Foreign entrepreneurs establishing companies in Türkiye frequently ask whether they must appoint a Turkish citizen to manage or legally represent their business.

The general answer is:

No. A foreign national may generally become a director, board member or manager of a Turkish company.

Turkish corporate law does not impose a general Turkish nationality requirement on the persons managing ordinary limited liability companies or joint stock companies.

Türkiye’s official investment guidance expressly states that, except for certain specially regulated sectors such as television broadcasting, maritime activities and civil aviation, there are generally no restrictions on the nationality of shareholders or persons holding management rights.

Therefore, a foreign founder may potentially:

• own 100% of a Turkish company;
• become its manager or board member;
• receive representation and signature authority;
• appoint other foreign directors; and
• control the management of the Turkish business.

However, corporate appointment is only one part of the analysis.

A foreigner who is legally entitled to become a director under the Turkish Commercial Code may separately need a Turkish work permit if that person actively performs work in Türkiye.

Foreign founders must therefore distinguish between:

1. the right to own shares;
2. the right to hold a corporate management position;
3. the authority to legally represent the company; and
4. the right to physically work in Türkiye.

These are related but legally different issues.

1. Can a Foreigner Become a Director of a Turkish Company?

Yes.

There is no general rule under Turkish corporate law requiring directors or managers of ordinary Turkish companies to be Turkish citizens.

Foreign nationals may generally be appointed to management positions in both:

• Joint Stock Companies – Anonim Şirket (A.Ş.); and
• Limited Liability Companies – Limited Şirket (Ltd. Şti.).

The terminology is different for each structure.

In a Turkish A.Ş., the company is managed by the Board of Directors.

In a Turkish Ltd. Şti., the company is managed by one or more Managers.

Foreign nationals may generally serve in either position.

Türkiye’s official investment legal guide confirms that there is no nationality restriction for directors of joint stock companies and likewise no nationality restriction for managers of limited liability companies.

2. Does the Director Have to Be a Turkish Citizen?

Generally, no.

A Turkish company can therefore potentially have:

• a British board member;
• a German manager;
• a US director;
• a UAE-based chairman;
• a French executive;
• a Swedish board member; or
• another foreign national in its management structure.

The nationality of the director does not ordinarily create a corporate law prohibition.

However, special sector legislation may impose additional requirements.

This is particularly relevant for businesses operating in areas such as:

• broadcasting;
• aviation;
• maritime transportation;
• banking;
• insurance;
• capital markets;
• payment services;
• electronic money;
• energy;
• crypto asset services; and
• other regulated industries.

The corporate law rule should therefore always be checked against the company’s specific sector.

3. Can a Foreigner Become a Board Member of a Turkish Joint Stock Company?

Yes.

A Turkish joint stock company is managed and represented by its Board of Directors.

A board member may generally be:

• a Turkish individual;
• a foreign individual; or
• a legal entity.

Türkiye’s official foreign investment legal guide expressly states that directors do not need to be shareholders and that there is no restriction on their nationality.

This provides significant flexibility for international companies.

For example, a Turkish subsidiary might have the following board:

Board Member 1: German parent company executive
Board Member 2: Turkish general manager
Board Member 3: UK investment fund representative

Such a structure may generally be possible subject to the company’s articles of association and any applicable regulatory requirements.

4. Does an A.Ş. Board Member Have to Own Shares?

No.

This is one of the important advantages of the joint stock company structure.

A person may generally become a board member without becoming a shareholder.

Therefore:

ownership and management can be separated.

For example:

Foreign Parent Company – 100% Shareholder

while the Board of Directors consists of:

• a foreign group CFO;
• a foreign regional director; and
• a Turkish country manager.

There is generally no need to transfer shares to these individuals merely because they sit on the board.

This flexibility can be particularly valuable for:

• international groups;
• private equity investments;
• venture capital investments;
• joint ventures; and
• professional management structures.

5. Can a Foreign Legal Entity Become a Board Member?

Yes.

Under Turkish corporate law, a legal entity may be appointed as a member of the board of directors of a joint stock company.

Where a legal entity is appointed, an individual must be designated to act on behalf of that legal entity in the board.

Official company establishment guidance expressly addresses this possibility and requires the individual who will act on behalf of the legal entity board member to be identified in the relevant corporate documentation.

For example:

German Holding GmbH – Board Member

Representative acting on behalf of the German Holding:

Mr. X – Natural Person Representative

This structure can allow a foreign parent company itself to hold the board position rather than relying exclusively on a particular executive personally.

