How to Set Up a Company in Turkey in 2026, Step‑by‑step for Foreign Investors

Understanding how to set up a business in Turkey 2026 is essential for any foreign investor looking to enter one of the world’s fastest-growing commercial markets. Türkiye permits 100 % foreign ownership in most sectors, meaning overseas natural persons and legal entities can incorporate under the same rules as domestic founders. The incorporation procedure runs through the Central Registration System (MERSİS), the relevant Trade Registry Directorate, and a handful of post-registration filings with the tax office and the Social Security Institution (SGK). This guide sets out every step, document, timeline, and cost, updated for the procedural changes that took effect under Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 and the continuing impact of Law No.

7099 (published in the Resmî Gazete on 10 March 2018, issue 30356).

Overview of the Company Registration Process in Turkey

Foreign investors planning company registration in Turkey can choose from four principal structures, each governed by the Turkish Commercial Code (TCC):

• Limited Liability Company (Ltd. Şti.). The most common choice for small and mid-sized operations. Requires at least one shareholder and one manager.
• Joint Stock Company (A.Ş.). Suited to larger ventures and mandatory for certain regulated sectors (banking, insurance, capital markets). Requires at least one shareholder and a board of directors.
• Branch office. An extension of the foreign parent, not a separate legal entity but must be registered with the Trade Registry.
• Liaison (representative) office. Permitted only for market research and promotion; cannot generate revenue in Türkiye. Authorised by the Ministry of Trade.

The end-to-end outcome of incorporation is a Trade Registry entry, automatic notification to the tax office and SGK, and the legal capacity to commence commercial operations. Since 2018, Law No. 7099 has progressively turned the Trade Registry Directorate into a one-stop shop, enabling founders to complete signature declarations, book certifications, and certain tax-related notifications at the registry rather than visiting separate offices. In 2026, the likely practical effect of ongoing digitalisation is that more documents can be uploaded electronically through MERSİS, reducing the number of in-person appointments, although bank capital deposits and certain notarisations still typically require physical attendance.

Eligibility and Prerequisites for Setting Up a Business in Turkey

Before beginning the registration procedure, foreign investors must confirm that they meet the eligibility requirements established by Turkish law and the relevant regulators.

• Legal capacity. Any foreign natural person (with a valid passport) or foreign legal entity (with proof of incorporation in its home jurisdiction) may be a founder or shareholder. There is no requirement for a Turkish national to hold shares or serve as a director in a standard LLC or JSC.
• Turkish tax identification number. Every shareholder and authorised signatory must obtain a Turkish tax ID (vergi kimlik numarası) from the local tax office or, for foreigners, via the Revenue Administration’s online portal. This is a prerequisite for opening a bank account and filing at the Trade Registry.
• Registered office address. The company must have a commercial address in Türkiye. A lease agreement or title deed is required at the point of registration.
• Sectoral approvals. Certain industries, including banking, insurance, private security, broadcasting, and energy, require prior authorisation from the relevant ministry or regulatory body before incorporation can proceed.
• Minimum capital. The TCC sets minimum share capital thresholds. The precise amounts and payment schedules are subject to periodic updates via communiqués and presidential decrees. Investors should verify the current requirements with the Trade Registry Directorate or their legal adviser immediately before filing. Capital payment rules, including the percentage that must be deposited before registration and the deadline for paying the balance, are addressed in the costs section below.

Importantly, no Turkish-resident director is legally required for either an LLC or a JSC. However, the company must appoint at least one authorised representative who can receive official notifications in Türkiye, and practical considerations (bank account opening, tax correspondence) often favour appointing a local representative.

How to Set Up a Business in Turkey 2026, Step‑by‑Step Procedure

Step 1: Choose the company type, select a trade name, and draft the Articles of Association

Begin by selecting the appropriate entity (LLC or JSC for most foreign investors) and choosing a unique trade name. Confirm that the proposed name is available by running a search in the Trade Registry Gazette database maintained by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB). The search tool is accessible online and will flag any identical or confusingly similar names already on the register.

Once the name is cleared, prepare the Articles of Association (ana sözleşme for an LLC; esas sözleşme for a JSC). The Articles must be drafted in Turkish, include all mandatory clauses prescribed by the TCC (company name, registered address, share capital, shareholder details, management structure, fiscal year), and be signed by all founders. For a JSC, the Articles must also specify share classes and board composition rules. If the company will operate in a regulated sector, obtain the requisite sectoral licence or pre-approval before progressing to the next step.

