As of 2026, the minimum share capital is TRY 50,000 for a limited liability company (LLC) and TRY 250,000 for a joint-stock company (JSC). These figures were raised from much lower levels at the start of 2024, so older guides quoting TRY 10,000 for an LLC are out of date. The capital is not a government fee — it is your company's own equity, which it can then use for its operations.
The timing of payment is where the two forms differ most. For an LLC, none of the capital has to be blocked in a bank before registration; the full TRY 50,000 simply has to be paid into the company within twenty-four months of formation. This makes the LLC very accessible: you can register first and fund the capital as the business gets going.
For a JSC, at least 25% of the capital — TRY 62,500 of the TRY 250,000 minimum — must be paid into a blocked bank account before the company is registered, and the bank issues a certificate confirming it. The remaining 75% must then be paid within twenty-four months. So a JSC requires real cash at the outset, whereas an LLC does not.
There is a further threshold that non-residents should plan for early: if you, as the foreign owner, intend to obtain a work permit to actively manage the company in Türkiye, the Ministry of Labour generally expects the company to have at least TRY 500,000 of paid-in capital. This is well above the formation minimum, so if a work permit is part of your plan, it is often sensible to capitalise the company accordingly from the start rather than topping up later.
Capital can be contributed in cash or, in some cases, in kind (assets valued by a court-appointed expert). Foreign founders typically bring funds in from abroad in foreign currency and convert them; there are no exchange controls preventing this, and the incoming capital can later support profit repatriation. There is no maximum capital — you can register with more than the minimum, and a higher figure can help with banking, tenders and credibility.
It is worth being realistic about the total cash you need beyond the registered capital. Formation also involves notary and sworn-translation costs, apostille or consular legalisation, Chamber of Commerce and Trade Registry fees, your accountant's setup fee, and possibly a registered address. These are modest relative to the capital but should be budgeted alongside it.
It also helps to treat capital as working money rather than a deposit that sits idle. Once paid in, the funds belong to the company and can be spent on rent, salaries, stock or equipment, so setting the figure a little above the bare minimum simply pre-funds your early running costs. Raising capital later is possible but means a formal amendment to the articles, a shareholders resolution and registry filings, which is why choosing a sensible amount at the outset usually saves both time and fees.
In practice, the capital decision is a strategic one, not just a compliance minimum. Choosing an amount that fits your licensing needs, banking expectations and any future work-permit application avoids the cost and paperwork of a capital increase down the line — a point worth settling with your advisor before you file the articles of association.
Key facts (2026)
Official & authoritative sources
- https://www.ticaret.gov.tr/
- https://www.invest.gov.tr/en/investmentguide/pages/establishing-a-business-in-turkey.aspx