In order for a check to be cashed, the holder must present it to the drawee. According to Article 796 of the Turkish Commercial Code, the presentation periods for checks are as follows:
If the check is to be paid at the place where it was issued, ten days;
If it is to be paid at a location other than where it was drawn, one month.
A check issued in a country other than the country where it is to be paid:
If the place of issuance and the place of payment are on the same continent, one month;
If they are on different continents, the check must be presented to the drawee within three months.
All these periods begin to run from the date indicated on the check as the date of issuance. Presentation periods are important because if the check is not presented within these periods, it loses its status as a negotiable instrument. These presentation periods are statutes of limitations. In such cases, if the check holder fails to comply with the presentation periods, they may claim their debt based on the underlying debt relationship. A check not presented within the specified period serves as written evidence, and witnesses may be called regarding the matter.