Turkish Tax Number and Bank Account for Foreigners: Step by Step

Turkish Tax Number and Bank Account for Foreigners: Step by Step

Almost every property purchase we handle in Istanbul starts with the same two pieces of paperwork: a Turkish tax number and a Turkish bank account. Neither is difficult, but the order matters, and small mistakes, such as a name spelled differently from the passport or funds arriving from someone else's account, can delay a title deed (tapu) appointment by days. Here is how both steps work in practice for a foreign buyer.

What is a Turkish tax number (vergi numarası)?

The vergi kimlik numarası is a 10-digit number issued by the Turkish Revenue Administration (Gelir İdaresi Başkanlığı, GİB). For a foreigner without a residence permit it is usually called a "potential tax number". It identifies you in the tax system, but on its own it does not make you a taxpayer or create any tax obligation.

Once you receive a residence permit, you are also given an 11-digit foreigner identification number that starts with 99 (yabancı kimlik numarası). Banks and public offices usually work with that number from then on. Keep a record of your original tax number anyway, because documents created before your permit, such as your title deed, may be linked to it.

Three ways to get your tax number

1. Online through GİB's digital tax office

GİB offers an online "potential tax identification number for foreigners" application through its digital tax office (the former İnteraktif Vergi Dairesi, now at dijital.gib.gov.tr). You enter your passport details and personal information, including your father's and mother's names, and the number appears on screen immediately. You can look it up again later with your passport number.

The system checks your passport against Turkish records. In practice it works most reliably after you have entered Turkey on that passport. If you see a message that your identity could not be verified, you need to apply in person.

2. At a tax office (vergi dairesi) in Turkey

Any tax office can issue the number, and it is normally done the same day. Bring:

• Your original passport and a photocopy of the photo page
• An address in Turkey (a hotel or rental address is usually accepted) and a phone number
• Your father's and mother's names as they should appear in the record
• A sworn translation (yeminli tercüme) of the passport if the office asks for it, which is more common with non-Latin passports

No fee is charged for the tax number itself. In Istanbul we usually go with clients to the tax office closest to our office in Şişli or to the property.

3. Through a representative, or from abroad

If you cannot come to Turkey yet, a lawyer can apply for you with a power of attorney. A power of attorney signed abroad has to be notarised, apostilled or legalised by the Turkish consulate, and translated into Turkish. Some Turkish consulates abroad also handle tax number requests, but services differ from one consulate to another, so ask your nearest consulate first.

Tip: the name on your tax record must match the passport you will use at the tapu office. If you renew your passport before the purchase, update the record with the tax office so the documents agree.

Opening a bank account: non-resident vs resident

Turkish banks can open accounts for foreigners who hold only a passport. A residence permit is not a legal precondition, but each bank applies its own risk policy, so one branch may open your account in an hour while another asks for more documents or declines passport-only applicants.

As a non-resident (passport only)

• Passport and Turkish tax number
• Proof of address: some banks accept your home-country address; a Turkish document such as a notarised rental contract or a title deed makes it easier
• A Turkish mobile number registered in your name, needed for SMS passwords and mobile banking
• Usually a branch visit in person: remote video onboarding is often limited to people who already hold a Turkish ID or residence card

As a resident (with a residence permit)

With a residence card, your 99-number and a residence certificate (yerleşim yeri belgesi, downloadable from e-Devlet) the process is normally faster, and more digital services become available to you.

What banks typically ask

• The purpose of the account: buying property, receiving rent, daily living
• Your occupation and source of income
• Source-of-funds documents for large transfers, such as bank statements, a sale contract or salary slips
• A tax-residence self-declaration for international information exchange
• At some banks, a minimum opening deposit; amounts and conditions vary, so ask the branch beforehand

Accounts can be held in Turkish lira, US dollars, euros and often other currencies. Clients who prefer interest-free banking can open their account at a participation bank (katılım bankası). A bank account can also be opened by a representative with a power of attorney, but banks read the wording carefully, so it should name bank account opening explicitly.

Why you need both to buy property

• The title deed: the land registry (tapu müdürlüğü) needs your tax number to process the sale and the title deed fee (tapu harcı).
• A traceable payment: paying through a Turkish bank creates a clear record. If you plan to apply for a residence permit or citizenship based on the property, payment through official banking channels is expected, cash is not accepted, and the transfer receipts should match the price on the deed.
• Currency conversion for citizenship: for citizenship by investment, the foreign currency has to be sold to a Turkish bank, which issues a currency purchase certificate (Döviz Alım Belgesi, DAB). Your lawyer will confirm which documents your transaction needs.
• Life after the purchase: DASK (compulsory earthquake insurance), electricity, water and natural gas subscriptions, the annual property tax (emlak vergisi) and building fees (aidat) are all simpler with a tax number and a local account that pays them automatically.

The order we recommend

1. Get your tax number on your first day, online or at a tax office.
2. Buy a Turkish SIM card registered in your name.
3. Open the bank account with your passport, tax number and address document, and have your source-of-funds papers ready.
4. Send the purchase funds early. International transfers can take several days, and the bank may ask questions before releasing them.
5. Only then book the tapu appointment.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Different spellings of your name across passport, tax record and bank account
• Sending money from a relative's or a company's account without documents explaining it
• Paying part of the price in cash
• Leaving the bank account until the week of the deed transfer

Rules and bank practices change. Confirm the current requirements with a licensed lawyer or accountant before acting.

Buy with Confidence — Majesty Turkey

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✔️ Projects matched to your budget and goal
✔️ Support from the first viewing to the title deed
✔️ Guidance on citizenship and residence files

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