How to Verify Whether a Turkish Company Is Legally Reliable Before Signing a Contract (2026 Guide)

Learn how to verify whether a Turkish company is legally reliable before signing a contract. This 2026 guide explains Trade Registry, MERSIS, authorization, litigation, tax, licensing, data protection, sanctions, and contract checks for foreign businesses.

Signing a commercial contract with an unfamiliar company can expose a foreign investor, supplier, distributor, service provider, landlord, purchaser, or international business to substantial legal and financial risk. A company may appear professional online while having insufficient authority, undisclosed debts, inactive registrations, regulatory problems, litigation exposure, or representatives who are not legally entitled to bind the business.

Before signing any agreement in Turkey, foreign parties should conduct structured legal due diligence rather than relying only on a website, business card, invoice, email signature, or verbal assurance.

The reliability of a Turkish company cannot be established through a single database search. A proper verification process should confirm the company’s legal existence, registration details, current shareholders and directors, representation authority, financial standing, regulatory status, litigation exposure, tax information, contractual capacity, and operational credibility.

This 2026 guide explains the most important steps for verifying whether a Turkish company is legally reliable before entering into a binding contract.

Why Company Verification Is Essential in Turkey

A properly incorporated Turkish company is a legal entity separate from its shareholders. However, the mere existence of a registered company does not guarantee that it is financially stable, actively operating, legally compliant, or represented by the person negotiating the contract.

Foreign companies may face problems such as:

• Contracts signed by unauthorized employees
• False or outdated signature circulars
• Incorrect trade names
• Inactive or liquidated companies
• Undisclosed insolvency risks
• Significant enforcement proceedings
• Regulatory restrictions
• Missing sector-specific licences
• False claims about shareholders or business history
• Unregistered branches or business locations
• Fraudulent bank account instructions
• Contracting with a similarly named but different legal entity

Verification should therefore be completed before any payment, shipment, transfer of confidential information, appointment of a distributor, formation of a joint venture, or execution of a long-term commercial agreement.

1. Confirm the Company’s Exact Legal Name

The first step is to obtain the company’s complete registered trade name.

Turkish companies commonly operate under commercial brands that differ from their official legal names. A company may advertise itself under a short brand name while its contracts, invoices, bank accounts, licences, and registry records use a longer registered title.

The contract should identify the company exactly as it appears in the Trade Registry, including its legal form, such as:

• Anonim Şirket, usually abbreviated as A.Ş.
• Limited Şirket, usually abbreviated as Ltd. Şti.
• Collective company
• Commandite company
• Cooperative
• Turkish branch of a foreign company

The legal name should be checked against the company’s:

• Trade Registry records
• Tax certificate
• Signature circular
• Bank account holder information
• Invoices
• Licence documents
• Official correspondence

Even a minor difference in the company name may indicate that the counterparty is not the entity the foreign business intended to contract with.

2. Check the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette

The Turkish Trade Registry Gazette is one of the most important official sources for reviewing a company’s legal history.

The Gazette may contain announcements concerning:

• Incorporation
• Articles of association
• Capital increases or reductions
• Shareholding changes where publication is required
• Appointment and removal of directors
• Members of the board of directors
• Representation authority
• Address changes
• Amendments to the articles of association
• Mergers and demergers
• Conversion of company type
• Liquidation
• Termination
• Reinstatement
• Branch registrations

The official Trade Registry Gazette website provides announcement and trade-name search functions. Investors should review not only the latest announcement but also the company’s historical publications to identify changes in management, capital, registered address, business scope, or legal status.

A company that has changed directors, address, or shareholders repeatedly within a short period may require enhanced due diligence.

3. Verify the Company Through MERSIS

The Central Registry Record System, known as MERSIS, is operated by the Turkish Ministry of Trade. It is used for company registration, amendment, authorization, and related commercial registry procedures. Access may require a registered account, electronic signature, mobile signature, or e-government authentication depending on the transaction and information requested.

