Company Formation in Turkey with a Virtual Office: A Step-by-Step Guide
How to set up a limited company in Turkey with a virtual office address: MERSİS application, articles of association, capital, documents for foreign founders and the tax office inspection.
The limited company (limited şirket) is the most popular company type in Turkey. It can be set up by a single shareholder, needs less capital than a joint-stock company and is simple to manage, which makes it attractive for entrepreneurs, consultants, small teams and foreign investors alike.
One of the first practical questions is: what will the company’s address be? Many founders, especially those based abroad, have no office in Turkey, and renting one just to register a company is a large fixed cost. This guide explains, step by step, how to set up a limited company in Turkey with a virtual office address.
This article is for general information only. Fees, capital requirements and document lists change from time to time, and requirements for foreign founders can depend on nationality. Confirm the current rules with a Turkish accountant (mali müşavir) before you start.
What is a Turkish limited company?
A limited company is formed by one or more shareholders with a set share capital. As a rule, shareholders’ liability is limited to the capital they commit. A limited company can have up to 50 shareholders and is managed and represented by one or more managers appointed by the general assembly.
What you need before you start
Before applying, you will need to decide on and prepare:
- Company name: A trade name that is not confusingly similar to an existing company and can describe your line of business.
- Scope of activity: The description of the company’s activities in the articles of association.
- Registered office (address): The address stated in the articles of association and registered with the trade registry.
- Share capital and shares: Since 2024 the minimum share capital for a limited company is 50,000 Turkish lira.
- Manager(s): The person or people who will manage and represent the company.
- Shareholder documents: ID for Turkish citizens; for foreign individuals, a passport with a sworn Turkish translation, notarised where required.
Additional points for foreign founders
Setting up a company in Turkey as a foreigner follows the same basic process, with a few extra steps:
- Tax number: Foreign individuals usually need a Turkish tax number before they can be registered as shareholders or open a bank account.
- Translations and certification: Passports and documents issued abroad need a sworn Turkish translation; documents from a foreign company shareholder typically also need an apostille or consular certification.
- Signing: Documents can be signed in Turkey, or abroad through a power of attorney issued under the required formalities.
- Bank account: Opening a corporate bank account may take longer for foreign shareholders; plan for it.
- Residence and work permits: If a foreign manager or shareholder will live and work in Turkey, separate residence and work permit rules apply.
A local accountant can guide you through the requirements that apply to your nationality and situation.
Where does the virtual office fit in?
The registered office is a mandatory part of the articles of association, so you need to settle the address before you apply. If you are using a virtual office, the order is:
- Choose a virtual office provider and a plan.
- Sign the virtual office contract; the provider gives you the address to use as your registered office.
- State this address in the articles of association and submit your application.
At Open Up Office, if your company is still being formed, the contract process can start with the draft articles of association and the shareholders’ identity documents; you simply sign them and send them by email or WhatsApp. Once the documents are complete, your address is usually ready within 24–48 hours.
Step by step: setting up a limited company
1. Application on MERSİS
The application is made through MERSİS, the Central Registry System of the Turkish Ministry of Trade. The company name, address, scope of activity, capital, shareholders and managers are entered into the system, and the articles of association are generated there.
2. Signing the articles of association
The articles of association are signed by the shareholders in front of an official at the trade registry office or before a notary. The managers’ signature declarations are prepared at this stage too.
3. Capital and formation fees
Statutory payments such as the Competition Authority fee and trade registry fees are paid during formation. The capital of a limited company does not have to be paid in full at formation; the remainder can be paid within the period set by law. Your accountant will confirm the current amounts and deadlines.
4. Registration and announcement
Once the documents are complete, the company is registered with the trade registry and announced in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette. The company acquires legal personality on registration. The trade registry also notifies the tax office electronically that the company has started trading.
5. Tax office and inspection
After registration, the company becomes a taxpayer at the tax office responsible for its registered address. The tax office may carry out a start-of-business inspection to confirm that the company actually operates at that address. For companies using a virtual office this is the key moment: the provider must be in the office when the inspector arrives and show that your company operates there under a contract. We explain how this works in our guide to tax office address inspections.
6. After formation
A few more steps follow formation:
- Statutory books: Certification of paper books or registration for e-ledgers.
- E-notification address: Tax office correspondence is handled electronically.
- Bank account: A corporate account in the company’s name.
- Social security registration: If you will employ staff.
- E-invoicing: May be mandatory depending on activity and turnover.
Virtual office address or home address?
| Home address | Virtual office address | |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | Appears in the trade registry and on invoices | Your home address stays private |
| Permission | Landlord or building management may object | The contract is sufficient |
| Professional image | Weak | Central business address |
| Inspection | You must be at home | The provider receives the inspector |
| Mail and official notices | Up to you | Received and reported to you |
| Moving | Company address changes when you move | Address stays the same |
For founders living abroad, a home address in Turkey is often not an option at all; a virtual office gives the company a stable, professional address from day one.
Kozyatağı, Istanbul: your company’s address
Open Up Office has provided registered addresses in Kadıköy Kozyatağı since 2011 and regularly handles post-formation inspections. Learn more about our virtual office service, compare our plans on the pricing page or read What Is a Virtual Office?. For questions, call us or send us a message on WhatsApp; please note that phone calls are answered in Turkish.
Frequently asked questions
Can a limited company in Turkey be set up with a virtual office address?
Yes. A virtual office address can be stated as the registered office in the articles of association and used for the trade registry and tax office. The legal basis is the virtual office contract signed with the provider.
Can foreigners set up a company in Turkey?
Yes. Foreign individuals and companies can be shareholders in a Turkish limited company. Passports and other foreign documents need a sworn Turkish translation and, where required, notarisation or an apostille.
How much capital is needed for a limited company?
Since 2024 the minimum share capital for a limited company in Turkey is 50,000 Turkish lira. It does not all have to be paid in at formation; check the current amount and payment terms with your accountant.
Can a limited company have a single shareholder?
Yes. A Turkish limited company can be set up with one shareholder, who can also be appointed as the company manager.
When should I sign the virtual office contract?
Before you apply to register the company. The registered office stated in the articles of association is determined by the virtual office contract, which the tax office may also ask to see.