6. How Long Can an A.Ş. Board Member Serve?

Board members of a Turkish joint stock company are generally appointed for a maximum term of three years at a time.

They may normally be re-elected for subsequent terms unless the articles of association contain a different restriction.

The initial board members may be appointed in the articles of association during incorporation.

Later appointments are generally made by the general assembly.

This means that a foreign founder may be appointed at incorporation and subsequently re-elected.

7. Can a Foreigner Become the Chairman of the Board?

Generally, yes.

A foreign national may generally serve as:

• board member;
• chairman;
• vice-chairman; or
• another authorized board representative,

subject to the corporate structure and applicable sector-specific legislation.

The fact that the individual is foreign does not automatically prevent appointment as chairman.

However, whether that person requires a work permit is a separate question.

8. Can a Foreigner Become a Manager of a Turkish Limited Company?

Yes.

A Turkish limited liability company is managed and represented by one or more managers.

Official foreign investment guidance states that there is no nationality restriction on limited company managers.

Therefore, a foreign national can generally serve as manager of an Ltd. Şti.

For example:

Foreign Founder – 100% shareholder and manager

can generally be a valid corporate structure.

9. Does an Ltd. Şti. Manager Have to Be a Shareholder?

Not every manager must be a shareholder.

Non-shareholder managers may generally be appointed.

However, Turkish law requires that at least one shareholder have management and representation authority.

The Ministry of Trade confirms both that at least one shareholder must be appointed as manager and that non-shareholders may also be appointed as managers.

For example:

Foreign Founder – Shareholder + Manager

Turkish CEO – Non-shareholder Manager

may be possible.

Likewise:

Foreign Founder – 100% Shareholder + Manager

may generally operate without adding a Turkish shareholder.

10. Does the Foreign Manager Need to Live in Türkiye?

There is no general corporate law rule requiring every foreign manager or board member to permanently reside in Türkiye.

A foreign person may therefore potentially hold a management position while living abroad.

This is especially common for international corporate groups.

For example:

A German parent company’s CFO may sit on the board of its Turkish subsidiary while remaining resident in Germany.

However, residence becomes relevant when considering Turkish work permit requirements.

This distinction is particularly important for foreign A.Ş. board members.

11. Does a Foreign Board Member Need a Turkish Work Permit?

Not always.

Turkish labour legislation distinguishes between foreign directors who actively work in Türkiye and certain board members who do not reside in Türkiye.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Security specifically states that:

• a foreign shareholder-manager of a limited company may work by obtaining a work permit;
• a foreign shareholder-board member of a joint stock company may work by obtaining a work permit; while
• a board member of a joint stock company who does not reside in Türkiye falls within the scope of a work permit exemption.

This means that simply being listed as a board member does not automatically mean that every foreign board member must obtain a standard work permit.

The person’s actual role, residence and activities matter.

12. When Is a Work Permit Likely to Be Important?

A foreign executive should carefully examine work permit requirements where the person will:

• live in Türkiye;
• regularly work from the Turkish company’s office;
• manage daily operations;
• supervise employees;
• hire or dismiss employees;
• negotiate contracts;
• exercise executive authority;
• act as general manager; or
• perform operational duties in Türkiye.

Official work permit guidance treats individuals holding positions such as:

• chairman;
• board member;
• general manager;
• deputy general manager;
• company manager; and
• similar senior management positions

as potentially relevant foreign key personnel where they exercise senior management, supervisory or hiring authority.

Accordingly, the company’s corporate appointment and the individual’s immigration status should be planned together.

13. Can a Foreign Founder Be Both Shareholder and Director?

Yes.

This is very common.

For example, a foreign entrepreneur may establish:

Joint Stock Company

Foreign Founder – 100% Shareholder

and also serve as:

Board Member / Chairman

or:

Limited Company

Foreign Founder – 100% Shareholder

and also serve as:

Manager

The corporate structure itself is generally valid.

However, if the founder will actively work in Türkiye, work permit requirements must be evaluated separately.

14. Does Owning 100% of the Company Eliminate the Work Permit Requirement?

No.

A foreign person can legally own 100% of a Turkish company without automatically obtaining the right to work in Türkiye.

The following are separate:

100% company ownership

does not equal

automatic work authorization.

This distinction is one of the most common problems foreign founders encounter.

A founder may therefore legally be:

• sole shareholder;
• manager;
• board member; or
• chairman

while still needing a work permit to carry out active work in Türkiye.

