Obtaining residence through company registration in Turkey 2024
It is essential to be familiar with Turkey’s trade laws and foreign investor regulations for anyone looking to register a company in Turkey. Along with the advantages of registering a company in Turkey, you must also be aware of its disadvantages. In certain specific conditions, by establishing a company in Turkey with a clear objective, you can improve your residency status along with your family. This country, with its dynamic and growing economy, is an attractive destination for foreign investment. According to statistics, Turkey’s economy ranks among the top 20 in the world. If you are considering immigration to Turkey, you should know that you have chosen a secure place for investment.
Overall, Turkey, the shining gateway between Europe and Asia, serves as a portal to a world of unique opportunities. The country’s strategic location, modern infrastructure, and investment-friendly laws make it the best option for foreign investors, including Iranian traders.
Businesses that require company registration in Turkey:

According to tax laws in Turkey, the first essential step to starting a legal activity is establishing and registering a company. According to the regulations of the Ministry of Labor in Turkey, foreign nationals are required to register a company in Turkey to engage in any economic activity, including exports and imports, industrial and manufacturing businesses, cafes and restaurants, etc.
Permanent residence through company registration in Turkey
Registering a company in Turkey allows you to benefit from the advantages of doing business in the country and apply for permanent residence after 5 years. This residency grants you and your family the right to live, work, and study permanently in Turkey.
Conditions for obtaining permanent residence through company registration in Turkey.
- Hiring at least 5 Turkish employees in your company
- Paying salaries and insurance for employees according to the Ministry of Labor regulations
- Paying your own insurance (Bakor insurance) as an employer
- Continuous operation of the company and no outstanding tax debts
Advantages of permanent residence through company registration in Turkey.
- Freedom of movement: Travel to most countries around the world without the need for a visa.
- Property ownership: Purchase real estate in Turkey.
- Education: Benefit from Turkey’s high-quality educational system for your children.
- Healthcare services: Access Turkey’s advanced healthcare services.
- Security: Live in a safe and stable country.
Company registration laws in Turkey in 2024 for foreign nationals.
The latest changes in this area date back to 2003, according to which, unlike the previous procedure, foreign nationals were required to have a Turkish citizen partner in order to register a brand.
In the new regulations, foreign nationals from other countries can establish a company on their own, without the need for a Turkish partner.
This means that a foreign national can register a company in Turkey where they are the 100% owner.
Companies registered in Turkey, according to the laws of the country, can operate and generate income based on their specified articles of association. Turkey is a highly regulated, organized, and precise country in terms of legal and registration matters.
Turkey is very strict when it comes to enforcing legal regulations and deals without leniency with individuals who do not comply with these laws.
If you have made a final decision regarding brand registration and investment in Turkey, it is highly recommended that you seek the assistance of a legal or immigration lawyer in Turkey who is familiar with legal and registration matters. They can help and guide you in this area within a limited time and without incurring excessive costs.
How long does it take to register a company in Turkey?
You may wonder how much time you need to establish a company in Turkey. It is worth mentioning that you do not need to spend a lot of time if you are familiar with the procedures and steps involved.
The maximum time for registering a limited liability company in Turkey is 3 working days. However, the timeline for joint-stock companies is different, and the time and process depend on the approval of the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Trade.
In fact, this time can vary from 5 to 30 days. However, what you should pay attention to is knowing where to go for this process and what documents you need to bring with you.
In many cases, what causes the waste of time and money is the lack of knowledge about the administrative system and the process of company establishment in Turkey.

