Setting Up a Company in Türkiye: Complete 2026 Guide for Foreign Businesses and Investors
Setting Up a Company in Türkiye: Complete 2026 Guide for Foreign Businesses and Investors
Company formation, subsidiary establishment, legal structures, share capital, taxation, administrative procedures, costs and timelines: discover the essential steps to successfully establish your business in Türkiye.
Are you planning to set up a company in Türkiye, establish a subsidiary of your existing business, or develop commercial or industrial operations there? The Turkish market offers numerous opportunities for foreign businesses seeking to strengthen their international presence, reach new customers, expand their distribution networks, recruit locally or establish a manufacturing base.
Türkiye allows foreign investors to establish companies with up to 100% foreign ownership, with no general requirement to partner with a Turkish shareholder, subject to regulations governing certain activities. This openness facilitates market entry for French, Belgian, Swiss and other European businesses seeking their own corporate presence in Türkiye.
However, establishing a business in Türkiye involves much more than registration with the Trade Registry. Choosing between a Turkish limited liability company (Limited Şirket – Ltd. Şti.) and a joint-stock company (Anonim Şirket – A.Ş.), determining share capital, preparing the articles of association, opening a corporate bank account, establishing governance arrangements and meeting tax and accounting obligations are all decisions that must be anticipated to ensure the effective operation of your future company.
There are many questions to address: Which legal structure should you choose for a subsidiary in Türkiye? What company formation procedures apply to foreign investors? What budget and timeframe should you plan for? Can a company be established remotely? How can you arrange the administrative management and legal representation of your subsidiary before you have a local team in place?
To answer these questions, we have developed a practical guide to establishing and managing a company in Türkiye.
Available as a free download, this guide sets out the main legal, administrative, financial and operational stages of establishing a business in Türkiye. It helps you understand the available options, anticipate local obligations and build a sound foundation for your company or subsidiary formation project.
Whether you are a business owner, export director, international business development manager, chief financial officer or investor, this document provides an initial decision-making resource to help you structure, safeguard and successfully establish your operations in the Turkish market.
What does our company formation guide for Türkiye cover?
From defining your market entry strategy to meeting the first obligations of your subsidiary, this guide addresses the key issues to understand before investing and starting operations in Türkiye.
Table of contents of the guide :
Essential answers before you begin
1. Define the objectives of your establishment in Türkiye
- Establish a new entity or acquire an existing business
2. Understand the requirements applicable to foreign investors
- Share ownership and choice of shareholders
- Shareholder residency and remote company formation
- The right to work or reside in Türkiye
3. Choose between a subsidiary, branch and liaison office
4. Compare a Turkish limited liability company and a joint-stock company
- Limited Şirket: the Turkish limited liability company
- Anonim Şirket: the Turkish joint-stock company
5. Select the location for your operations
- The standard regulatory framework
- Free zones
- Technoparks and technology development zones
- Organised industrial zones
- Istanbul Financial Center
6. Company formation in Türkiye: step by step
- Step 1 – Verify prerequisites and define the company specifications
- Step 2 – Prepare the incorporation documents
- Step 3 – Complete the administrative formation procedures
7. Organise post-registration obligations
- 7.1. Arrange representation, signing authority and local governance
- 7.2. Activate bank accounts and safeguard authorisations
- 7.3. Set up accounting, tax compliance and digital systems
- 7.4. Organise employment and HR obligations
- 7.5. Verify licences, premises and operating requirements
- 7.6. Arrange foreign investment reporting
8. Subsidiary management and local representation with Advantis Conseils Türkiye
- Administrative and operational management of the subsidiary
- Local representation and authorised signatory services
- Accounting and tax advisory coordination
- Prepare for your first hires
9. Company formation and operational launch timelines
10. Company formation costs
- Incorporation expenses
- Recurring operating costs
- Additional costs to anticipate
11. Avoid common preparation mistakes
12. Prepare your subsidiary formation with Advantis Conseils Türkiye
13. About Advantis Conseils Türkiye
14. References
Download our guide for free
Planning to establish a business in Türkiye? Anticipate the key decisions before committing to your project.
