By Av. Serkan Kara, Istanbul Bar No. 53770. Last updated: 14 June 2026.
To register a company in Turkey you incorporate it under the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 through the Central Registration System (MERSIS) and the local Trade Registry Office: you select a company type, reserve a unique name, prepare and notarize the articles of association, deposit the required capital at a bank, file through MERSIS, submit the documents to the Trade Registry Directorate, and obtain publication in the Trade Registry Gazette. The Directorate assigns a MERSIS number that identifies the company across every government system, and chamber of commerce membership, tax registration, and social security (SGK) enrollment follow. Foreign shareholders are treated the same as Turkish nationals under the Commercial Code and need an apostilled passport copy and, where they cannot attend in person, a notarized power of attorney. Registration usually completes within one to three business days after the documents are filed.
This guide walks through the company types, the MERSIS process step by step, the documents foreign founders need, the timeline, the cross-border angle, and how to choose between a limited liability company and a joint stock company. Company formation is the core of our company formation in Turkey practice.
What does it mean to register a company in Turkey?
Registering a company in Turkey means incorporating a legal entity under the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 and recording it with the Trade Registry Directorate through MERSIS, the Central Registration System operated by the Ministry of Trade. Once registered, the company gains separate legal personality, a MERSIS number, and a tax identification number, and it can hold assets, sign contracts, and trade in its own name.
Foreign investors face no separate company-registration regime. Under the Commercial Code, foreign and Turkish founders use the same structures, the same MERSIS filing, and the same Trade Registry, which is why a foreign-owned limited company carries the same standing as a domestically owned one. The practical differences are documentary: a foreign founder needs an apostilled passport and a Turkish tax number before the MERSIS contract can list them as a shareholder.
Which company type should you register?
The two structures most foreign investors use are the limited liability company (Limited Sirket, Ltd. Sti.) and the joint stock company (Anonim Sirket, A.S.), both governed by the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102. A limited company is simpler to manage and can be formed with a single shareholder, while a joint stock company suits ventures that plan to raise capital, issue shares, or bring in multiple investors. Branch and liaison offices are alternatives where a foreign parent wants a presence without a separate Turkish entity.
The structures differ most in how capital is handled at registration. For a joint stock company, a quarter of the committed capital must be paid into a blocked bank account before registration, with the bank letter submitted to the Trade Registry. A limited company can pay its committed capital over a period after registration rather than blocking it beforehand. The Commercial Code sets a statutory minimum capital for each type; because those minimums are revised periodically, confirm the amount in force under the Commercial Code at the time you incorporate rather than relying on a figure circulating online.
| Feature | Limited company (Ltd. Sti.) | Joint stock company (A.S.) |
|---|---|---|
| Governing law | Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 | Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102 |
| Shareholders | From a single shareholder; capped under the Code | From a single shareholder; no statutory upper cap |
| Capital at registration | Committed capital can be paid over a period after registration | A quarter of committed capital blocked at a bank before registration |
| Best suited to | Founders wanting a fast, lean structure | Ventures raising capital or issuing shares |
| Minimum capital | Statutory minimum set by the Code; confirm the amount in force at incorporation | Statutory minimum set by the Code; confirm the amount in force at incorporation |
We help founders choose between the two at the structuring stage. For a deeper comparison written for foreign founders, see our guide on choosing between an LLC and a JSC in Turkey.
How do you register a company through MERSIS, step by step?
Company registration runs through MERSIS, the Central Registration System, and finishes at the local Trade Registry Directorate where the company headquarters sits. You create a MERSIS membership, draft the articles of association, list the shareholders, deposit the required capital, file the application, and the Directorate completes the registration and arranges Gazette publication. The sequence below reflects the standard order under the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102.
- Choose the structure. Decide between a limited company, a joint stock company, a branch, or a liaison office before drafting anything else.
- Reserve the name. Check availability and reserve the company name through MERSIS or the Trade Registry Office.
- Prepare the articles of association. Draft the articles (ana sozlesme) and have the founders’ signatures certified. The MERSIS contract is prepared in Turkish.
- Get the founders set up on MERSIS. Turkish founders are added with their ID numbers; foreign founders are added with their passport numbers and must first obtain a Turkish tax number from the tax office, which MERSIS can assign automatically during the filing.
- Deposit the capital. Pay the required capital at a bank, blocked where a joint stock company requires it, and obtain proof such as a bank statement or, where relevant, a valuation report.
- Pay the registration charges. Settle the fees, stamp duty, and the Competition Authority share, the rate of which is set by regulation; confirm the current rate at the time of filing rather than assuming a fixed percentage.
- Verify the signatures. Founders or their authorized representatives have the signatures on the contract verified by the competent authority.
- File with the Trade Registry Directorate. Submit the contract and supporting documents to the Directorate for the district where the headquarters is located, which completes the registration.
- Obtain Gazette publication and approve the books. The registration is published in the Trade Registry Gazette, the commercial books are approved, and chamber of commerce membership is processed automatically. Tax-office and SGK registration follow so the company can operate and employ staff.
