From Company Formation in Turkey to Legal Accounting and Residence Permits

To establish a limited liability company in Turkey you need: 1- an address for the company’s premises (physical or virtual), 2- named partners, even where the company is wholly foreign-owned, 3- the company’s activities stated in the articles of association, 4- the declared capital registered, which may be paid in within 24 months, 5- and a trade name approved by the Turkish trade registry.

Yes. A foreigner may establish a company in Turkey under full 100% ownership with no local partner, whether a limited liability company or another type, provided all the legal and tax requirements imposed on Turkish companies are met.

Establishing a limited liability company in Turkey usually takes between 2 and 5 working days once all the required papers and documents have been prepared and submitted to the trade registry. The period can vary slightly depending on how quickly the documents and official procedures are completed.

To establish a company in Turkey you will need:
• A valid passport
• A tax number or national number (TC/YKN)
• An address inside Turkey
• Personal photographs
In some cases additional documents may be required depending on the type of company and its activity.

The cost of establishing a company in Turkey covers several basic items: the trade registry registration fees, the notary and official power of attorney fees, and the government charges tied to the commercial activity. After formation the company is also liable for the certified accountant’s fees for preparing the periodic tax declarations, and for the taxes due under Turkish law.

Yes. Appointing a certified public accountant (SMMM) is compulsory by law for every company registered in Turkey. The certified accountant is answerable to the tax administration for recording invoices and expenses, preparing the periodic tax declarations and certifying the company’s official books. Without one no company can operate lawfully, and it risks violations and fines that can go as far as having its activity frozen.

A certified public accountant in Turkey is a state-certified expert responsible for recording your company’s invoices and expenses and preparing its tax declarations. Having one is compulsory for every company, and without one you cannot carry on your business lawfully.

Companies pay the certified accountant a monthly fee set officially by the Turkish chamber of certified public accountants. The fee varies with the type of company, its activity and the number of its employees. These obligations remain in place even where the company carries on no actual activity.

Failing to appoint a certified public accountant (SMMM) in Turkey exposes a company to a range of penalties, starting with fines for not filing tax declarations on time and going as far as suspension of the commercial activity or removal of the company from the trade registry. Partners or directors may also be held personally liable for unpaid debts and tax obligations.

The certified accountant in Turkey reviews all the sales and expense invoices the company issues on a regular basis, then enters them into the approved accounting system. The monthly, quarterly and annual tax declarations are then prepared and filed electronically with the tax office within the legal deadlines. This follow-up keeps the accounts correctly recorded and avoids fines and violations.

A work residence permit in Turkey is an official authorisation granted by the Ministry of Labour that allows a foreigner to work lawfully inside the country, either as an employee of a registered company or as the owner of their own. Its advantages are that it gives the holder the right to reside lawfully for the term of the contract, access to health services and social insurance, the possibility of family reunification, and later a long-term residence permit or even an application for Turkish citizenship under the legal conditions.

To obtain a work residence permit in Turkey you must either be employed by a registered company or be the owner of an established company inside Turkey. The application is then submitted officially through the Ministry of Labour’s system.

To obtain a work residence permit in Turkey the applicant must hold a valid residence permit, or a reference number from the consulate if outside Turkey, and be registered either as a company owner or as an employee of an established company. The company must also employ at least one Turkish citizen and pay in the declared capital, and in some cases a municipal licence is required depending on the type of activity.

To apply for a work residence permit in Turkey the company must submit its tax plate, the trade registry record, the articles of association and a balance sheet report certified by the certified accountant. The applicant submits a translated and notarised passport, a biometric photograph and a valid residence card — or a reference number when applying from abroad — together with a translated educational certificate.

Yes. A company registered in Turkey is required, whether the applicant is the owner of the company or an employee registered with it. A work permit is granted only through an existing legal entity and cannot be obtained individually without a connection to a company, which is how a foreigner’s professional activity is kept under official, lawful supervision.

Residence permits in Turkey fall into several main types:
• Short-term (tourist) residence permit: usually granted for one year, suited to anyone wishing to stay in Turkey temporarily without carrying on a commercial activity.
• Work residence permit: granted to a company owner or to an employee of a registered company, allowing them to work and reside lawfully.
• Family residence permit: entitles a spouse and children under 18 to reside in Turkey on the basis of a work permit, a property permit, a long-term permit, or one parent holding citizenship.
• Property residence permit: granted to anyone owning property registered in their name in Turkey.
• Student residence permit: for foreigners enrolled at Turkish universities.
• Long-term residence permit: granted after eight years of continuous lawful residence in Turkey, and confers rights close to those of a citizen.
The main differences between them are the period of validity, the conditions required, and the rights they give the foreigner.

The basic documents for obtaining a residence permit in Turkey are: a valid passport, biometric photographs, an official proof of address, health insurance valid for the whole period of residence, the receipt for the tax on that type of permit, and an official appointment booked through the immigration administration. Additional documents may be required depending on the type of permit (property, student, work, family).

Obtaining or renewing a residence permit in Turkey usually takes between one and three months from the date the application is submitted and the documents are completed in full. The period can vary with the type of permit and how heavy the caseload is at the immigration administration.

No. An officially registered address is required when applying for a residence permit in Turkey. This is usually done through a notarised tenancy contract or a title deed to a property registered in the applicant’s name. Without official proof of address the application will not be accepted by the immigration administration.

Residence permit applications in Turkey may be refused for several common reasons, such as missing or incorrect documents, no official address, or the purpose of the stay not matching the type of permit applied for. The immigration administration may also refuse applications where renewal has been repeated over long periods without a convincing justification.

Registering a trademark gives the owner legal protection for the name of their project or product and prevents others from using or imitating it inside Turkey. It also helps build a strong identity for the company and increase customers’ confidence, with the possibility of transferring the rights or selling the mark in the future.

Registering a trademark in Turkey usually takes between 4 and 8 months from the date of application until the registration certificate is issued, following the legal examination and the official publication.
Once registered, the mark is legally protected for 10 years and can be renewed.

To register a trademark in Turkey you must submit a copy of the applicant’s passport or trade registry record, the logo of the mark to be registered, and the class the trademark is to be registered under, whether for goods or services. An official power of attorney is also required where the application is made through an authorised agent.

A trademark in Turkey is protected for 10 years from the date of registration, and can be renewed for successive further periods of 10 years each, with no limit on the number of renewals.

Yes. Foreigners may register a trademark in their personal names or in their companies’ names in Turkey, provided the required legal documents are submitted. A foreigner is treated with the same rights and obligations that apply to Turkish citizens.