Debt Collection in Turkey for Foreign Creditors

If you are owed money by an individual or company in Turkey — under a contract, an invoice, or a judgment — Turkish law provides an enforcement (icra) system specifically designed to pursue payment, largely independent of where the creditor is located.

Starting an Enforcement File

In most cases, debt collection in Turkey begins with filing an enforcement proceeding before the relevant enforcement office, based on the underlying debt (a contract, an invoice, a cheque or promissory note, or a court judgment). The debtor is then formally notified and given a short period to pay or to object.

• If the debtor does not object within the legal deadline, the file generally proceeds toward compulsory collection — which can include seizing bank accounts, receivables, or other assets.
• If the debtor objects, the matter is generally resolved by filing a case before the enforcement court or the relevant civil court, depending on the nature of the objection.

A Security Deposit May Apply to Foreign Claimants

Under Turkish procedural rules, a claimant who is a foreign national or a foreign company filing certain types of civil case in Turkey may be required to post a security deposit (teminat) to cover the potential legal costs of the other party, unless an international treaty or the principle of reciprocity with the claimant's country provides an exemption. Whether this applies to your matter — and, if so, how much — depends on your nationality, the type of proceeding, and any applicable treaty, so it is worth clarifying at the outset rather than assuming either way.

What You Generally Need to Provide

To pursue a debtor in Turkey from abroad, a lawyer generally needs:

• Documentation of the debt: a contract, invoices, a cheque, a promissory note, correspondence, or a court judgment
• The debtor's identifying information (name, address, or company registration details)
• A power of attorney authorizing the lawyer to act on your behalf

Collecting Once a Judgment or Enforceable Title Exists

Where the debt is already backed by a Turkish court judgment, or a document that Turkish law treats as directly enforceable (such as certain notarized documents), the enforcement process can generally proceed more quickly than where the debt still needs to be established through litigation.

If the Debtor Disputes the Claim

Where a debtor formally objects to an enforcement proceeding, the matter is resolved through the courts rather than the enforcement office itself. This can extend the timeline, but the underlying enforcement mechanism — including the ability to secure assets in the meantime, in some circumstances — often remains available.

Managing This From Abroad

As with other matters on this site, being outside Turkey does not prevent you from pursuing a debt there. Once a lawyer holds a power of attorney from you, they can file and manage the enforcement proceeding, respond to objections, and keep you updated remotely on progress and recovery.