Accepting Online Payments in Turkey: Stripe and PayPal Alternatives for Business Owners
If you run a business in Turkey and want to accept card payments on your website, the two names most foreign owners know first are not an option. Stripe does not onboard businesses registered in Turkey, and PayPal stopped operating in the country in 2016 after it was refused a payment licence. Online payments in Turkey therefore run through local payment service providers or a bank’s virtual POS. This guide explains the options and what to compare before you sign up.
Why Stripe and PayPal are not available
Stripe’s list of supported countries includes Greece, Bulgaria and Romania, but not Türkiye, so a company registered in Turkey cannot open a Stripe account for that company (Stripe). PayPal halted its operations in Turkey in June 2016 after the banking regulator did not renew its licence (TechCrunch). Some owners try to use a company in another country instead; whether that is allowed and sensible for your situation is a question for your accountant and lawyer, not your web developer.
The local options
| Option | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Payment service providers (for example iyzico, PayTR, Param) | Licensed companies that process card payments for online businesses | Quick to integrate, ready plugins for common shop systems, commission per transaction |
| Bank virtual POS (sanal POS) | Card acceptance contract directly with a Turkish bank | Commission can be negotiated with volume; application and integration take longer |
| Bank transfer / cash on delivery | Manual payment methods | Useful as an extra option, not a replacement for card payments |
Providers and their conditions change; always confirm current terms directly with the provider before you decide.
What to compare
- Commission and fixed fees per transaction, and whether instalments cost extra
- Settlement time: how many days until the money reaches your bank account
- Foreign cards: whether cards issued outside Turkey are accepted, and at what rate
- Currency: whether you can charge in EUR or USD or only in Turkish lira
- Instalments (taksit): Turkish customers expect to split payments on credit cards; check which banks’ instalment programmes are supported
- Requirements: documents needed to open an account
- Integration: ready plugins for your shop system, or an API for custom software
What you need to open an account
Turkish payment providers and banks generally require a business registered in Turkey with a tax number: a company or a registered sole proprietorship. They will also check that your website shows company details, a privacy notice, delivery and return terms and, for consumer sales, the distance sales contract and pre-information form. Having these pages ready speeds up approval.
Registrations for online selling
Businesses that sell to consumers through their own website or app must register with ETBİS, the Ministry of Trade’s e-commerce information system. Turkish data protection law (KVKK) requires a privacy notice and, depending on your size and activities, possibly registration in the data controllers’ registry. Your accountant can tell you which applies to you.
A practical setup for a foreign-owned business in Antalya
- Agree with your accountant on the legal structure and tax registration.
- Prepare the website’s legal pages and company details.
- Compare two or three payment providers using the list above.
- Integrate one provider and test with Turkish and foreign cards before launch.
- Add a second method, such as bank transfer, for customers who prefer it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Stripe for my Turkish company?
No. Stripe does not currently support businesses registered in Türkiye.
Is PayPal coming back to Turkey?
PayPal has not operated in Turkey since 2016. Plan your shop around local providers rather than waiting for a change.
Can foreign tourists pay with their own cards?
Usually yes, but conditions differ by provider. Check foreign card acceptance and the commission for foreign cards before you sign up.
Need a shop that works in Turkey?
Kayrus Tech builds e-commerce websites in Antalya with Turkish payment providers, legal pages and multilingual product pages. Contact us in English or Turkish.