How to Transfer Money to Turkey in 2026: Methods, Limits, and Real Estate Payments

Learn the best ways to transfer money to Turkey in 2026. Get expert advice from NewTime Investment on SWIFT, DAB requirements, and property payment rules.

New Time Investment is a real estate agency in Alanya (Antalya, Turkey). We help international buyers choose, buy and rent apartments, villas and commercial property, complete the deal, obtain a residence permit and manage property.

In 2026, the most reliable way to transfer funds to Turkey is via a SWIFT bank transfer to your personal Turkish bank account. To open an account, you will need a tax identification number (vergi numarası), and the bank will require you to explain the source of your funds. If the money is intended for real estate purchase, foreign nationals are legally required to sell the currency to the bank and obtain a döviz alım belgesi (DAB) — a Certificate of Foreign Exchange Purchase; otherwise, the property title deed (Tapu) cannot be processed. While there is no requirement to declare cash upon entry, you must declare any amount exceeding 10,000 EUR when leaving the country.

Ways to transfer money to Turkey: a comparison

The best method depends on your goal. For living expenses and rent, almost any method will work. For property transactions, two factors are critical: the bank must be able to verify the source of the funds, and you must obtain the mandatory currency purchase certificate (DAB).

Method	Best for	Key considerations
SWIFT to your Turkish bank account	Large sums, property purchase, recurring expenses	Requires a bank account and tax ID; the bank will verify the source of funds
Money transfer services (without an account)	Small amounts for initial settling-in	Limits and fees vary by provider; not suitable for property payments
International cards	Daily purchases and ATM withdrawals	Subject to issuer bank fees and exchange rates; withdrawal limits set by your bank
Cash	When other channels are unavailable	No mandatory entry declaration, but you must declare amounts over 10,000 EUR upon exit; the bank will still require proof of the source of funds

SWIFT transfers to a Turkish bank account

The primary channel for large sums is an international transfer to an account held in your own name. Turkish banks open accounts for foreigners, though they almost always require a tax identification number, which can be obtained at the tax office using your passport (details available in our article: Turkish tax ID (vergi numarası)). Guidance on choosing a bank and the necessary documents can be found in our material: Opening a bank account in Turkey.

The typical process is as follows:

Open an account in the required currency (EUR, USD) and, if necessary, in Turkish Lira at a local bank.
Obtain your bank details: IBAN (starting with TR), SWIFT/BIC code, and the exact account holder name.
Initiate the transfer from your home bank. The sender and recipient names must match your passport. In the payment reference, briefly state the purpose: "property purchase" or "personal living expenses."
Retain your proof of transfer (SWIFT message). You will need this for both the bank and the real estate registration process.

The processing time depends on the chain of correspondent banks: from one business day to a week or more if an intermediary or the Turkish bank requests documentation. Payments from jurisdictions under sanctions are subject to stricter scrutiny; transfers may be delayed, flagged for extra documents, or returned. Before initiating a large transfer, check with your Turkish bank to confirm they accept payments from your home institution and in your specific currency.

Without an account: money transfers and cards

If you do not yet have a bank account, you can send funds to the recipient's name via international money transfer services; the recipient collects the cash at an agent's branch using their passport. Limits, fees, and available corridors are determined by the operator and your bank — verify them on the day of the transfer. This is a practical option for the first few weeks, but it is not suitable for buying property, as such transfers do not generate the currency purchase certificate (DAB) required for property deeds.

International cards can be used for shopping and ATM withdrawals. The main cost here lies in the exchange rates and commissions set by your card-issuing bank rather than the local bank. If an ATM offers "dynamic currency conversion," it is usually more economical to decline and process the transaction in Turkish Lira.

Cash and customs regulations

According to the Turkish Ministry of Trade, there is no obligation to declare cash upon entry. However, if you choose to do so, the declaration must be complete and accurate. In practice, a completed customs form upon entry serves as one of the documents you can use to prove the source of cash funds when depositing them into an account.

When leaving Turkey, there is a threshold: cash exceeding 25,000 TRY or 10,000 EUR in foreign currency (or its equivalent) must be declared at customs. Failing to declare or providing incorrect figures can result in a 10% administrative fine, and if the threshold is exceeded without a declaration, the cash may be seized for safekeeping while the matter is reported to the public prosecutor and MASAK. Also, be mindful of the regulations of your destination country; for instance, traveling through the EU without a declaration is restricted for amounts over 9,999 EUR. More details on import and export limits can be found in our article: Customs regulations in Turkey.

Bank compliance: MASAK and Law No. 5549

Turkey enforces Law No. 5549 on the Prevention of Laundering Proceeds of Crime. It obliges banks, as well as real estate agents and notaries, to verify client identity prior to transactions and report suspicious activity to MASAK, the financial intelligence unit under the Ministry of Treasury and Finance. Banks are legally prohibited from disclosing the filing of such reports to the client.