15. Can a Non-Resident Foreign Board Member Avoid a Work Permit?

Under the Ministry of Labour’s current guidance, a foreign member of the board of directors of an A.Ş. who does not reside in Türkiye is evaluated within the work permit exemption framework.

This may be particularly relevant for international groups.

For example, a board might include:

Turkish Country Manager – Resident in İstanbul

and

German Group Executive – Resident in Munich

The German executive may participate at board level without necessarily being treated in the same way as a foreign executive physically working in Türkiye on a daily basis.

The actual facts should nevertheless be reviewed before relying on an exemption.

16. Is a Work Permit the Same as a Residence Permit?

No.

A residence permit concerns the foreigner’s right to reside in Türkiye.

A work permit concerns the right to perform work.

Company law governs the person’s corporate position.

Therefore, a foreign director may need to consider three separate legal frameworks:

Corporate Law

Can the person become a director?

Usually, yes.

Immigration Law

Can the person reside in Türkiye?

This requires separate analysis.

Labour / Work Permit Law

Can the person actively work in Türkiye?

A work permit or applicable exemption may be required.

These should not be confused.

17. Does a Foreign Director Need a Turkish Tax Number?

Yes, in relevant corporate registration procedures.

Official investment guidance states that potential Turkish tax identification numbers should be obtained for non-Turkish board members.

Similarly, official legal guidance notes that foreign managers and directors require a Turkish tax identification number for the relevant corporate processes.

The tax number does not necessarily mean that the person automatically becomes Turkish tax resident.

It is an administrative identification requirement.

Tax residence is a separate issue determined under tax legislation and applicable double taxation treaties.

18. Does the Director Need a Turkish Address?

Not necessarily in every corporate appointment.

Foreign board members may remain resident abroad.

However, companies and trade registries may require appropriate identification and address information in corporate records and supporting documentation.

Where foreign documents are produced abroad, notarization, apostille or consular legalization and Turkish translation requirements may arise.

Official company formation guidance states that relevant foreign-issued documents generally need to be apostilled or authenticated by a Turkish consulate and officially translated into Turkish.

19. Does a Foreign Director Have Authority to Sign for the Company Automatically?

Not necessarily.

Becoming a board member does not always mean that the person individually has unlimited authority to bind the company.

Representation authority must be examined separately.

In a joint stock company, representation may be structured according to:

• the articles of association;
• board resolutions;
• signature rules;
• joint signature requirements;
• delegated authority; and
• registered representation arrangements.

For example:

Director A + Director B jointly

may be required to sign transactions.

Alternatively:

Director A individually

may have authority within the registered corporate structure.

Foreign investors should therefore review not only who sits on the board but also who can legally bind the company.

20. Can Representation Powers Be Limited?

Internal authority can be structured through:

• board resolutions;
• internal directives;
• signature limits;
• approval matrices;
• banking rules; and
• corporate governance policies.

For example, the company may require:

Transactions below TRY 1 million: General Manager

Transactions above TRY 1 million: Two board signatures

Major financing transactions: Board approval

However, internal limitations do not always operate against third parties in the same manner as validly registered representation arrangements.

Corporate authority should therefore be drafted carefully and properly registered where required.

21. Can a Foreign Director Open the Company’s Bank Account?

Potentially, if properly authorized.

However, banking rules are independent from corporate law.

A bank may require:

• passport;
• tax number;
• signature circular;
• board resolution;
• company documents;
• beneficial ownership information;
• proof of address;
• source-of-funds information; and
• physical attendance.

Banks apply their own KYC and AML policies.

Therefore, even if the Trade Registry recognizes a foreign executive as authorized representative, a bank may impose additional onboarding requirements.

22. Can a Foreign Director Sign Contracts for the Turkish Company?

Yes, if the person has valid representation authority.

Depending on the company’s signature structure, a foreign director may potentially sign:

• commercial agreements;
• SaaS contracts;
• leases;
• employment agreements;
• supplier agreements;
• IP licences;
• financing documents; and
• other corporate contracts.

However, a director should first confirm whether they have:

• sole signature authority;
• joint authority;
• limited representation authority; or
• no individual signing authority.

The Turkish Trade Registry records and signature documentation should be checked.

23. Can a Foreign Director Hire and Dismiss Employees?

Potentially, yes, if their corporate authority includes employment matters.

However, this type of active operational authority is also relevant to work permit analysis.

The Ministry’s foreign key personnel criteria specifically refer to individuals who have authority to:

• manage all or part of the company;
• supervise employees;
• hire new employees; or
• terminate existing employees.

