Frequently asked
questions.

Yes. Foreign individuals and foreign legal entities can establish companies in Türkiye and are generally subject to the same company-formation framework as local investors. Sector-specific restrictions or approvals may still apply.

Generally, yes. A Turkish capital company can be wholly foreign-owned and a Turkish shareholder is not normally required, subject to any special rules for regulated sectors.

Not generally. A foreign investor may own or establish a Turkish company without becoming resident in Türkiye; residence and work authorization are separate matters.

Not merely because you are a shareholder. Company ownership, residence permission and work authorization are separate legal concepts, and incorporation itself does not grant residence or work rights.

Registration can be relatively quick once the structure and documents are ready. The overall timeline depends on foreign-document preparation, legalization/apostille, translation, signatures and the relevant Trade Registry process.

In many cases, yes. Properly drafted powers of attorney can allow representatives in Türkiye to complete substantial parts of the formation process, while foreign-issued documents may require legalization and Turkish translation.

Generally, no. Foreign investors may establish wholly foreign-owned companies unless a sector-specific rule requires a different ownership structure.

Decide the business activity, company type, shareholders, management and representation, capital, registered address, licensing needs and whether any foreign shareholder or employee will work in Türkiye.

Foreign investors can use the company forms available under Turkish commercial law. For most businesses the principal choices are a Limited Company (Ltd. Şti.) and Joint Stock Company (A.Ş.); a branch or liaison office may also be relevant in appropriate cases.

A Limited Company is a capital company commonly used for privately held businesses. It can generally have one to fifty shareholders and currently has a statutory minimum capital of TRY 50,000.

A Joint Stock Company is a capital company governed through a general assembly and board of directors. Its current statutory minimum capital is TRY 250,000, with a higher threshold for the non-public registered-capital system.

Both are limited-liability capital companies, but they differ in governance, capital requirements, share-transfer mechanics and suitability for investment or more complex ownership structures. The right choice depends on the business and future plans.

It depends on ownership, governance, financing, future investors and exit plans. An Ltd. may suit many privately held businesses, while an A.Ş. can be preferable for more complex investment and share structures.

Yes. A foreign company may establish a Turkish branch; the branch remains legally connected to its foreign parent and operates through its registered local representation.

A subsidiary is a separate Turkish legal entity owned by the foreign investor. A branch is an extension of the foreign parent, which affects governance, liability, accounting and operational structure.

Yes, subject to the required Ministry authorization. A liaison office is for permitted non-commercial activities and cannot conduct ordinary commercial business in Türkiye.

A Turkish company is a separate legal entity; a branch remains part of its foreign parent; a liaison office is a permitted non-commercial presence. The correct model depends on the activities to be carried out in Türkiye.

There is no general Turkish-shareholder requirement solely because a company is foreign-owned. Regulated or strategically sensitive sectors may impose special ownership, licensing or approval rules.

Yes, generally. A Turkish capital company may be entirely foreign-owned, subject to sector-specific restrictions where applicable.

Yes. Both an Ltd. and an A.Ş. can generally be formed with a single shareholder.

Yes. A foreign legal entity can hold shares in a Turkish company, although additional corporate documents concerning the foreign shareholder and its authorized representatives will be required.

Yes, subject to the applicable corporate rules. Appointment as a manager and legal authorization to physically work in Türkiye must be assessed separately.

Generally, yes. Foreign nationality alone does not prevent board membership, but work-permit rules may still apply to the person’s actual activities in Türkiye.

A Turkish tax identification number is generally required for foreign individuals participating in the company-registration process. The exact documentation depends on the investor and transaction.

Yes. Certain regulated sectors can have special foreign-ownership, licensing or authorization rules, so a sector-specific review should be completed before investment.

Requirements depend on the company type and shareholder structure. Core documents normally include the articles of association and identification or corporate documents for shareholders, managers/directors and authorized representatives.

Typical requirements include passport documentation and a Turkish tax identification number, plus any registry-specific documents. Foreign documents may require legalization, translation and notarization.

Typically, evidence of the foreign company’s existence and authorized signatories, the corporate decision approving the Turkish investment and representative documents are required. Legalization and Turkish translation may also apply.

MERSİS is Türkiye’s Central Registry Record System. Company formation and many trade-registry transactions are initiated or processed electronically through this system.

The Trade Registry reviews the formation application and supporting documents and completes registration when statutory requirements are satisfied. It is the core registration authority for the company-establishment process.

Often, yes. Depending on the issuing country and document, an apostille or Turkish consular legalization may be required before the document can be used in Türkiye.