The company should be asked to provide its MERSIS number.

A MERSIS number is generally a unique identifier used for legal entities registered within the system. The number should match the information appearing on:

• Commercial contracts
• Official invoices
• Company correspondence
• Signature documents
• Trade Registry records
• Corporate websites where legally required

The existence of a MERSIS number is helpful, but it should not be treated as proof of financial reliability or regulatory compliance. It confirms registry-related identity, not overall commercial trustworthiness.

4. Obtain a Current Trade Registry Certificate

Foreign counterparties should request a recently issued Trade Registry Certificate or activity certificate from the relevant Chamber of Commerce or Trade Registry Directorate.

The certificate should generally confirm:

• Registered trade name
• Trade Registry number
• MERSIS number
• Registered office
• Company status
• Field of activity
• Registration date
• Authorized representatives
• Relevant chamber membership

The document should be recent. An old certificate may not reflect changes in directors, representation powers, registered address, liquidation status, or business activity.

For high-value transactions, the document should preferably be independently verified rather than accepted only as a scanned copy sent by the counterparty.

5. Verify Who Has Authority to Sign

One of the most important legal checks is determining whether the individual signing the contract has authority to bind the company.

A shareholder, general manager, employee, sales director, branch manager, consultant, or relative of the owner does not automatically have legal signing authority.

Signing authority should be confirmed through documents such as:

• Trade Registry announcements
• Signature circular
• Board resolution
• Shareholders’ resolution
• Power of attorney
• Internal directive on limited authority
• Notarized authorization document
• Branch representation documents

The review must determine whether the representative may sign:

• Individually or only jointly
• Without a monetary limit
• Only for specific transactions
• Only for a limited period
• Only together with another authorized person
• Only for a particular branch or department

A contract may become disputed or unenforceable if it is signed by a person who lacks proper representation authority.

6. Examine the Signature Circular Carefully

A signature circular is frequently used to demonstrate the signature specimens and representation authority of company representatives.

However, foreign businesses should not rely on the document automatically.

The following should be checked:

• Date of issuance
• Notary information
• Identity of the representative
• Duration of authority
• Individual or joint signature requirement
• Monetary limitations
• Scope of authority
• Consistency with Trade Registry announcements
• Whether the representative has since been removed

A signature circular issued several years earlier may no longer reflect the company’s current representation structure.

Where a power of attorney is used, the specific transaction should fall within the wording of that power. General commercial language may not be sufficient for transactions requiring special authority.

7. Confirm the Registered Address and Physical Operations

The company’s registered address should be compared with:

• Trade Registry records
• Tax records
• Invoices
• Website contact details
• Contract details
• Licence information
• Business premises
• Warehouse or factory locations

A site visit may be appropriate where the transaction involves manufacturing, warehousing, construction, logistics, high-value goods, real estate, machinery, or long-term supply commitments.

Warning signs may include:

• No physical operation at the registered address
• A residential address inconsistent with the stated business
• A virtual office used without explanation
• Frequent address changes
• Employees refusing to provide official documents
• Business activity occurring at an unregistered location
• A factory, warehouse, or shop operated by a different legal entity

The use of a shared or virtual office is not automatically unlawful, but it may require further investigation depending on the nature of the business.

8. Verify the Tax Identity Information

The company should provide its tax identification number and current tax certificate.

The information should match:

• Legal name
• Registered address
• Tax office
• Trade Registry details
• Invoice information
• Bank account information

A tax certificate alone does not establish that the company has no tax debt. Depending on the transaction, the foreign party may request:

• Tax debt status documentation
• Social security debt status documentation
• Certified financial records
• Independent accountant confirmation
• Sworn-in certified public accountant reports
• Recent tax returns, where appropriate and legally permissible

Financial and tax information should be obtained through lawful and proportionate due-diligence procedures, subject to confidentiality and data-protection obligations.