The first step in company registration in Turkey
In the first step, you must determine what type of company you intend to open, as companies in Turkey are divided into three types:
- Sole Proprietorship registration
- Limited Liability Company (LLC) registration
- Cooperative Company registration in Turkey
Obtaining residency through company registration in Turkey
It is important to note that for company registration in Turkey, having long-term residency in Turkey is not required. This means you can live outside of Turkey but still have a company in Turkey that is active and operating.
After completing all the steps and formalizing your company, you can proceed to apply for a work permit in Turkey for yourself and, subsequently, register for your own insurance.
Registering insurance is important because, after completing 5 years, you can apply for permanent residency in Turkey and, subsequently, Turkish citizenship. Keep in mind that the complete process of brand registration takes between 5 to 10 working days.
Tips on company registration in Turkey and obtaining Turkish residency.
It is important to note that if you intend to apply for residency in Turkey along with brand registration, your investment must be at least 100,000 Turkish Lira.
However, the value of each share cannot be less than 25 Turkish Lira. In this regard, you must have 25% of the mentioned amount in your account during the process. After completing these steps and receiving the official gazette, you can withdraw those amounts.

Steps for company registration in Turkey
- Official translation into Turkish of all company partners and getting the translations certified at the Civil Registry Office.
- Drafting the company’s articles of association based on the type of company you intend to register in Turkey.
- Hiring a certified accountant in Turkey (According to Turkish law, hiring a certified accountant to handle the financial and administrative matters of the company is a basic requirement. Depending on the type of company, you can choose to hire either inexperienced or experienced accountants in Turkey).
- Filling out the forms specific to company establishment
- Obtaining a tax identification number for all shareholders from the tax office in Turkey
- Filling out the forms for the Chamber of Commerce
- Preparing the forms related to declaring the company’s address at the Chamber of Commerce
- Obtaining a trade card for the company
- Officially registering the CEO’s signature at the notary office
- Getting the company’s articles of association certified at the notary office
- Opening a company account at one of the banks in Turkey
- Depositing a percentage of the capital, which is usually one-quarter, into the company’s account that has been previously designated as the official company account.
- Printing the company’s details in Turkey’s official newspapers
- Drafting the company lease agreement
- Announcing and printing in the official newspaper in Turkey
- Printing the official journal of the company
- Confirmation of your declared address by the tax and revenue officer.
- Certifying the company’s accounting books
- Preparing the company’s tax identification number

Required documents for company registration in Turkey
- At least two color passport-sized photos (4×3 cm) with a light background
- Original passports of all shareholders (passport validity should not be less than 6 months)
- Determining the shareholding of each shareholder
- Defining the company’s business activity
- Specifying the company’s address, postal code, and phone number
- Selecting several names for the company (at least 5 names)
- Determining the members of the board of directors, CEO, and specifying the person authorized to sign
- Granting power of attorney to carry out the company registration process
- The minimum declared capital should not be less than 10,000 Turkish Lira to start the business, with approximately one-quarter of this amount being blocked in the company account for one month.
Types of company registration in Turkey
As mentioned above, company registration for Iranians is completely different from that in Iran. In Turkey, most Iranians establish limited liability companies. For example, in Turkey, there are some companies that are considered international and are not subject to the laws of the Republic of Turkey, whereas in Iran, no foreign company can start operations unless it is based on Iranian laws.
A limited liability company (Ltd/LS) can be registered in Turkey with a minimum of two partners and a maximum of 50 partners. (However, according to the new regulations, a limited liability company in Turkey can even start its operations with just one shareholder).
These shareholders can be either natural persons or legal entities, and they can be entirely foreign nationals or Turkish citizens. It is also important to mention that the person chosen by the shareholders as the company’s manager can either be one of the shareholders or someone else who is not a shareholder.
In fact, this aspect is determined based on the company’s articles of association. The minimum capital required to register your company is 10,000 Turkish Lira, and all official company-related procedures must be carried out at a notary office.
Shareholders of a limited liability company (Ltd/LS)
The liability of shareholders in a limited liability company (Ltd/LS) is determined based on the amount of capital they have declared. Therefore, this means that the responsibilities in such companies are not considered equal, and the level of liability in debts or even taxes to be paid is determined according to their share in the company.
Any transfer of shares must be registered in the notary office and also approved by 3/4 of the members and shareholders. The share capital in limited liability companies, if you are a foreign national wishing to establish a company, can include the following assets as your investment:
- Equipment and machinery
- Non-cash tools and goods with financial value
- Non-financial assets such as patents, brands, etc.
- Rights to exploit natural resources
- Interest earned from foreign loans or bank loans
- Shares of companies