Generally, foreign-language documents submitted for company registration require an official Turkish translation and any applicable notarization formalities.

Many formation steps can be handled through an authorized representative using a properly drafted and valid power of attorney. The required form depends on where and how the power is issued.

Yes. A Turkish company needs a registered corporate address, and the suitability of the proposed address should be checked before formation.

The current statutory minimum is TRY 50,000 for an Ltd. and TRY 250,000 for an A.Ş. A higher amount may be advisable or required for regulatory, work-permit or commercial reasons.

For an A.Ş., at least one quarter of subscribed cash capital is generally paid before registration and the balance within 24 months. For an Ltd., capital can generally be paid within 24 months after registration.

Not generally for an Ltd. An A.Ş. has different pre-registration cash-capital payment requirements, so the company type must be identified before planning payment.

Yes, in principle. Account opening remains subject to each bank’s KYC, beneficial-ownership, source-of-funds and risk assessment.

Banks commonly request company registration and tax documents, authorized-signatory information, beneficial-owner details, business activity information, expected transaction profile and source-of-funds evidence. Requirements vary by bank and case.

No. NAVITICAL can prepare and coordinate the banking process, but the final onboarding and compliance decision belongs to the bank.

Generally, yes, subject to banking, tax, foreign-exchange, sanctions/compliance and transaction-specific requirements.

Yes. NAVITICAL can organize documentation and coordinate with banks or payment providers, but cannot override their independent compliance decisions.

Turkish companies are subject to statutory accounting, tax filing and record-keeping obligations. In practice, qualified accounting support is a core part of operating a company.

Depending on its activities, a company may face corporate income tax, VAT, withholding taxes, stamp tax and employment/social-security liabilities, among others. The exact profile is business-specific.

For the 2026 tax period, the general corporate income tax rate is 25%, while different rates or reductions apply to certain taxpayers and activities. Because rates can change, this answer should remain source-dated in the CMS.

Many supplies of goods and services in Türkiye are subject to VAT. The standard rate is currently 20%, with reduced rates for specified supplies; the correct treatment depends on the transaction.

A company incorporated in Türkiye is generally within the Turkish corporate-tax regime. Cross-border structures may require separate analysis of residence, permanent establishment and applicable tax treaties.

Companies must maintain the books, records and supporting documents required by Turkish commercial and tax legislation. Exact requirements depend on company type, size and activity.

Invoices must comply with Turkish tax rules, and e-Invoice or e-Archive systems may apply depending on the taxpayer and transaction. The accounting setup should determine the correct invoicing workflow.

NAVITICAL can coordinate the accounting and tax workflow with qualified professionals and organize the related tasks and documentation through the platform.

Only where the selected package or proposal expressly says so. Government, accounting and other third-party professional costs should be shown separately when they are not included.

Yes, provided the applicable work-permit, employment and social-security requirements are satisfied.

Share ownership by itself does not require a work permit. A foreign shareholder who actually works in Türkiye may need work authorization depending on the role and circumstances.

No. Ownership of a company and authorization to work in Türkiye are separate legal matters.

Do not assume so merely because the person is registered as a manager. The actual activities and any statutory exemption must be reviewed under work-permit legislation.

Under current criteria, company capital, the foreign shareholder’s capital share and ownership percentage, and later Turkish-employment criteria can be relevant. These thresholds are dynamic and must be checked against the Ministry’s current criteria before filing.

The general work-permit framework includes Turkish-employment criteria, but important exemptions and sector-specific rules exist. The applicable rule must be checked for the specific foreign worker and employer.

Employers must comply with applicable payroll, employee-registration, social-security contribution and reporting obligations. The precise duties depend on the employment relationship and employee status.

Yes. NAVITICAL can coordinate work-permit applications and related documentation according to the applicable immigration and employment rules.

Yes. NAVITICAL can coordinate employment documentation, payroll and related professional services as part of ongoing business support.

The required set depends on the company and activity, but may include corporate resolutions, commercial agreements, employment documents, privacy documentation, internal policies and regulatory records.

Common subjects include management rights, reserved matters, financing, profit distributions, share transfers, exit mechanisms, deadlock procedures, confidentiality and dispute resolution.

It is not automatically mandatory merely because there are multiple shareholders, but it can be valuable where the parties need governance and exit rules beyond the company’s constitutional documents.

This depends on company type and the registered representation structure. An A.Ş. is principally managed and represented through its board, while an Ltd. is managed and represented through its manager or managers.

