Business & Partner Permit FAQ

Yes. Foreign nationals can own up to 100% of a Turkish limited liability company (limited şirket) or joint-stock company (anonim şirket) without a local-partner requirement, registered through the Turkish Trade Registry (Ticaret Sicili). Some regulated sectors (broadcasting, certain transport, defence) carry foreign-ownership caps. Company formation does not by itself grant the founder a work or residence permit.

Source: Turkish Commercial Code (Law 6102) and the Trade Registry Regulation

A partner work permit (ortaklık çalışma izni) lets a foreign shareholder of a Turkish company work in the company they part-own. The applicant must hold a meaningful stake (the threshold is set by the Trade Registry and MoLSS) and the company must meet the same paid-in capital and Turkish-employee conditions as any other sponsoring employer. The permit is filed through the e-İzin portal.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

The company itself needs a registered Turkish address — virtual office, leased commercial space, or owned property — but the founder personally does not need a Turkish residence permit before company formation. Many founders form the company first, then apply for the partner work permit using the company as the sponsor. Timing matters because the company must show registered capital before the permit application.

Source: Turkish Commercial Code (Law 6102) and Trade Registry Regulation

An independent work permit (bağımsız çalışma izni) lets the holder work without an employer sponsor, useful for freelancers, consultants and senior professionals. Eligibility typically requires several years of continuous lawful residence in Türkiye plus evidence of tax-paying economic activity and integration. The bar is high in practice; most foreigners stay on employer-sponsored permits for years before applying.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı), Article 7

Yes — foreign nationals can be company shareholders and directors without living in Türkiye, and the company can operate while the foreign owner is overseas. What changes is whether the foreign owner has the right to work in or for the company while physically in Türkiye: doing operational work in country still requires a work permit even if the work is on your own company. Cross-border tax exposure can also engage; verify with a Turkish tax adviser.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

The Turkish Commercial Code sets a minimum paid-in capital floor for limited (LLC) and joint-stock companies, with the LLC floor lower than the AŞ floor. Specific TRY figures change as the law is amended — verify the current floor with the Trade Registry or a Turkish corporate lawyer rather than relying on a number you saw in an older guide. For partner work permits the e-İzin checks may impose a higher effective capital requirement.

Source: Turkish Commercial Code (Law 6102)

Yes, the Turkish-employee ratio rule applies to partner-sponsored work permits as well as to ordinary employer-sponsored ones, although exceptions exist for the first year of newly-formed companies. Failing to meet the ratio is a common cause of partner-permit refusal. Plan the hiring schedule alongside the permit timeline rather than after.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı)

Yes. Foreign companies can register a Turkish branch (şube) for operating activities or a liaison / representative office (irtibat bürosu) for non-revenue activities like market research. A liaison office cannot generate Turkish-source revenue but can employ a small number of foreign and Turkish staff with separate work-permit handling. The Ministry of Industry and Technology authorises liaison offices for renewable terms.

Source: Foreign Direct Investment Law (Law 4875) and the Ministry of Industry and Technology

Türkiye does not have a dedicated startup-visa class comparable to the UK or France schemes. Foreign founders typically use the partner work permit pathway after company formation, or the Turquoise Card programme for highly qualified investors and professionals. The Turquoise Card is discretionary and not high-volume; verify eligibility before relying on it.

Source: Law 6735 (International Workforce Law) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS / Çalışma ve Sosyal Güvenlik Bakanlığı), Turquoise Card programme

The fixed-capital investment route under the citizenship-by-investment programme uses company-level investment thresholds set by Presidential Decree. A founder making a qualifying fixed-capital investment in a Turkish business can pursue Article 12 citizenship alongside the company operations, provided the capital meets the current threshold and the 3-year hold rule is observed. See our citizenship-by-investment pathway page for thresholds.

Source: Law 5901 (Turkish Citizenship Law / Türk Vatandaşlığı Kanunu) and the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs, Article 12 (exceptional citizenship)