Company Formation Consultancy for Foreigners

BKT is a private consultancy and translation company; it is not a government body. It does not itself issue official documents, does not represent any government institution and is not affiliated with one. Applications are made to the competent government institutions; we provide only consultancy on file preparation, translation and follow-up.

In Türkiye, foreign individuals and legal entities may form a company on the same terms as Turkish citizens. The most commonly preferred types in practice are the limited company and the joint stock company; formation procedures are started through MERSİS and completed at the trade registry directorate.

Depending on the structure of the investment, a branch or a liaison office may be more suitable than a company; it should be known from the outset that a liaison office cannot generate commercial income. The steps that usually follow: branch and liaison office setup, tax number and bank account, work permit consultancy and commercial translation.

The critical point in formations with foreign shareholders is that the company is set up in a structure that will later allow it to apply for work permits for foreign staff. If the capital amount, the shareholding structure and the employment plan are not designed correctly from the outset, the file may fail to meet the criteria at the work permit stage. At BKT we plan the formation with this objective in view.

Company formation by foreigners requires different steps depending on the shareholding structure and the capital chosen.

Who is it for?

• Foreign individuals wishing to form a company in Türkiye
• Foreign companies that will establish an affiliate or subsidiary in Türkiye
• Foreign nationals wishing to set up their own business with an independent work permit
• Turkish companies that will take on a foreign shareholder
• Businesses planning to employ foreign staff in the future
• Investors who will form a company as part of citizenship by investment

Required documents

The list below is for a typical case. Additional documents may be requested depending on your nationality, the type of application and the practice of the relevant authority; the definitive list is given to you in writing at the initial consultation.

• Notarised translation of the foreign shareholders' passports
• Potential tax identification number
• For a corporate shareholder, an apostilled certificate of activity and authorisation document, with their translations
• Company articles of association and MERSİS application
• Signature declaration and authorisation documents
• Tenancy agreement or title deed for the business address
• Bank capital blocking letter (where required for joint stock companies)

The process step by step

1. 1

   Structure planning

   The company type and the shareholding and capital structure are planned with your work permit and investment objectives in view.

2. 2

   Preliminary procedures

   The potential tax identification number is obtained, and the apostille and translation of the foreign documents are completed.

3. 3

   MERSİS and registry

   The articles of association are prepared, the MERSİS application is filed and trade registry registration is completed.

4. 4

   Tax and social security registration

   The tax office registration, signature circular and social security workplace registration are carried out.

5. 5

   Afterwards

   Guidance is provided on the bank account, electronic signature and, where needed, the work permit application.

Common mistakes

• Setting the capital and employment structure without regard to the work permit criteria
• Submitting the foreign corporate shareholder's documents without an apostille
• Giving as the address a place that is not suitable for a work permit application
• Drawing up the signature authorities incompletely and running into power of attorney problems at every step
• Delaying the tax and social security registration procedures after formation