When a foreign individual or foreign company becomes a partner in a Turkish company, a handful of points sit on top of the standard incorporation steps: obtaining a potential tax number, getting documents issued abroad apostilled and sworn-translated, and providing paperwork that verifies the foreign partner’s identity or corporate status. We cover the LLC-versus-JSC comparison on a separate page — this one focuses only on what’s specific to a foreign partner.
- Average Processing Time
- Depends on the document certification process (can vary)
- Where to Apply
- The relevant Trade Registry Office and tax office
- Validity
- Valid for as long as the partnership share is held
Who It’s For
Foreign individuals joining a Turkish company as a partner
Residency in Turkey isn’t required — you can become a partner from abroad.
A company established abroad becoming a partner in a new Turkish company
A separate set of documents applies to a foreign corporate partner.
Mixed partnership structures with both Turkish and foreign partners
The ownership ratio and share distribution are set out in the articles of association.
Those wanting to add a foreign partner to an existing Turkish company
This involves a capital increase or share transfer process handled separately.
Required Documents
Sworn translation of the passport for a foreign individual partner
Needed to verify identity information.
Potential tax identification number
Obtained from the tax office in the foreign partner’s name; must be completed before incorporation.
Current registry extract / certificate of activity for a foreign corporate partner
Issued by the trade registry of the country where it’s registered.
Authorisation document for the representative of the foreign corporate partner
Shows who is authorised to sign on the company’s behalf.
Apostille on documents issued abroad
For countries outside the Apostille Convention, consular certification is required instead.
Sworn translation of the apostilled documents
Must be carried out by a sworn translator in Turkey.
The foreign partner’s address for service in Turkey
Declared as the address where official correspondence will be delivered.
Power of attorney, if applicable
If a proxy handles the process, it must be notarised and apostilled.
Details of the ownership share and capital commitment in the articles of association
The foreign partner’s share and commitment are set out alongside the other partners’.
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
Initial Assessment
Within 1 dayThe required document set is determined based on whether the partner is an individual or a company.
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02
Certifying Documents Issued Abroad
Varies by countryDocuments are apostilled, or consular-certified where needed.
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03
Sworn Translation
A few daysThe certified documents are translated by a sworn translator in Turkey.
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04
Potential Tax Number and Incorporation Filing
A few daysThe tax number is obtained, then the application is filed with the relevant Trade Registry Office.
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05
Registration and Notification
In the days following registrationThe company is registered; the foreign investment notification is filed in the relevant system.
Not sure whether your situation fits this process?
Initial AssessmentLegal Basis
Law No. 4875 on Foreign Direct Investment
Establishes the principle of equal treatment for foreign investors and sets out notification obligations.
Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102
Sets the general rules on partnership structure, capital commitment, and share transfer.
Common Mistakes
Skipping the apostille on documents issued abroad
The trade registry doesn’t accept documents without an apostille.
Not obtaining the potential tax number before filing for incorporation
The articles of association and registration can’t proceed without a tax number.
Submitting an outdated registry extract for a foreign corporate partner
The authority may not accept a document that isn’t recent.
Using a translation that isn’t from a sworn translator
Official authorities only accept translations produced by a sworn translator.
Forgetting the foreign investment notification after incorporation
Skipping this obligation can cause problems in later official transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — the process can be handled from abroad through a power of attorney.
It’s the temporary tax ID a foreign partner uses for official transactions in Turkey.
Any document issued abroad that will be used in an official process in Turkey.
Yes, a foreign legal entity can be a partner; it has its own set of required documents.
Capital is wired from abroad into the account opened in the company’s name; we help plan the banking side of this together.
The bank requests the foreign partner’s identity and tax number details, and also looks at the company’s line of business.
We cover the LLC-versus-JSC comparison on a separate page.
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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.