Service 07

Company Formation in Türkiye for Foreign Companies

Company formation in Türkiye (also called company incorporation or company registration) is standardized on paper, but foreign shareholders usually lose time on what surrounds the registry filing: choosing the right structure, getting foreign documents legalized and translated, appointing an accountant and opening a working bank account. Burç Consulting coordinates the whole process for foreign companies and investors, with licensed lawyers, notaries and accountants handling the regulated steps.

Which company structure fits a foreign business?

The limited liability company (limited şirket) is the default choice for most foreign investors: relatively fast to set up, modest minimum capital, and suitable for anything from a trading office to a manufacturing subsidiary. A joint-stock company (anonim şirket) suits larger operations, businesses planning to bring in outside investors, and sectors where it is the required structure. A branch or a liaison office can fit when a foreign parent wants a presence without a separate Turkish company; a liaison office cannot carry out commercial activity.

Under the Foreign Direct Investment Law No. 4875, foreign investors are generally treated the same as Turkish investors, and a company can be wholly foreign-owned in most sectors.

How company incorporation in Türkiye works, step by step

Choose the structure, company name, business activities and capital
Prepare shareholder documents: passports, foreign corporate documents with apostille or consular legalization, notarized Turkish translations and powers of attorney where needed
Obtain Turkish tax numbers for foreign shareholders and directors
Draft the articles of association and file the application through MERSIS, the central registry system
Sign and register the company at the trade registry
Register with the tax office, confirm the registered address and appoint a certified accountant
Open the corporate bank account and complete any capital deposit the structure requires

Once documents are ready, the registry filing itself often completes within days. The real timeline is set by document readiness on the shareholders' side and by the bank account, where banks apply their own compliance checks to new corporate customers.

After registration

Turkish companies file tax returns regularly whether or not they are trading, so choosing the accountant matters as much as the registration itself. Work and residence permits for foreign staff, sector licenses and investment incentive applications are separate processes; we plan for them at the start so they do not become surprises later.

What it involves

Choosing the structure: limited company, joint-stock company, branch or liaison office
A document checklist and legalization and translation coordination for foreign shareholders
Tax numbers, articles of association and the MERSIS application
Trade registry and tax office registration
Registered address options and introductions to certified accountants
Corporate bank account opening support
Planning work permits, licenses and incentives alongside formation

Who it is for

Foreign companies setting up a Turkish subsidiary, branch or liaison office
Investors forming a company to hold property, a facility or an operating business
Founders who need a Turkish entity to invoice, import or hire locally
International groups that want one coordinator instead of separate lawyers, notaries and accountants

Typical situations

A foreign parent company needs a Turkish subsidiary in place before signing its first local contract
A shareholder cannot travel to Türkiye and needs the process run through a power of attorney
A company has been registered but is stuck at the bank account or accountant stage

How Burç Consulting helps

We act as a single coordinator: we plan the structure with you, prepare the document checklist, work with licensed lawyers, notaries and certified accountants on the regulated steps, and stay involved until the company can actually operate — bank account, accountant and registered address in place.

Some specialized legal, tax, accounting or engineering work required within this process is delivered through appropriate professional partners where needed. Burç Consulting does not represent itself as a licensed provider of those regulated services.

What You Get

A recommended structure with the reasoning behind it
A document checklist for each shareholder, with legalization and translation guidance
A registered Turkish company with tax registration, an accountant and a bank account in place

Typical Timeline

Once shareholder documents are ready, registration often completes within days to a few weeks; preparing foreign documents and opening a bank account usually add several weeks, depending on the shareholders' countries and the bank.

Official Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner own 100% of a company in Türkiye?

In most sectors, yes. Under the Foreign Direct Investment Law No. 4875, foreign investors are generally treated the same as Turkish investors and can hold all of a company's shares; a small number of sectors have their own ownership rules, which we check at the start.

Do shareholders need to travel to Türkiye to set up a company?

Not necessarily. Many formations are completed through a notarized power of attorney prepared abroad with an apostille or consular legalization. Banks set their own rules for account opening, and some ask to meet directors in person.

How long does company incorporation in Türkiye take?

Once documents are ready, the registry step often completes within days. End to end — including preparing foreign documents and opening a bank account — a realistic plan is a few weeks, longer when documents come from several countries.

Limited company or joint-stock company: which is better for a foreign business?

A limited company suits most foreign-owned businesses. A joint-stock company makes more sense for larger operations, companies expecting outside investors or a future listing, and sectors where it is required.

Tell us what you are trying to do.

Whether you are evaluating an investment, looking for a manufacturer, entering a new market or developing a product, start with a conversation.

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