Is Wise or Revolut suitable for transfers from Turkey to Germany?

Yes, both are suitable — Wise is more common, Revolut is faster. Both work for opening a Sperrkonto.

#Wise (TransferWise)

Advantages:

• Transparent exchange rate (Google Finance rate, 0.4-0.7% spread)
• Commission shown upfront
• Direct transfer to Sperrkonto via IBAN
• No high transfer limit (1M €/transfer after KYC)
• Can receive TL from Turkish banks and convert to EUR

Disadvantages:

• Identity verification takes 2-3 days for the first large transfer (KYC)
• Requires bank transfer to send TL from Turkey (not instant)

#Revolut

Advantages:

• Instant transfers (app-to-app)
• Free with Premium membership up to 100K €/month
• TL account + EUR account in one app
• Virtual card for quick use

Disadvantages:

• Standard membership has a 1,250 €/month limit (0.5% commission above that)
• Premium is paid (7.99 €/month, 1 month is enough for Sperrkonto)
• Some Sperrkonto banks may process "neo-bank" transfers slower

#Sperrkonto Strategy

#Scenario A: 11,904 € in one go

• No Wise Premium needed, a regular Wise account is sufficient
• Turkish bank → Wise IBAN → Sperrkonto IBAN
• Total commission: ~50-80 €

#Scenario B: Monthly installments (sensitive)

• Monthly 1,000 € transfer → Revolut Standard is sufficient
• Stays below the 1,250 € limit, so it's free

#Important Notes

• Does Wise/Revolut work directly with Sperrkonto? — Fintiba and Expatrio accept both.
• Reference: Write "Sperrkonto YOUR_NAME" to help Fintiba match the transfer quickly.
• Foreign currency outflow limit from Turkey: For personal accounts, 50K USD/year is free (no tax, no declaration).

#Practical Advice

• Make the first large transfer with Wise (transparent, account verified)
• After arriving in Germany, get Revolut Premium for 1 month → to send TL from a Turkish bank.
• Check the commission you paid with sites like xe.com (to see if there's a hidden exchange rate difference).

Related: Which bank is best for transferring money from Turkey to Germany?.