Company Formation
Free Zone Company
A company established in areas deemed outside the customs territory, for production and export-focused structures. The option with the strongest tax advantages.
- Minimum capital
- TRY 50,000
- Paid up at incorporation
- No
- Shareholders
- at least 1
- Incorporation time
- 20–45 business days
- Foreign ownership
- 100% permitted
- Commercial activity
- Yes
Who it suits
- Export-oriented industrial manufacturing investments
- Transit trade, warehousing and distribution centre operations
- Software and R&D activities (varies by zone)
- Assembly and processing plants using imported inputs
Key points
Türkiye has 18 operating free zones. Zone selection should weigh port and airport proximity, sectoral clustering and rental costs together.
Advantages
- Corporate tax exemption on income from manufacturing activities
- Income tax withholding exemption on wages for companies exporting at least 85% of the FOB value of what they produce
- Customs duty and fund exemption; no VAT on imports
- No restriction on profit repatriation
- Stamp duty and fee exemptions
Points to watch
- Requires an operating licence application and approval by the zone operator; the process takes 3–6 weeks
- Operating licence, warehouse and land rental create additional fixed costs
- Domestic sales are subject to the import regime, reducing the advantage for domestic-market business models
- Activity outside the scope of the licence is not permitted
Let's start with a conversation
In a free 30-minute call, let's clarify which company structure and which incentives fit you. Non-binding, but useful.