A Complete Guide to the Best Ways to Send Money to Turkey

Sending money to Turkey isn’t hard — but figuring out the best way to do it can be. With so many platforms, fees, and rules to compare, it’s easy to get lost. This guide breaks down why people send money to Turkey, how to do it securely and affordably, and what to watch out for along the way.

Why send money to Turkey?

From family support and freelance payments to setting up your own life abroad — there’s no shortage of reasons to send money to Turkey. 

Turkey has always been an attractive destination for young professionals working remotely. Recently, it even introduced a digital nomad scheme for European and US citizens, opening the door for remote workers to live and work legally in cities like Istanbul, Izmir, and Antalya. While the cost of living in major Turkish cities has risen sharply in recent years, the country still appeals to freelancers and remote professionals with its dynamic culture, solid infrastructure, and pleasant weather. 

This topic is also close to my own heart — I spent three years living in Istanbul, and I’ve had a fair share of my own successes and disasters with trying to send and receive money internationally. 

Potential challenges

Before you actually send money to Turkey, it’s good to be aware of potential challenges. The first one is inflation. Turkey has been facing high inflation for several years, which makes the exchange rate for the Turkish lira especially volatile. The value of the lira can fluctuate dramatically in a short period — meaning the amount your recipient actually receives might vary from day to day. 

Another issue is the availability of international money-sending platforms. Some of them aren’t available in Turkey due to regulatory and licensing issues — PayPal, for example, withdrew from the Turkish market in 2016 because it didn’t meet local data storage requirements. This limits the options for receiving payments, especially for freelancers or small businesses who are used to PayPal, making alternatives more common. Also, not all platforms let you send in Turkish lira, which leads to double conversion fees. Lastly, Turkey’s financial regulations can change quickly and without much warning. From new rules on foreign exchange to shifting limits on crypto platforms, what works one month might not work the next.

There are also non-Turkey specific issues, such as bank fees, exchange rate markups, and delivery delays — but that happens with international transfers everywhere.

Main methods of sending money to Turkey

Let’s have a look at some of the real methods people use to send money to Turkey. 

SWIFT

SWIFT transfers are one of the oldest and most common ways to send money internationally. Instead of moving money directly, the SWIFT system sends secure messages between banks to instruct them to process the transfer. It’s a global network used by financial institutions to coordinate cross-border payments — kind of like sending a formal letter between banks that tells them what to do.

Here’s how to send money to Turkey via SWIFT in a nutshell:

Get the recipient’s full bank details (including IBAN and BIC), log into your banking app or visit a branch, enter everything carefully, choose who covers the fees, and confirm the transfer. Done. The good news is that most Turkish banks are connected to the SWIFT network and support international transfers. 

Let’s check out some pros and cons of using SWIFT.

Pros:

• Global reach. Works with almost all banks worldwide (unless sanctioned), including major Turkish banks.
• High transfer limits. A good option for large sums.
• Strong security. Operated by a trusted international network with strong compliance standards.

Сons: 

• High fees. Your bank, as well as the bank of the recipient, may charge hefty fines. If they’re using an intermediary bank, this number may be even higher. 
• Slow delivery. Transfers can take multiple days if they’re routed through correspondent banks.
• Strict data requirements. You need to make sure you input accurate banking details (IBAN, BIC, full addresses). If you make a mistake, it can cause delays.

I’ve personally used SWIFT to send money to myself to my bank account in Turkey from another country. While the process was unexpectedly swift (no pun intended), with the money arriving in my account later the same day, the fees were very steep — over $100 in 2022.

SWIFT transfers are reliable but come with high fees and can take several days.

{{Eugene Mischenko}}

Wise

Wise, formerly called Transferwise, is an online transfer platform used widely for sending money abroad. It’s known for clear pricing, fast delivery, fair mid-market exchange rates, and a simple interface. It’s one of the most trusted ways to send money to Turkey — if you ever look this issue up on any online forums, such as Reddit, Wise is the actual platform people recommend most often. 

Not even Wise is immune to the unpredictability of Turkey, though, as evidenced by its suspension of Turkish lira balance features in 2023 due to local regulations. You can still send money to Turkish bank accounts from abroad, but users in Turkey can’t hold or receive lira directly in a Wise wallet for now, which might be something to discuss with your recipient.

To use Wise, you’ll need to sign up, fill in the recipient’s info, set the amount, and pay using a card, bank account, or mobile wallet.

I’ve personally received small amounts of money via Wise from friends abroad, even though I don’t have a Wise account. The transfer was almost instant, and the money landed in my bank account in Turkish lira.

