A branch and a liaison office are two ways to have a presence in Turkey without incorporating a separate company — neither is an independent legal entity. A liaison office can’t conduct commercial activity; it exists only for representation and gathering information. A branch, by contrast, can carry out commercial activity, but it operates as an extension of the parent company rather than a separate legal person. We help you work out which one fits what you need.
- Average Processing Time
- Depends on the structure and the document certification process (can vary)
- Where to Apply
- Trade Registry Office for a branch; Ministry of Trade for a liaison office
- Validity
- A liaison office permit is time-limited and renewable; a branch operates for as long as the parent company maintains it
Who It’s For
Foreign companies wanting to explore the Turkish market before starting commercial activity
A liaison office suits this stage.
Foreign companies wanting to conduct commercial activity directly in the parent company’s name
A branch meets this need without setting up a separate legal entity.
Those wanting a liaison, market research, or representation office
Commercial activity and invoicing fall outside its scope.
Those wanting to keep the parent company’s Turkish footprint limited before deciding on incorporation
Closing a branch or liaison office generally involves fewer steps than winding up a separate company.
Required Documents
The parent company’s certificate of activity / current registry extract
Issued by the competent authority in its country of registration.
The parent company’s board resolution to open a branch/liaison office
The resolution must clearly name the authorised person and the scope.
Power of attorney for the branch/liaison office representative
Must be notarised and apostilled.
The parent company’s latest financial statement (particularly for a liaison office application)
Used to assess the intended scope of the office’s activity.
Proof of the Turkish address
A lease agreement, for example.
Apostille and sworn translation for documents issued abroad
For countries outside the Apostille Convention, consular certification applies instead.
Declaration of the capital allocated to the branch
A branch operates on the strength of the parent company’s finances.
Commitment to submit an annual activity report to the Ministry of Trade (for a liaison office)
The obligation to report the office’s annual activity is explained at the outset.
The document list can vary by application reason and personal circumstances; the current requirements of the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management apply.
Process Steps
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01
Needs Assessment
Within 1 dayWhether commercial activity is planned determines if a branch or a liaison office fits.
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02
Certifying the Parent Company’s Documents
Varies by countryThe activity certificate, resolution, and power of attorney go through apostille and sworn translation.
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03
Preparing the Application File
A few daysThe file is prepared for the trade registry (branch) or the Ministry of Trade (liaison office).
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04
Application and Review
Varies by authorityThe file is submitted to the relevant authority and reviewed.
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05
Starting Operations
After approvalOnce approved, a branch is entered in the trade registry; a liaison office opens once its activity permit is granted.
Not sure whether your situation fits this process?
Initial AssessmentLegal Basis
Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102
Sets out the rules for foreign companies opening a branch in Turkey.
Law No. 4875 on Foreign Direct Investment
Sets the framework for the liaison office permit and the limits on its activity.
Common Mistakes
Trying to conduct commercial activity through a liaison office
Invoicing or making sales is a violation that can lead to permit cancellation.
Confusing a branch with an independent company
It’s easy to overlook that a branch has no separate legal personality, so its debts and obligations flow back to the parent.
Not submitting the liaison office’s annual activity report
Missing this obligation puts the permit renewal at risk.
Drafting the parent company’s resolution and power of attorney with too narrow a scope
The process may need to restart if the representative turns out not to be authorised for a required step.
Staying undecided between a branch/liaison office and full incorporation
Starting an application before the need is clear wastes time if the structure has to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — a liaison office can’t conduct commercial activity, so it can’t issue invoices.
No — a branch is an extension of the parent company and has no separate legal personality.
No — it’s time-limited, and an extension can be requested with supporting reasons.
The process goes through a different authority; we can’t say for certain it’s faster than incorporation.
It’s not a direct conversion — a separate incorporation process is required.
Yes — foreign nationals working at the branch also go through a separate work permit process.
If you need to conduct commercial activity, make sales, or issue invoices, incorporation or a branch is the option to assess.
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.