Company Formation in Türkiye: Legal Support from Incorporation to Day-to-Day Operations

Are you planning a subsidiary, a branch or the build-up of your business in Türkiye? We advise international companies on the legal aspects of company formation, from the choice of legal form and the incorporation through to registrations, employment law and data protection in ongoing operations.

Key Facts

100% foreign ownership permitted: A Turkish shareholder is not required; your foreign company can be the sole shareholder.
Most common legal form: The Limited Şirketi (comparable to a limited liability company, current minimum capital TRY 50,000); the Anonim Şirketi (joint stock company, minimum TRY 250,000) offers advantages for investor structures and share transfers.
No travel required: The incorporation can be carried out entirely on the basis of an apostilled power of attorney.
Timing: With complete documents, registration with the trade registry is usually completed within a few days; the overall project typically takes a few weeks.
After incorporation: Tax registrations, shareholder resolutions, employment contracts, work permits and data protection (KVKK) form part of a Turkish company's ongoing obligations.

→ For full details on legal forms, procedure, costs and incentives, read our in-depth guide »

Our Advice at a Glance

Structuring — legal form, shareholder structure and management, aligned with your group's requirements; tax questions in coordination with tax advisors.
Incorporation and registration — articles of association (bilingual), powers of attorney, apostilles, MERSİS application, trade registry, specimen signature declaration.
Registrations — tax office, social security, electronic notification address; legal support with bank account opening.
Employment and residence — employment contracts under Turkish law, work and residence permits for seconded managers and employees.
Ongoing advice — annual corporate housekeeping, contract review and data protection (KVKK); on request within an annual mandate with a defined hour budget.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do I need a Turkish shareholder or managing director? No. Shareholders and managing directors may be exclusively foreign individuals or foreign companies. In practice, a well-considered local representation arrangement is advisable, for example through commercial powers of attorney for local managers.

Do I need to travel to Türkiye for the incorporation? No. The incorporation steps can be carried out on the basis of an apostilled power of attorney. Only for certain follow-up steps, such as bank account opening, do some banks require the personal attendance of the managing director.

How long does the formation take overall? The trade registry registration itself usually takes only a few days once documents are complete. Most of the time is taken up by preparation abroad (apostilles, translations) and the post-incorporation steps; a few weeks until full operational readiness is realistic.

What about a liaison office instead of a company? A liaison office may not engage in commercial activity and requires ministerial approval, which has recently been granted on a restrictive basis. Whether a company or a liaison office is suitable for your project depends on the planned activity.

What obligations follow after incorporation? Ongoing bookkeeping and tax filings (by tax advisors), annual shareholder resolutions, employment law obligations and data protection compliance (KVKK).

How We Work

We advise in English, German and Turkish, including communication with authorities, notaries and banks. On tax and accounting matters we work in coordination with GEMS Serbest Muhasebeci Mali Müşavirlik A.Ş., so that legal and tax aspects are handled in an aligned manner. As the Turkish member of the Schindhelm Alliance, we coordinate cross-border questions with the network's country offices.

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Last updated: November 2026. This page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice in an individual case.