Companies based abroad can promote their business by opening Liaison Offices in Turkey. The main difference between a Branch and a Liaison Office is that the Liaison Offices cannot carry out any activity through their offices in Turkey to generate revenue. Another difference is that the expenditures of a liaison office must be met entirely from foreign currency brought in from abroad. Liaison Office permits are granted for a period up to three years, and extension applications must be made at the end of each period or permit.
The permit issuing authority for opening a Liaison Office in Turkey is the Directorate General of Foreign Investments, Turkish Treasury. If the application procedure is in order and documents completed, the permit will be issued within five days.
SETTING UP PROCEDURE The documents and forms listed below must be submitted to the permit issuing authority.
DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS - Original copy of " Certificate of Activity " showing the number of employees and the annual expenditure estimate
- Operational report or balance sheet and income statement of the main company
- The original copy of Power of Authority issued to the representative authorised to manage the office
- The original copy of Power of Attorney issued to the person authorised to carry out the establishment transactions of the liaison office.
These documents must be validated and legalised in the UK. To use the unique certification and legalisation services provided by TBCCI. Click on Document Certification or Document Legalisation.
AFTER ESTABLISHMENT OBLIGATIONS - Following the obtaining of the permit, the Liaison Office must register with the local tax office. Within one month from the date of establishment, the office must submit a copy of the Tax Office Registration Document to the Directorate General.
- Forms and documents must be supplied to the Directorate General each year about their activities (Data Form for Liaison Office Activities) and all expenditures have been paid with the transferred foreign currency.
- In case of winding up of the Liaison Office, "Termination and Examination of Business Note" issued by the tax office must be submitted to the Directorate.
Address of the Directorate General of Foreign Investments:
Hazine Müsteşarlığı
Yabancı Sermaye Genel Müdürlüğü
20. Kat Emek,
Ankara 06510
Turkey
