Establishing a Business in Turkey

Turkey’s FDI Law is based on the principle of equal treatment, allowing international investors to have the same rights and liabilities as local investors.

The conditions for setting up a business and share transfer are the same as those applied to local investors. International investors may establish any form of company set out in the Turkish Commercial Code (TCC), which offers a corporate governance approach that meets international standards, fosters private equity and public offering activities, creates transparency in managing operations, and aligns the Turkish business environment with EU legislation as well as with the EU accession process.

Company Types under TCC and Alternative Forms

There are corporate and non-corporate forms for companies under the TCC, which states that companies may be established under the following types:

a. Corporate forms

• Joint Stock Company (JSC)
• Limited Liability Company (LLC)
• Cooperative Company

Although some financial thresholds (i.e., minimum capital) and organs differ from each other, the procedure to be followed for establishing a JSC or an LLC are the same.

b. Non-corporate forms

• Collective Company
• Commandite Company

Although companies may be established according to these five different types, JSC and LLC are the most common types chosen both in the global economy and Turkey.

Establishing a Company

When establishing a company in Turkey, one needs to adhere to the following rules and regulations:

c. Submit the memorandum and articles of association online at MERSIS

Pursuant to the Trade Registry Regulation, trade registration transactions must be fulfilled through MERSIS (Central Registry Record System).

MERSIS is a central information system for carrying out commercial registry processes and storing commercial registry data electronically on a regular basis. A unique number is given to legal entities that are actively involved in business. Online establishment of new companies is possible on MERSIS, and already-established companies may operate through the system after the transfer of their records.

d. Execute and notarize company documents

The following documents are required for registry application at the relevant Trade Registry Office:

• Notarized articles of association (four copies, one original)
• In case the foreign partner is a real person, the required documents are:
  o For each real person shareholder, two copies of their passports
• In case the foreign partner is a legal entity, the required documents are:
  o The Certificate of Activity of the legal entity designated as the shareholder issued by the relevant authority in the investor’s country. The certificate must bear information regarding the current status and signatories of the company.
  o Resolution(s) of competent corporate organ of legal entity shareholder(s) authorizing the establishment; if there will be any specific condition for the prospective company to be incorporated (name of the company, field of activity, etc.) it must be stated in the resolution for the sake of clarity.
  o In case a legal entity is going to be appointed as a member in the board of directors of the prospective company to be incorporated, the name of the real person who will act in the name of the legal entity and the legal entity board member’s appointment must be stated within the same or with a separate resolution for the sake of clarity.
  o If the process is going to be followed by proxy, a notarized copy of a power of attorney authorizing the attorneys who will follow up the application before the competent Trade Registry Office and other official authorities in order to proceed with the application (where applicable).
• Notarized signature declarations (two copies)
• Notarized identity cards of the company managers (one copy)

It should be noted that, except the first item above, all the necessary documents that will be issued and executed outside Turkey must be notarized and apostilled or alternatively ratified by the Turkish consulate where they are issued. The original executed, notarized, and apostilled documents must be officially translated and notarized by a Turkish notary.

e. Obtain potential tax identity number

A potential tax identity number for the company, non-Turkish shareholders, and non-Turkish board members of the company, must be obtained from the relevant tax office. This potential tax identity number is necessary for opening a bank account in order to deposit the capital of the company to be incorporated.

The documents required by the tax office are as follows:

• Petition requesting registration
• Notarized articles of association (one original)
• Copy of the tenancy contract showing the registered address for the company
• If the process is going to be followed by proxy, a power of attorney must be issued specifically showing the authority to act on behalf of the company before the tax authority in order to obtain a tax identity number or potential tax identity number

f. Deposit a percentage of capital to the account of the Competition Authority

Original of bank receipt (from Halk Bank, Ankara corporate branch) indicating that the 0.04 percent of the capital has been deposited to the account of the Competition Authority at the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) or a public bank, or the EFT receipt signed and stamped “collected” (account no: 80000011 - IBAN no: TR40 0001 2009 4520 0080 0000 11), which shows an amount equal to 0.04 percent of the company’s capital has been paid to the account of the Competition Authority.

g. Deposit at least 25 percent of the startup capital in a bank and obtain proof thereof

25 percent of the share capital must be paid in prior to the new company registration. The remaining 75 percent of the subscribed share capital must be paid within two years. Alternatively, the capital may be fully paid prior to registration.

h. Apply for registration at the Trade Registry Office

Pursuant to gathering the following documents, founders may apply for registration:

• Petition requesting registration
• Four copies of incorporation notification form
• Four copies of the notarized articles of association (one original)
• Bank deposit receipt with respect to the payment made to the bank account of the Competition Authority (0.04 percent of the company's share capital)
• For each person authorized to represent the founders of the limited liability company, two copies of the signature declarations
• Founders' declaration (one original)
• Chamber of Commerce registration form (two different forms for two different shareholder types: real person shareholder or legal entity shareholder)
• The written statement of non-shareholder members of board of directors that states acknowledgement of this duty
• Bank certificate of the paid-in minimum capital deposit (at least 25 percent of subscribed capital). If there will be any capital contribution in kind:
  o The expert report regarding the capital in kind
  o The statement of the relevant registry indicating there is no limitation on that capital in kind
  o The document indicating the annotations have been done to relevant registries regarding the capital in kind
  o The written agreements between founders, other persons, and the founding company regarding the foundation of the company

Following completion of the registration phase before the Trade Registry Office, the Trade Registry Office notifies the relevant tax office and the Social Security Institution ex-officio regarding the incorporation of the company. The Trade Registry Office arranges for an announcement in the Commercial Registry Gazette within approximately 10 days of the company registration. A tax registration certificate must be obtained from the local tax office soon after the Trade Registry Office notifies the local tax office.

A social security number for the company must be obtained from the relevant Social Security Institution. For the employees, a separate application has to be made following the registration of the company with the Social Security Institution.

i. Certify the legal books by a notary public

The founders must certify legal books the day they register the company with the Trade Registry Office. The notary public must notify the tax office about the commercial book certification.

• Journal
• Ledger
• Inventory book
• Share ledger
• Manager's meeting minutes book
• General assembly meeting minutes book

j. Follow up with the tax office on the Trade Registry Office’s company establishment notification

The Trade Registry Office notifies the tax office and the Social Security Institution of the company’s incorporation. A tax officer comes to the company headquarters to prepare a determination report. There must be at least one authorized signature in the determination report. Trade Registry Officers send the company establishment form, which includes the tax number notification, to the tax office.

Issuance of signature circular: After the company has been registered before the Trade Registry the signatories of the company must issue a signature circular.

Branch Office

• No shareholder
• Not an independent legal entity. Its duration is limited to the duration of the parent company
• No capital requirement, however, it would be wise to allocate a budget for the operations of a branch office
• A branch office may be incorporated only for the same purposes as those of the parent company
• Repatriation of branch profit is allowed. The branch profit transferred to the headquarters is subject to dividend withholding tax at a rate of 15 percent, which may be reduced by Double Taxation Prevention Treaties

Getting registered at the Trade Registry Office

An application with the following documents must be submitted to the relevant Trade Registry Office for the registration of a branch:

• Petition (must be signed either by an authorized signatory under the company seal or by proxy; if signed by the latter, then the original or the notarized copy of the power of attorney must be attached to the petition)
• The resolution of the competent organ of the parent company to open a branch
• A certified original copy of the parent company’s articles of association
• Certificate of Activity of the parent company or any equivalent documentation that sets forth registration and current status of the parent company
• A power of attorney granted by the parent company in favor of its resident representative, assigning full representation and accountability
• Five copies of the Establishment Declaration Form (the related fields must be filled and signed by the authorized person)
• Two copies of the power of attorney stating the representative in Turkey
• If the branch representative is a Turkish national, a notarized copy of his/her ID card. If not, a notarized copy of the authorized representative’s passport translated into Turkish
• Two copies of the signature declarations of the branch representative under the branch title
• A letter of commitment (signed by authorized person)
• A Chamber Registry Declaration Form Statement to be obtained from the Trade Registry Office (including photographs of the branch representatives)

It should be noted that all the necessary documents that will be issued and executed outside Turkey must be notarized and apostilled or alternatively ratified by the Turkish consulate where they are issued. The original executed, notarized, and apostilled documents must be officially translated and notarized by a Turkish notary.

Liaison Office

• Main activity is to conduct market research and feasibility studies and to oversee investment opportunities in the Turkish market on behalf of the parent company
• Not allowed to carry out any commercial activity
• Required to obtain permit from the Ministry of Economy, General Directorate of Incentive Implementation and Foreign Investment
• The condition of being operational for at least one year might be sought for permit
• The initial permit is issued for three years and can be extended depending on the activities in the past three years and the future plans of the parent company
• Applications of international investors to establish liaison offices to operate in sectors that are subject to special legislation, such as money and capital markets, and insurance, etc., are assessed by the relevant authorities

Permit from Ministry of Economy

The documents required by the Ministry of Economy for establishing a liaison office in Turkey are as follows:

• Application form
• The Letter of Commitment indicating the liaison office’s field of activity, a written statement that the liaison office will not carry out commercial activities, and the authorization document of the parent company official who signed the letter
• The Certificate of Activity of the parent company
• Activity report or balance sheet and income statement of the parent company
• The certificate of authority issued in the name of the person/persons who is/are appointed to carry out the operations of the liaison office
• The power of attorney in case another person will carry out the establishment transactions of the liaison office

It should be noted that all the necessary documents issued and executed outside Turkey must be notarized and apostilled or alternatively ratified by the Turkish consulate where they are issued. The original executed, notarized and apostilled documents must be officially translated and notarized by a Turkish notary.