Can a Foreign Founder Set Up a Turkish Company Remotely? Power of Attorney and KYC Guide

The accurate answer: incorporation can be remote, but every operational step may not be

A foreign individual or company can normally authorize a representative to prepare the articles, obtain potential tax numbers, file through MERSIS, attend the trade registry and complete initial tax registration. This makes a genuinely remote legal incorporation possible in many ordinary cases.

A bank may nevertheless require an authorized manager to attend a branch, verify a signature or explain the source of funds. E-signature providers and sector regulators may also use their own identity procedures. A responsible plan therefore distinguishes a registered company from a company ready to transact.

Remote formation map

Design the power of attorney around the project

The document should expressly cover incorporation, MERSIS and registry filings, potential tax numbers, tax registration and any address or declaration work the representative will actually perform. High-risk powers—withdrawals, borrowing, security, share transfers or unrestricted online banking—should be excluded unless intentionally granted, and can be placed in a separate instrument.

A power signed at a Turkish consulate is one route. A document issued before a foreign authority will generally need an apostille where the Hague Convention applies, or Turkish consular legalization where it does not, followed by sworn translation and notarization in Türkiye.

Documents for individual and corporate founders

• Individual: passport, address details, potential tax number data, power of attorney, ownership and manager decisions.
• Corporate: recent registry/activity certificate, constitutional documents, an organ resolution approving the Turkish investment, signatory evidence and power of attorney.
• All founders: a real activity description, registered-office plan, capital budget and sector-licensing check.
• For bank review: ultimate-beneficial-owner chart, tax residence, source of wealth/funds and expected transaction profile.

Capital and the bank-account bottleneck

The statutory minimum capital of a Turkish limited company is TRY 50,000. The pre-registration 25% cash deposit rule does not apply to limited companies; subscribed cash capital may generally be paid within 24 months after registration. That is different from the rule for a joint-stock company.

The bank still needs to understand the owners, activity, target countries, expected volumes and source of the first funds. Some banks require local attendance, a Turkish mobile number or additional legalized corporate records. Prepare one consistent KYC file and identify suitable banks before the registry filing.

A remote formation that is ready to operate

• Confirm whether the activity needs a licence or special capital.
• Set share ratios, managers, signing rules and spending limits.
• Use a registered address that fits the actual business.
• Map the first 12 months of capital, funding and cross-border payments.
• Arrange accounting, e-documents, payroll and FDI reporting.
• Assess work permits if a foreign founder will actually work in Türkiye.

The first 30 days after registration

Plan milestones, not one promised completion date

A robust remote plan has separate timelines for document legalization, MERSIS/registry, tax and address, bank KYC, and operational launch. Completion of one track does not bind the next authority; bank approval remains independent of registration.

Track an owner, originals required, deadline and outstanding institution request for each milestone. That provides better visibility than a single 'turnkey in two weeks' statement that hides unfinished banking or compliance work.