Wise is my preferred method — it’s generally fast, transparent on fees, and easy to track, though I always keep Payoneer as a backup… Wise and Payoneer are smooth overall, but Wise sometimes delays payments or requires extra verification.

{{Eugene Mischenko}}

What are some advantages and disadvantages of using Wise to send money, you ask?

Pros:

• Transparent fees. You see exactly what you’re paying and why. There’s no hidden markup for exchange rates either.
• Fast delivery. In many cases, money arrives within minutes.
• Simple interface. The Wise website and app are both quite straightforward. 

Cons: 

• Compulsory verification. To send money with Wise, you may need to pass KYC checks. This includes uploading documents like your government ID or source of income.
• Percentage-based fees. Wise charges a percentage of the amount sent, which means bigger transfers come with proportionally higher costs. Wise offers discounts for large transfers to mitigate this, but the fees can still be pretty high.
• Possible limits. How much you can send depends on your country and payment method — Wise provides detailed guidelines on this. 

Remitly

Remitly is a digital money transfer service for international transfers — especially for family or friends. It’s popular for remittances, offering competitive exchange rates and a choice between speed (Express) or low fees (Economy). With Remitly, you can send money directly to the recipient’s bank account, a cash pick-up location, as well as Papara and Paycell — which are Turkey-based mobile wallets.

Remitly’s Economy tier offers better exchange rates but takes a few days to deliver, while the Express tier delivers money faster, albeit with slightly worse rates and higher fees.   It also offers discounts to first-time users. After that, Remitly charges 1.99 euros for transfers to Turkey.

Pros:

• Multiple payout options. You can send money to the recipient’s bank account, mobile wallet, or as a cash pickup.
• Attractive for first-time users. Remitly offers fee-free or improved-rate first transfers.
• Transparent pricing. You see the fees and exchange rate before you send.

Cons.

• Not freelancer-forward. Not built for freelancers or business use; mostly supports personal transfers between individuals.
• Geographically limited funding. You can only send money from about 28 countries.
• Time-based limits. Remitly sets sending caps over 24 hours, 30 days, and 180 days, which vary by destination and delivery method.

Western Union

Western Union is one of the oldest and most widely recognized money transfer services in the world. It lets people send money internationally — either to a bank account, a debit card, or for cash pickup at a physical location. It’s very popular in Turkey as there are tonnes of pickup points across the country, and it doesn’t require the recipient to have a bank account.

According to my own (very scientific) method of polling Turkish friends, Western Union has a strong reputation. Like SWIFT, it’s an old-school, established option — but it tends to be more affordable and more convenient. Many use it to send money to Turkey from abroad on a regular basis. 

So, how do Western Union transfers work? Let’s imagine you want your recipient to collect money in cash. Start by creating an account, pick Turkey as the destination, enter how much you want to send, and choose “Cash pickup” as the delivery method. Then add the recipient’s name and pay with your bank card. After the transfer goes through, you’ll get a tracking number (MTCN). Just send that to the recipient — they’ll be able to pick up the cash at a Western Union location in Turkey with their government ID. You’ll cover the fees, which can vary depending on where you’re sending from and how you pay.

Pros:

• Widely available. You can find a Western Union location almost anywhere, including rural towns and city side streets.
• Multiple ways to pay. You can fund a transfer with your debit card, bank account, or even with cash at a kiosk if you’re feeling analog.
• Bankless access. Great if the recipient doesn’t have a bank account. They can just walk into an agent location and leave with physical cash.

Cons:

• Opaque fees. Total costs can vary depending on how you pay, where you’re sending from, and how the recipient gets the money — and it’s not always clear what you’re being charged for.
• Essential tracking. Without the MTCN, the recipient can’t access the money. While senders can recover it, the process can cause frustrating delays.

Payoneer

Payoneer is a global payment platform designed for freelancers, remote workers, and businesses. It lets you receive international payments into a Payoneer account, which you can then withdraw to your local bank account in Turkey (or anywhere else you’re based). It’s not a traditional money transfer service — it’s more like a cross-border business wallet. 

So if you’re, say, a freelance designer in the US and need to pay your Turkish developer, you can use Payoneer (or your card, depending on your location) to send funds to their Payoneer account, and they can withdraw it in TRY to their local bank. Most transfers are instant, although some may take up to two business days.

Payoneer fees are somewhat confusing due to their variability based on factors like transaction type, currency, and the recipient's location. If you’re sending money from your Payoneer balance to a recipient in another country, you’ll typically pay up to 1% of the transaction amount (capped at $4), or up to 3% if the recipient doesn’t have a Payoneer account and you’re paying them via bank transfer. If you’re sending money to someone with a Payoneer account, payments are free for them if you’re using your Payoneer balance. If you choose to pay by credit card, PayPal, or bank debit, fees of up to 3.99% may apply, and these are typically charged to the recipient. 

