Facts in this handbook are compiled from official sources such as local authorities. Rules change — confirm the current position through the source links or with the authority before making major decisions.
01Overview
- Region
- Europe
- Capital
- Ankara
- Currency
- TRY
- Languages
- Turkish
- ISO code
- TR / TUR
Jurisdictions
- Türkiye — National level; special zones and regulated sectors have separate rules
Macro indicators such as GDP and population will be added from the World Bank in the data release (P1).
02Market Entry
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
National treatment; sectors open to private investors are open to foreigners
- Applies to
- Broadcasting, petroleum, aviation, maritime, finance and real estate are restricted
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
03Business Formation
Common legal entity
The company form most commonly used by foreign investors for a local operating entity.
Limited company (Ltd. Şti.) or joint-stock company (A.Ş.)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
Registration authority
Primary authority for company or commercial registration.
Trade Registry Office under the local chamber of commerce
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
Foreign ownership
Whether 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed, and key exceptions. Allowed / conditional / not allowed / unverified.
National treatment; sectors open to private investors are open to foreigners
- Applies to
- Broadcasting, petroleum, aviation, maritime, finance and real estate are restricted
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
Foreign-entity setup flow
Main approval stages for a foreign investor setting up an entity (no time estimates).
MERSIS name and application → notarised articles → Trade Registry registration (tax office and SGK notified automatically) → Trade Registry Gazette notice → open a bank account
- Applies to
- Can be done through an attorney; Excludes processing time estimates
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- Ministry of Trade – MERSIS
Local registered address
Whether a local registered address or premises is required at incorporation.
A registered address in Türkiye is required
- Applies to
- A compliant office address is acceptable
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- Ministry of Trade – MERSIS
Local director / representative
Whether a locally resident director, manager or representative is required.
No residence or nationality requirement
- Applies to
- Foreign managers working in Türkiye need a work permit
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- Ministry of Trade – MERSIS
04Taxation
Headline corporate income tax
Statutory headline rate for ordinary companies, before incentives, exemptions, thresholds or special regimes. Always read with the conditions.
25%
- Applies to
- Applies since 2023; banks and financial institutions pay more; from 2027 companies engaged only in manufacturing and agriculture pay 12.5%
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- Revenue Administration (GİB) MOFCOM State Taxation Administration
- Cross-check
-
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Türkiye differs Parts of the tax guide still say 20%; the MOFCOM guide says 25%
Outward Investment and Cooperation Guide: Türkiye (2025 ed.) consistent
Tax authority website consistent
Indirect tax (VAT / GST / SST)
Standard rate and type of VAT, GST or sales & service tax.
VAT standard rate 20%
- Applies to
- Reduced rates of 1% and 10% also apply
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- State Taxation Administration MOFCOM
- Cross-check
-
Tax Guide for Chinese Residents Investing in Türkiye consistent
Dividend withholding tax (non-residents)
General withholding on dividends paid to foreign shareholders, before treaty relief.
15% withholding on dividends to non-resident companies
- Applies to
- Treaty rates apply where available
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Tax authority
Authority responsible for corporate tax registration and filing.
Revenue Administration (Ministry of Treasury and Finance)
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- State Taxation Administration
Tax treaty with China
Whether a double taxation agreement with China is in force. Rates and conditions per the treaty text.
In force
- Applies to
- Rates and conditions per the treaty text and STA publications
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- State Taxation Administration (China) State Taxation Administration
05Banking & Payments
Exchange controls
Whether general exchange controls or cross-border fund rules apply.
No exchange controls
- Applies to
- Banks report large cross-border transfers
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
Banking & financial regulator
Primary regulator for banking and foreign exchange.
Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK); central bank for monetary policy
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency
06Employment
Foreign employee work permit
Main permit types needed for foreign employees to work legally.
Work permit from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security
- Applies to
- A work visa comes first; initial permits run up to one year
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
Labour & work permit authority
Authority for labour rules and foreign employee work permits.
Ministry of Labour and Social Security
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
Social security contributions
Main employer social security schemes for local and foreign employees.
SGK: pension, health, work-accident and unemployment insurance
- Applies to
- Shared by employer and employee; foreign employees are generally covered
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- Social Security Institution
07Trade & Customs
Customs authority
Authority for import/export clearance and tariffs.
Customs (Ministry of Trade), under Customs Law No. 4458
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
Main free trade agreements
Main regional and bilateral trade agreements relevant to Chinese exporters (not exhaustive).
Customs union with the EU; 23 FTAs with 26 economies
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
08Investment & Manufacturing
Investment authority / agency
Body responsible for approving, registering or promoting foreign investment.
Ministry of Industry and Technology (FDI authority)
- Applies to
- The Presidency Investment Office handles promotion
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
Free zone / SEZ regime
Whether free zones or special economic zones operate under rules different from the mainland.
Free zones, organised industrial zones and technology development zones
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
09Digital & IP
Personal data protection law
Main law and regulator governing collection, use and cross-border transfer of personal data.
Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK), overseen by the Data Protection Authority
- Applies to
- Ordinary companies
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- MOFCOM
IP office
Authority for trademark and patent filing and registration.
Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT)
- Applies to
- Trademark rights are territorial; register locally or designate via the Madrid System (check WIPO membership)
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- WIPO
10Compliance & Risk
New York Convention party
Whether the country is party to the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, which affects enforcing foreign arbitral awards locally.
Yes
- Applies to
- Foreign arbitral awards can be enforced under the Convention, subject to its limited refusal grounds
- Jurisdiction
- Türkiye
- Source
- UNCITRAL
Live risk monitoring
Geopolitical, conflict and trade-route risk events for Middle East, monitored by our sister site Global Risk Monitor.
Global Risk Monitor · Geopolitical and trade-route risk monitoring
11Step-by-Step
Main setup steps in Türkiye
- 1MERSIS name and application
- 2notarised articles
- 3Trade Registry registration (tax office and SGK notified automatically)
- 4Trade Registry Gazette notice
- 5open a bank account
Can be done through an attorney
General checklist (setting up a subsidiary)
- Decide model and jurisdiction
- Confirm licences
- Prepare documents
- Incorporate
- Register for tax
- Open bank account
- Obtain operating licences
- Start operations
Steps follow the setup-procedure fact on this page, without times or fees; rely on the official sources.
12Official Resources
Chinese official resources
Country materials from MOFCOM, the State Taxation Administration and China's overseas commercial offices
- MOFCOM country investment guideMOFCOM · PDF (Chinese)
- Country tax guide (STA)State Taxation Administration · PDF
- Commercial office中华人民共和国驻土耳其共和国大使馆经济商务处
- MOFCOM going-global platformMOFCOM
- Compliance & security alertsMOFCOM platform
Official guides are long Chinese-language PDFs updated on the publishers' schedules. Our structured facts cite local authorities as primary sources; use these guides to cross-check.
Local authorities
- Tax Revenue Administration (GİB) Tax authority website · Accessed 2026-11-13
- Financial regulation Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency Banking supervision · Accessed 2026-11-13
- Labour Social Security Institution Social security · Accessed 2026-11-13
- Company registration Ministry of Trade – MERSIS Company formation and trade registry · Accessed 2026-11-13