Job Discussion Forums

[istanbulian]

*****

[dhaver89]

Hey all,

Just an update, I have been in Izmir a little over a week. I have had multiple interviews, and I have more lined up later this week. I also accepted a job offer. I am just keeping my options open.

I am also looking at two apartments this week, through a real estate agent. I already have a cell phone and am in the process of setting up a bank account.

So, if you're thinking of just coming to Turkey to find a job. I have found that is very doable. Just come!

[Aristede]

[dhaver89]

I just liked izmir when I visited. It's a way smaller city and has a laid-back feel.[/code]

[_smaug]

[dhaver89]

From what I understand, you can just go and get a tax ID number. The woman at the bank told me I need a passport, tax ID no., address, employer info., and a phone number. I am trying to get an apartment right now, so I haven't set up the bank account.

[gloomyGumi]

keep us posted on this pls Hardd to get all that right away...employer info? I cant open a bank account without that?

[chiichan]

GG,

Yes, you DO need a resident permit to open a bank account (and even after you get it, some of the banks may give you a hard time b/c they themselves don't know what the rules are).

I went through the whole process myself recently.

[coffeespoonman]

When I moved to Turkey in 2005, I can guarantee that you did NOT need a residence permit to open a bank account, only a tax number. I opened two accounts without one. However, I have heard of other people having problems in the last couple of years. It could be that this law has changed, and some banks are aware of it and some aren't.

Still, in Turkey, nothing is ever set in stone. For my first bank account, I didn't even have a tax number - the teller (my student) just made one up.

[dhaver89]

Update:

I set up a Turkish bank account today, 12/10/2011, without a residency permit.

What I needed:

Employer name
Employer telephone number
Employer address

Tax ID number
I got my tax ID number at the tax office in Izmir; the lady at the bank was kind enough to tell me where to go. All you need is the address of where you are staying in Turkey, your passport, and a copy of your passport. I just paid them one lira to copy it for me at the tax office.


Your name, address, and telephone numbers.
I gave the bank my Turkish cell phone number. But, because I don't have a residency permit, yet, the bank also needed an address and phone number in the states. I used my parents. Nothing will be sent to this address and they won't call them. It was just for residency purposes. Once I have a residency permit the bank said I can update my info to Turkey.

Your passport and driver's license.
The driver's license was needed because it shows a US address. Again, lack of a residency permit made this necessary.

With the above info., I walked out with a checking account that has both a dollars and a lira account attached.


So that's how its done, or at least how it worked for me without a residency permit. Good luck!

Note: My debit card will be sent to my employer's address which isn't a problem for me. Also, I got an account at HSBC which is a worldwide bank so I can access my money pretty much anywhere. I was a little pissed though because I found out after the fact that the account costs 5 lira a month, but its an international bank so oh well.

[lucia79]

My employer deposits my salary into the bank that the school uses and I don't have to pay anything to the bank because this is my salary account. However, if I want to have another account at the same bank then I have to pay 6 lira a month. If it is your salary account then there isn't a fee.

[slimthetailor]

Just another report on opening a bank account. A couple weeks ago - on my first (awake) day in Istanbul - I tried opening an account first with Garanti who said I needed a residence permit. After that I just asked different banks until one said yes. It was HSBC and all they needed was was a passport and tax ID number. I should say 'all I ended up needing' because the customer service person I spoke to thought it was very unusual that someone here on a visitor visa should want to set up an account etc. and ended up having several questions for me. Once I told him I was here visiting friends for the time being but was interested in the possibility of getting a job and "work permit" to stay longer, he was satisfied. Well, first he called his superior "just to be sure," and when there was no answer he hung up and said, "I am sure." Best of luck to us all in such affairs.

[gloomyGumi]

sounds lıke what we had to do to here for other stuff...people seem overly curıous about personal thıngs. not used to that pryıng type of crap .

[dackinator]

A small question for anyone reading this already in turkey:
I've got a
CELTA
Bsc in Psychology
and 3 years ESL experience

Should that be enough for me to find a job if i come to istanbul/ankara?

[lucia79]