This guide provides the information you need to compare legal structures, understand registration procedures, assess costs and prepare the operational organisation of your future business in Türkiye.
Download the complete guide for free in PDF format by completing the form below.
Download our checklist: 20 essential steps to set up your company in Türkiye
To complement our comprehensive guide, Advantis Conseils Turquie offers a practical checklist covering the 20 essential steps to setting up a company in Türkiye. This operational tool helps you track your progress, identify the documents you need to prepare, and ensure that no important formalities are overlooked.
Organized into three key phases (project preparation, documentation and incorporation procedures), this checklist helps you structure your market entry and anticipate the key requirements for establishing your subsidiary in Türkiye.
FAQ : Setting Up a Company in Türkiye
Can a foreign national establish a company in Türkiye?
Yes. A foreign individual or company can establish a business in Türkiye and own 100% of its share capital, subject to any restrictions applicable to certain regulated activities. Under the general rules, a Turkish shareholder is therefore not required.
Can a French or other European company own 100% of a Turkish subsidiary?
Yes. The subsidiary is a company incorporated under Turkish law, and its foreign parent company may own its entire share capital. Any legal or administrative authorisations and restrictions specific to its activities must be checked.
Must I reside in Türkiye to become a shareholder?
Residency in Türkiye is not a requirement for a foreign individual or legal entity to become a shareholder. Incorporation documents may also be signed by a duly authorised representative. Management responsibilities, residence in Türkiye and the opening of personal bank accounts must be addressed separately.
What is the minimum capital required to establish a company in Türkiye in 2026?
The minimum share capital is TRY 50,000 for a Turkish limited liability company (Ltd. Şti.) and TRY 250,000 for a standard joint-stock company (A.Ş.). Certain regulated activities may require higher amounts. Share capital should also reflect the project’s actual financing needs.
Is the minimum share capital the cost of company formation?
No. The TRY 50,000 required for a Ltd. Şti. or TRY 250,000 required for a standard A.Ş. represents the minimum capital subscribed upon incorporation. Administrative and notarial fees, advisory services, translations and initial operating expenses are entirely separate costs.
What is the difference between a limited liability company and a joint-stock company in Türkiye?
The Turkish limited liability company (Ltd. Şti.) and joint-stock company (A.Ş.) are both capital companies. They differ in minimum capital requirements, governance, representation rules, share transfer procedures and certain liability regimes. The choice should be based on the project’s needs rather than incorporation costs alone.
Can a liaison office issue commercial invoices?
No. A liaison office is intended for the non-commercial activities covered by its authorisation. It cannot be used to invoice local commercial sales. Businesses seeking to sell directly should consider an appropriate structure, such as a Ltd. Şti., an A.Ş. subsidiary or a branch.
Must all newly established companies use the same electronic systems?
No. Each system addresses a specific obligation. In 2026, newly established companies must in particular arrange the applicable ETDS corporate registers and, for companies maintaining balance-sheet-based accounts, the e-Defter electronic ledger. Electronic invoicing requirements must be assessed separately.
How long does it take to establish a company in Türkiye?
Registration can be completed quickly once the file, including apostilled and notarised documents, is ready. The overall timetable must also cover opening the capital deposit account, tax registration and any authorisations needed for the business activity. Accordingly, a period of 15 days should be allowed after all shareholder documents have been received.
Can a company be established remotely in Türkiye?
Yes. Incorporation can be carried out through a duly authorised representative without all founders having to travel. However, certain procedures, especially banking formalities, may still require specific checks or actions.
Can Advantis handle the legal representation and management of the subsidiary?
Yes. Advantis Conseils Türkiye can manage your subsidiary and provide an authorised legal signatory and representation service. This may be arranged through a power of representation or a seat on the board of directors. Day-to-day management and legal authorities are formalised separately. Appointments, signing rules and parent-company controls must be tailored to the legal form and activities of the company.
Can employees be hired in Türkiye before establishing a subsidiary?
Depending on the circumstances, a business development project may consider an outsourced employment or Employer of Record (EoR) solution before establishing its own company. This approach allows businesses to explore an initial local HR presence, subject to verification of the applicable legal, employment and operational framework.
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