Therefore, a foreign executive exercising these functions in Türkiye should not assume that board membership alone resolves immigration and work authorization issues.

24. Can All Board Members Be Foreign?

For an ordinary Turkish joint stock company, there is generally no corporate rule requiring a certain number of Turkish citizens on the board.

Therefore, subject to sector-specific rules, a board may potentially consist entirely of foreign nationals.

For example:

Chairman – US citizen

Board Member – German citizen

Board Member – British citizen

may generally be possible.

Official investment guidance confirms that there is generally no nationality restriction for those holding management rights except in particular regulated sectors.

25. Can All Managers of an Ltd. Şti. Be Foreign?

Potentially, yes, provided that the statutory management requirements are satisfied.

At least one shareholder must have management and representation authority.

If the shareholders are all foreign, that shareholder-manager can also be foreign.

For example:

Foreign Shareholder A – 60% + Manager

Foreign Shareholder B – 40%

Foreign Professional C – Manager

may generally be possible.

There is no requirement to appoint a Turkish citizen simply to satisfy the manager requirement.

26. Can a Foreign Parent Company Control the Board?

Yes, subject to the company’s ownership and corporate documentation.

A foreign parent company owning 100% of a Turkish subsidiary may generally use its shareholder powers to appoint the company’s board, subject to Turkish corporate law.

For example:

French Parent SAS – 100% Shareholder

The Turkish A.Ş. board may consist of:

• French parent CEO;
• French parent CFO;
• Turkish general manager.

This is a common international subsidiary structure.

27. Can a Foreign Investor Appoint a Board Member Without Controlling the Company?

Yes, if the corporate arrangements allow it.

A foreign investor acquiring a minority shareholding may negotiate board representation.

For example:

Founders – 80%

Foreign Investor – 20%

The shareholders’ agreement may provide the investor with a contractual right to nominate one board member.

Depending on the desired structure, relevant provisions may also be reflected in the articles of association where legally appropriate.

Board appointment rights are therefore commonly addressed in:

• term sheets;
• investment agreements;
• shareholders’ agreements; and
• articles of association.

28. What Is an Investor Director?

In venture capital and private equity transactions, investors often request the right to nominate a director.

This allows the investor to participate in corporate governance even though it does not control a majority of shares.

An investor-appointed director may monitor matters such as:

• budgets;
• fundraising;
• borrowing;
• acquisitions;
• major contracts;
• related-party transactions;
• founder compensation;
• share issuances; and
• exit strategy.

However, an important principle should not be overlooked:

A board member is not merely the representative of the shareholder who appointed them.

The director must also comply with duties arising from Turkish corporate law.

29. What Duties Does a Director Have Under Turkish Law?

Directors and managers are not simply signatories.

They have legal duties concerning the management of the company.

Depending on the circumstances, these may include duties relating to:

• proper management;
• compliance with law;
• corporate records;
• capital protection;
• financial reporting;
• tax matters;
• general assembly procedures;
• conflicts of interest;
• related-party transactions;
• confidentiality;
• preservation of company interests; and
• insolvency-related obligations.

A foreign director is generally subject to Turkish corporate law while acting as a director of a Turkish company.

Being resident abroad does not eliminate the corporate duties associated with the position.

30. Can a Foreign Director Be Personally Liable?

Potentially, yes.

The principle of limited liability primarily protects shareholders from ordinary company debts.

It does not mean that directors or managers can never face personal liability.

A director may potentially face liability where statutory conditions are satisfied, including circumstances involving:

• breach of legal duties;
• breach of the articles of association;
• improper corporate actions;
• damage caused to the company;
• certain public debts;
• tax-related representative liability;
• social security obligations;
• unlawful distributions;
• capital protection violations; or
• certain insolvency-related failures.

The specific legal basis must be examined for each claim.

Foreign directors should therefore not accept a directorship on the assumption that the position is purely honorary.

31. Is a Nominee Director Risk-Free?

No.

A person whose name appears formally as director or manager may potentially have real legal responsibilities even if another person controls the business in practice.

For example, a foreign investor should be cautious about asking an employee or acquaintance to become director merely “for paperwork.”

Likewise, the individual should understand the liabilities before accepting the role.

A director appointment should clearly address:

• responsibilities;
• authority;
• reporting lines;
• insurance;
• indemnification where legally permissible;
• decision-making procedures; and
• access to company information.

32. Can Directors Be Removed?

Yes.

The exact process depends on the company type.

Joint Stock Company

Board members can generally be removed by the general assembly, subject to the Turkish Commercial Code and applicable corporate rules.

