How to get a Turkish bank card?
Yes, all-inclusive trips to Turkey have now been replaced by card tours. We understand this well. That's why we've put together a guide to help you quickly figure out how to get a Turkish bank card: what documents you'll need and which bank to choose.
Pros and Cons of a Turkish Card
A Turkish card makes online services accessible, and you can take it on trips, but before buying flights to Turkey, let's still understand all the features and pitfalls.
First of all, getting a bank card in Turkey means you'll have to speak Turkish or English with the staff, so if you don't know the languages, download a translator to your phone. It will also help you look up some contract clauses using the photo translation feature to ensure everything is correct and without deception.
So, what opportunities does a Turkish bank card offer:
• receive money transfers from all over the world (no transfer restrictions);
• pay for subscriptions to foreign services;
• book and pay for tickets and hotels worldwide;
• pay for goods from foreign online stores;
• pay in establishments in Turkey from your phone via QR code through the bank's app.
What are the disadvantages:
• the card works with foreign services, but not all of them. For example, there might be issues with Airbnb payments;
• Apple Pay does not work in Turkey;
• limited functionality through the app. That is, you can independently decrease the card limit, but to increase it — only by personally visiting a branch;
• a Turkish bank card can be linked to a Russian number, but there's a risk that SMS notifications will stop coming as soon as you return to Russia. Linking a Turkish SIM card to the account is also a questionable option: without a residence permit, the SIM card will only work for three months;
• to open an account, you need to make a deposit;
• each bank and bank branch sets its own conditions for opening cards for foreigners;
• if you open an account in Lira, be prepared for high inflation;
• you have to negotiate conditions with employees: bargaining in Turkey happens not only in markets but even in banks.
What documents are needed to open a card
It's best to clarify the conditions and required documents with a specific bank in advance, but generally, the list is similar. To open a Turkish bank card, bring with you:
• Russian internal passport and its notarized translation;
• Russian international passport with an entry stamp;
• Turkish TIN (Tax Identification Number) (obtained online);
• Russian TIN — just in case, sometimes they ask for it;
• Turkish SIM card;
• Russian SIM card — sometimes banks ask for both numbers for notifications. We advise linking an MTS number to the account: there are no problems with this operator, bank messages reach even in Russia;
• Lira, Euros, or Dollars that you will deposit into the account. Be sure to bring at least 10,000 Lira — you never know what deposit amount the manager might come up with.
How to get a Turkish TIN
A Tax Identification Number must be obtained if you are planning to move to Turkey, and if you came for a week to get a card.
You cannot obtain a TIN while in Russia: a foreign passport is registered in the state system only after crossing the border, and before that, it cannot be used in the application form.
To get a tax identification number, fill out (preferably from a computer, it's more convenient) the online application form for a TIN. The required option here is: Yabancılar İçin Potansiyel Vergi Kimlik Numarası (APPLICATION FOR NON-CITIZEN'S POTENTIAL TAX NUMBER).
We advise entering information into the form in Latin script and capital letters, especially if there is an 'i' in the first or last name. This is because there are two types of the letter 'i' in Turkish, which can cause confusion.
Write your address — here you write your Turkish address, an hotel address is also acceptable.
Write the phone/mobile phone number — the number can be foreign, without the country code. The code must be selected in a separate field — Write the country code.
Once you have filled out the form, click Tamam (OK) — the website will provide a PDF file with your TIN. Printing the document is not mandatory: you can provide it to the bank digitally.
Which card can non-residents open in Turkey
You can open a debit card in Lira or a multi-currency card immediately in Lira, Euros, Dollars, and less commonly — Rubles. Initially, the card will be unembossed: your first and last name in Latin script will be in the documents, and you can use them for online payments, but to get an embossed card, you will have to wait a week or two.
A mandatory condition for opening a card for foreigners in almost all banks is to make a deposit that must remain untouched for 1–3 months. It can range from $500 to several thousand dollars: banks (and moreover, each branch) do not have a single standard, so you will have to visit several locations and ask employees how to get a Turkish bank card from them.
Conditions depend not only on the branch but also on the employees and the day of the week. Due to high demand, Turkish banks may set quotas for opening cards for foreigners, so there are more available slots at the beginning of the month than at the end. The deposit amount is also determined by the employees: sometimes staff do not want to open an account and refuse, or ask for a deposit of $10,000 or some other exorbitant amount — this is especially common in tourist areas. In such a situation, you can only bargain or go to another bank. If you manage to bargain, employees can reduce the deposit by up to 50% of the initially stated amount.
In any case, stock up on money before going to the bank: even if they don't announce a large deposit, they will most likely require you to buy insurance. And the fees for card issuance and other operations are still in effect.
