Recover an Unpaid Invoice from a Turkish Company

on September 22, 2026

A foreign creditor can often recover an unpaid invoice from a Turkish company through Turkish mediation, enforcement proceedings, litigation, arbitration or a combination of these routes. The correct strategy depends on the contract, the invoice and delivery records, the due date, any jurisdiction or arbitration clause, the debtor’s objection, and the location of assets in Türkiye. A demand letter alone does not secure payment; preserving evidence and choosing the correct procedure at the beginning is usually decisive.

1. Start with a legal and documentary review

Before contacting the debtor or filing in Türkiye, the creditor should assemble a clear claim file. It should normally include:

the signed contract, purchase order or framework agreement;
invoices, delivery notes, bills of lading, acceptance records or timesheets;
e-mails and messages showing that the goods or services were delivered or accepted;
bank records, account statements and any partial-payment history;
the agreed currency, interest clause, late-payment clause and dispute-resolution clause;
the Turkish company’s exact legal name, trade registry information and registered address.

A creditor should also check whether the invoice is disputed for defective performance, set-off, delivery or authority reasons. A Turkish company’s failure to pay does not by itself prove that the entire invoiced amount is legally due.

2. Check the contract before choosing the forum

The contract may contain a Turkish court clause, a foreign court clause, an arbitration agreement or no dispute-resolution provision at all. These clauses affect where the claim can be brought and whether a Turkish court or enforcement office can act efficiently.

If the contract refers disputes to arbitration, filing an ordinary court action may create jurisdictional objections. Foreign creditors should review the seat of arbitration, the institution or rules, the language, interim-measure options and the countries in which the eventual award will need to be enforced. Advocate Turkey’s guide to international commercial arbitration in Turkey explains the main framework.

Where the dispute is connected to more than one country, the jurisdiction and applicable-law analysis may also involve Turkish private international law. A foreign jurisdiction clause does not automatically answer every question about service, provisional measures or asset enforcement in Türkiye.

3. Send a focused payment demand

A written demand can clarify the amount claimed, the contractual basis, the payment account, the due date and the consequences of non-payment. It should avoid exaggeration and should not accidentally waive rights, accept a defective-performance defence or create an unintended settlement.

The demand should be sent in a way that can later be proved. Depending on the contract and the parties’ communication practice, this may include a Turkish notarial notice, registered delivery, courier evidence and documented e-mail communication. A Turkish translation may be useful when the notice will later be relied on before a Turkish authority.

4. Is mediation required before a commercial lawsuit?

Many Turkish commercial actions for payment or compensation involving a sum of money are subject to mandatory mediation as a condition of litigation. The legal basis is primarily Article 5/A of the Turkish Commercial Code and the mediation framework under Law No. 6325. The scope of the requirement must be checked against the legal nature of the claim and the relief requested.

The mediation application is made to the competent mediation office. The process is not the same as filing a lawsuit and does not itself create an enforceable judgment. If the parties settle, the settlement document and its enforceability should be prepared carefully. If no settlement is reached, the final mediation record may be required before a commercial action is accepted.

This step is particularly important for a foreign creditor because an avoidable procedural defect can delay the claim while the debtor’s assets or receivables change.

5. Turkish enforcement proceedings for an unpaid invoice

Where the claim is due and the creditor has sufficient documentary support, a creditor may consider commencing an enforcement proceeding before a Turkish enforcement office. The route may be based on the nature of the debt and the available document. A payment order is served on the debtor, and the debtor may object within the applicable statutory period.

The consequences of an objection depend on the type of proceeding and the documents. In an ordinary proceeding, an objection may prevent the proceeding from continuing in the ordinary way. The creditor may then need to pursue an action for annulment of the objection or another available remedy. A negotiable instrument, a judgment, a recognised foreign decision and an ordinary invoice do not all produce the same procedural result.

For that reason, the creditor should not assume that an invoice automatically permits direct seizure of the debtor’s bank account. Attachment and sale normally follow the applicable enforcement steps, and the existence of a debt must be supported by the correct documents.

6. What if the Turkish company disputes the invoice?

A dispute may concern the goods, quality, delivery, authority to sign, calculation, currency, limitation, set-off or the underlying contract. The creditor should preserve the complete commercial record rather than relying only on the invoice.

