Amendments to the Communiqué on Remote Identity Verification
The Communiqué Amending the Communiqué on Remote Identity Verification Methods to be Used by Brokerage Firms, Portfolio Management Companies and Crypto Asset Service Providers and the Establishment of Contractual Relations in Electronic Environment (III-42.1.b) (Amending Communiqué) was published in the Official Gazette dated 03.09.2026 and numbered 33359 and entered into force on the same date. The Amending Communiqué introduces procedures and principles governing the remote identity verification of non-Turkish nationals using passports, as well as the remote identity verification of legal entities registered with the trade registry.
The Communiqué (Serial No. 32) Amending the General Communiqué of the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (Serial No. 19), published in the Official Gazette dated 27.06.2026 and numbered 33293, had previously established the general framework for the remote identity verification of non-Turkish nationals using passports. The Amending Communiqué further regulates the application of this framework to brokerage firms, portfolio management companies and crypto asset service providers.
The key amendments introduced by the Amending Communiqué are summarized below:
Remote Identity Verification of Non-Turkish Nationals
- Brokerage firms, portfolio management companies and crypto asset service providers may remotely verify the identity of non-Turkish nationals using passports compliant with ICAO 9303 standards and equipped with near field communication (NFC) functionality. It is mandatory to verify through NFC that the identity information stored on the passport chip matches the information displayed on the passport. If such verification cannot be completed, a continuous business relationship cannot be established through remote identity verification.
- During remote identity verification, the person’s address information must be obtained and verified, within three months at the latest and in accordance with a risk-based approach, through a residence document, a utility bill issued within the preceding three months, a document issued by a public authority or publicly accessible databases of the relevant country. No transfer of funds or crypto assets or transfer of capital market instruments may be carried out until the address verification is completed.
- Technical data obtained from the electronic environment through which the customer conducts transactions and the passport information are assessed based on a risk-based approach. If any suspicious circumstance is identified, the remote identity verification process must be terminated.
- Remote identity verification must be conducted by video call through personnel specifically trained in passport-based remote identity verification. Artificial intelligence-based applications meeting the applicable requirements may nevertheless be used for liveness testing or photo comparison purposes.
Risk Monitoring and Restrictions on Fund Transfers
- People whose identities are remotely verified using passports are monitored as high-risk customers. Appropriate measures must be taken where transactions inconsistent with the customer profile or the purpose of the business relationship are identified.
- Funds may be transferred to an account opened through this method only from an account held in the relevant customer’s own name with a bank located outside Türkiye. Outgoing transfers from the customer account may likewise be made only to the customer’s own bank account. Such transfers must be carried out exclusively through the SWIFT system, and the identifying information contained in the relevant transfer messages must be checked against the information obtained from the customer during the remote identity verification process.
- Information regarding customers admitted through remote identity verification using passports, together with their portfolio sizes and investment amounts, must be reported to the Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) in the final month of each three-month period on a calendar-year basis.
Remote Identity Verification of Legal Entities
- The Amending Communiqué also establishes the principles applicable to the remote identity verification of legal entities registered with the trade registry. Accordingly, the identity of the real person representing the legal entity must be verified, and such person’s authority to represent the legal entity must be confirmed by matching the information obtained from the person against current information available through the Central Registry System (MERSIS) and/or the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette.
- Where considered necessary, a copy of the signature circular may be obtained, signature samples may be compared and the notarization and authenticity of the signature circular may be verified.
- Where the person authorized to represent the legal entity already has an account with the relevant brokerage firm, portfolio management company or crypto asset service provider, the request to establish a continuous business relationship on behalf of the legal entity may be submitted through the available internet branch or mobile application.
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