Titles of the articles of association for a limited liability company (Ltd/LS)
The following details must be specified in the company’s articles of association:
- Company name
- Company’s business activity
- Company’s capital amount
- Number of shareholders in the company
- Names of the shareholders
- The amount of capital committed by each shareholder
- Duration of the company’s activity
- Method of announcing company notices
- Company manager
- Company auditor (if the number of shareholders exceeds 20)
Dissolution of the limited liability company (Ltd/LS)
If you have registered a company in Turkey but, for any reason, you are unable to operate, you should know how to dissolve the company. To proceed with the dissolution of a limited liability company (Ltd/LS), you must pay attention to the following points:
- Decision to dissolve the company in the shareholders’ meeting
- Expiration of the duration specified in the articles of association
- Submitting a dissolution request to the court
- Court decision based on the shareholders’ request
You should also keep in mind that if any of the following situations occur during the course of the work, you must submit a request for the dissolution of the company to the relevant authorities.
- A reduction in the number of shareholders to fewer than two.
- Loss of two-thirds of the initial capital.
- Reasons stated in the articles of association as grounds for dissolution.
- Company bankruptcy.
The procedures related to the dissolution of the company must be carried out with the relevant legal authorities, and the time required for this process may vary between 12 to 18 months. It is also worth mentioning that all tax matters must be settled during the liquidation period.
The cost of a certified accountant in Turkey: Hiring an accountant is mandatory for the commencement of any company, regardless of the type of activity. The fee and salary of a certified accountant in Turkey depend on the company’s business volume. The minimum monthly salary for a certified accountant in Turkey is 400 USD.
Points you should pay attention to.
Keep in mind that you are not required to choose an office or commercial unit as the location of your company. Instead, you can rent a desk from a company or use your residential address as your business address, which is referred to as a “home office” in Turkey.
It is important to note that at the time of registration, you must pay one-quarter of the monthly rent as tax to the Turkish Tax and Revenue Department. Income tax in Turkey is 20% of the company’s annual net profit, and its payment is mandatory.
Company registration in Turkey’s Free Trade Zones

These types of companies can be considered industrial companies operating in industrial zones in Turkey. In these zones, foreign investors who wish to invest in Turkey or plan to reside in Turkey with minimal costs can purchase land at very low prices. In addition, the government provides many incentives for them. For example, they are exempt from taxes for extended periods. For more information, you can refer to the explanation provided by Mr. Sadegh Moradi, CEO of 4kHolding, in one of the Clubhouse rooms, or you can visit the blog about property purchase in Istanbul with a budget of two billion.
It is important to note that this type of company is suitable for activities such as manufacturing and export. In fact, the company’s services must involve the production of goods and their export under the name of Turkey. Renting a location for brand registration is necessary during the process, as you need to provide a specific address as your company and business address.
Familiarity with company registration laws
For brand registration, studying and understanding the laws of Turkey, being aware of Turkey’s commercial law, and reviewing the foreign investment law in Turkey are priorities for applicants seeking immigration to Turkey. Investment in Turkey, after company registration, may lead to obtaining a residence permit under specific conditions. However, holding Turkish residence does not provide significant benefits or advantages for those seeking permanent residence or Turkish citizenship.
Turkey is one of the top countries sending migrants to Europe, ranking second among them. Its position within dynamic economies has made Turkey a destination for foreign direct investment.
The cost of official offices and their notarization at the Tax Office in Turkey is approximately 450 USD per year, which must be paid to the Turkish government.
Advantages of company registration in Turkey:
- Obtaining a work residence permit in Turkey for yourself and your family members.
- Low company registration costs.
- Opening a bank account in Turkey in the company’s name.
- Ability to conduct transactions with European countries.
- You can own 100% of the company’s shares on your own.
- A Turkish partner is not required.
- The cost of hiring an accountant is very low.
- Income tax is levied, and if your company has low income, you will be required to pay a correspondingly lower amount of tax.