9. Verify the Company’s Bank Account

Payments should normally be made only to a bank account held in the exact registered name of the contracting company.

Particular caution is required where payment is requested to:

• A director’s personal account
• A shareholder’s personal account
• An employee’s account
• A foreign company with a different name
• An unrelated intermediary
• A recently changed bank account
• A cryptocurrency wallet
• A third party described as a collection agent

Bank account changes sent only by email should be verified through an independent communication channel. Business email compromise and fraudulent payment instructions can result in substantial losses.

The contract should clearly identify:

• Account holder
• Bank
• Branch
• IBAN
• Currency
• Payment purpose
• Conditions for changing payment instructions

For significant transactions, a confirmation letter from the company’s authorized representative may be appropriate.

10. Review the Company’s Articles of Association

The articles of association may help determine whether the proposed transaction falls within the company’s corporate structure and internal authority framework.

The review should consider:

• Company purpose and fields of activity
• Capital structure
• Share classes
• Management rules
• Representation provisions
• Approval requirements
• Restrictions on share transfers
• Special rights granted to shareholders
• Decision-making procedures
• Provisions concerning dissolution or liquidation

Although Turkish companies may generally conduct commercial transactions within the applicable legal framework, internal approval requirements can still affect authority, governance, and transaction risk.

11. Check Capital and Shareholding Structure

The registered capital of a company does not necessarily represent its available cash or ability to perform a contract. Nevertheless, unusually low capital compared with the value of the proposed transaction may be a risk indicator.

Foreign counterparties should examine:

• Registered capital
• Whether capital commitments were paid
• Shareholding structure
• Ultimate beneficial ownership
• Recent share transfers
• Pledges over shares
• Nominee arrangements
• Group-company relationships
• Parent-company support
• Whether the contracting company is only a special-purpose vehicle

Where performance depends on a parent company, affiliate, shareholder, or foreign group entity, the contract should include appropriate guarantees rather than relying on informal group support.

12. Identify the Ultimate Beneficial Owner

Understanding who ultimately owns or controls the company is essential for anti-money-laundering, sanctions, fraud, reputational, and compliance purposes.

The legal shareholder shown in company documents may itself be another company. The ownership chain should therefore be traced until the individuals or ultimate controlling entities are identified.

Enhanced checks may be necessary where:

• Ownership is spread across several jurisdictions
• Shares are held through trusts, nominees, or foundations
• The company refuses to disclose its controlling persons
• The ownership structure changed shortly before the transaction
• A politically exposed person may be involved
• The company operates in a high-risk jurisdiction or industry
• Sanctions exposure is possible

Beneficial ownership verification should be documented and periodically updated during long-term business relationships.

13. Investigate Litigation and Enforcement Exposure

A legally registered company may still face significant lawsuits, enforcement proceedings, insolvency risk, or asset seizures.

A legal review may examine, to the extent lawfully accessible:

• Commercial lawsuits
• Employment claims
• Tax disputes
• Administrative proceedings
• Intellectual property disputes
• Consumer claims
• Product liability cases
• Competition investigations
• Criminal proceedings involving executives
• Enforcement files
• Attachment orders
• Bankruptcy proceedings
• Concordat proceedings
• Interim injunctions

Not all case information is publicly accessible. Some searches require legal authorization, case-party status, consent, or examination by Turkish counsel through appropriate legal channels.

The absence of publicly available litigation records should therefore not be interpreted as proof that no disputes exist.

14. Check for Bankruptcy, Liquidation, or Concordat Risk

Before entering into a major contract, investors should determine whether the company:

• Is in liquidation
• Has ceased operations
• Is subject to bankruptcy proceedings
• Has applied for concordat
• Is experiencing serious payment difficulties
• Has unpaid employee, tax, or social security liabilities
• Has substantial enforcement files
• Has pledged major assets
• Has transferred assets to affiliated parties
• Is dependent on short-term financing

Practical indicators of financial distress may include:

• Repeated requests for advance payment
• Unusual discounts for immediate cash
• Delayed salary or supplier payments
• Frequent changes in banks
• Returned cheques
• Requests to invoice another company
• Refusal to provide financial statements
• Sudden replacement of directors or shareholders

Where appropriate, the contract should require security such as a bank guarantee, letter of credit, parent-company guarantee, escrow arrangement, retention mechanism, pledge, mortgage, or advance-payment guarantee.

