How to Send Money to Turkey to Buy Property in 2026

How to Send Money to Turkey to Buy Property in 2026

Last updated: October 2026

Short answer: To buy property in Turkey, send the money by bank transfer from your own account abroad to your own account at a Turkish bank, convert it at that bank, and pay the seller by bank transfer. For Turkish citizenship, the bank must issue a foreign currency purchase certificate (DAB) in your name. Do not pay in cash or crypto. There is no general limit on how much you can transfer, but the bank will ask where the money comes from.

Most of the problems we see in property purchases in Istanbul do not start with the property. They start with the money: a transfer from the wrong account, currency changed at an exchange office, or payment in cash. For an ordinary purchase this causes delays. For a citizenship purchase it can make the investment ineligible.

Step 1: Open a Turkish bank account

You need a Turkish tax number (vergi numarası) and your passport. Most banks ask you to come in person; some accept a lawyer with power of attorney. Open a foreign-currency account in the currency you will send and a Turkish lira account. Our guide to the tax number and bank account explains the steps.

Step 2: Prepare proof of the source of funds

Turkish banks must check incoming transfers under anti-money-laundering rules. For large amounts they ask for documents such as bank statements, the sale contract of another property, a salary or company document, or an inheritance record. Prepare them before you send the money: a transfer held for questions can delay your title deed appointment.

Step 3: Send the money by international bank transfer (SWIFT)

• Send from an account in your own name. Payments from a relative's or a company's account cause problems at the Land Registry, especially for citizenship.
• Send it a few days before the title deed appointment, not on the same day.
• Write a short, clear description, for example "purchase of residential property in Istanbul".

Licensed online transfer services can work for smaller amounts. For a property purchase, a direct bank transfer leaves the clearest paper trail.

Step 4: Convert at the bank and get the DAB

If you are buying for Turkish citizenship, the foreign currency must be sold to a Turkish bank, and the bank issues a foreign currency purchase certificate (döviz alım belgesi, DAB) in your name. The Land Registry checks it. Currency changed at an exchange office produces no DAB and does not count. Ask the bank to state on the certificate that the purchase is for citizenship by investment. See our Turkish citizenship by investment guide for the full rules.

For a purchase that is not for citizenship you can pay in lira or foreign currency through the bank, but the same paper trail still protects you.

Step 5: Pay the seller by bank transfer

Pay the seller or developer from your Turkish account and keep the bank receipts (dekont). The price on the title deed must be the real price. Under-declaring it to reduce fees causes problems later with the valuation, citizenship and tax on resale. Our article on the full cost of buying an apartment lists the fees to budget for.

What not to do

• Do not pay in cash. Cash leaves no bank trail and is not accepted as proof of payment for citizenship.
• Do not use crypto for the payment. Since April 2021 the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey has not allowed crypto assets to be used for payments, and crypto cannot produce a DAB.
• Do not send money through third parties. Every transfer should go from you to you, then from you to the seller.
• Carrying cash into Turkey: large amounts of foreign currency must be declared at customs on arrival. Check the current threshold with Turkish customs before you travel.

Getting a better exchange rate

Ask two or three banks for their rate on the day of conversion; the difference between banks can be significant on large amounts. Avoid converting in small pieces over many days unless you have a reason to.

Checklist

• Tax number and Turkish bank account open
• Source-of-funds documents ready
• Transfer sent from your own account, days before the deed date
• Currency converted at the bank, DAB in your name (for citizenship)
• Seller paid by bank transfer, receipts kept

Frequently asked questions

Is there a limit on how much money a foreigner can send to Turkey?

There is no general limit on transfers through the banking system. For large amounts the bank asks for documents showing where the money comes from.

Can I pay for property in Turkey in cash?

It is not recommended, and for citizenship it does not count. Payment must go through a Turkish bank so it can be proven.

Can I buy property in Turkey with crypto?

No. Turkey's central bank has not allowed crypto assets to be used for payments since April 2021, and a crypto payment cannot produce the DAB needed for citizenship.

What is a DAB?

A döviz alım belgesi is a certificate from a Turkish bank showing that you sold foreign currency to the bank. The Land Registry requires it for citizenship purchases.

How long does an international transfer to Turkey take?

Usually one to three working days, longer if the bank asks for source-of-funds documents. Send the money several days before your title deed appointment.

Sources: Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, Regulation on the Disuse of Crypto Assets in Payments (April 2021); Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law; Land Registry (TKGM) citizenship procedures. Rules and bank practice change; confirm the current requirements with your bank and a licensed lawyer before you transfer.

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