Turkish residence permit for opening a company
Many foreign investors choose Turkey to start a business. Recently, entrepreneurial activity has become one of the grounds for obtaining a residence permit. Initially, it is issued for one year and can be renewed. The holder of this short-term residence permit is subsequently eligible to apply for a long-term residence permit in Turkey and then for a Turkey passport.
Foreign businessmen can register various types of companies, including Limited Liability Companies (LLC) and Joint Stock Companies (JSC). This process requires submitting documentation in the MERSIS system and obtaining a unique registration number.
The application must be submitted through the e-Ikamet platform. It is followed by an interview at the migration office. The entire process takes 30 to 90 days.
Holders of Ikameth by investment in Turkey are authorized to:
- legally carry out commercial activities and work in the country;
- buy property and use medical services;
- open accounts in local banks and take out loans.
The status of local tax resident can be obtained when residing in the territory of the Republic for more than 180 days a year and for organizations registered in the territory of the state.
Economic activity in the country allows residents to avoid double taxation, thanks to the agreements signed by the Republic with 87 countries. This simplifies taxation, as taxes are paid only in the country where the income is received. Additionally, the customs union between Turkey and the EU allows a number of goods to be imported duty-free into the European Union.
Conditions for obtaining a residence permit in Turkey for open company
To obtain an investor's residence permit in Turkey by establishing a business, the foreigner must officially register the company and demonstrate active business activity. Unlike other types of residency, the applicant must present an invitation from a legal or natural person (e.g. business partner) or a document proving the legitimacy of his/her business activity. Upon request, the Directorate General of Immigration has the right to request more detailed information on the applicant's domestic business connections. This may include providing additional documents certified by a notary public, such as business and tax certificates of the company, extracts from the commercial register, and specimen signatures.
Documents to obtain a residence permit in Turkey
When establishing a business and formalizing local residency, you will need to prepare a standard set of documents for a short-term residence permit and additional documents reflecting information about the legal entity.
The general set of documents includes:
- Application for residence permit signed by the applicant.
- A copy of a passport or its equivalent; the original must be presented at the interview.
- Four biometric photographs (color, 5x6 cm, on a white background, taken within the last six months).
- Valid health insurance for the entire period of residence in the country under the residence permit.
- Bank statement showing that you have the funds required to stay in the country for the entire duration of your residency status (at the rate of $500 monthly per person).
- Documents proving the place of residence: TAPU document (property certificate), rental agreement, or information about the place of accommodation in a hotel.
- After the application is approved, you need to provide receipts for the payment of the residence permit fee and the production of a plastic card.
Entrepreneurs, along with the basic package of documents, should provide the next papers when visiting the office of the Migration Service:
- An invitation letter from the establishing legal entity or individual (if the visit to Turkey is by invitation).
- Extract from the Commercial Register certified by a notary.
- Certificate of company's relevance (registration of the company with the Chamber of Commerce and the Commercial Register), certified by a notary.
- Certificate of tax registration of the company, certified by a notary.
- Circular of signatures certified by a notary public.
Procedure and terms of obtaining a Turkish residence permit
Before applying for residency, the founder, acting as an individual, needs to apply for a Turkish tax number. This process can be done using the passport number on the Turkish Tax Service website.
You can apply for residency on the official website of the Main Department of the Migration Service. After completing it, you need to choose a date for an interview at the nearest Migration Service office. The addresses of the offices are available on the website of the Department.
The application form should be saved in .pdf, then printed out and brought together with the necessary documents to the interview. The interview can be conducted in English or Turkish. At the end of the interview, the fee for issuing the plastic card and the annual residence permit is paid.
The application process takes from 30 to 90 days. You can follow the status of your application in the e-Ikamet system using your application number, mobile phone number, or email address. Upon completion of the review, receipts for payment of the fees must be submitted to the Migration Service Office no later than 20 working days.
The owner will be notified by mobile phone when the plastic card is ready. The card is then delivered by a courier to the nearest post office or to the specified residential address. For more information, you can contact the Migration Service Information Centre (YIMER).
The cost of a residence permit in Turkey when starting a business includes:
Office rent
Prices start at $400 per month for a small space but can vary significantly depending on the city, neighborhood, and condition of the building. An office lease is a must. To confirm the legal address, an employee of the tax service will come to you. The address confirmation report must be signed by one of the company's directors.
The service fee at the Trade Register office is 150 liras
The company is registered using the one-stop-shop system at the nearest Trade Registry office.
Tax registration fee (TIN) is 500 liras
The taxpayer number can be obtained through the Tax Service's e-services website.
Certification of commercial books is 300 lira
Documents must be notarized.
Fee for obtaining an extract from the Commercial Register is 245 liras
An acceptable form of extract may be a certified copy of a publication in the official Gazette of the Trade Register Service.
Citizenship in Turkey
Entrepreneurs and investors from other countries have the opportunity to obtain a passport in Turkey by opening a company and creating at least 50 jobs for Turkish citizens, while providing full social security for at least three years.
An alternative and fairly quick way to obtain Turkish citizenship is to invest in property. A minimum investment of $400,000 is required for a residential property.
If you want to know how to get a residence permit in Turkey or citizenship in the country, the team of experts from Citizenship-By.Investments are ready to provide professional support. You can use the questionnaire on our website for consultation.
