Having a bank account is important in many ways for foreigners who come to or reside in Turkey frequently. They may need a local account for everyday expenses or financial transfers.

In the past, opening a bank account for foreigners was a complicated and challenging process. However, thanks to advances in technology and online banking, it has become very easy to open an account for foreigners. The only problem that our foreign clients may encounter while opening a bank account may now be just the language problem. However, we, as Art Alanya, enjoy serving our customers who will want to complete this in the most efficient way. We provide full support to our customers in opening a bank account, as in all other matters.

After you submit the documents requested by the bank completely, your transaction will take place in a short time. With this bank account, you can easily perform transactions such as receiving money from abroad, paying your bills and benefiting from the bank's interest rates. Of course, you can handle these processes yourself, but getting support from an institution that provides professional consultancy services allows the process to be completed in a very short time efficiently.

Opening an account in Turkey for foreigners

Each bank may have different requests for applications. First, you will need to decide which bank you want to work with. Then, find out the documents required by your selected bank. After collecting all the paperwork, you will deliver it to the bank. 

Commonly requested documents are:

• Passport
• Residence address in Turkey
• Tax number
• Mobile phone number on behalf of persons

Do not forget that the most important document is the passport, otherwise the bank will not start transactions. In addition, if you do not currently have a residence address, you must create a delivery address. In addition to these, the applicant must also have a tax number. If not, you can easily get a tax number by applying with a passport at any tax office.

Banks that open accounts to foreigners

Foreign nationals can open an account in a bank of their choice in Turkey. Of course, some banks may be preferred due to the convenient opportunities they offer to foreigners. You also do not pay a fee for opening a bank account.

Some banks preferred by foreigners living in Turkey are as follows:

• Vakifbank
• Ziraat bank
• Halkbank
• HSBC
• Garanti Bank
• Akbank
• Denizbank
• Is Bank of Turkey
• Yapı Kredi Bank

Some of the banks mentioned above have foreign banking departments and special customer services. Whether it's a government or a private bank, you can apply with confidence to any of these. You can look through  their websites and choose whichever bank is most suitable for you. While making your decision, you can ask anything that confuses you to Art Alanya and receive detailed information.

Advantages of a bank account

With a bank account in Turkey, you may use your money as you wish. You can deposit money, withdraw, do online shopping and perform many more banking transactions. Some banks even offer their foreign customers the opportunity to receive credit cards. However, to take advantage of that, the foreign customer must show proof of regular income.

How long does it take for foreigners to open a bank account?

Once you bring your documents to the bank, you only need a few hours to complete the transaction. It should be noted that it may take several days to collect your documents. In some cases, it may take time to approve the preliminary application to banks and clarify the residence status. By getting professional support, you can make this difficult process more efficient and fast. Our in-house foreigners law attorney can follow the process for you and ensure it is concluded faster.