Short answer: Forming a limited or joint-stock company in Ankara starts with an application and articles of association on MERSİS and ends with registration at the Ankara Trade Registry Office, followed by a tax office inspection. With complete documents, registration usually takes 1–3 working days, and being ready to invoice takes about a week. In 2026 the minimum capital is 50,000 TL for a limited company and 250,000 TL for a joint-stock company.
For most entrepreneurs, forming a company is their first encounter with bureaucracy. The good news is that the process is largely digital, and with a well-prepared file you can form your company in Ankara within a few days. The bad news is that changing some decisions made at formation later takes time and money.
This guide covers the steps to form a company in Ankara, the documents required, capital rules and typical timelines. If you have not yet decided which company type to choose, we recommend reading sole proprietorship or limited company first.
Four decisions to make before formation
- Company type: Sole proprietorship, limited company or joint-stock company. This decision sets your tax burden, liability and accounting costs.
- Trade name: For limited and joint-stock companies, the name must include an expression of the line of business and the company type. A name already used by another company cannot be used.
- Line of business and activity code: The objects clause in the articles of association and the activity code (NACE) at the tax office must be consistent.
- Address: Your own property, a rented office or a serviced office. The address will be verified in the tax office inspection.
Forming a limited or joint-stock company step by step
1. MERSİS application and articles of association
Formation starts on the Ministry of Trade’s Central Registry System (MERSİS). The name, address, capital, shareholders and management are entered, and the articles of association are prepared in the system. If a shareholder is a foreign national, additional documents such as a passport translation and a potential tax number are needed.
2. Capital and the Competition Authority fee
The Competition Authority fee of four per ten thousand of the capital is paid to a bank. In a limited company, cash capital can be paid within 24 months after registration. In a joint-stock company at least a quarter of the cash capital must be paid before registration.
3. Signature and registration at the trade registry
Companies in Ankara are registered at the Ankara Trade Registry Office within the Ankara Chamber of Commerce. Founders sign the articles of association and signature declarations at the office. Once registered, the formation is published in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette and the company gains legal personality.
4. Tax office inspection
The trade registry automatically notifies the tax office. The tax office inspects your address; once the inspection is completed, the tax certificate can be obtained.
5. Digital setup and books
An e-Notification address is opened and you apply for e-Archive or, depending on the conditions, e-Invoice. Opening approvals for the commercial books are completed; if you will use the e-Ledger, planning follows that process. A company bank account must also be opened at this stage.
6. SGK workplace registration if you have staff
Before hiring your first employee, a workplace file is opened at SGK and the employee is notified before they start. See our first employee checklist for details.
Documents required for formation
| Document | Sole proprietorship | Limited company | Joint-stock company |
|---|---|---|---|
| ID and contact details | Yes | All shareholders | All shareholders |
| Proof of address (lease or title deed) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Articles of association | — | Prepared on MERSİS | Prepared on MERSİS |
| Competition Authority fee receipt | — | Yes | Yes |
| Proof of capital payment | — | Within 24 months after registration | At least 25% before registration |
| Signature declaration | If a merchant | For managers | For the board |
| Chamber registration | Tradespeople’s or commerce chamber | Ankara Chamber of Commerce | Ankara Chamber of Commerce |
For sole proprietorships the process is shorter: you notify the tax office that you are starting business and register with the tradespeople’s registry or the trade registry, depending on the nature of the activity. We describe the steps for one-person activities such as courier work separately in our courier sole proprietorship guide.
Capital rules (2026)
| Limited company | Joint-stock company | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum share capital | 50,000 TL | 250,000 TL |
| Cash capital payable before registration | Not required | At least 25% |
| Deadline for the remaining capital | 24 months from registration | 24 months from registration |
| Minimum number of shareholders | 1 | 1 |
Setting capital at the legal minimum is not always right. For bank loans, tenders and contracts with large clients, capital is seen as a sign of credibility. On the other hand, shareholders are liable if committed capital is not paid on time.
Cost of formation
Formation costs have three parts: official costs such as trade registry and publication fees, the Competition Authority fee, and the professional’s formation fee. Official costs are updated every year; the floor for the professional’s fee is set in the minimum fee tariff.
Source: 2026 SMMM minimum fee tariff. Official fees, publication, notary and the Competition Authority fee are not included.
How long does it take?
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| MERSİS application and articles of association | 1 working day |
| Signature and registration at the trade registry | 1–3 working days |
| Tax office inspection and tax certificate | 1–3 working days |
| e-Notification, e-Archive and bank account | 1–2 working days |
Because some steps run in parallel, with documents ready it usually takes a week for the company to be able to invoice. The most common causes of delay are a rejected trade name, missing proof of address and missing translations or apostilles for foreign shareholders’ documents.
Practical notes for formation in Ankara
- Appointments: Booking an appointment for signing and registration at the trade registry makes it easier for several founders to meet on the same day.
- Tax office: Your company’s tax office depends on your address. Inspection times can vary between districts such as Çankaya, Yenimahalle and Etimesgut.
- Serviced offices: Many businesses offer serviced offices in and around Kızılay. Make sure the agreement is acceptable to the tax office during the inspection.
- Municipal permits: Premises that receive visitors may need a business opening and operating licence depending on the activity; checking this before renting avoids having to move later.
The first month after formation
Filing obligations begin from the month your company is formed. Knowing the dates of the first VAT return, first withholding return and first provisional tax period is essential for a penalty-free start. See our first-year checklist, which covers a new company’s first year month by month, and our monthly tax calendar. We also collected common mistakes in 7 mistakes when forming a company.
Frequently asked questions
How many days does company formation take in Ankara?
With complete documents, registration at the trade registry takes 1–3 working days. Including the tax inspection and digital setup, it usually takes a week for the company to be able to invoice.
What is the minimum capital for a limited company in 2026?
The minimum share capital for a limited company is 50,000 TL, and cash capital can be paid within 24 months after registration. The minimum for a joint-stock company is 250,000 TL.
Can a limited company be formed by one person?
Yes. Both limited and joint-stock companies can be formed with a single shareholder. The sole shareholder can also be the company manager or a board member.
Can I use my home address as the company address?
You can. However, the residential nature of the lease, the building’s management plan and the type of activity may cause problems. The tax office inspection must also be able to observe activity at the address.
Can I change the company type after formation?
Yes. A sole proprietorship can be transferred to a limited company, and a limited company can be converted into a joint-stock company. These procedures take as much effort and cost as a new formation, so choosing the right type at the start is more economical.
Do I need to come to Ankara to form the company?
Signatures can be given at the trade registry office or any notary. Shareholders abroad can use a power of attorney issued at a consulate or apostilled.
Summary
Company formation in Ankara is a process of four key decisions and six steps that, when well prepared, is completed within a week. The most important work happens before formation day: the right company type, the right activity code, a suitable address and realistic capital.
From our office in Kızılay we handle the whole formation, from checking the trade name and the MERSİS application to the trade registry appointment and tax inspection, and hand you the filing calendar for the first month. Get in touch to discuss your formation plan.
The amounts and rules in this article apply to 2026 and will be updated as legislation changes.