Features and rules for card issuance in popular banks
Let's talk about the three most common banks where Russians can open accounts without a residence permit.
DenizBank
The most popular bank among Russian citizens, it was owned and controlled by Sberbank until 2019. Cards are opened in Euros, Dollars, and Lira; a Ruble account can be added later through the app. An unembossed card is opened and issued immediately, while an embossed one will require a week's wait.
How to get a Turkish bank card at DenizBank:
Step 1. Download the MobilDeniz app — when you come to the branch, the manager will immediately set up online banking for you.
Step 2. Come to the bank, bringing with you:
• international passport;
• Russian internal passport;
• Turkish TIN;
• money for deposit and commission — minimum 10,000 Lira. The deposit amount depends on the bank employee's decision: they might ask for 10,000 Lira, or even 10,000 Dollars, but generally, due to past ties with Sberbank, Deniz is quite loyal to Russians. The money must remain in the account for a month.
You can withdraw 5,000 Lira per day from a Deniz ATM, but for a larger amount, you will have to go to a branch.
Tip: allow for extra time, even if you go right at the bank's opening. The visit might take longer due to language barriers and other potential difficulties in processing foreign documents.
Ziraat Bank
Founded in the 19th century, this bank is quite reliable. Cards are issued in Euros, Dollars, and Lira. According to experienced card tourists, Ziraat often opens accounts for non-residents without deposits, but we still advise bringing more currency to the branch. An unembossed card can be obtained instantly at the bank, but an embossed one will only be issued after a week.
To get a card at Ziraat Bank, you will need:
• international passport;
• Russian internal passport;
• Turkish TIN;
• money for deposit;
• they might ask for documents confirming your place of residence in Turkey: for example, an apartment rental agreement or hotel reservation;
• sometimes they ask for a Russian TIN — it's better to bring it with you.
The daily cash deposit limit at Ziraat ATMs is 20,000 Turkish Lira.
The daily cash withdrawal limit is 1,500 Lira. To withdraw more, you will have to pay a commission.
Cash can be withdrawn from this bank without a card: at the ATM, you need to enter your phone number, to which a code will be sent, select the bank card for the transaction. You will confirm your identity via SMS, and after entering and confirming the amount, the transaction will be completed.
Vakif Bank
The bank has been operating since 1954, with about a thousand branches nationwide and a wide network of ATMs and terminals. An unembossed card can also be made immediately here, while an embossed one requires a wait.
To open an account at Vakif Bank, you need:
• international passport;
• Russian internal passport;
• Turkish TIN;
• Turkish and Russian SIM cards;
• money for deposit. Sometimes, instead of a deposit, this bank asks for money for card issuance (e.g., from $200 for an unembossed card) or for insurance.
The daily withdrawal limit via ATM is 5000 Lira.
Important: no matter which bank in Turkey you open an account with, remember that you are obliged to inform the Russian tax authorities about it if you do not want to pay a fine. You must notify about the opening and closing of an account and changes in details no later than 30 days after the event. This can be done online in your personal account or in person, if you are planning to go to Russia soon.
How to top up a Turkish bank card
So, you've got your card, but you need something to spend while the deposit remains untouched. Here are the most popular ways to top up a Turkish bank card.
Deposit at an ATM
The most obvious way is to bring cash in Euros or Dollars, exchange them for Lira, and deposit them via an ATM. Until recently, MIR cards worked in Turkey, but now it's better to bring cash directly.
Send yourself via SWIFT transfer
You can make a SWIFT transfer in Lira from a Tinkoff card. In the app, go to "Payments" -> "Transfers" -> "SWIFT Transfer".
This method is suitable for large amounts to avoid losing a portion to commission fees. The minimum transfer amount is 10,000 Lira, the commission is 300 Lira. Transfers are sent in 1 day, usually credited in 1–3 days.
Transfer money via "Zolotaya Korona" (Golden Crown)
The "Zolotaya Korona" (Golden Crown) system allows you to send money in Lira, Dollars, or Euros to the Republic of Turkey, and you can receive them in two ways.
The first option: deposit via IBAN — an international bank account consisting of 34 letters and numbers. You can find your account number at the bank where you opened the card.
The second option: withdraw cash in Lira, Euros, or Dollars. The nearest branch can be found on the map in the "Zolotaya Korona" (Golden Crown) app.
Exchange cryptocurrency via P2P transaction
In this case, you buy Lira for Dollars through a P2P transaction — an operation with an individual. This is done in two steps.
Step 1. You buy cryptocurrencies USDT and BUSD, equivalent to the dollar's value, using Rubles from a Russian account.
Step 2. You sell them for Lira to another person — the buyer then credits the Lira to your card.
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