GOFIRM

Bank account opening

Opening a bank account in Turkey

Accounts at four Turkish banks — for a UAE company and for individuals. The main route is Emlak Katılım: six currencies, a personal manager, opening by power of attorney. We take on the most labour-intensive part — legalising and translating the documents to Turkish rules.

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4 banks
Emlak Katılım, VakıfBank, İşbank and Ziraat
6 currencies
TRY, USD, EUR, AED, CNY and RUB at Emlak Katılım
By power of attorney
A representative opens the Emlak Katılım account
All owners
The bank reviews every owner of the company

This service in other countries

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Everything we do in Turkey

In short

We open accounts in Turkey for a UAE company or an individual at one of four banks: Emlak Katılım, VakıfBank, İşbank or Ziraat. The main route is Emlak Katılım: a representative opens the account under a power of attorney; the bank reviews every owner of the company.

Checked 18 October 2026 · Elizaveta Germash

Turkey is a workable banking channel — if your documents follow Turkish rules

Turkish banks open accounts for non-residents but are strict about the form of documents. For a UAE company, that means consular legalisation, sworn translation and a notary — without them, you won’t get as far as opening an account.

  • Emlak Katılım — the main route

    A with six currencies, including AED, CNY and RUB. No limits, a personal manager, and the account is opened by power of attorney.

  • A UAE apostille won’t work

    The UAE is not party to the , so company documents are legalised at the Turkish consulate. Emlak Katılım does not accept “lawyer” legalisation.

  • The questionnaire checks the whole chain

    The questionnaire covers SWIFT payment countries, monthly transaction count and volume, transit trade, vessels, and any office or activity in Turkey. The answers must match the documents.

  • A Russian passport narrows the choice

    At VakıfBank, SWIFT payments are not available to Russian passport holders — the account works only with Visa and Mastercard cards. For settlements with counterparties, we pick a different bank.

Expert tip

For the Turkish tax number, the bank will ask for the parents’ names of the director, representatives and shareholders. We collect them together with the passports — otherwise the application stalls over a single detail.
Elizaveta GermashElizaveta GermashLawyer · Bank accounts

Banks

Banks where we open accounts

Terms reflect our practice as of October 2026. The final decision and fees are up to the bank.

Türkiye Emlak Katılım Bankası

Türkiye Emlak Katılım Bankası

State-owned Islamic bank of Turkey

An account by power of attorney, usually without a visit, and six currencies, including dirhams and yuan.

Open to
Non-residents — companies and individuals
Currencies
TRY, USD, EUR, AED, CNY, RUB
Opening
By power of attorney, usually without a visit
Limits
No limits
Personal manager
Yes
Outgoing SWIFT
0.5% of the amount, USD 50–2,250, excluding BSMV
  • Company documents — translated into Turkish with consular legalisation: the UAE is not party to the Hague Convention. Scans are enough at the first stage.
  • The bank reviews all owners of the company; it obtains the Turkish tax number itself.
  • Doesn’t serve alcohol, cigarettes, precious metals or sanctioned goods.
About the bank
VakıfBank

VakıfBank

State-owned bank of Turkey

Mainly personal accounts and cards. It opens accounts for companies too, but compliance is demanding.

Open to
Individuals; companies — with a demanding review
Currencies
TRY, USD, EUR
Opening
Power of attorney or a visit — agreed with the bank
Cards
Visa and Mastercard
  • With a Russian passport, SWIFT payments are unavailable — Visa and Mastercard cards only.
About the bank
İşbank

İşbank

Private bank in Turkey

An option for large clients with relationship support — opened in person, not online.

Open to
Non-residents
Currencies
USD, EUR, TRY
Opening
In person, not online
Outgoing SWIFT online
Up to 10,000 TRY — 745 TRY; above that — 0.7%, 1,490–4,750 TRY, excluding BSMV
About the bank
Ziraat Bankası

Ziraat Bankası

State-owned bank of Turkey

No limits and a personal manager, but compliance is demanding for non-residents.

