1. Introduction: When Customs Turns into a Legal Problem Foreigners entering or leaving Turkey with cash, jewelry, watches, electronics or commercial goods are often surprised to discover that customs officials have the power to seize these items on the spot. Sometimes the issue is purely administrative (missing declaration, exceeding allowance, unpaid customs duty). In other […]
How to Exit a Turkish Investment Safely: Selling Shares, Property and Companies Entering a market is exciting. Exiting, however, is where investors often lose money, time and legal protection – especially in a foreign jurisdiction. In Turkey, selling shares, real estate or even an entire company is perfectly feasible and investor-friendly if the exit is […]
What to Do If You Are Detained or Arrested in Turkey as a Foreigner Being detained or arrested in a foreign country can be frightening, especially if you do not know the language or the legal system. In Turkey, however, foreigners are protected by the same basic procedural rights as Turkish citizens under the Constitution […]
Franchise and Distribution Agreements in Turkey: Legal Risks and Protections Doing business in Turkey through a local partner can be very attractive. The market is young, dynamic and strongly connected to both Europe and the Middle East. However, using franchise or distribution models without a solid contract can easily lead to disputes, loss of reputation […]
Double taxation is not just a theoretical concern in textbooks; it is a real economic risk that can significantly reduce the net return of foreign investments. It arises because different countries exercise their taxing powers based on residence and source, sometimes simultaneously, and because domestic rules are not automatically aligned.
Handled correctly, Turkish tax law does not have to be a trap – it can be a competitive advantage that increases your net return instead of eroding it.
Definition, Legal Nature, and Turkish Supreme Court Practice I. Introduction Maritime trade, an inherently international and high-risk sector carrying a significant portion of global trade volume, relies heavily on the charterparty (contract of carriage by sea) as one of its fundamental agreements. In the Turkish Commercial Code (Law No. 6102, “TCC”), maritime trade is regulated […]
1. Residence Permit in Turkey: Right to Stay vs. Actual Use A Turkish residence permit (oturma izni) gives a foreigner the legal right to stay in Turkey for a certain period and under certain conditions (touristic, family, student, long-term, etc.). However, this right is not unlimited or unconditional: This is where the 6-month rule and […]
1. Why the Choice of Company Type Matters for Foreign Investors Many foreign investors initially believe that company type is a purely “formal” question. In practice, the choice between a limited or joint stock company in Turkey affects at least five critical areas: Looking only at initial incorporation cost can be misleading. The real impact […]
1. Why buy company shares in Turkey? Acquiring shares in an existing Turkish company (rather than establishing a new entity) is often chosen because: On the other hand, the buyer also takes over the history and hidden risks of the company: tax exposures, social security debts, litigation, regulatory non-compliance, and even criminal risks in some […]