How to Set Up a Business in Istanbul: Step-by-Step Guide 2026

Note the difference: not everyone needs a visa, but every foreigner must enter through an official border gate (airport or crossing) and have their entry recorded there: an entry stamp in the passport, or a recorded entry for those entering with a national ID. This record proves your legal presence in Turkey and starts your permitted stay. Without it you cannot carry out any transaction, such as buying property, opening a bank account, setting up a company or applying for residence.

Entry with a national ID card instead of a passport is allowed for citizens of only 21 countries, according to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Germany, Belgium, France, Georgia, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Ukraine, Greece, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Azerbaijan and Romania. All other nationalities need a passport. (Source: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

• Visa-exempt: you enter with your passport only, receive an entry stamp and stay for the period allowed for your nationality, usually 90 days within 180 days.
• e-Visa required: obtain it before travelling from the official website, then receive the entry stamp on arrival.
• Consular visa required: apply at the Turkish embassy or consulate in your country before travelling.
• ⚠️ Overstaying without a legal residence permit may lead to a fine and a later entry ban, so count the days from your entry stamp.

The conditions for each nationality are published officially on the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

• e-Visa applications are made only on the official website: evisa.gov.tr, where you choose your passport country to see whether you are eligible and on what conditions.
• The e-Visa is for tourism and business (business visits and meetings). Long stays, work or study have other procedures, explained in the steps below.
• If you are not eligible for an e-Visa, apply through the Turkish consulate in your country.

⚠️ Beware of unofficial websites that sell the visa at higher prices. The only official website is evisa.gov.tr.

⚠️ The figures and conditions in this section are taken from the official authorities and may change at any time. Please confirm them with the official authority or contact us before taking any step.

• The tax number is the first thing you need in Turkey: to set up a company, open a bank account, buy property and for most transactions.
• A foreigner can obtain it from any tax office (Vergi Dairesi) with their passport, or online through the interactive tax office of the Revenue Administration (GİB): dijital.gib.gov.tr.

⚠️ The figures and conditions in this section are taken from the official authorities and may change at any time. Please confirm them with the official authority or contact us before taking any step.

The two types most chosen by foreign investors are the limited liability company and the joint stock company. The minimum capital for new companies since 1 January 2024, under Presidential Decision No. 7887 (Official Gazette 25/11/2023):

⚠️ If you plan to obtain a work permit for yourself or foreign employees, a higher capital requirement applies (see step 7).

⚠️ The figures and conditions in this section are taken from the official authorities and may change at any time. Please confirm them with the official authority or contact us before taking any step.

1. Enter the company details and articles of association (Esas Sözleşme) in the Ministry of Trade’s central registry system MERSİS: mersis.ticaret.gov.tr.
2. Sign the articles of association before an official of the Trade Registry Directorate (Ticaret Sicil Müdürlüğü) or a notary.
3. Submit the registration file to the Trade Registry Directorate of the company’s chamber of commerce (in Istanbul: the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, İTO).
4. After registration, the company’s incorporation is announced in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette, and the tax office and Social Security Institution are notified automatically.

Documents issued outside Turkey (such as documents of a foreign partner company, or powers of attorney) must be certified with an apostille or by the Turkish consulate, then given a sworn translation certified by a notary in Turkey.

The investor can complete the incorporation through a representative with an official power of attorney, without being in Turkey for every step.

⚠️ The figures and conditions in this section are taken from the official authorities and may change at any time. Please confirm them with the official authority or contact us before taking any step.

• The company needs a bank account in Turkey to deposit its capital and for day-to-day transactions.
• Banks usually ask for the partner’s or manager’s passport, the tax number and the company registration documents; each bank may ask for more according to its policy.

⚠️ The figures and conditions in this section are taken from the official authorities and may change at any time. Please confirm them with the official authority or contact us before taking any step.

• Tax office: after registration the tax office inspects the company address (Yoklama), and the company starts filing tax returns through a certified accountant.
• Social Security Institution (SGK): when hiring the first employee, the workplace and employees must be registered with social security before work starts: sgk.gov.tr.

