Foreign-Currency and International Receivables

In claims with a foreign party or a cross-border element, where the judgment will be enforced must be assessed at the outset, as well as whether a lawsuit or enforcement proceedings can be brought in Türkiye.

Determining the law applicable to the contract
The international jurisdiction of Turkish courts
Examining jurisdiction and arbitration clauses
Debts agreed in a foreign currency
The exchange rate on the day of payment, alternative rights and exchange-rate difference
Service of documents on a debtor in a foreign country
Contracts, invoices and payment documents in a foreign language
Apostille, certification and translation procedures
Records of banks, companies and assets in a foreign country
Recognition and enforcement (tenfiz) in Türkiye of foreign court judgments or arbitral awards
Coordinating the enforcement abroad of judgments rendered in Türkiye
Cross-border settlement, payment and security protocols

Where the Judgment Will Be Enforced Must Be Planned from the Outset

The effect that a judgment obtained in Türkiye will have in the country where the debtor’s assets are located is assessed under the rules of that country and any international agreements. The recognition of a foreign judgment in Türkiye, the enforcement (tenfiz) of a provision that needs to be enforced, and arbitral awards may be subject to different conditions.

Information needed in the initial assessment

The countries where the parties and the debtor’s assets are located.
The language of the contract, the applicable law, and the jurisdiction and arbitration clauses.
The currency of the claim, the payment account and the transfers made.
The foreign court or arbitral judgment, and documents of finality or enforceability.
Whether service of documents, translation, certification or an apostille is required.

Where necessary, steps in a foreign country are coordinated with legal professionals competent in that country; this page does not contain an undertaking to represent directly in every country.

Debt claims home page

Legal basis

Depending on the nature of the claim, the Turkish Code of Obligations and the relevant provisions of procedural, commercial, enforcement and private international law apply together.

This content is general information. It is not a substitute for reviewing the specific file. Sending an inquiry does not by itself create an attorney–client relationship and does not stop statutory time limits.