How to register a company in Turkey

The steps the Ministry of Trade describes, in order, with what foreign founders need to prepare.

1. 1Get a Turkish tax number (foreigners)Apply to a tax office or online. Bring your passport copy and a notarised Turkish translation; if you live in Turkey, a notarised copy of your residence permit. A representative needs a power of attorney that covers tax office matters. Then register the number in MERSİS through a trade registry office.
2. 2Prepare the company contract in MERSİSCreate a free account at mersis.gtb.gov.tr. Foreigners are added with their passport numbers. The contract is generated in Turkish, and the company’s tax number is assigned automatically.
3. 3Have the founders’ signatures approvedFor limited companies this is done at the trade registry office where the company will be based; joint stock companies may also use any notary, which receives the contract electronically from MERSİS.
4. 4Prepare signature declarations for the directorsAnyone authorised to sign for the company has their signature approved and recorded. This can be done at any trade registry office in Turkey.
5. 5Pay the Competition Authority share and the capital0.04% of the capital is paid at the trade registry office. For a joint stock company, at least 25% of the cash capital must first be paid into a bank account opened in the company’s name.
6. 6Apply to the trade registry for registrationThe registry completes the registration and certifies the company’s statutory books. Everything can also be done through a representative holding a power of attorney.
7. 7After registrationThe trade registry notifies the tax office and the Social Security Institution (SGK). A tax officer visits the registered address to confirm it. You will then need an accountant for bookkeeping and monthly filings.

Need the activity (NACE) code for your tax registration? Our activity code finder lists all 2,142 codes of the 2026 list (in Turkish).