An account with TRY, USD, EUR balances and in-bank conversion. The base of the client’s settlement infrastructure in the jurisdiction.
Updated 19.08.2026
VakıfBank · Turkey
Opening an account at VakıfBankfor non-residents of Turkey
Support in opening an account at VakıfBank — a state bank used to foreign clients. A frequent choice of Turkish property buyers.
- PERSONAL ACCOUNT
- DEBIT CARD
- SWIFT
- NON-RESIDENT
- TurkeyJurisdiction
- TRY · USD · EURMain currencies
- For non-residentsApplications considered
- Per bank termsOpening format
Overview
Key terms
VakıfBank is one of Turkey’s three state banks: TRY, USD and EUR accounts, cards, a wide network. Foreign applications are routine, especially in cities with foreign-owned property; the tax number is mandatory.
- Account type
- Personal account
- Client
- Including non-residents — per bank requirements
- Currencies
- TRY · USD · EUR
- Bank card
- Yes, per the selected bank product
- SWIFT
- Yes
- SEPA
- No: EUR payments run via SWIFT
- Opening
- In-person visit; non-residents need a Turkish tax number
- Timeline
- One to several working days with the tax number ready
- Bank fees
- Set by the bank; shown before the work starts
- BRIDGES GLOBAL service
- From €2,500, fixed before payment
Products
What you get
An international payment card linked to the account — physical and digital formats per the bank’s line.
Online banking and a mobile app: payments, conversion, statements and bank communication remotely.
File preparation, filing coordination and responses to bank requests — before the decision and after opening.
Bank card
Debit card
- Payment network
- Visa or Mastercard — per bank product
- Currencies
- TRY · USD · EUR
- Format
- Physical and digital card
- Delivery
- At a bank branch at opening or later
- Mobile wallets
- Per current bank terms
- Maintenance
- Per bank tariffs; shown before the project
Card issuance and maintenance terms are set by the bank. Before the project we confirm the current tariffs of the selected product.
Non-residents
Opening without Turkish residency
VakıfBank opens accounts to non-residents: the key condition is a Turkish tax number, then the account purpose and document preparation decide. Branch practice varies, so we confirm the specific branch’s requirements before the visit.
- A Turkish residence permit is not required — a tax number suffices
- Certain banks expect an initial deposit or proof of address
- Branch practice varies — terms are confirmed before the visit
Availability
Availability by citizenship
Select citizenship:
Statuses reflect review practice as of the verification date and are not a promise on the bank’s behalf. The bank makes the final decision on each specific application.
Requirements
What the applicant needs
Mandatory for a non-resident. We obtain it at the tax office on the visit day — part of the service.
VakıfBank expects a specific answer to why the account is needed: property, living, payments or savings in Turkey.
The origin of funds must be documented. We prepare this part of the file before filing.
Identification takes place at a branch; a power of attorney works for certain tasks. The format is confirmed in advance.
Preparation
Documents for the bank
The exact list depends on citizenship, residency and source of funds: after the pre-check we send a personal list with samples.
Source of funds
Pick your main source — we show the documents the bank typically requests.
Documents usually required
- Employment contract or employer letter
- Salary account statements
- Tax returns where applicable
Pricing
BRIDGES GLOBAL support packages
Account and core support until the bank’s decision
Adds card issuance and digital banking set-up
Adds support for bank compliance requests for 6 months after opening
Included
- Preliminary check
- Personal document list
- Application and banking file preparation
- Visit booking and coordination
- Bank communication support
- Responses to additional bank requests
Not included
- The bank’s decision to open the account
- Bank fees and tariffs
- Minimum balance and deposits
- Third-party costs: translations, apostilles, travel
Process
How the account opening works
- 01Pre-check
We assess citizenship, residency, source of funds and account purpose — and say honestly whether the application has a prospect.
- 02Payment and project creation
Once the fit is confirmed we invoice the service. The project gets a number and a personal coordinator.
- 03Document collection
We send a personal list, verify each document and request anything missing in advance.
- 04Banking file
We build the file in the logic of compliance questions: source of funds, account purpose, expected operations.
- 05Filing and visit
We obtain the tax number, coordinate the branch visit in Istanbul or Antalya, prepare the client for the bank’s questions and support the filing.
- 06Compliance review
The bank reviews the application. We answer additional VakıfBank requests and keep the client informed.
- 07Bank decision
The decision belongs to the bank. If declined, we analyse the reason and propose the next step — keeping the prepared file.
- 08Account and card
We help activate the account, the card and digital banking. On the extended package we stay available for bank requests.
Compliance
Compliance and source of funds
The bank assesses not the size of the capital but its clarity: where the funds come from, what the client does, what operations are planned. We prepare the file in this logic before filing, so most compliance questions close in advance rather than in correspondence after filing.
The final decision on opening the account, issuing the card and providing banking products belongs to the bank. BRIDGES GLOBAL provides consulting and support services and does not guarantee a positive bank decision. Payment is made for BRIDGES GLOBAL services in preparing and supporting the project.
Questions
Account opening questions
Yes, a state-bank account is a convenient base for deal settlements and later property payments. We have the account ready for the deal date and help with currency conversion under the legal requirements.
The base is a passport and a Turkish tax number; certain banks ask for proof of address and a local SIM card. The tax number is issued quickly and is part of our service.
The standard scenario is an in-person visit. For certain tasks a power-of-attorney route via a Turkish representative works — applicability is checked at the pre-check.
With the tax number ready and a complete set - usually one to several working days; depends on the branch and the VakıfBank review.
Payment covers BRIDGES GLOBAL’s preparation and support work, not the bank’s decision. We start with a free pre-check and do not take on applications without a realistic prospect. Termination terms are fixed in the agreement before payment.
Team
Who runs banking projects
Dmitry NagyInternational Tax ConsultantBanking solution shortlist and the preliminary client check
Klara RihterHead of Compliance and Due DiligenceThe banking file and source of funds
Elena TitovaClient Relationship ManagerProject coordination and client liaison- 20+ yearsof international practice
- 8,000+families obtained status with BRIDGES GLOBAL
- 40+countries and jurisdictions in work
Availability
Another solution may fit you better
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