عناقيد
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Bank transfers and licensed payment services offer several ways to send money within Türkiye or abroad. This guide was originally written for 2025; compare the total cost, recipient amount and available route before choosing a service.
Service update — 8 October 2026: The ordinary FAST transaction limit increased to TRY 300,000 on 26 August 2026, replacing the original article’s outdated TRY 50,000 figure. Individual providers may set lower account/channel limits. Wise has significant restrictions for customers whose registered address is in Türkiye, and Papara now describes supported routes for receiving money from abroad. See TCMB’s FAST announcement, Wise’s Türkiye restrictions and Papara’s international-receipt guidance.
1. Domestic transfers within Türkiye
Havale: transfers within the same bank
Havale transfers money between accounts at the same bank, such as one Ziraat account to another. They are commonly processed promptly, but the fee depends on the bank, channel and account terms.Advantage: Convenient for accounts at the same institution; some providers make the service free.
Limitation: It is not the interbank transfer route. The original statement that every havale is free was too broad.
EFT: transfers between banks
EFT is used for TRY transfers between banks. TCMB’s published payment-system hours are normally 08:30–17:30 on weekdays other than public holidays, with shorter hours on half working days. Your bank may have an earlier customer cut-off. See TCMB’s EFT and FAST explanation.Advantage: A standard route for interbank TRY payments.
Limitation: Ordinary EFT settlement depends on the working-day timetable. The original TRY 1–5 fee range is an unverified 2025 illustration, not a current tariff; check the amount shown by your bank.
FAST: instant transfers around the clock
FAST is a separate TCMB-operated system for eligible instant TRY transfers, including at weekends and on public holidays. The current ordinary per-transaction system limit is TRY 300,000, subject to the provider’s own limits and checks.Advantage: Eligible payments can be made 24/7.
Limitation: The sender’s and recipient’s providers must participate and support the transaction; service interruptions and security checks can affect processing. Fees are provider-specific.
2. International transfers to and from Türkiye
Western Union
Western Union provides international transfers through supported online/bank channels and participating agents, including relevant bank or PTT locations. Eligible cash transfers may be available within minutes, subject to opening hours, identification and compliance checks.Advantage: Useful when the recipient needs an eligible cash-pickup service.
Limitation: Fees and exchange rates vary by route, amount, currency and channel. The original 2–5% range is not a universal price. Compare a current quote, including the net recipient amount. See İş Bankası’s Western Union information.
Wise, formerly TransferWise
Wise can offer international transfers funded from a Turkish bank account where the selected currency and route are supported. Compare its live fee and exchange-rate quote rather than assuming it is always cheaper or best for a particular amount.Important Türkiye-address restrictions: Wise currently restricts receiving into Wise balances/account details, adding money, opening new currency balances, converting balances and sending an existing balance to other people. Existing funds can be withdrawn to the customer’s own bank account. These restrictions are separate from the supported bank-funded international-transfer service. Other people can also use Wise to send to your Turkish bank account through an available route.
Use your genuine current address and complete the requested checks. The original claim that Wise is licensed by the Turkish central bank was not verified and should not be relied on.
SWIFT through a bank
Banks such as Ziraat, Garanti BBVA and VakıfBank offer international foreign-currency transfers through their supported channels. You generally need the beneficiary’s exact name, account number or IBAN, bank details and SWIFT/BIC, together with the payment purpose and any requested supporting documents.The account identifier depends on the receiving country; “TR…” is a Turkish IBAN, not a universal format for every destination. See Ziraat’s SWIFT instructions.
Advantage: A standard bank-to-bank route for supported currencies and destinations.
Limitation: Sending, correspondent and receiving-bank charges may apply. One to three working days and USD 15–30 were the original guide’s indicative 2025 examples; they are not guaranteed timings or current quotes. Ask which party bears the charges and whether the recipient will receive the full amount.
Receiving money in Türkiye
- For Western Union cash pickup, follow the provider’s identity requirements and use the transfer reference/MTCN where required. A bank account is not necessarily needed for this route.
- For an account transfer, give the correct bank and beneficiary details for the supported TRY or foreign-currency account.
- Enpara is a bank account provider, rather than an electronic wallet; use its current account details and SWIFT instructions where applicable.
- Papara advertises eligible international receipts through supported Remitly or card-transfer routes. These are credited in TRY after the sending provider’s conversion and remain subject to account eligibility, supported countries and checks. They are not the same as an unrestricted foreign-currency SWIFT account.
Comparing transfer methods
| Method | Route | Typical processing pattern | Cost and suitability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Havale | Same bank | Usually prompt | Provider-specific; useful for accounts at the same institution |
| EFT | Interbank TRY | Working-day system hours and bank cut-offs | Current tariff/waiver; suitable for ordinary interbank payments |
| FAST | Eligible domestic TRY | Instant, 24/7, subject to checks | Provider tariff and limits; current ordinary system limit TRY 300,000 |
| Western Union | Supported international routes | Minutes for eligible services; conditions apply | Live fee and exchange-rate quote; useful for cash pickup |
| Wise | Supported bank-funded international routes | Route-specific estimate | Live quote; substantial restrictions on Türkiye-address Wise balances |
| SWIFT | International bank transfer | Working-day processing; timing varies | Bank/correspondent charges; useful for supported foreign-currency transfers |
Before you send
- Check the recipient’s exact name, account details and country.
- Compare the total debit and the net amount the recipient will receive, including conversion.
- Keep the receipt or MTCN until the recipient confirms arrival.
- Use a bank or an appropriately authorised provider and its official channels.
- Avoid unverified intermediaries or people offering to route money through their personal accounts.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send money from Türkiye to Saudi Arabia? Check the current destination, currency, funding and payout options with Western Union, Wise or your bank. Do not assume that a particular provider supports every Türkiye–Saudi route.Can Papara receive money from abroad? Supported routes are now advertised by Papara, subject to the conditions above. The original blanket “only from a Turkish bank” answer is outdated.
Can foreign nationals receive international transfers? Yes, where they satisfy the chosen provider’s identity, account and transaction requirements. An account transfer and a cash-pickup transfer have different requirements.
Is a Wise transfer permitted? Use only the services Wise currently offers for your real residence and selected route. Do not interpret this guide as confirmation of a Turkish TCMB licence or unrestricted Wise-account availability.
Additional tips
- Consider FAST for an eligible urgent domestic TRY payment.
- Compare a current international-transfer quote, including bank-funded Wise routes where available.
- Avoid unlicensed or unverified intermediaries.
- Keep an electronic copy of every transfer receipt and supporting document.