Step 2: Prepare and notarise founding documents and signature declarations

Turkish law requires the founders’ signatures on the Articles of Association to be authenticated. There are two principal routes:

1. Notarisation. Founders appear before a Turkish notary public to sign the Articles and provide signature declarations (imza beyannamesi). If a founder is abroad, the documents can be signed before a Turkish consulate or a local notary in the founder’s country of residence, provided the signatures are apostilled (for Hague Convention countries) or consularly legalised and then translated into Turkish by a sworn translator.
2. Trade Registry signature declaration. Since Law No. 7099 entered into force, founders may execute their signature declarations directly at the Trade Registry Directorate rather than at a notary, reducing both cost and time. Early indications suggest this route is increasingly accepted across major Trade Registry offices, though local practice can vary.

For foreign legal person founders, additional documents are required: a certificate of incorporation and good standing issued by the home registry, apostilled or consularly legalised, and accompanied by a notarised Turkish translation. These certificates should typically be no older than three months at the time of filing.

Step 3: Open a bank account and deposit the required capital

Open a bank account in the company’s name (or a temporary formation account) at a Turkish bank. The bank will require the founders’ identity documents, tax IDs, and the draft Articles of Association. The founders must then deposit the share capital, or the portion required to be paid before registration, into this account.

Under the TCC, a percentage of the subscribed capital must be paid in before registration, with the balance due within a prescribed period after incorporation. The exact percentages and deadlines have been subject to amendment, and 2026 updates may alter these further. Investors should confirm the current payment schedule directly with the Trade Registry Directorate or their bank. The bank will issue a capital deposit confirmation letter (bloke mektubu), which forms part of the Trade Registry application file.

Where a founder cannot attend in person, a notarised power of attorney (POA) authorising a representative to open the account and deposit capital on their behalf is essential. Not all banks accept remote founder onboarding, so it is advisable to select a bank with experience in serving foreign-owned companies.

Step 4: File the incorporation application through MERSİS and the Trade Registry Directorate

Submit the complete incorporation file to the Trade Registry Directorate in the province where the company’s registered office is located. The application is initiated through MERSİS (the Central Registration System), the Ministry of Trade’s online platform for corporate filings. The application file typically includes:

• The signed and authenticated Articles of Association
• Signature declarations for authorised signatories
• Bank capital deposit confirmation letter
• Lease agreement or title deed for the registered office
• Notarised POA (if applicable)
• Founders’ identity documents and Turkish tax IDs
• Foreign corporate founder documents (certificate of incorporation, good standing, board resolution authorising formation)
• Registration petition and prescribed forms generated via MERSİS

The Trade Registry Directorate reviews the file and, if complete, registers the company and issues a Trade Registry number. The registration is then published in the Trade Registry Gazette. Under the one-stop-shop framework introduced by Law No. 7099, the Trade Registry also notifies the tax office and SGK of the new company’s existence, although founders should confirm that these notifications have been actioned.

Step 5: Complete post‑incorporation registrations, tax, social security, and municipal

Although the Trade Registry’s automatic notification system covers initial tax and social security registration, several follow-up actions remain the company’s responsibility:

• Tax office registration. Visit the local tax office to activate the company’s tax file, register for VAT (KDV), and obtain authorised invoice books. The tax office may also conduct a premises inspection.
• Social Security Institution (SGK). Register as an employer if the company will hire staff. Employer declarations must be filed before the first employee starts work.
• Municipal and other registrations. Depending on the company’s activities, additional registrations may be required, for example, a workplace opening notification to the municipality, environmental permits, or sector-specific operating licences.
• Accounting and bookkeeping. Appoint a certified public accountant (Serbest Muhasebeci Mali Müşavir, SMMM) or an independent auditor (where required by law). Turkish companies must maintain their statutory books in Turkish and in accordance with Turkish Financial Reporting Standards.

The table below summarises the complete company registration timeline in Turkey from initial planning to operational readiness.

Required Documents for Company Registration in Turkey

The documents needed for company formation in Turkey depend on whether the founders are natural persons or foreign legal entities, and on the chosen company type. The table below provides a standardised checklist applicable to LLC and JSC formations by foreign investors.

All documents originating from outside Türkiye must be apostilled under the Hague Apostille Convention (if the issuing country is a signatory) or consularly legalised if not. Sworn Turkish translations are required for every non-Turkish document submitted to the Trade Registry.

Timeline and Key Deadlines for Company Registration in Turkey

The overall timeline for company registration in Turkey ranges from approximately 8 to 30 business days from the start of document preparation to operational readiness. The primary variable is whether the founder is present in Türkiye or acting through representatives abroad, which affects document authentication timelines.

Key deadlines and time-sensitive milestones to note:

• Capital payment schedule. The portion of subscribed capital that must be paid before registration, and the deadline for paying the balance after incorporation, are prescribed by the TCC and subject to periodic amendment. Confirm the current schedule with the Trade Registry Directorate before filing.
• Trade Registry Gazette publication. Registration becomes legally effective upon entry in the Trade Registry, but publication in the Gazette (typically 1–3 business days after registration) is the point at which third parties are deemed to have notice.
• SGK employer registration. Must be completed before the company’s first employee commences work.
• General assembly (JSC only). The first ordinary general assembly must be convened within the timeframe prescribed by the Articles of Association and the TCC.

