Key Takeaways
- Wise is available in Turkey, but only in a limited form and not in the way most people expect money apps to work;
- Many core Wise features are restricted for Turkey-based users, especially if you signed up after the 2023 local regulations were passed;
- If you’re comparing Wise alternatives in Turkey, Ogvio is a strong option for global payments, whereas Paycell and Papara are designed primarily for local use.
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Does Wise work in Turkey? Think of the platform as a building where the lights are on, but not every room is accessible. It works, but only in certain ways. Once you start using it, you quickly notice that the experience isn’t the same as in many other countries.
Since many features are restricted or unavailable, it makes sense to look for the next best app that replaces Wise. And that’s where alternatives like Ogvio, along with local apps like Paycell and Papara, enter the picture.
So, let’s unpack what Wise users can and can’t do in Turkey, and even answer FAQs like "Does the Wise card work in Turkey?". No worries, you'll find reliable solutions that actually work in real life for Turkish people by the end!
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Table of Contents
- 1. Does Wise Work in Turkey?
- 2. What’s Possible for Wise in Turkey
- 2.1. Send International Transfers
- 2.2. Withdraw Money From Your Wise Account
- 3. What’s Restricted for Wise in Turkey
- 3.1. Open New Currencies or Jars
- 3.2. Add Money to Wise Account
- 3.3. Use the Wise Card
- 3.4. Receive Money to Your Wise Account
- 4. Wise Alternatives That Work in Turkey
- 4.1. Ogvio
- 4.2. Paycell
- 4.3. Papara
- 4.4. Ziraat Mobil
- 5. Conclusions
Does Wise Work in Turkey?
To tell you the truth, the way Wise works in Turkey is tricky. While it is technically available in the region, the main thing is that its user groups are divided into two: people who signed up before May 2023 and after.
Latest Deal Active Right Now:What happened during that time period? Well, Turkey passed local regulations called the Law on the Protection of Personal Data (KVKK or PDPL). It essentially required that servers and data be physically located in Turkey.
Wise, like other apps, needed to update its policy to stay compliant (I’ll get to that later in the article). So if you ask, “Can I use Wise in Turkey?”, the answer depends on what features you need. Now, let’s get to it.
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What’s Possible for Wise in Turkey
So, does Wise work in Turkey? The short answer is yes, but only in a limited capacity. Note that what’s possible for Wise in the region applies only to users who signed up on 31 May 2023 (when Wise officially updated its operations in the country). If you fall into that group, here are a few core functions that are still available.
Send International Transfers
Wise works in Turkey as a remittance solution from your Turkish bank account. That means outbound cross-border transfers are still supported, and the process still works the same.
However, the capacity remains limited and constrained by the scope of transfers. Limits apply and vary depending on where you’re sending the money to, your payment method, and your verification level.
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Withdraw Money From Your Wise Account
If you already have money in your Wise account, you can withdraw those funds. The platform continues to safeguard any balance you held before the restrictions, and you’re allowed to move that money out.
But withdrawals are essentially an exit function now, and not part of an active, fully usable account experience. That means, when you've found an alternative app, that's when you should withdraw all funds from your Wise account.
Does the Wise card work in Turkey, though? It does, but with limitations as well. I’ll get to it in the next chapter.
What’s Restricted for Wise in Turkey
Although the service still operates in a limited form, is Wise available in Turkey in the way most people expect? Not anymore. For new users in Turkey (or those who didn’t sign up before May 2023), these restrictions mean you can’t set up a fully functional Wise account.
So if you’re wondering, “Can I use Wise in Turkey the same way as before?”, the answer is no. Let’s get to what’s not possible for users anymore.
Open New Currencies or Jars
If you’re not familiar with it, jars are small sub-balances inside Wise that let you separate and manage money by currency or purpose. Sadly, you can no longer:
- Open new currency balances;
- Create jars to hold money in different currencies.
If you didn’t already have these set up before the cutoff date, you won’t be able to add them later. For example, if your account is currently set to TRY, you can’t open a balance using a new currency.
Add Money to Wise Account
Another thing you can’t do is add money to a Wise account from Turkey. Specifically:
- You can’t top up your account in TRY;
- You can’t add money to existing balances either.
I’d say this is the biggest drawback since the regulations took place. If you’re a regular Wise user, it could take a while before realizing, “Wait, I can’t add money to my account anymore.”
In some cases, you might already be used to the changes, but you still miss how convenient it was to add money with Wise. So naturally, you start looking for other apps that offer the same ease (and, understandably, so).
Thankfully, other money apps care about simplifying how you add money, and Ogvio is one of them. For Turkey, there’s even an Open Banking option as a deposit method, but I’ll get to that part later.
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Use the Wise Card
The Wise card is not available in Turkey. So if you’re asking, “Can I use a Wise card in Turkey?", you unfortunately can't:
- Order a new Wise card;
- Access a virtual card;
- Use Wise as a day-to-day spending account locally.
Nonetheless, you can still use the Wise card in Turkey if you already have one. It needs to meet two conditions, though. First, you must hold a Wise card issued in another country. Second, cards are only usable if you registered for them well before May 2023.
