A Turkey liaison office works for a foreign company that needs a local listening post, not a local trading vehicle. It can support market research, promotion within its authorised scope and relationship building. Once the Turkish operation needs to sign sales contracts, invoice customers, deliver paid services or hold local trading risk, the structure needs a new review.
When does a Turkey liaison office work?
It works when the Turkish presence is genuinely preparatory or representative and the foreign parent remains the operating business. Official Invest in Türkiye guidance permits a foreign-law company to establish a liaison office with a Ministry of Industry and Technology licence, on the condition that the office does not conduct commercial activity in Türkiye. That boundary should be written into the operating plan before anyone is hired.
Useful cases include a supplier-scouting team, a market-entry team testing demand, or a group office coordinating non-commercial communications. The office should keep evidence that its day-to-day work stays inside the declared activity. The Ministry page lists an activity statement and a non-commercial undertaking among the application documents.
When is a company required in Turkey?
A company becomes the practical route when the Turkish team will contract, sell, issue invoices, employ an operating team around revenue, own trading inventory or take local commercial obligations. Calling those acts “promotion” does not change their substance. A branch or subsidiary decision should follow the revenue model, liability plan and governance required, as explained in this Turkey branch-versus-subsidiary comparison.
For a local operating entity, the company-registration path uses MERSIS and the Trade Registry. Corpenza’s company formation and accounting service can map the filings, accounting ownership and launch sequence before commitments are made.
What are the licence and extension rules?
The official Investment Office guidance says an initial liaison-office licence is granted for up to three years within the declared activities. An extension application must be made before expiry. The authority assesses the previous year’s activities, the business plan, future objectives in Türkiye, expenditure and employee numbers. A market-research or product-promotion licence is not extended under that guidance.
Complete and accurate establishment or extension applications are stated to be concluded within fifteen working days. That is an administrative target, not a promise that a particular file will be approved. Documents issued abroad can also require apostille or consular legalisation and Turkish notarised translation, so document readiness drives the calendar.
Which documents and controls matter most?
Start with the foreign parent’s activity certificate, authority evidence for the signatory, the proposed scope and a short operating plan. Before signing an office lease or employment agreements, align the plan with the licence boundary. The official page also describes post-licence tax-registration and lease-notification steps. Keep a simple internal approval rule: any customer contract, invoice or revenue commitment triggers a structure review first.
How should a foreign group decide?
Ask one plain question: will the Turkey team create local commercial obligations? If the answer is no, a liaison office can be a disciplined first step. If the answer is yes, assess a branch or Turkish company before activity starts. The choice affects registration, payroll, tax, banking and contracts, so it should be settled as one operating design rather than as a paperwork afterthought.
FAQ
Can a liaison office sell in Turkey?
No. The official condition for the licence is that the office does not engage in commercial activities in Türkiye.
How long is the first licence valid?
The official guidance states a maximum initial term of three years, within the declared activity scope.
Is the fifteen-working-day period guaranteed?
No. It applies to complete and accurate applications and does not replace the authority’s assessment.
What if the team needs to invoice customers?
Pause and assess a branch or Turkish company before invoicing or contracting locally.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and facts depend on the file. For a structure review, contact Corpenza.
