An incoming SWIFT transfer that your bank will not credit until it understands it
A foreign-currency transfer into a Turkish account is credited only after the bank's operations unit has recorded its purpose and, above its internal thresholds, seen the documents behind it. For companies the bank also needs to know whether the money is an export payment, a service fee, a loan or capital — each has its own treatment under the TCMB's circulars. We prepare the purpose statement and the document pack for one transfer, request the Döviz Alım Belgesi (DAB) in the right wording when currency is sold, and track the credit day by day.
Price — one incoming transfer
State fees and the notarial tariff are paid by you directly to the state or to the notary. We are not a notary and receive no remuneration from any notary, bank or lawyer.
Last verified: 24.10.2026 · source: TCMB Sermaye Hareketleri Genelgesi and İhracat Genelgesi — tcmb.gov.tr; MASAK — masak.hmb.gov.trPilot price, valid until 31.12.2026, incl. KDV. Bank fees, state fees and the notarial tariff are separate and paid by you to them.
What the bank asks, by purpose of the transfer
| Purpose declared | Documents the bank files | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Export of goods | Invoice, customs declaration (GÇB) number, contract if any | Falls under the İhracat Genelgesi: repatriation deadline, DAB and İBKB — see export proceeds |
| Service export (software, consulting, freight) | Invoice, service contract, proof of delivery where available | No GÇB; bank relies on invoice and contract; KDV exemption is your SMMM's matter |
| Shareholder loan from abroad | Loan agreement, board resolution, repayment schedule | Reported by the bank under the Sermaye Hareketleri Genelgesi; maturity and interest matter |
| Capital contribution | Capital increase resolution, registry record, shareholder identification | Bank issues the capital DAB your SMMM needs for registration |
| Personal: salary, family support, savings | Employment contract, family record, statements | Individuals: see source-of-funds pack |
| Sale of property abroad | Sale contract, title transfer, foreign bank statement | Apostille and sworn translation usually required |
The DAB (Döviz Alım Belgesi) is the bank's record that it bought foreign currency from you. It is the proof document for export proceeds, capital and citizenship-by-investment transfers; ask for it on the day the currency is sold.
How it works
Send the SWIFT advice and the bank's message
The MT103 or the bank's notification, the amount, the sender, and whatever the bank asked. Tell us what the money is for in one sentence.
Classification and pack
We confirm the purpose category, list the documents the bank will file for it, check that invoice, contract and sender name agree with the SWIFT, and draft the purpose statement in Turkish for your signature. Within one business day; same day on Desk Trade and Group.
Submission and DAB
You upload or hand in the pack. If you convert the currency, we give you the DAB request wording so the certificate carries the right purpose and reference; it cannot be corrected later.
Follow-up to credit
We log the submission date and chase with you daily until the amount is credited or the bank asks a follow-up question; one revision is included.
Typical cases
- First export payment to a new company. €38,000 from a buyer in Germany; the bank wants the invoice and the customs declaration number before crediting and will issue İBKB.
- Service fee from a foreign client to a freelancer or a software company: invoice and contract; the bank asks why there is no customs declaration.
- Shareholder loan of USD 200,000 from the foreign parent; the bank asks for the loan agreement with maturity and interest before it reports and credits.
- Property purchase funds for a citizenship-by-investment buyer; the DAB wording must match the tapu transaction. See the investment document pack.
- Transfer returned once already by the correspondent bank; your bank wants the documents before accepting the resend.
What can go wrong
- Sender name on the SWIFT differs from the contract party. A parent company pays for a subsidiary; the bank wants the link documented or it returns the funds.
- Purpose declared wrongly. "Loan" when it is capital, or "export" when it is a service. The classification drives reporting and later tax treatment; fix it before the credit, not after.
- DAB issued with the wrong purpose text. Banks do not reissue. The wording goes in with the conversion order.
- Missing the bank's return deadline. Uncredited transfers are returned after the bank's holding period. Answer the day the request arrives.
- A sender or bank on a list. If screening shows a listed party we tell you and stop; what follows is a question for your lawyer.
Questions
Why is the bank holding my money? The sender is a normal company.
Because the bank must record a purpose for every incoming foreign-currency transfer and, above its thresholds, hold the documents behind it, under MASAK rules and TCMB reporting. A complete pack is usually credited within days; a vague answer triggers a second round or a return.
Do I have to convert the currency to lira?
For most purposes, no; the credit can stay in foreign currency. For export proceeds, the TCMB's İhracat Genelgesi requires a set share to be sold to the bank against DAB; the percentage is set by the TCMB and changes, so we check the current circular on tcmb.gov.tr on the day.
Can you talk to the bank for us?
We draft; you sign and send. We accompany you to the branch with a sworn interpreter when a conversation is needed. We hold no power of attorney and no credentials.
Is this included in the Business Operating Desk?
Yes: Start up to 4 transfer packs per month, Trade up to 12, Group unlimited. See the banking hub.
Related: outgoing import payment pack · export proceeds follow-up · bank compliance reply · guide: SWIFT payment documents · back to banking & finance
Transfer on hold? Send the SWIFT advice
Opens in WhatsApp. Documents are sent through WhatsApp or e-mail during the pilot. Reply within one business hour.