Open to
Non-residents — with a demanding review
Currencies
USD, EUR, TRY
Opening
In person, not online
Limits
No limits
Personal manager
Yes
About the bank

Who it suits

Who it suits — and when to choose something else

A good fit if

  1. 01Your company has a link to Turkey: an office, operations, suppliers or clients in the country.
  2. 02You need dirhams or yuan alongside lira, dollars and euros — Emlak Katılım offers that set.
  3. 03You need a second banking channel alongside your UAE account — in another country and another banking system.
  4. 04You’re ready to legalise your company documents at the Turkish consulate and have them translated by a sworn translator.
  5. 05You want an interest-free bank operating on Islamic banking principles.
  6. 06Your business is large and needs hands-on support from the bank — İşbank is built for that.

Consider something else if

  1. 01Your business involves alcohol, cigarettes, precious metals or sanctioned goods — Emlak Katılım doesn’t serve such companies.
  2. 02Your business operates in Turkey itself — with staff and local clients: it’s easier to open the account for a Turkish company.Turkey
  3. 03The owners aren’t willing to be disclosed — the bank reviews all owners of the company.
  4. 04You have no ties to Turkey, and nothing to explain the choice of country — the bank will ask about it in the application form.UAE

Form of presence

An account for your UAE company — or your own company in Turkey?

If the business operates in Turkey itself, the account can also be opened for a Turkish company. Amounts are a guide for a simple business in Istanbul as of 5 October 2026, excluding VAT; capital is the statutory minimum. Registration doesn’t guarantee an account: the bank vets the company separately, and this can take longer than the registration itself.

UAE company account

A non-resident account at Emlak Katılım or another Turkish bank

Account holder

Your UAE company — as a non-resident

What to do before the bank

Legalisation and translation of documents, the bank’s questionnaire; the bank obtains the tax number

Documents from the UAE

Company documents — UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish consulate, then sworn translation and a notary

Visit needed?

At Emlak Katılım — by power of attorney, usually without a visit; at İşbank and Ziraat — in person

Registration in Turkey, one-off

Not needed — you don’t set up a company in Turkey

Running costs

Only the bank’s fees for the account, payments and cards

When to choose it

You have suppliers or clients in Turkey, or need a second channel alongside your UAE account, but have no office in the country

Subsidiary in Turkey

Ltd. Şti. or A.Ş., with a UAE company as the founder

Account holder

The Turkish company — a separate legal entity

What to do before the bank

Registration via , the trade registry and the chamber, publication in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette

Documents from the UAE

The founder’s documents — the same legalisation and translation, plus an investment resolution and a power of attorney

Visit needed?

Much can be done by power of attorney; whether the signatory must appear at the bank, we confirm in advance

Registration in Turkey, one-off

10,000–18,000 TRY — registry, chamber, publication; plus 0.04% of the capital to the Competition Authority

Running costs

Accounting and address — about 9,000–18,000 TRY a month, even with no revenue

When to choose it

The business operates in Turkey itself: an office, employees, local clients

Branch of a UAE company

Part of the UAE company, with no legal personality of its own

Account holder

The branch; the UAE company is liable for its obligations

What to do before the bank

Registration of the branch and of a fully authorised representative who lives in Turkey

Documents from the UAE

Registry extract, constitutional documents, branch resolution, powers and specimen signatures — with legalisation and translation

Visit needed?

Much can be done by power of attorney; the branch representative must live in Turkey

Registration in Turkey, one-off

50,000–70,000 TRY — registration of the branch and the representative, chamber, publication

Running costs

Accounting and address — the same guide of 9,000–18,000 TRY a month

When to choose it

The activity stays within the scope of the UAE company, and there is someone in Turkey to appoint as representative

Capital in Turkey

UAE company account

Not required

No Turkish legal entity is created

Ltd. Şti.

50,000 TRY

Doesn’t have to be paid in before registration — payable within 24 months

A.Ş.

