Debt recovery in Türkiye: enforcing what you are owed from abroad
Unpaid invoices, cheques, judgments and rent — how Turkish enforcement works, what it can reach, and how it is run without you flying in.
Turkish enforcement has a reputation among foreign creditors for being slow. In practice it is often faster than the alternatives — provided the right track is chosen at the start and the debtor's assets are located before, not after, the debtor has time to move them.
Choosing the track
- Cheques and promissory notes: negotiable-instrument enforcement — the fastest route; an objection does not, as a rule, suspend proceedings.
- Invoices and contracts: enforcement without a judgment; if the debtor objects, the objection is removed through a short court action.
- Existing judgment: enforcement with a title, moving directly to attachment.
- Foreign judgments and arbitral awards: must first be recognised/enforced in Türkiye (tenfiz) — arbitral awards under the New York Convention generally travel better than court judgments.
- Rent: claim and eviction can be pursued together.
What enforcement can actually reach
This is where Turkish practice is stronger than expected. Through the enforcement system, a creditor can query and attach:
- bank accounts across the banking system,
- salary (within statutory limits),
- vehicles and immovable property,
- receivables owed to the debtor by third parties — often the most effective target,
- shares and rights in companies.
"The debtor has nothing" is usually a sentence written before the searches were run. The searches take days, not months — and they decide whether a file is worth pursuing.
Interim measures: the step that saves cases
Where there is a risk of assets being moved, an interim attachment (ihtiyati haciz) can be obtained before or at the start of proceedings, freezing accounts and property while the claim proceeds. Transfers made to defeat creditors can also be reversed through an avoidance action (tasarrufun iptali) — a remedy that surprises debtors who thought signing the flat over to a relative ended the matter.
Limitation periods
Periods vary by claim type and are notably short for cheques and notes. Whatever document you hold, delay weakens it. A quick review tells you whether the claim is still enforceable — and that review costs far less than the claim itself.
Running it from abroad
Filing, attachment requests, sale and collection all proceed under a power of attorney; collected funds are transferred to your account abroad with the supporting documentation banks require. On your side the process is three steps: send the documents, approve the strategy, receive the funds. Costs, advances and fee structure are agreed in writing before we start.
Questions
Can a foreign judgment be enforced in Türkiye?
Not directly. It must first be recognised and declared enforceable by a Turkish court. Arbitral awards under the New York Convention generally have a smoother path than court judgments.
How quickly can accounts be frozen?
Where the requirements are met, an interim attachment can be obtained early in the process — often within days, before the debtor has time to react.
What if the debtor has transferred assets to family?
Transfers made to defeat creditors can be reversed through an avoidance action, which reaches assets moved into relatives' names.
General information only — not legal advice. Every matter turns on its own facts. Before acting on anything here, speak to a lawyer about your specific situation.
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