Who you deal with, and for what
| Function | Current body |
|---|---|
| Investment promotion, single point of contact | Investment Office of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye |
| Trade registry, MERSİS, company law, free zones, customs, foreign trade | Ministry of Trade |
| Investment incentive certificates, E-TUYS, FDI notifications, OIZs, technoparks, R&D centres, liaison office licences | Ministry of Industry and Technology |
| Tax policy and administration | Ministry of Treasury and Finance; Revenue Administration (GİB) |
| Work permits | Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Directorate General of International Labour Force (UİGM) |
| Social security | Social Security Institution (SGK) |
| Residence permits and immigration | Presidency of Migration Management, Ministry of Interior |
| Merger control and competition | Turkish Competition Authority |
| Banking supervision | Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK) |
| Capital markets | Capital Markets Board (SPK) |
| Central bank and foreign exchange | Central Bank of the Republic of Türkiye (TCMB) |
| Anti-money laundering | Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) |
| Data protection | Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK) |
| Intellectual property | Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) |
| Accounting and audit standards, audit firm oversight | Public Oversight, Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority (KGK) |
| Energy market | Energy Market Regulatory Authority (EPDK) |
| Electronic communications | Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) |
| Public procurement | Public Procurement Authority |
| Broadcasting | Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) |
The four that matter most to a foreign-owned company
Competition Authority
Examines and investigates conduct under the Competition Act, grants exemptions for agreements that restrict competition but benefit the economy and consumers, and — the point most relevant to inbound investors — reviews mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures above defined turnover thresholds.
If you are acquiring a Turkish business or forming a joint venture, merger control clearance may be a condition of closing. Check the thresholds early; they are turnover-based and re-set periodically.
Public Oversight, Accounting and Auditing Standards Authority (KGK)
Issues Turkish accounting standards aligned with international standards, authorises and registers independent auditors and audit firms, and oversees their work.
For a foreign-owned company, the KGK's thresholds determine whether your Turkish entity is subject to mandatory independent audit and whether it must report under Turkish Financial Reporting Standards rather than tax-basis accounting. These thresholds are revised and it is worth checking each year whether growth has pushed you over one.
Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BDDK)
Regulates the establishment, management and organisation of banks, financial holding companies and, in part, leasing and factoring companies, and supervises compliance. Relevant if you are borrowing in Türkiye, or if your group includes a financial institution.
Personal Data Protection Authority (KVKK)
Türkiye's data protection regime under Law No. 6698 is separate from the GDPR and imposes its own registration, consent, transfer and breach obligations. A foreign group cannot assume that GDPR compliance satisfies it — the rules on transferring personal data outside Türkiye in particular differ, and enforcement is real.
Sector regulators
Depending on your activity you may also deal with the Energy Market Regulatory Authority, the Information and Communication Technologies Authority, the Public Procurement Authority, the Radio and Television Supreme Council, the Privatization Administration, or the regulators covering tobacco, alcohol and sugar.
If your sector is regulated, licensing sits on the critical path of your Türkiye entry and belongs in the timeline from day one — not after incorporation.