Limited Liability Company

Managers may also be removed or their management and representation authority restricted according to applicable corporate law procedures.

Foreign directors should therefore review:

• articles of association;
• shareholders’ agreements;
• appointment resolutions; and
• service agreements.

Corporate removal and termination of an employment or management agreement can be separate legal questions.

33. Can a Foreign Director Receive a Salary?

Potentially, yes.

A foreign director or manager may receive:

• salary;
• board remuneration;
• attendance fees;
• management compensation; or
• other lawful remuneration,

depending on the corporate arrangements.

However, payment can create additional questions concerning:

• work permit requirements;
• payroll;
• income tax;
• social security;
• withholding;
• tax residency; and
• double taxation treaties.

Therefore, remuneration should be structured together with tax and immigration advice.

34. Can a Foreign Director Work Remotely From Abroad?

A foreign board member may participate in corporate governance while living abroad.

The Turkish Commercial Code and company documentation may permit participation through appropriate meeting structures, including electronic mechanisms where statutory conditions are satisfied.

From an immigration perspective, performing board duties while remaining outside Türkiye is very different from physically relocating to Türkiye and carrying out daily executive work.

The Ministry expressly recognizes non-resident A.Ş. board members within its work permit exemption framework.

Tax consequences should nevertheless be separately considered.

35. Example: Foreign Founder as Sole Shareholder and Manager

Assume a British entrepreneur establishes a Turkish SaaS company as an Ltd. Şti.

The structure is:

British Founder – 100% Shareholder

and

British Founder – Manager

This structure can generally be established without a Turkish partner or Turkish manager.

The founder will normally need:

• appropriate identity documentation;
• Turkish tax identification number;
• corporate registration;
• manager appointment; and
• representation documentation.

If the founder will live and actively work in İstanbul, work permit requirements should additionally be reviewed.

36. Example: Foreign Parent Company With Foreign Board Members

Assume a German company establishes:

Türkiye Technology A.Ş.

Ownership:

German Parent Company – 100%

Board:

German CEO

German CFO

Turkish Country Manager

Such a corporate structure may generally be possible.

The German directors’ residence and actual activities should then be evaluated separately for work permit purposes.

If they remain non-resident and participate primarily at board level, the analysis may differ significantly from that applicable to a German executive permanently working in İstanbul.

37. Example: Foreign VC Appointing a Director

Assume a US venture capital fund acquires 20% of a Turkish startup.

Ownership:

Founders – 80%

US VC – 20%

The investor may negotiate:

• one board seat;
• observer rights;
• reserved matter approval rights;
• information rights; and
• financial reporting.

Its nominated board member may be a foreign national.

However, that board member should understand that Turkish board membership creates corporate duties and cannot be treated solely as an investor monitoring role.

38. Example: Foreign Director Who Does Not Own Shares

Assume a Turkish technology company wants to recruit a highly experienced German executive.

The German executive does not want to invest in the company.

The company may generally appoint the individual as an A.Ş. board member without requiring the executive to acquire shares.

Similarly, a non-shareholder can generally be appointed as a manager of an Ltd. Şti., although at least one shareholder must also have management and representation authority.

Therefore, management authority does not always require equity ownership.

39. Documents Commonly Required for Foreign Directors

The exact documentation depends on the appointment and Trade Registry procedure, but foreign directors may commonly need documentation concerning:

• passport;
• Turkish tax identification number;
• address information;
• appointment acceptance;
• signature documentation;
• corporate resolution;
• apostilled or legalized foreign documents where applicable; and
• official Turkish translations.

Official investment guidance expressly requires potential tax numbers for non-Turkish board members and explains the apostille/legalization and translation requirements applicable to relevant documents issued abroad.

The specific Trade Registry Directorate’s document requirements should be reviewed before filing.

40. Legal Checklist Before Appointing a Foreign Director

Before appointing a foreign person as director or manager of a Turkish company, the shareholders should determine:

• Is the company an Ltd. Şti. or A.Ş.?
• Is the person a shareholder?
• Is share ownership actually necessary?
• Does the company’s sector impose nationality restrictions?
• Will the person reside in Türkiye?
• Will the person actively work in Türkiye?
• Is a work permit required?
• Does a work permit exemption apply?
• Has a Turkish tax identification number been obtained?
• What representation authority will the person receive?
• Can the person sign alone?
• Will joint signatures be required?
• What banking authority will be granted?
• Can the director hire and dismiss employees?
• What transaction limits apply?
• What reserved matters require shareholder approval?
• Has director liability been explained?
• Are conflicts of interest regulated?
• Is director remuneration properly structured?
• Have tax implications been reviewed?
• Has the appointment been properly registered?

