After You Arrive

Bank Account and SIM Card in Turkey

How students in Türkiye (Turkey) get a SIM card, keep a phone working and open a bank account.

Example bank

Example: student account

Account #: •••• 0000

Recent Transactions

Example: groceries

Example: phone bill

Example carrier

Student SIM

Example number

Example account and phone screen

Banking Options

Banks for students

An example from one university.

Akbank

Most Sabancı University students open an account here.
It has a branch on the Sabancı campus.

Visit Website

Step-by-Step Process

Opening a bank account

You may need a Turkish account for fees and money transfers from home.

Get a tax number

A number from the tax office for money matters, such as opening a bank account. Apply online or at a tax office with your passport. Use it until you get your foreign ID number (the ID number on your residence permit card).

Get a Turkish phone number

Banks ask for one.

Get a student certificate

A paper from your university that shows you study there. Or bring your student ID card.

Go to the bank

Bring your passport, phone number, tax number, student certificate and address proof.

Papers banks may ask for

Banks may ask for more.

Essential Documents:

Passport - Your valid passport.
Turkish phone number - For text message checks.
Tax number - Or your foreign ID number, from your residence permit card, once you have the card.
Student certificate - Or your student ID card.

Additional Documents (If Available):

Address proof - A dorm certificate, a rental contract, or a bill with your name and address.

Staying Connected

Your phone in Türkiye

Get a Turkish number. Banks and the migration office (the government office for foreigners) often contact you by text message.

Turkcell

One of the most used phone companies in Türkiye.

Visit Website

Vodafone

One of the most used phone companies in Türkiye.

Visit Website

Türk Telekom

One of the most used phone companies in Türkiye.

Visit Website

How to get a SIM card

Three steps.

Buy a SIM with your passport

Your number is matched to your passport. Airport shops can be expensive, so buy in the city if you can.

Link it to your residence permit

Link your number to your residence permit card (the card that lets you live in Türkiye as a student). The number works for 3 months. Before that, take the card to the same phone company, or the number is blocked.

Register a phone from abroad

A phone you bring must be registered on e-Devlet (the Turkish government website) within 120 days of your last entry to Türkiye, or it is blocked. If you register it before you have your residence permit card, it is blocked after 6 months.

Good to know

Phones brought from abroad must be registered with the government, and the fee is about the price of a new phone. So many students buy a phone in Türkiye.
Students under 18 cannot get a phone number in their own name.
Türkiye's country code is +90.

Practical Advice