Owning and working in a Turkish company: separate questions
Owning a share in a company in Turkey and working in it are separate questions. Foreign investors may set up companies in the forms provided by the Turkish Commercial Code, but before starting work a foreigner within the scope of the law needs a work permit or the relevant exemption. The ÇSGB FAQ treats a working foreign partner-manager of an Ltd and a partner-board member of an AŞ separately: working in those roles requires a work permit, and incorporating the company is not an automatic approval of one. For non-resident AŞ board members and for shareholders of other companies without management status, the FAQ indicates an exemption regime whose applicability must be checked separately.
Who this guide helps
- A foreign entrepreneur planning to hold a share in a Turkish company who wants to understand whether a work-permit question arises for them.
- A founder who will be the manager of an Ltd or a member of the board of an AŞ and will work in that role.
Scope and boundaries
- This page gives no numeric conditions (capital, shareholding, number of employees, investment relief) and does not assess the chances of obtaining a permit.
- This page does not cover residence or citizenship and gives no individual opinion.
- The exemption regime must not be extended to all directors and all owners: its applicability is checked separately.
Owning and working are separate questions
Foreign investors may set up companies in the forms provided by the Turkish Commercial Code. That answers the question of ownership and registration. The question of working is decided separately: before starting work, a foreigner within the scope of the law needs a work permit or the relevant exemption.
Decision tree
- Question 1. Will you perform work in the company? The rule this page relies on is tied to starting work, not to holding a share as such; other questions, including residence, are not covered here.
- Question 2. Are you a partner-manager of an Ltd, a partner-board member of an AŞ, or a partner without management status? The ÇSGB FAQ distinguishes these roles; a manager without a shareholding should not be treated as a partner-manager.
- Question 3. If you are a foreign partner-manager of an Ltd or a partner-board member of an AŞ and will work in that role, the ÇSGB FAQ states that a work permit is required.
- Question 4. The FAQ identifies two separate categories within the exemption framework: AŞ board members who do not reside in Turkey; and partners of other companies without management status. In this wording, the non-residence condition applies to AŞ board members. Check applicability and the exemption procedure for your role before starting work.
- Question 5. Prepare evidence of your role and of the actual work, and confirm the procedure with your provider before work starts.
ÇSGB: FAQ, question 1 · ÇSGB: FAQ, question 31 — working partners · ÇSGB: FAQ, question 31 — exemption categories
Role table
| Situation | What the source says | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| A foreign shareholder works as manager of an Ltd | The ÇSGB FAQ treats this case separately; working in this role requires a work permit | That registering the company in itself amounts to a work permit |
| A foreign shareholder works as a member of the board of an AŞ | The ÇSGB FAQ treats this case separately; working in this role requires a work permit | That holding shares in an AŞ gives a right to work without formalities |
| A board member of an AŞ who does not reside in Turkey | The FAQ indicates an exemption regime | That the exemption covers all directors; its applicability must be checked |
| A shareholder of another company without management status | The FAQ indicates an exemption regime | That the exemption covers all owners and unrestricted work |
| A foreigner within the scope of the law who is starting work | Before starting work, a work permit or the relevant exemption is needed | That work may start before the permit or exemption is in place |
ÇSGB: FAQ, question 1 · ÇSGB: FAQ, question 31 — working partners · ÇSGB: FAQ, question 31 — exemption categories
Sources, check dates and limits of this page
Invest in Türkiye, Establishing a Business: foreign investors may set up companies in the forms provided by the Turkish Commercial Code; restrictions may apply to certain sectors.
ÇSGB work-permit FAQ, questions 1 and 31: before starting work, a foreigner within the scope of the law needs a work permit or the relevant exemption; the FAQ treats a working foreign partner-manager of an Ltd and a partner-board member of an AŞ separately, and for non-resident AŞ board members and shareholders of other companies without management status it indicates an exemption regime.
ÇSGB: FAQ, question 1 · ÇSGB: FAQ, question 31 — working partners · ÇSGB: FAQ, question 31 — exemption categories
The dates on which the sources were checked relate to selected provisions; they are separate from the page's publication date and do not certify the whole page.
Common mistakes
- Assuming that registering a company automatically gives the right to work.
- Starting work in the company before the permit or exemption is in place.
- Extending the exemption regime to all directors and all owners.
- Mixing ownership, residence and work in a single plan.
ÇSGB: FAQ, question 1 · ÇSGB: FAQ, question 31 — working partners · ÇSGB: FAQ, question 31 — exemption categories
Discuss your documents and task
If you plan to hold a share and work in the company, send us a description of your role and the work you intend to do, and we will help formulate the questions to check for a permit or exemption.
Discuss the taskFrequently asked questions
Does registering a company give me the right to work in it?
Company registration does not itself grant a work permit. Before starting work, a foreigner within the scope of the law needs a work permit or the relevant exemption. The ÇSGB FAQ separately states the permit requirement for working foreign partner-managers of an Ltd and partner-board members of an AŞ.
ÇSGB: FAQ, question 1 · ÇSGB: FAQ, question 31 — working partners
Do I need a work permit if I am only a shareholder?
The rule this page relies on is tied to starting work, not to holding a share as such. If your role involves work, check the permit or exemption before it begins; this page does not address other questions.
What is the exemption regime in the FAQ?
The FAQ identifies two distinct categories within the exemption framework: AŞ board members who do not reside in Turkey, and partners of other companies without management status. Applicability and the procedure must be checked for the particular role before work starts.
Does the exemption cover any director or owner?
No such conclusion can be drawn: the FAQ names specific cases, and eligibility for the exemption procedure is checked separately.
Primary sources
Prepared by RelocationTR. The dates below refer to checks of the cited source provisions.
- Invest in Türkiye: company formsProvision checked: 2026-10-01
- ÇSGB: FAQ, question 1Provision checked: 2026-10-01
- ÇSGB: FAQ, question 31 — working partnersProvision checked: 2026-10-01
- ÇSGB: FAQ, question 31 — exemption categoriesProvision checked: 2026-10-01