Back to home

Guide

Istanbul trading setup — a practical guide to launching a Turkish Ltd. Şti.

Everything to know about incorporating an international foreign-trade company in Istanbul — activities, obligations, timelines and the operational realities of trading from Türkiye.

Why Istanbul for trading and export

Istanbul has become one of the most efficient hubs in the region for trading, brokerage and trading activities thanks to its geographic position, Customs Union with the EU, deep supplier base and multilingual talent pool. Operating from Başakşehir keeps a company close to major logistics corridors and to international trade partners.

The four steps to incorporation

  1. Choose your NACE activity codes (Foreign Trade, Commercial Brokerage…).
  2. Submit KYC — passport copies, shareholder details and company name reservation.
  3. Notarise the articles of association and register with the Istanbul Trade Registry.
  4. Open a corporate bank account and complete tax office / VAT registration.

Frequently asked questions

Need operational support on the ground?

İnovasyon Dış Ticaret handles customer-relations management, supplier coordination, payment recovery and unloading supervision for trading partners across the region.

Talk to our team