Evidence that may become important includes:

proof that the goods or services reached the Turkish company;
signed or electronic acceptance records;
technical specifications and inspection reports;
e-mails in which the debtor acknowledges the balance or promises payment;
accounting records showing how the parties recorded the transaction;
expert evidence where quality, quantity or technical performance is disputed.

The court or enforcement authority will assess the document’s legal effect and the debtor’s defence. A translated invoice without proof of delivery may be weaker than a consistent contract, delivery record and payment history.

7. Can a foreign creditor seek a precautionary attachment?

In appropriate cases, a creditor may seek a precautionary attachment (ihtiyati haciz) to secure a monetary claim before final judgment or before ordinary enforcement produces a result. The application is not automatic. The creditor must satisfy the statutory conditions and provide the evidence and security required by the court.

The analysis normally includes whether the monetary claim is due, whether it is secured, whether the debtor has a fixed address, the risk to collection, and whether the requested measure is proportionate. The court may require a security deposit to protect the debtor against an unjustified attachment. The amount and form of security depend on the case and the court’s decision; no universal percentage should be assumed.

A precautionary attachment is a protective measure, not a final decision on the merits. The creditor must comply with the execution and follow-on proceeding requirements within the statutory framework. Missing a procedural step can cause the measure to lapse or expose the creditor to liability.

8. Locating assets is part of the recovery strategy

A judgment or enforcement file is only useful if the debtor has reachable assets. Before choosing a remedy, the creditor should investigate lawful sources of information about:

Turkish bank relationships and receivables, to the extent discoverable through the enforcement process;
registered real estate, vehicles and commercial equipment;
shares, commercial operations and third-party receivables;
related-party transfers or transactions that may require separate legal analysis.

Asset information must be obtained lawfully. Unauthorised access to personal or commercial data can create separate legal risks. If there are credible signs of asset dissipation, the timing of a precautionary measure should be assessed before sending a demand that alerts the debtor.

9. Documents and language requirements for foreign creditors

Foreign corporate records, powers of attorney, contracts and court documents may need apostille or legalisation, certified Turkish translation and notarisation, depending on their origin and intended use. The exact requirement may change according to a treaty, the country of origin, the document type and the authority receiving it.

A power of attorney should expressly cover the intended work: mediation, enforcement, litigation, precautionary measures, receipt of payments and settlement authority where appropriate. A generic power of attorney may be insufficient for a specific procedural act.

10. When should a Turkish lawyer be involved?

Professional review is especially valuable before the creditor:

accepts a restructuring or settlement proposal;
withdraws an objection or waives interest;
files an enforcement proceeding in the wrong form;
requests a precautionary attachment;
signs a Turkish-language settlement or release;
relies on a foreign judgment or arbitration award in Türkiye.

A Turkish lawyer can review the contract and commercial evidence, assess mediation and enforcement options, coordinate translations and powers of attorney, and represent the creditor before Turkish enforcement offices and courts.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreign company enforce an invoice directly in Türkiye?

It may be possible to start a Turkish enforcement proceeding, but the correct route depends on the debt document, the contract and any objection. An invoice is not automatically equivalent to a final judgment.

Does the creditor have to sue first?

Not always. Enforcement proceedings or mediation may be available before a merits action, while a precautionary measure may require a prompt follow-on action. The procedural path should be selected after reviewing the file.

What if the Turkish company has no money in its bank account?

Recovery may still be possible against reachable real estate, vehicles, receivables or other assets, but the practical result depends on priority, ownership and competing creditors.

Can a foreign judgment be used in Türkiye?

A foreign judgment generally requires recognition or enforcement proceedings before it can produce the intended effects in Türkiye. The documents and grounds for refusal should be examined before filing. See the site’s guide on recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgments in Turkey.

Conclusion

Recovering an unpaid invoice from a Turkish company is a document-driven process. The creditor should first confirm the debt, preserve delivery and payment evidence, check the dispute-resolution clause, evaluate mandatory mediation, and then choose between enforcement, litigation, arbitration and protective measures. Early asset and jurisdiction analysis can materially affect the effectiveness and cost of recovery.

Official sources

This article is general information, not a legal opinion for a specific debt or contract. Deadlines, forum and available remedies depend on the documents and facts.

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