If you are at the earlier idea stage, our companion guide on how to start a business in Turkey covers the commercial decisions that come before incorporation.
What documents are required to register a company in Turkey?
Company registration is documentary, and the core set is consistent across applications under the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102. You provide identity and capital-proof documents, and we assemble the registry filings. For a foreign founder who cannot attend in person, an apostilled passport and a notarized power of attorney are the two items to arrange first.
- Articles of association (ana sozlesme) with the founders’ certified signatures.
- Apostilled copy of each foreign shareholder’s passport, with a notarized Turkish translation.
- A notarized power of attorney where a foreign founder is represented rather than attending in person.
- Signature declarations of the persons authorized to represent the company.
- Documents showing the capital commitment and deposit, such as a bank statement or, where relevant, a valuation report.
- Proof of payment of the Competition Authority share.
- Written statements of any non-shareholder board members, where applicable.
Once the company exists, registration with the tax office produces the tax identification number, and SGK enrollment lets the company employ staff. We coordinate these post-registration steps so the company is operational, not just incorporated.
How can a foreign investor register a company from abroad?
A foreign investor can register a Turkish company without traveling, by issuing a notarized and apostilled power of attorney to local counsel who handle the MERSIS filing, the bank deposit, and the Trade Registry submission. The investor’s apostilled passport and Turkish tax number are the prerequisites; everything else can be executed under the power of attorney.
This cross-border route is common for holding structures, branch offices, and free zone companies where the founder runs the business from another country. Because the documents originate abroad, the apostille and the notarized Turkish translations need to be in order before the MERSIS contract is finalized, which is the step where remote registrations most often stall. Our corporate and commercial law team manages the document chain so the filing is not held up at the Directorate.
How long does company registration take, and what does it cost?
Registration with the Trade Registry Directorate usually completes within one to three business days after the documents are filed, provided the articles of association, capital proof, and signature declarations are complete. The longer part of the timeline is preparation: drafting the articles, arranging the apostille and translations for foreign founders, and obtaining the tax number before the MERSIS contract is finalized.
The cost depends on the company type, the number of founders, the capital level, and the notary and translation work required, and several charges, the registration fees, stamp duty, and the Competition Authority share, are set by law or regulation. Because those statutory charges and the capital minimums change over time, confirm the amounts in force at the time of filing rather than relying on a fixed figure. We give a written, all-inclusive estimate for your specific structure before any work begins.
What are the main risks, and when should legal review start?
The principal risk in company registration is documentary: an apostille missing on a foreign passport, a power of attorney drafted too narrowly to cover the filing, or capital proof that does not match the articles of association will hold the registration at the Directorate. A second risk is choosing the wrong structure for the commercial plan, for example forming a limited company when the venture will need to issue shares, which is costlier to correct later than to get right at the start.
Legal review should start before the articles of association are drafted, because the company type, the capital path, and the foreign-founder documents all need to align before the MERSIS contract is locked. Early structuring also lets you plan tax registration and any sector licenses alongside incorporation. For the ongoing legal needs that follow registration, our company lawyer and legal consulting service covers governance, contracts, and compliance after the company is live.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner register a company in Turkey?
Yes. Under the Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102, foreign nationals are treated the same as Turkish nationals when forming a company, and there is no separate foreign-investor regime for incorporation. A foreign founder needs an apostilled passport and a Turkish tax number, and can complete the registration remotely through a notarized power of attorney to local counsel.
What is a MERSIS number?
A MERSIS number is the unique identifier assigned by the Trade Registry through the Central Registration System (MERSIS) when a company is registered. It identifies the company across Turkish government systems, including the tax and social security records, and stays with the company throughout its life. It is issued as part of the registration, not applied for separately.
Do I have to deposit the full capital before registration?
It depends on the company type. For a joint stock company (A.S.), a quarter of the committed capital must be blocked at a bank before registration. For a limited company (Ltd. Sti.), the committed capital can generally be paid over a period after registration rather than blocked beforehand. Confirm the current capital minimums under the Commercial Code at the time you incorporate.
How long does it take to register a company in Turkey?
The Trade Registry Directorate usually completes the registration within one to three business days after the documents are filed. The realistic total timeline is longer because of preparation: drafting the articles of association and, for foreign founders, arranging the apostille, the notarized translations, and the tax number before the MERSIS contract is finalized.
Is chamber of commerce membership separate from registration?
No. Chamber of commerce membership is processed automatically as part of the company registration, so you do not file a separate application. Tax-office registration for the tax identification number and SGK social-security enrollment are the additional steps that follow, and they let the company trade and employ staff.
Register your Turkish company with counsel from day one
If you are planning to register a company in Turkey, we choose the right structure, draft the articles of association, manage the MERSIS filing and the Trade Registry submission, and handle the apostille and power of attorney for foreign founders. Talk to our company formation team for a written estimate and a document checklist tailored to your structure. You can reach us at info@serkalaw.com.
General information, not legal advice. Turkish law; verify your specific situation with qualified counsel. Statutory fees, the Competition Authority share, and minimum capital figures are set by law or regulation and change over time; confirm the amounts in force on your filing date.