Establish and operate a Turkish company.

Understand capital and governance

The Trade Ministry lists minimum capital of TRY 50,000 for a limited company and TRY 250,000 for a standard joint-stock company. Certain activities and structures require more. Recheck at formation; work-permit criteria are a different test.

For a limited company, subscribed capital may generally be paid within 24 months after registration. For a joint-stock company, at least one quarter of cash capital is generally payable before registration and the remainder within 24 months. Have counsel confirm the exact capital and contribution arrangement for your case.

Decide shareholders, percentages, managers/directors, representation powers and reserved decisions. For partners, document how funding, disputes, departures and sales of shares will work. A template set of articles may not cover your commercial arrangements.

Formation workflow

1. Choose an available company name, appropriate activities, address and legal form with the accountant/lawyer.
2. Prepare the articles and registration application using MERSİS and the relevant Trade Registry. Follow that registry’s current document list.
3. Arrange shareholder/manager identity and tax numbers. Foreign-issued corporate documents and powers of attorney may need apostille or consular legalisation, translation and notarisation.
4. Complete the required signatures, capital evidence and registry payments. Confirm which payment requirements apply to your company type.
5. Obtain registration, Trade Registry Gazette records, representation/signature documents and tax details. Do not assume every connected account is active merely because registration is complete.
6. Complete tax-office follow-up, beneficial-owner reporting where required, accounting/e-document access and any sector/municipal licences.
7. Activate the corporate bank account. Establish SGK/employer registration where relevant and complete employee onboarding before the applicable work commencement deadlines.

Keep ownership, work and tax separate

A foreigner can own a company but may still require permission to work in or manage it. Discuss whether the role is passive ownership or active work and get the appropriate labour-law analysis. Registration capital alone does not establish eligibility for a work permit.

The company is a separate taxpayer. The shareholder’s Article 20/D certificate does not exempt company profits. Salary, fees, dividends, expense reimbursements and loans to or from shareholders need correct documentation and separate tax treatment.

Operate as a real company

Receive company sales into company accounts. Put contracts, invoices and employment agreements in the correct entity’s name. Agree who authorises payments, holds bank credentials, monitors official notifications and approves tax returns.

Maintain statutory books, decisions, accounts and ownership records. Ask your accountant for the applicable corporate, VAT, withholding, payroll, provisional-tax and beneficial-ownership calendar. Monitor capital-payment deadlines and keep evidence that contributions were properly made.

If the business does not proceed, take advice on formal dormancy or liquidation obligations. An unused company can still incur filings and costs; abandonment is not dissolution.

Your document checklist

This is a preparation list. The receiving authority or bank may require additional or different documents.

• Articles and ownership chart
• Foreign documents with required legalisation/translation
• MERSİS and Trade Registry records
• Tax plate, signature/representation documents
• Capital contribution records and payment schedule
• Accounting, licensing, beneficial-owner and employer checklist

Ask your adviser

• What capital is needed for incorporation versus my work route?
• Who has authority to bind the company?
• What annual costs continue if the company is inactive?