The Ban on Foreign Currency Payments Has Been Relaxed in Turkey

With the new regulation, it has been regulated that certain payments can be made in the agreed foreign currency. Previously, although agreements for sales of movables other than vehicle sales contracts among residents in Turkey could be agreed upon in foreign currency or indexed to foreign currency, the payment obligations had to be fulfilled in Turkish lira. The contract amount and other obligations arising from such contracts were supposed to meet these obligations. With the amendment, some exceptions have been introduced.

Amendment to the Communique on Amendments to the Communique No. 32 Regarding the Protection of the Value of the Turkish Currency (Communique No: 2024-32/69), published in the Official Gazette dated February 28, 2024, has come into effect.

With the new regulation, it has been regulated that certain payments can also be agreed upon in the specified foreign currency. Certain exceptions have been introduced with the amendment, and it is stipulated that payments can be made in foreign currency under the following circumstances:

A. Applicable from 21.04.2022:

  • Payment obligations within the scope of negotiable instruments denominated in foreign currency in the performance of movable sales contracts concluded before 19/4/2022.
  • Payment obligations within the scope of invoices issued before 19/4/2022. 
  • Payment obligations in precious metals and stones transactions conducted in foreign currency on the Borsa Istanbul Precious Metals and Precious Stones Market and the settlement of these transactions.

B. Applicable from 28.02.2024:

  • Exports to be carried out through Foreign Trade Capital Companies (DTSŞ) or Sectoral Foreign Trade Companies (SDTŞ) based on intermediary export contracts (those falling under the scope of the Communiqué on Foreign Trade Capital Company Status published in the Official Gazette dated 8/12/2004, No. 25664, and the Communiqué on Sectoral Foreign Trade Company Status published in the Official Gazette dated 2/7/2004, No. 25510).
  • Payment obligations within the scope of movable sales contracts for exports to be carried out based on intermediary export contracts through companies with Export Consortium status (those falling under the scope of the Decision on Export Supports published in the Official Gazette dated 17/8/2022, No. 5973, and the Decision on E-Export Supports published in the Official Gazette dated 24/8/2022, No. 5986).
  • Payment obligations within the scope of movable sales contracts concluded for the delivery of goods subject to customs declaration, including the sale and delivery of goods subject to customs declaration, transit, and customs warehousing regimes, and the application of temporary storage and free zone provisions under the Customs Law No. 4458 dated 27/10/1999.
  • Payment obligations for the delivery of goods subject to movable sales contracts made by companies operating in free zones and for transactions within the scope of foreign trade

For any questions or legal assistance regarding this matter, you may contact us at info@paldimoglu.av.tr.

Meriç PALDIMOĞLU — Attorney at Law | Founder
Article Author

Meriç PALDIMOĞLU

Attorney at Law | Founder | Istanbul Bar Association

Meriç Paldımoğlu is a licensed lawyer in Turkey and the founder of Paldımoğlu Law Firm, an Istanbul-based law firm advising foreign investors, companies, and private clients on Turkish legal matters. His practice focuses on investment law, including business set up in Turkey, corporate advisory, regulatory compliance, Turkish Citizenship by Investment, real estate disputes, commercial conflicts, debt recovery, and investment-related litigation. Registered with the Istanbul Bar Association, he provides strategic and business-oriented legal guidance to clients seeking to establish, operate, and protect their businesses and investments in Turkey. He has also been recognized with Mondaq Thought Leadership Awards in 2024, 2025, and 2026 for his legal publications and insights on Turkish law.

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