Threshold amounts are defined by regulations. As of October 7, 2026 (Resmî Gazete No. 33393), these limits have been doubled:

Account opening and ongoing banking relationships: Identity verification is mandatory regardless of the amount.
One-off transactions: From 370,000 TRY (previously 185,000).
Electronic transfers: From 30,000 TRY (previously 15,000).
In cases of suspected money laundering: Mandatory reporting regardless of the amount.

For account holders, this means that large incoming transfers will almost certainly prompt questions regarding the source of funds. Prepare in advance by gathering bank statements from the last several months, contracts from previous property or asset sales, income statements, or documents regarding inheritance or gifts. The bank may request notarized translations for documents in foreign languages. The clearer the trail from "income" to "foreign account" to "transfer to Turkey," the less likely your funds will face delays.

Real estate purchase: DAB and payment for the Title Deed

Since January 24, 2022, any individual foreign national purchasing property in Turkey is required to sell the currency equivalent of the property's price to a bank (which then sells it to the Central Bank) and obtain a döviz alım belgesi (DAB). This requirement from the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (TKGM) remains in effect for 2026. The official "Your Key Türkiye" portal states clearly that there are no general exemptions — the DAB is required even for holders of long-term residence permits (ikamet izni) or spouses of Turkish citizens. It is not required for corporate purchases.

What to know about the DAB:

The amount in the DAB must match the price in the official deed; the Lira amount from the DAB acts as the base for calculating property taxes, so undervaluing the property in the Tapu is not possible.
The DAB includes the buyer’s name, passport or foreign ID number, property details (block and apartment), dollar equivalent, and the specific property transaction designation.
The bank sends the certificate to the Land Registry (Tapu) office via the KEP electronic mail system; paper copies are not accepted.
Currency can be sold in installments; the total of all DABs is taken into account.
In the case of a preliminary sales contract, the DAB must be issued for at least the paid advance amount and no later than the contract date.

The typical payment process for purchasing property in Alanya:

Obtain a tax identification number and open a Turkish bank account.
Transfer funds via SWIFT to your account, having prepared all documents verifying the source of funds in advance.
Sell the currency to the bank, specifying "property purchase" and providing property details; the bank will issue the DAB and transmit it to the Tapu office.
Transfer the Lira to the seller or developer via bank transfer; you may opt to use the "secure payment" (güvenli ödeme) service offered by banks.
Sign the official deed at the Tapu office and receive your property title (Tapu).

If the purchase is intended for citizenship, the requirements are stricter: the property must be valued at 400,000 USD or more, there is a three-year resale restriction, and in addition to the DAB, you must confirm the transfer of funds to the seller via bank documentation (SWIFT confirmation is accepted). "Hand-to-hand" cash payments accompanied by a statement from the parties are not accepted for citizenship applications. For more details, see our article on Turkish citizenship by investment.

Fees and exchange rates: what determines the cost of a transfer

There is no single flat rate: the total cost of a transfer consists of several parts, and each should be clarified before sending the funds.

Sending bank fee — a fixed amount or a percentage of the transfer sum.
Correspondent bank fees. These are determined by the charge code on your payment order: OUR — the sender covers all fees, SHA — costs are shared, BEN — all fees are deducted from the transfer amount. For real estate transactions requiring an exact final amount, the OUR code is the most convenient choice.
Turkish bank fee for receiving an incoming transfer — depends on the bank's tariff schedule.
Currency conversion rate. This is the most significant factor for large amounts: the difference between the bank's rate and the market rate. It is more cost-effective to transfer in the currency in which your account is held and then convert to Turkish Lira locally in Turkey when obtaining your DAB.

Pro tip: before making a large payment, perform a test transfer for a small amount to verify the account details, processing time, and the actual fees deducted.

FAQ

Is it possible to transfer money to Turkey without a local Turkish bank account?

Yes, through money transfer systems addressed to the recipient. However, for real estate purchases, an account is essential: the bank issues the DAB only upon selling foreign currency to the bank.

Is a DAB required if I have a residence permit (ikamet izni) or am married to a Turkish citizen?

Yes. According to the General Directorate of Land Registry and Cadastre (TKGM), neither a long-term residence permit nor marriage to a Turkish citizen exempts a foreigner from obtaining a DAB when purchasing property in their own name.

Can I pay for an apartment with cash brought into Turkey?

Cash can be deposited into your account and then sold to the bank to obtain a DAB, but the bank will require proof of the funds' origin. For citizenship cases, "hand-to-hand" payments are not recognized — valid bank documentation is mandatory.

From what amount does a bank automatically identify the client?

As of October 7, 2026, the threshold is 370,000 TRY for single transactions and 30,000 TRY for electronic transfers. When opening a bank account, identification is required regardless of the amount.

Can a relative make the payment on behalf of the buyer?

For citizenship applications, the TKGM accepts payments from a third party if a legitimate connection to the buyer is proven (e.g., spouse, child) and there are no signs of a sham transaction. For standard transactions, always consult with your bank beforehand.