The 4 Steps to Establishing a Company in Turkey as a Foreigner
Updated on 26/09/2026
Establishing a company in Turkey as a foreigner involves four fundamental steps: preparing legal documentation, depositing share capital, registering with the Trade Registry, and obtaining a tax identification number.
This process, streamlined by recent government reforms, allows international investors to benefit from privileged access to a strategic hub between Europe and Asia.
The 4-Step Establishment Process
Step 1: Preparation and Legal Formalities
The first step is to prepare your legal file. It is mandatory to have your passport translated and apostilled by an authorized Turkish notary. You must also obtain a tax identification number (Vergi Numarası) from the local tax office, a now digitized process that significantly simplifies the onboarding for non-residents.
Step 2: Drafting Articles of Association and Share Capital
The second step involves drafting the Articles of Association and managing the share capital. You must define your company's scope of activity and prepare the articles in Turkish, which will be signed before a notary. Contrary to common belief, share capital no longer needs to be fully blocked in a bank account prior to registration, a major reform that lowers the financial barrier to entry.
Step 3: Registration and Accounting Compliance
The third step is official registration. Once documents are filed with the Trade Registry, your company acquires legal personality. At this stage, you must also appoint a certified public accountant (Mali Müşavir), an essential partner in Turkey for tax management, VAT filings, and compliance with strict local accounting standards.
100% Foreign-Owned
Possibility to hold 100% of shares without a local partner.
Simplified Reforms
Digitized processes and reduced financial barriers.
Strategic Access
A natural bridge between European and Asian markets.
Expert Guidance
The complexity of Turkish administration requires local expertise to avoid compliance errors. Our firm supports you from the preparation of your file to the opening of your professional bank account, ensuring a smooth and rapid setup.
Speak to an expertNo, it is absolutely not mandatory to have a local partner to set up a company in Turkey. Foreign investors can hold 100% of the shares in a limited liability company (Limited Şirket).
The minimum share capital for a limited company in Turkey is 10,000 Turkish Liras. It is advisable to provide a higher capital to strengthen your banking credibility.
It is possible to appoint a representative via power of attorney for administrative procedures, but physical presence is often required for opening the bank account (KYC).