While there is no universal sending limit, high-value transactions involve different fees. Payoneer has minimum and maximum limits for each supported transaction currency — for Turkish lira, it’s 4.23 to 84, 423 TRY per payment. But since you’re probably using a currency like USD or EUR to pay, and the recipient converts to TRY themselves, this doesn’t affect the transaction.

Notably, Payoneer charges an inactivity fee: if your account receives less than $2,000 in payments within a 12-month period, you’re charged a $29.95 annual fee.

Pros:

• Freelancer-focused platform. Payoneer is the only tool on this list designed for freelancers.
• Wide support. It’s officially integrated with platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, Airbnb, and Amazon, making it easy to send payments to freelancers or sellers using them.
• Multi-currency options. You can hold balances in multiple currencies. Your recipient can withdraw locally in TRY or another currency if available.

Cons:

• Stackable fees. You’ll pay for currency conversion, withdrawals, and even inactivity. It adds up fast.
• Business-only platform. Payoneer is made for business use, so you can’t send money to friends or family just because. Both sides need to have business-verified accounts.
• Slow support. If something goes wrong, don’t expect round-the-clock customer service. Users online are reporting long response times, especially for urgent issues like account holds or transfer delays.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or USDT are digital assets that can be transferred online without going through banks. Instead of relying on traditional systems like wire transfers or money transfer services, crypto uses decentralized blockchain networks to send funds quickly and often with lower fees.

To get started, you’ll need a crypto wallet or exchange platform, all of which let you buy, hold, and send cryptocurrency securely. Crypto can be a great way to send money — it’s fast, cheap, and doesn’t rely on banks. But it’s not beginner-level stuff. You need to know what you’re doing, and it’s easy to get tripped up by scams, bad platforms, or simple mistakes.

Now, what’s the situation with crypto in Turkey? The answer is, it’s not illegal, but it’s tightly regulated. You can’t use it for everyday purchases, and new rules are being introduced to oversee exchanges and licensing. Despite this, many Turks use cryptocurrencies for savings and transfers as a way to avoid inflation. 

A variety of local exchanges and international crypto platforms operate in Turkey. They include Turkey’s own Paribu and BTCTurk, as well as global giants Bybit and Binance, among others.

Occasionally, clients suggest crypto, but I rarely accept it. Crypto is fast but volatile and not always accepted by Turkish banks.

{{Eugene Mischenko}}

Pros:

• Fast transfers. Transactions can take minutes, even across continents.
• Low fees. Often cheaper than banks or money transfer services, especially for large amounts.
• Volatility-proof option. Using stablecoins like USDT and USDC can help you beat the volatility of traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, as well as the lira inflation.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve. If you’ve never used crypto before, there’s a lot of new terminology and methods for you to get comfortable with before you actually send money.
• Many scams. The crypto world is full of fake platforms and phishing schemes, making it easy to lose money if you don’t know what you’re doing.
• Local restrictions. If you’re sending crypto to Turkey, the recipient might not be able to off-ramp easily.

Have a look at each of these methods we discussed, compared side-by-side.

What about taxes and regulations?

If you’re sending money to someone who lives in Turkey — or to yourself after relocating — keep in mind that local tax rules may apply. Broadly speaking, if you live in Turkey for more than 183 days in a year, you’re generally considered a tax resident. That means that any income you earn from abroad could be taxed locally. 

In addition to this, frequent or high-value transfers might trigger compliance checks from your bank. Local rules often change fast, and some accounts do get temporarily frozen while paperwork catches up. If you’re ever in doubt or have any questions, it’s always best to double-check with an account or a tax specialist.

Cross-border payments are taxed as income, and you must declare them. Banks may flag frequent or large international transfers for compliance checks. There are no strict legal limits, but regulations can change, and sometimes accounts get temporarily blocked pending documentation.

{{Eugene Mischenko}}

A few final thoughts

And that’s all there is to sending money to Turkey! When trying to pick a method, bear in mind what works best for your needs, budget, and timeline, and those of your recipient. Don’t forget, though: it’s not just about speed or low fees — you want to use platforms that play by the rules. Look for ones that are upfront about their rates, don’t sneak in shady conversions, and won’t land you (or your recipient) in trouble. Stick with companies that take security and fraud protection seriously. Sending money to Turkey can be a breeze with the right setup.

Paying people in other countries, not just Turkey? Solowise has the best advice with expert commentary on sending money to Belarus, Georgia, Brazil, Serbia, Argentina, and Kazakhstan.