250,000 TRY

At least 25% before registration, the rest within 24 months

Branch

No minimum

The capital allocated to the branch is declared

Benefits

What you get

A bank that fits your profile

We match your business activity, currencies and owners’ passports against the terms of the four banks. If your profile won’t pass, we tell you before applying.

Documents the bank will accept

Consular legalisation, sworn translation and notarisation — in the right order and without the “lawyer” route that Emlak Katılım rejects.

A questionnaire with no inconsistencies

We help you answer questions on payment countries, volumes, transit and vessels so the answers match your contracts and statements.

Tax number without delays

We collect the data for the Turkish tax number of the company, representatives and shareholders, including parents’ names. The bank issues the number itself.

Opening without a trip

For Emlak Katılım we prepare a power of attorney for a representative: the account is usually opened without you travelling to Turkey.

Status in the client portal

What’s at legalisation, what’s with the translator, what’s already at the bank — all visible in the client portal.

Comparison

Four Turkish banks

Terms are based on our experience. Banks change them, so we check the requirements against your profile before applying.

  • CurrenciesEmlak KatılımTRY, USD, EUR, AED, CNY, RUBVakıfBankTRY, USD, EURİşbankUSD, EUR, TRYZiraatUSD, EUR, TRY
  • Best suited toEmlak KatılımNon-residents, including UAE companiesVakıfBankIndividuals; companies — possibleİşbankLarge clientsZiraatNon-residents
  • How it’s openedEmlak KatılımBy power of attorney, through a representativeVakıfBankConfirmed for your profileİşbankNot online, with bank supportZiraatNot online
  • Limits and managerEmlak KatılımNo limits, personal managerVakıfBankConfirmed for your profileİşbankLarge-client relationship supportZiraatNo limits, personal manager
  • ComplianceEmlak KatılımAll owners, detailed questionnaire, Turkish tax numberVakıfBankDemanding for companiesİşbankDepends on the scale of the businessZiraatDemanding for non-residents
  • Key pointsEmlak KatılımIslamic participation bank: doesn’t serve alcohol, cigarettes, precious metals or sanctioned goodsVakıfBankMainly personal accounts and Visa and Mastercard cards; companies — with a demanding reviewİşbankFor large businesses that value support over online serviceZiraatUnlimited settlements, if you’re ready for in-depth review

Choosing a bank

Which of the four banks suits you?

Banks that don’t fit fade out based on known terms — per our practice as of October 2026. The decision to open an account rests with the bank.

Which currencies do you need on the account?

Can you travel to Turkey for the opening?

Does your business involve alcohol, cigarettes or precious metals trading?

Do you need an interest-free bank?

4 of 4 fit

  • Emlak Katılım

    Emlak Katılım · State-owned participation bank

    6 currencies, including AED and CNY · By power of attorney · No limits

    UAE company documents need consular legalisation and a sworn translation; the bank reviews all owners

    Fits
  • VakıfBank

    VakıfBank · State-owned bank

    TRY, USD, EUR · power of attorney or a visit

    Mainly personal accounts and cards; companies face a demanding review

    Fits
  • İşbank

    İşbank · Private bank

    USD, EUR, TRY · Opened in person

    For large clients who need the bank’s hands-on support

    Fits
  • Ziraat Bankası

    Ziraat Bankası · State-owned bank

    USD, EUR, TRY · No limits · Personal manager

    In-depth review for non-residents

    Fits

Let’s discuss the details

Which Turkish bank will accept your profile?

Describe your business activity, payment countries and owners’ passports — we’ll tell you where to apply and which documents to legalise in advance.

Process

7 steps from the first conversation to the result

Every step is visible in the client portal: what’s happening now and whether we need anything from you.

Steps on your side: 3 of 7

We handle it · 2Needed from you · 3Bank · 1Authority · 1

  1. We look at the business activity, currencies, owners’ passports and the link to Turkey. We check for activities the bank doesn’t serve and choose the bank.

