. The bank card and internet banking are set up in the same application; having a mobile telephone number registered in your own name makes the verification steps easier.

Documents generally requested

• Valid passport and, where necessary, its notarised translation
• Tax identification number (a foreigner identification number can also be used if you have one)
• A document confirming your address details
• A mobile telephone number used in Türkiye
• Residence permit or work permit document, if any
• Specimen signature

The document list varies from bank to bank. Some banks will open an account for a foreign national without a residence permit, while others require a residence or work permit. Confirming which bank asks for which document before going to the branch therefore saves a wasted day.

Can an account be opened from abroad or by power of attorney?

As a rule the account is opened at the branch and in person. Obtaining the tax number and the preliminary preparation, however, can be handled through a representative in Türkiye. If the power of attorney is drawn up abroad it must be apostilled and accompanied by a sworn translation ; some banks require the power of attorney to state banking authority expressly for the account to be opened.

Personal account or company account?

These are separate processes. A company account is opened in the name of the company as a legal entity and the trade registry record, the signature circular and the tax certificate are requested. For a shareholder's personal account their own tax number is again needed. When handled together with the company formation, the two processes can be planned on a single timetable: company formation in Türkiye by foreign nationals.

Common mistakes

• Going straight to the branch without obtaining a tax number
• The spelling of the name in the passport translation differing from the passport
• Not documenting the address declaration
• Applying with a telephone number registered in someone else's name
• Bringing the power of attorney without an apostille
• Assuming that a company account and a personal account are the same application

We handle obtaining the tax number, the passport translation and the preparation of the bank application from a single point of contact: tax number and bank account service.