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Türkkan Law Firm
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Series048 SectionCarat Date15 October 2026 Reading time2 minutes

2026 sanctions for unauthorised foreign currency trading

According to the Ministry's announcement, the 2026 administrative fine for unauthorised purchase and sale of foreign currency ranges from TRY 719,030 to TRY 3,595,198; operations at the business premises are also suspended.

What changed

The Ministry of Treasury and Finance's Directorate General of Financial Markets and Foreign Exchange has set out the picture of its enforcement against unauthorised buying and selling of foreign currency in announcement No. 2026/FPK-01.

Those who buy and sell foreign currency without permission face two sanctions together:

  • Suspension of activity at the business premises. As a rule, for one month; permanently if the premises were opened solely for the activity requiring permission.
  • Administrative fine. Imposed by the chief public prosecutor's office; for 2026 the lower limit is TRY 719,030 and the upper limit TRY 3,595,198. If the premises were opened solely for this activity, or the act is repeated within five years after the decision becomes final, the fine is imposed at the upper limit.

Figures in the announcement: since 2018, when the sanction was introduced into the Law, 859 business premises; 193 in 2024 and 147 in 2025.

Basis

Law No. 1567, Article 3(5) (added by Law No. 7144 in 2018; amended by Law No. 7555 in 2025) · Ministry announcement 2026/FPK-01 (February 2026)

Who is affected

Business premises buying and selling foreign currency without a certificate of authorisation (yetki belgesi) · jewellers · authorised institutions (yetkili müessese)

What to do

Buying and selling foreign currency for commercial purposes is possible only for authorised institutions licensed by the Ministry. If you do not have permission, foreign currency should not be bought or sold at your business premises.

Reports are received through CİMER and the "Unauthorised Foreign Currency Trading Report Application" service on e-Devlet.

Legislation changes; so does this article. This article was prepared on the basis of the legislation in force on the date of its publication. Amounts, rates, thresholds and time limits marked with are subject to change. Do not carry out any transaction on the basis of this article.

Related page: Precious Metals Intermediary Institutions