Receive Money to Your Wise Account
Receiving money into a Wise account is also restricted. In other words, any account details you previously had:
- Will stop working;
- Won’t accept incoming payments;
- Will automatically return incoming funds to the sender.
If anyone still tries to send you money using those details, the transfer will fail. So it’s important to notify senders in advance that your Wise account can’t receive transfers.
So yes, Wise does work in Turkey, but in a much narrower way than most people expect. It’s fine if what you need is to send money abroad from a Turkish bank account. But for anything beyond that, the experience is quite limited now.
Wise has said they’re trying to make accounts fully available in Turkey again. But there’s no clear timeline for when that might happen, so it’s best to work with what’s actually available.
If the restrictions feel limiting, you’re not alone. Many users also speak out about their dissatisfaction with this change and are looking for Wise alternatives in Turkey.
Wise Alternatives That Work in Turkey
By now, it’s clear that payment regulations make things complicated, so Wise doesn't work in Turkey as it does in other countries. They’re also the reason why several global platforms, including PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, aren’t available in Turkey as well.
The same pattern goes to many money apps, like Revolut, where they don’t have access at all. So when people ask can you use Wise in Turkey, the honest answer is that the service already does more than most when it comes to international transfers.
Even so, the restrictions covered earlier mean Wise isn’t always the most practical option anymore. Now, the natural question becomes: what actually works in Turkey right now?
- Ogvio. A modern neobank focused on fast transfers with little to no fees. Aside from fiat, it also supports crypto.
- Paycell. A widely used local digital wallet in Turkey. It's mainly used for domestic payments and everyday spending, but can also be used for EU transfers.
- Papara. Another popular Turkish e-wallet. It's known for fast and easy transfers, especially for local use.
- Ziraat Mobil. Commonly used in Turkey for local transfers, paying bills, and everyday banking. It’s a solid option if you prefer sticking with a traditional local bank.
These apps comply with Turkey’s existing regulations, encouraging people to seek simple solutions that serve all walks of life (even smaller users).[1]
Below, I’ll break down each of these alternatives one by one to show how they compare in real-world use.
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Ogvio
Ogvio is a modern money app built around fast transfers and crypto-friendly payments, and it works in Turkey. Rather than acting like a traditional bank, it focuses on practical ways to move money in markets where restrictions are pretty common.
With Wise, you might still find yourself asking, "Can I open a Wise account in Turkey?". Well, you don't need to wonder about such things when it comes to Ogvio.
Like in many other countries, you can use Ogvio in Turkey to send money to friends for free, get paid in crypto as a freelancer, or hold funds in USD to protect value against currency swings. Better yet, you can even earn from Ogvio's referral rewards.
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| Visit site Read review | Visit site Read review |
Table: A short comparison of Ogvio and Wise
Ogvio supports multiple transfer rails. When depositing with a card, for instance, you’ll be able to choose the best rate and use multiple methods. In Turkey, the available payment methods include credit or debit cards, Open Banking, SEPA bank transfers, and more.
Just keep in mind that the money transfer limit for this destination is ₺100,000, with the primary payment method using FAST Instant.
On the cost side, Ogvio keeps things predictable and competitive. Transfers between users are free, and any fees for other transactions are shown upfront before you confirm. In case you're outside of the country, you can still use Ogvio to send money to your loved ones in Turkey.
You can easily send money to Turkey from the UAE, Mexico, or Nigeria at low costs.
Talking about Ogvio’s crypto support, it bakes blockchain into banking for everyday payments. This infrastructure makes low-cost, instant transfers[2] possible. Just note that the platform currently supports cryptocurrencies on the Base network, with USDC as the main option.
Moving on to security, Ogvio uses 256-bit AES encryption and a non-custodial wallet setup. If you’re not familiar with this type of wallet, you’re the one fully in control of your funds. There are no middlemen that could add fund-related security risks.
But like all money apps, there are a few limitations to keep in mind. Ogvio isn’t available globally yet, and some features are still rolling out. One example is the Ogvio card, which hasn’t launched yet.
If Ogvio sounds like a better fit based on speed and flexibility, here’s how you can get started.
How to Use Ogvio
Getting started with Ogvio is simple, and most users can go from signing up to sending money in just a few steps.
As of writing, the "bank transfer" route is not available on Ogvio if you want to send money from your Turkish bank account, but you can do it from a bank account in the Eurozone, the UK, the UAE, Nigeria, Mexico, or Brazil.
It won’t replace a full banking setup, but for sending money, getting paid, or holding funds in a more stable currency, Ogvio is a practical option worth considering.
📚 Learn More: Ogvio Review
Paycell
Paycell is one of Turkey’s most popular digital wallets. If you’re a local, there’s a good chance you might have heard about them. That alone makes Paycell worth looking at as a Wise alternative in Turkey.
At its core, Paycell is built for everyday payments and transfers inside Turkey, but it also supports international remittances (including sending money to Europe).
Similar to Wise, Paycell promises fast, secure transfers with affordable prices. The first transfer is free, and the next one incurs fees starting at €1.99. Compared to Wise, Paycell feels more local-first and less focused on multi-currency features.