💡 We recommend appointing a licensed certified accountant (Mali Müşavir) from day one; they are responsible for tax returns and social security procedures.

⚠️ The figures and conditions in this section are taken from the official authorities and may change at any time. Please confirm them with the official authority or contact us before taking any step.

A foreigner may not work in Turkey, even in their own company, without a work permit. The application is made online to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Directorate General of International Labour Force), from inside Turkey or from abroad through the consulate.

Main official assessment criteria (in force since 1 October 2024, with the financial conditions since 1 January 2025):

• Employing at least 5 Turkish citizens for each foreign employee at the workplace, with specific exceptions.
• A new company: paid-up capital of at least TRY 500,000. An existing company: that capital, or net sales of at least TRY 8 million, or exports of at least USD 150,000.
• A minimum salary by role, as multiples of the minimum wage: 5 times for executives, 4 for engineers, 3 for managers, 2 for technical roles.

Some categories are exempt or have special conditions, such as long-term residence holders, technology specialists and certain sectors.

Source: Work permit assessment criteria — Ministry of Labour and Social Security

⚠️ The figures and conditions in this section are taken from the official authorities and may change at any time. Please confirm them with the official authority or contact us before taking any step.

If you will stay longer than your visa or visa exemption allows, you need a residence permit. Article 31 of the Law on Foreigners and International Protection No. 6458 sets out the grounds for a short-term permit, including:

• Owning property in Turkey. The property must be residential and used for living in; the Ministry of Interior sets its type and value. In current Migration Management practice, the value registered on the title deed must be at least USD 200,000.
• Establishing business connections or a business, with an invitation letter or documents from the companies you deal with.
• Investors at the scale and amount set by the President, with their spouses and minor children, for up to 5 years.

A short-term permit is usually granted for up to two years at a time and can be renewed.

Application: online on the Presidency of Migration Management website e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr, then an appointment at the migration directorate with the documents. Common documents include:

• The signed application form.
• The original passport and a copy.
• Recent biometric photos.
• A declaration of sufficient financial means for the whole period.
• Valid health insurance for the whole period.
• The title deed for applications based on property.

More details: Residence in Turkey guide 2026.

⚠️ Some neighbourhoods in Istanbul do not accept new residence registrations except in specific cases. Before you buy or rent, make sure the address is accepted for residence.

⚠️ The figures and conditions in this section are taken from the official authorities and may change at any time. Please confirm them with the official authority or contact us before taking any step.

Before opening an office or shop you need a workplace opening and operating licence (İşyeri Açma ve Çalışma Ruhsatı) from the district municipality where the workplace is located, or from Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality for some activities.

• The documents differ by type of activity: offices and ordinary businesses, or businesses with health or environmental requirements.
• Usually required: the lease or title deed, a fire department report, the company documents and the signature circular.

⚠️ The figures and conditions in this section are taken from the official authorities and may change at any time. Please confirm them with the official authority or contact us before taking any step.

• Water: Istanbul Water Administration İSKİ.
• Natural gas: İGDAŞ.
• Electricity: the distribution company depends on the side of the city: BEDAŞ on the European side and AYEDAŞ on the Asian side; the supply contract is with the electricity retail company for each side.
• Internet and phone: Türk Telekom or other providers.

• Compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK): required when subscribing to electricity, under the Disaster Insurance Law (Article 11).
• Water for foreigners: the subscription is done at an İSKİ branch, not online. For a workplace: the lease, title deed, tax plate or workplace licence, and a document showing the foreigner identification number (YKN). The property owner provides the title deed and passport. (Source: İSKİ)
• A deposit (Güvence Bedeli) is often requested and refunded when the subscription ends.

⚠️ The figures and conditions in this section are taken from the official authorities and may change at any time. Please confirm them with the official authority or contact us before taking any step.

Under Article 20 of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law, a foreign investor may obtain Turkish citizenship by Presidential decision by meeting one of these conditions:

Full details: Turkish citizenship by investment guide.

⚠️ The figures and conditions in this section are taken from the official authorities and may change at any time. Please confirm them with the official authority or contact us before taking any step.