15. Review Financial Statements and Independent Audit Reports

For material transactions, the counterparty should be asked to provide recent financial information.

This may include:

• Balance sheets
• Income statements
• Cash-flow statements
• Independent audit reports
• Management accounts
• Debt schedules
• Receivables ageing
• Bank debt
• Contingent liabilities
• Related-party transactions
• Off-balance-sheet obligations

The review should determine whether the company has sufficient financial capacity to perform the contract.

Particular attention should be paid to:

• Sudden revenue increases
• High related-party receivables
• Large shareholder loans
• Negative equity
• Short-term debt pressure
• Qualified audit opinions
• Unusual inventory values
• Significant overdue receivables
• Dependence on a single customer
• Currency mismatch

Financial verification should be conducted together with legal, tax, and accounting professionals where the transaction value is substantial.

16. Verify Sector-Specific Licences and Permits

Registration as a company does not automatically authorize it to conduct every type of business.

Depending on the sector, the company may require licences, permits, certificates, approvals, or registrations from competent authorities.

Regulated areas may include:

• Energy
• Banking
• Insurance
• Payment services
• Capital markets
• Healthcare
• Pharmaceuticals
• Medical devices
• Tourism
• Education
• Telecommunications
• Transportation
• Logistics
• Customs brokerage
• Construction
• Food production
• Mining
• Environmental operations
• Waste management
• Private security
• Defence-related activities
• E-commerce

The licence should be checked for:

• Legal holder
• Validity period
• Scope
• Authorized location
• Conditions
• Suspensions
• Renewal status
• Transferability
• Regulatory sanctions

A contract with an unlicensed operator may be unlawful, unenforceable, commercially useless, or exposed to administrative sanctions.

17. Check E-Commerce Registration Where Relevant

Companies engaged in electronic commerce may be subject to registration and notification obligations through the Electronic Commerce Information System, known as ETBIS, depending on the nature of their activities.

The Ministry of Trade operates the ETBIS platform for relevant businesses and institutional users.

For online sellers, digital platforms, marketplaces, and e-commerce service providers, foreign parties should verify:

• Website ownership
• Company identity disclosures
• Contact information
• Distance-sales documentation
• Consumer information
• Return and cancellation policies
• Data-protection notices
• ETBIS status where applicable
• Payment-security procedures

A professional website alone does not establish legal reliability.

18. Review Data-Protection Compliance

A Turkish company processing personal data must comply with Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data and related regulations.

The law applies to natural and legal persons that process personal data and imposes obligations concerning lawful processing, transparency, security, retention, data-subject rights, and transfers.

Depending on its status and applicable exemptions, a company may also be required to register with the Data Controllers’ Registry Information System, known as VERBIS. The official system is intended to provide information about data controllers and improve transparency regarding personal-data processing.

A data-protection review should examine:

• Privacy notices
• Data-processing inventory
• VERBIS status where applicable
• Data-processing agreements
• International data-transfer mechanisms
• Security policies
• Breach history
• Employee confidentiality arrangements
• Retention and destruction procedures
• Subprocessor arrangements

This is particularly important where the contract involves customer lists, employee data, health data, payment information, software services, cloud systems, marketing databases, or cross-border data transfers.

19. Conduct Sanctions and Anti-Money-Laundering Checks

Foreign companies should screen the Turkish counterparty, its shareholders, directors, beneficial owners, banks, and relevant affiliates against applicable sanctions and restricted-party lists.