A foreign director appointment should therefore be treated as a substantive legal decision rather than an administrative formality.

Conclusion: Can Foreigners Manage Turkish Companies?

Yes.

Foreign nationals may generally serve as:

• managers of Turkish limited liability companies;
• board members of Turkish joint stock companies;
• chairpersons;
• authorized company representatives; and
• senior executives.

Turkish law does not impose a general Turkish nationality requirement on persons holding management rights in ordinary companies, subject to sector-specific exceptions. Official investment guidance expressly confirms that nationality restrictions generally do not apply to shareholders or management rights outside particular regulated sectors.

A foreign director also does not generally need to become a shareholder of an A.Ş. merely to sit on the board.

Similarly, non-shareholders can be appointed as managers of an Ltd. Şti., although at least one shareholder must also have management and representation authority.

The key issue for foreign executives is therefore usually not:

“Can I legally become a director?”

but rather:

“What happens after I become one?”

Foreign executives should particularly examine:

• work permit requirements;
• residence status;
• Turkish tax identification;
• signature and representation authority;
• management responsibilities;
• public debt exposure;
• tax issues; and
• directors’ liability.

A foreigner who merely sits on the board while remaining outside Türkiye may be treated differently from a foreign executive who relocates to Türkiye and actively manages the company’s daily operations.

The Ministry of Labour’s current guidance expressly places non-resident board members of Turkish joint stock companies within the work permit exemption framework, while foreign shareholder-managers and shareholder-board members who actively work may be required to obtain work authorization.

Accordingly, foreign founders and international companies should design corporate governance and work permit structures together before appointing their directors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a foreigner become a director of a Turkish company?

Yes. There is generally no Turkish nationality requirement for directors or managers of ordinary Turkish companies.

Can a foreigner become a board member of a Turkish A.Ş.?

Yes.

Does a board member have to own shares?

No. A board member of a Turkish A.Ş. does not generally have to be a shareholder.

Can a foreigner become a manager of an Ltd. Şti.?

Yes. There is generally no nationality restriction for limited company managers.

Does every manager of an Ltd. Şti. have to be a shareholder?

No. Non-shareholder managers may be appointed, but at least one shareholder must have management and representation authority.

Does a Turkish company need at least one Turkish director?

Generally, no, except where special sector legislation provides otherwise.

Can all board members be foreign?

Generally, yes, subject to sector-specific restrictions.

Can a foreign legal entity become a board member?

Yes. A legal entity may be appointed, with an individual designated to act on its behalf.

Does a foreign director need a Turkish tax number?

A potential Turkish tax identification number is required for non-Turkish board members for relevant company registration procedures.

Does a foreign director need a residence permit?

Not necessarily merely to hold a board position. Residence and corporate appointment are separate legal issues.

Does a foreign director need a work permit?

It depends on the person’s status and activities. Foreign shareholder-managers and shareholder-board members who actively work may need a work permit. A non-resident board member of a Turkish A.Ş. is included within the Ministry’s work permit exemption framework.

Can a foreign director remain resident abroad?

Yes, corporate board membership does not itself generally require permanent residence in Türkiye.

Can a foreign founder be both sole shareholder and director?

Yes.

Can a foreign director sign contracts?

Yes, if valid representation authority has been granted and registered as required.

Can a foreign director open a bank account for the company?

Potentially, if appropriately authorized, but the relevant bank may impose additional KYC and identification requirements.

Can a foreign director hire employees?

Potentially, if authorized. Such active management powers may also be relevant when determining work permit requirements.

Can a foreign director be personally liable for company debts?

Shareholder limited liability does not eliminate directors’ statutory responsibilities. A director or manager may face personal liability in certain circumstances where legal duties are breached or specific statutory liability provisions apply.

Can a foreign board member be removed?

Yes, subject to the Turkish Commercial Code, articles of association and applicable corporate procedures.

Can a foreign director receive a salary?

Yes, depending on the applicable corporate arrangement, but work permit, payroll, social security and tax consequences should be reviewed.

Legal Disclaimer: This article provides general information regarding Turkish corporate, foreign investment and work permit law and does not constitute legal advice. The legal position of a foreign director may differ depending on the company type, shareholding, residence, actual management activities, industry and regulatory status. Specific corporate and immigration advice should be obtained before appointing a foreign director or manager.