Being Turkey-based and fully available to Turkish users is a big reason some people choose Paycell over global apps.
In terms of limits, Paycell generally allows up to €10,000 per transfer per day, with a monthly cap of €50,000. These ceilings can vary depending on verification level, but they’re usually enough for personal transfers.
Security-wise, Paycell follows standard banking-grade protections, including encryption, identity checks, and transaction monitoring. The app is also built in line with security and payment regulations in the EU and the UK.
That said, Paycell does have its limits. It’s not designed for holding multiple currencies, doesn’t support crypto, and isn’t ideal if you need frequent transfers outside Europe. It works best as a reliable local wallet rather than a global money tool.
How to Use Paycell
Getting started with Paycell is straightforward, especially if you’re already based in Turkey.
Do not ever skip double-checking the information. Any mistake can result in the loss of funds.
Papara
Papara is a money app focusing on fast and easy money transfers, and it’s another commonly used digital wallet in Turkey. It's designed for everyday use, making it a great solution that works locally.
For that reason, Papara is more practical than Wise. It's clear that Wise is not available in Turkey, but with Papara, you don't have to double-check its availability. There are plenty of features fully accessible without restrictions.
Plus, many of Wise’s perks are oriented toward users in its home country, the US. Taking that same origin-country angle, Papara is built with Turkish users in mind.
With Papara, you can send and receive money, spend using the Papara Card, and manage your balance directly in the app. There are also other neat aspects like payment transactions, where you can use Papara to pay bills, buy mobile data, and top up travel cards.
Transfers using Papara are simple and familiar. You can send money instantly to other internal users, transfer funds to an IBAN, and use your balance for card payments or bills (as any typical money app does).
As for fees, I noticed that Papara keeps almost all transactions free. This includes transfers to other Papara users and to IBANs. Using the Papara Card also comes with no usage fees. That said, credit or debit card deposits come with a fee of around 4.1%.
Papara also charges an overage usage fee of 1.99% when limits are exceeded.
Papara comes with handy security features like discreet mode, privacy controls for transfers, transaction alerts, and 2FA. While these are good, they focus more on the frontend, and not much is said about how Papara handles customers’ funds in the background.
How to Use Papara
Now, here’s how you can start with Papara and use it to make your first transaction:
If you want to use the Papara Card, you need to apply for and activate it within the app. Afterward, you can choose between the physical, virtual, or both cards. It's a good alternative as you can't fully use the Wise card in Turkey.
Papara is a strong choice if you want an all-in-one money app that works smoothly in Turkey. It’s built for local payments and everyday spending, but its international transfers are a great appeal, too.
Ziraat Mobil
Ziraat Mobil is the mobile banking app of Ziraat Bank, Turkey’s largest state-owned bank. If you already have a Ziraat account, this is the app you’ll use for most everyday banking tasks.
Transfers through Ziraat Mobil are simple and built for local use. You can send and receive money via EFT or FAST Instant transfers, pay bills, and manage daily transactions in the app.
Compared to Wise, Ziraat Mobil feels more suitable for domestic use, but it doesn’t come with the same feature limitations inside Turkey.
Domestic internal transfers are generally free. Other channels like EFT and FAST carry slightly heavier cost baggage. International remittances are available through SWIFT, but they're known to be on the higher end. Transfer limits for Ziraat Mobil follow standard bank rules and are usually high enough for salaries, rent, and regular personal payments.
📚 Related: How to Wire Money
On the security side, Ziraat Mobil uses banking-grade protections like encryption and transaction verification. As a traditional bank app, it operates in accordance with Turkish banking regulations.
However, from what I’ve noticed, Ziraat Mobil falls short in terms of flexibility. It doesn’t support crypto or multi-currency accounts, and it isn’t ideal for frequent international transfers. But once you’re set up, using the app is straightforward.
How to Use Ziraat Mobil
Here’s a simple guide to get started with Ziraat Mobil:
Ziraat Mobil is a reliable option for everyday banking in Turkey. It won’t replace Wise or Ogvio for international or crypto use, but it does the job well for local transfers and bill payments.
That said, which Wise alternative makes the most sense in Turkey? The answer largely depends on how you use money day to day and what features you actually need from an app.
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Conclusions
Let's circle back to the main question – does Wise work in Turkey? Yes, but in a very limited scope. You can still use it to send money abroad from a Turkish bank account. Beyond that, some features are restricted, including adding and receiving money, creating a new currency account, and using the Wise card.
It’s better to find an alternative that fits what you need. There are local options like Paycell, Papara, and Ziraat Mobil. They readily cover everyday payments as well as domestic and international transfers.
If you’re looking for the closest replacement to Wise without the restrictions, Ogvio stands out. It works in Turkey with minor limitations, supports fast, low-cost international remittances, and adds crypto features to its toolset.
Scientific References
1. Christodoulou I., Rizomyliotis I., Konstantoulaki K., Do B.: ‘Transforming the remittance industry: harnessing the power of blockchain technology’;
2. Karacaovali B.: ‘Access to Finance in Turkey’.
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