The review should reflect the laws governing the foreign investor as well as the transaction.

Depending on the circumstances, checks may cover:

• United Nations sanctions
• Turkish restrictions
• European Union sanctions
• United States sanctions
• United Kingdom sanctions
• Export-control restrictions
• Dual-use goods restrictions
• Sectoral sanctions
• Politically exposed persons
• Adverse media
• High-risk jurisdictions

A company may not be directly listed but may still create sanctions exposure because of ownership, control, intermediaries, goods, banks, shipping routes, or destination countries.

20. Search Competition Authority Decisions

The Turkish Competition Authority investigates agreements, decisions, and practices that restrict competition under Law No. 4054. The Authority publishes legislation, announcements, and many Competition Board decisions through its official website.

A search may reveal whether the company or its sector has been involved in matters concerning:

• Cartels
• Resale price maintenance
• Abuse of dominance
• Exclusivity
• Market allocation
• Information exchange
• Bid rigging
• Restrictive distribution arrangements
• Merger-control violations
• Obstruction of on-site inspections

This is especially relevant for distributors, manufacturers, digital platforms, retailers, pharmaceutical companies, automotive businesses, technology providers, and companies with significant market power.

21. Verify Intellectual Property Rights

Where the proposed relationship involves a brand, software, product, patent, design, franchise, licence, or technology, the company’s intellectual property rights should be verified.

The review should determine:

• Who owns the trademark
• Whether the mark is registered
• Whether the registration covers the relevant goods or services
• Whether a licence exists
• Whether the licence permits sublicensing
• Who owns the software source code
• Whether employee inventions were assigned
• Whether third-party licences are valid
• Whether infringement disputes exist
• Whether domain names belong to the contracting entity

A distributor or reseller may use a well-known brand without being legally authorized to grant rights relating to that brand.

22. Review References, Customers, and Commercial History

Legal documents should be supported by practical commercial verification.

The foreign party may request:

• Customer references
• Supplier references
• Bank reference letters
• Completed-project lists
• Export records
• Quality certificates
• Insurance policies
• Professional memberships
• Evidence of employees and operational capacity
• Site inspection
• Sample contracts or purchase orders
• Confirmation from international partners

References should be independently contacted using verified details rather than telephone numbers supplied only by the company.

23. Examine Insurance Coverage

Depending on the transaction, the company should maintain suitable insurance, such as:

• Professional liability insurance
• Product liability insurance
• Employer’s liability insurance
• Cargo insurance
• Construction all-risk insurance
• Cyber insurance
• Property insurance
• Third-party liability insurance
• Directors’ and officers’ insurance

The policy should be reviewed for:

• Insured entity
• Coverage amount
• Exclusions
• Territorial scope
• Validity
• Deductibles
• Claims history
• Cancellation
• Whether the proposed activity is covered

A certificate of insurance should not be accepted without checking that it relates to the contracting legal entity.

24. Check Company Websites, Emails, and Domain Ownership

Digital identity verification can reveal inconsistencies.

Foreign parties should compare:

• Website domain
• Email domain
• Trade Registry name
• Registered address
• Telephone numbers
• Bank details
• Social-media accounts
• Website age
• Domain ownership where lawfully available
• Privacy and legal notices
• Company registration disclosures

Risk indicators may include:

• Free email accounts used for major transactions
• Recently created websites
• Copied content
• Missing legal identity information
• Inconsistent telephone numbers
• Fake office photographs
• Different company names across pages
• Pressure to communicate only through messaging applications

These indicators do not independently prove fraud, but they justify enhanced verification.

25. Conduct Adverse-Media and Reputation Searches

A broad search may identify:

• Fraud allegations
• Regulatory penalties
• Customer complaints
• Product-safety incidents
• Environmental violations
• Corruption allegations
• Insolvency concerns
• Political connections
• Workplace accidents
• Criminal proceedings
• Sanctions exposure
• Repeated changes of legal identity

Media reports must be assessed carefully. Unverified allegations should not be treated as established facts. The company should be given an opportunity to explain serious findings before a final risk decision is made.