The competent corporate body adopts the required decision and the change is registered and published where required. The exact procedure depends on company type and its constitutional documents.

Share-transfer rules differ significantly between an Ltd. and an A.Ş. The articles, statutory formalities, corporate approvals and any shareholders’ agreement should be reviewed before the transfer.

Yes. Contract drafting, review and negotiation can be handled through the legal component of NAVITICAL Business where included in the agreed scope.

Yes. Ongoing legal support can include corporate matters, contracts, compliance and coordination with other business professionals depending on scope.

Possible models include a Turkish subsidiary, branch, distributor or commercial partner and, for qualifying non-commercial activity, a liaison office. The right model depends on what the company intends to do in Türkiye.

Not necessarily. Some businesses can use contractual distribution or cross-border structures, but tax, permanent-establishment, regulatory and licensing consequences should be reviewed first.

A local company provides greater direct control and infrastructure, while a distributor can reduce initial operational commitment but shifts part of execution to a third party. The choice should follow commercial and legal due diligence.

A subsidiary creates a separate Turkish legal entity; a branch remains legally connected to the foreign parent. Liability, governance, tax and operational consequences should be compared before deciding.

Potentially. Market research, partner discussions and some cross-border arrangements can precede incorporation, but actual business activity in Türkiye may create tax or regulatory consequences.

Define the partner profile, identify candidates, verify corporate background and market presence, conduct commercial/legal due diligence and negotiate a written agreement before committing.

Review ownership, financial standing, market coverage, customers, competing products, regulatory history, reputation, exclusivity expectations, termination rights and dispute-resolution terms.

Depending on scope, it can cover market opportunity, competitors, regulatory environment, entry structures, licensing, partner landscape, legal risks, costs and an execution roadmap.

Yes. Market Entry can combine commercial research with regulatory/legal review and then move into partner search, company setup or another execution route.

It depends on the activity. Company registration alone does not automatically satisfy sector-specific licensing or operational authorization requirements.

Yes. Regulated sectors can require permits, minimum conditions or supervision by specific authorities, so this should be checked before launch.

Foreign-owned Turkish companies generally face the same core corporate, tax, employment and data-protection obligations as comparable local companies, plus any sector-specific requirements.

If the business processes personal data within the scope of Turkish data-protection law, KVKK obligations may apply. Foreign ownership does not itself remove those obligations.

Not every company does. VERBİS registration depends on the applicable statutory rules and exemptions, including relevant thresholds, activities and data categories; this should be checked against current Board decisions.

VERBİS is only one part of KVKK compliance. Businesses may also need lawful processing grounds, privacy notices, security measures, processor arrangements, retention practices and procedures for data-subject requests.

Map the company’s exact activities first, identify the competent regulators, then check licensing, premises, personnel and sector-specific requirements before operations begin.

Yes. NAVITICAL can coordinate legal and sector-specific review and involve relevant professionals where specialized authorization is required.

Registration is only the beginning. Banking, accounting/tax activation, invoicing, regulatory requirements, contracts, employment, permits and ongoing corporate administration may still need to be completed.

Ongoing obligations can include tax filings, accounting records, corporate decisions, employment/social-security reporting and sector-specific filings. The calendar depends on the company and its activities.

The change should be documented through the appropriate corporate process and registered or notified to the relevant authorities and service providers where required.

The procedure depends on company type, the nature of the transfer and the company’s constitutional and contractual arrangements. Share-transfer documentation and registration requirements should be checked before execution.

A valid corporate decision must be adopted and the relevant registration/publication procedures completed where applicable.

Before employment begins, establish the employment-documentation, payroll/accounting and social-security registration/reporting workflow. Foreign employees also require a separate work-authorization review.

Yes. Ongoing Business Support is designed to coordinate continuing legal, accounting, employment, permit and operational needs through one workflow.

NAVITICAL Business covers three main stages: Market Entry, Company Setup and Ongoing Business Support. The scope can include commercial assessment, legal/regulatory review, incorporation, professional coordination and ongoing operational support.

Market Entry helps determine how to enter Türkiye. Company Setup implements the establishment process. Ongoing Business Support coordinates the legal, accounting, employment and operational needs that continue after launch.

Current core Business pricing is Business Setup $750, Business Launch $1,490, Market Entry from $2,500 and Business 360 from $4,500. Ongoing Business Support is custom-scoped until a separate canonical recurring price is approved.

Unless expressly included in the proposal, government charges, taxes, translations, notarization, accounting fees and other third-party/provider costs may be charged separately.