Documents

What to prepare — depending on who is opening the account

Information

Documents

Ready

0 / 12

For Emlak Katılım, scans are enough at the first stage. The bank provides the exact list of company documents.

Timing and budget

What makes up the budget

Emlak Katılım and İşbank publish their fees — their SWIFT charges for companies are below, excluding ; we quote VakıfBank and Ziraat fees before applying. Document preparation can be costed upfront: the UAE MOFA fee, translation and notary — indicative as of October 2026.

  • Account maintenanceDepends onThe fee depends on the bank and the package. We confirm it before applying so there are no surprises after opening.WhenMonthly
  • International transfersDepends onEmlak Katılım — 0.5% of the amount, from USD 50 to USD 2,250 (fee table of 16 February 2026); İşbank via online banking — 745 TRY up to 10,000 TRY, above that 0.7%, from 1,490 to 4,750 TRY (as of 9 January 2026). VakıfBank and Ziraat — per the bank’s fee schedule. Correspondent banks may deduct their own charges.WhenPer transaction
  • ConversionDepends onThe bank’s rate when exchanging between lira and the account’s other currencies.WhenPer transaction
  • CardsDepends onIssue and servicing of Visa and Mastercard cards — per the bank’s fee schedule. At VakıfBank, for Russian passport holders, this is the main way to use the account.WhenOn issue and per fee schedule
  • Consular legalisationDepends onThe UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs charges AED 2,000 for each commercial document: the licence, articles of association, board resolution, power of attorney from the company. The Turkish consular fee follows the consulate’s tariff — we calculate it for your set of documents.WhenBefore applying
  • Sworn translation and notaryDepends onTranslation — 500–1,200 TRY for a short document, usually from English; notary — 1,000–3,000 TRY for a simple translated document, excluding VAT. Powers of attorney and lengthy corporate documents are priced separately.WhenBefore applying
  • Our supportDepends onChoosing the bank, the order of legalisation and translation, the bank’s questionnaire, the details for the tax number and the power of attorney. We quote the cost after reviewing your profile — as a separate line in the proposal.WhenAt the start of work

Getting it right

Common mistakes — and how to avoid them

Click a card to see how to do it right · 0 of 6 open

  1. 01 What people often do

    Having UAE company documents certified by a lawyer and assuming that’s enough.

  2. 02 What people often do

    Getting documents translated into Turkish by a translator you happen to know.

  3. 03 What people often do

    Putting vague figures in the questionnaire: “any volumes, countries as needed”.

  4. 04 What people often do

    Opening a VakıfBank account with a Russian passport and counting on international payments.

  5. 05 What people often do

    Staying silent about transit trade or vessels in the supply chain.

  6. 06 What people often do

    Remembering the shareholders’ parents’ names only when the bank is already issuing the tax number.

FAQ

Expert answers

Elizaveta Germash — Bank accounts

Yes. Emlak Katılım opens accounts for non-residents, including UAE companies, by power of attorney. The condition is company documents with legalisation at the Turkish consulate, a sworn translation and notarisation. VakıfBank and Ziraat also work with non-residents, but their compliance is more demanding.

Elizaveta Germash · Bank accounts

Sources

  1. UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs — attestation FAQ and fees
  2. Turkish Revenue Administration (GİB) — tax number for foreigners
  3. Emlak Katılım — Commercial Banking Product and Service Fees (16 February 2026)
  4. İşbank — product and service fees

Deadlines, amounts and rules are based on these sources as of the check date. Rules change: check with us before deciding.

Often goes with this

What else you may need

Bank Accounts

UAE

2–8 weeks · To open a corporate account

Bank Accounts

Georgia

USD 500,000 · Total balance for Wealth Management

Business Support

Legalisation

No apostille · The UAE is not party to the Hague Convention

Next step

A Turkish account — which bank will take your company?

Tell us about your business activity, owners and payment countries. We’ll tell you which of the four banks fits and draw up a list of documents for legalisation and translation.

Elizaveta GermashElizaveta GermashLawyer · Bank accounts
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