Processing times vary between Trade Registry offices. Industry observers expect major commercial centres such as Istanbul and Ankara to process standard filings within 3–5 business days, while smaller provincial offices may take somewhat longer.

Costs, Fees, and Tax Considerations for Setting Up a Business in Turkey

The cost of company formation in Turkey comprises government fees, professional service fees, and the capital deposit itself. The table below provides indicative figures; all amounts should be verified with the relevant Trade Registry Directorate or professional adviser at the time of filing, as tariffs are updated periodically.

From a tax perspective, incorporation triggers obligations under the Corporate Income Tax Law (corporate tax applies to worldwide income for resident companies) and the Value Added Tax Law (standard VAT registration is required for commercial activities). Social security contributions for employees are also mandatory from the date of first employment. Detailed tax planning falls outside the scope of this procedural guide; investors should engage a qualified Turkish tax adviser before commencing operations.

What Changes in 2026, Procedural Impacts for Company Formation in Turkey

The company registration landscape in Turkey has evolved significantly since the enactment of Law No. 7099 (published in the Resmî Gazete on 10 March 2018, issue 30356). While Law No. 7099 is not new legislation in 2026, its ongoing implementation, combined with the Ministry of Trade’s digitalisation programme, continues to reshape the practical experience of company formation. The key procedural impacts for founders filing in 2026 are as follows:

• Trade Registry as one-stop shop. Signature declarations can now be made directly at the Trade Registry Directorate, eliminating the need for a separate notary visit in many cases. The Trade Registry also handles notification to the tax office and SGK on the founder’s behalf.
• Electronic filing via MERSİS. An increasing number of documents can be uploaded electronically through the MERSİS platform. Industry observers expect the scope of electronic acceptance to continue expanding, reducing the volume of physical paperwork.
• Automatic notifications. The Trade Registry’s automatic notification system now covers tax registration, SGK registration, and book certification in many jurisdictions. Founders should nonetheless confirm that these notifications have been actioned, as local implementation can vary.
• Capital payment rules. The TCC’s capital payment schedule, including the percentage payable before registration and the deadline for paying the balance, has been the subject of multiple communiqués. Founders should verify the current rules directly with the Trade Registry Directorate immediately before filing.
• Fewer mandatory in-person appointments. In many Trade Registry offices, the combination of electronic filing and the one-stop-shop model has reduced the number of physical visits required. However, bank capital deposits and certain notarisations still commonly require the founder’s personal attendance or a validly executed POA.

The overarching advice for 2026 remains practical: always confirm local Trade Registry Directorate procedures and bank requirements the week before filing. Regulatory changes in Türkiye can evolve through communiqués and local application rules that may not be immediately reflected in national guidance.

Common Pitfalls When Setting Up a Business in Turkey, and How to Avoid Them

• Non-unique or restricted trade name. The Trade Registry will reject a name that duplicates an existing registration. Run a formal name search through the TOBB Trade Registry Gazette tool before preparing any documents.
• Improperly authenticated foreign documents. Documents signed abroad without the correct apostille or consular legalisation, or without a sworn Turkish translation, will be rejected. Engage a local lawyer to confirm authentication requirements for the founder’s specific country of origin.
• Bank account delays. Many Turkish banks require the founder to appear in person to open the formation account. Prepare a notarised POA in advance and select a bank experienced in foreign-owned company formations to avoid delays.
• Missing sectoral licences. Attempting to register a company in a regulated sector without prior regulatory approval will stall the process. Confirm whether the intended business activity requires a licence before initiating any filing.
• Incorrect assumptions about electronic filing. While MERSİS digitalisation is advancing, not all documents are accepted electronically in every Trade Registry office. Confirm the specific directorate’s requirements before submitting.
• Late tax or SGK registration. Relying solely on the Trade Registry’s automatic notification without verifying that tax and SGK files are active can result in penalties. Appoint a certified accountant to confirm all registrations immediately after incorporation.
• Expired foreign corporate documents. Certificates of incorporation and good standing older than three months are routinely rejected. Time the procurement of these documents to align with the planned filing date.
• Inadequate POA drafting. A POA that does not specifically authorise the representative to sign the Articles, open bank accounts, and complete Trade Registry filings will cause delays. Draft the POA broadly enough to cover all incorporation steps.

Sources

1. Invest in Türkiye, Establishing a Business
2. Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade, Trade Registry
3. Türkiye Trade Registry Gazette (TOBB)
4. Resmî Gazete (Official Gazette of the Republic of Türkiye)
5. WIPO Lex, Turkish Commercial Code (Law No. 6102)