Turkey Introduces Remote Identity Verification for Foreign Nationals

The Turkish government has introduced remote identity verification for foreign nationals, marking another major step in the country's digital transformation of the financial sector.

The new measure is designed to make banking procedures easier for foreigners while strengthening security and regulatory oversight.

According to MASAK (Turkey's Financial Crimes Investigation Board), banks and other financial institutions can now:

• Verify the identity of non-Turkish customers remotely.
• Use NFC-enabled electronic passports.
• Complete identity checks through a live video call.
• Match passport information with the electronic chip embedded in the passport.

The verification process follows the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

To improve security, the process includes several verification steps:

• Scanning the passport during the video call.
• Reading the data stored on the passport's electronic chip.
• Confirming that the passport information matches the holder's identity.
• Rejecting the application if verification cannot be completed successfully.

The new regulation does not remove existing security requirements. Customers will still be required to verify their residential address before fully using their accounts, and banks will not be allowed to open accounts without proof of address.

In addition, transfers and cash withdrawals will not be permitted until the required verification procedures have been completed, and restrictions will remain in place for transactions involving certain high-risk countries.

The regulation aims to make it easier for foreigners to open bank accounts, speed up access to digital banking services, strengthen efforts to combat money laundering and financial crime, and enhance the overall security of Turkey's financial system