26. Request a Corporate Due-Diligence Document Package

Before signing, a foreign counterparty may request a document package containing:

1. Current Trade Registry Certificate
2. Relevant Trade Registry Gazette publications
3. MERSIS number
4. Tax certificate
5. Articles of association
6. Signature circular
7. Board or shareholders’ authorization
8. Power of attorney, where applicable
9. Identity details of authorized representatives
10. Shareholding chart
11. Beneficial ownership statement
12. Required licences and permits
13. Recent financial statements
14. Independent audit report, where available
15. Tax and social security debt documents, where appropriate
16. Insurance certificates
17. Bank account confirmation
18. Data-protection documentation
19. Material litigation disclosure
20. Sanctions and compliance declarations

The scope should be proportionate to the size, sector, duration, and risk level of the transaction.

27. Include Protective Clauses in the Contract

Even comprehensive due diligence cannot eliminate every risk. The agreement should contain contractual protection.

Important clauses may include:

• Accurate identification of the legal entity
• Representation and authority warranties
• Compliance with law warranties
• Licence and permit warranties
• Tax compliance warranties
• No undisclosed litigation warranty
• Sanctions compliance
• Anti-bribery and anti-corruption obligations
• Data-protection obligations
• Confidentiality
• Audit rights
• Document-retention duties
• Notification of material changes
• Indemnification
• Limitation of liability
• Performance security
• Termination rights
• Force majeure
• Governing law
• Dispute-resolution mechanism
• Jurisdiction or arbitration
• Language-precedence clause

Generic templates should not be used without reviewing whether they are enforceable and suitable under Turkish law.

28. Use Conditional Signing or Closing Requirements

Where certain risks remain unresolved, the transaction may be made subject to conditions precedent.

Examples include:

• Delivery of a valid licence
• Approval by the board or shareholders
• Removal of an attachment
• Renewal of insurance
• Submission of a bank guarantee
• Confirmation of tax status
• Completion of a share transfer
• Regulatory approval
• Termination of conflicting agreements
• Execution of a parent-company guarantee
• Verification of intellectual property ownership

The contract should state clearly what happens if the condition is not satisfied by the agreed deadline.

29. Use Secure Payment and Performance Mechanisms

Payment structure is a major part of legal risk management.

Safer mechanisms may include:

• Escrow
• Letter of credit
• Documentary collection
• Bank guarantee
• Advance-payment guarantee
• Performance bond
• Milestone payments
• Retention
• Payment against delivery
• Parent-company guarantee
• Pledge or mortgage
• Title-retention clause

Large advance payments without security should be avoided where the counterparty has not been independently verified.

30. Common Warning Signs Before Signing

Foreign businesses should proceed cautiously where the Turkish company:

• Refuses to provide registry documents
• Provides inconsistent company names
• Requests payment to a personal account
• Uses an unauthorized signatory
• Pressures the investor to sign immediately
• Refuses legal review
• Provides outdated signature documents
• Has no verifiable physical office
• Avoids disclosing shareholders
• Claims licences that cannot be confirmed
• Changes bank details unexpectedly
• Requests unusual cash payments
• Insists that the contract identify a different company
• Provides financial records that cannot be reconciled
• Refuses to disclose litigation
• Offers commercially unrealistic returns
• Uses a website that was created very recently
• Claims government connections as a substitute for documentation

No single warning sign necessarily proves illegality. Several combined warning signs may justify suspending the transaction.

2026 Legal and Compliance Considerations

In 2026, foreign investors should adopt a broader approach to counterparty verification.

Particular attention should be given to:

• Digital Trade Registry records
• Current MERSIS information
• Beneficial ownership transparency
• International sanctions exposure
• Cross-border data transfers
• Cybersecurity controls
• E-commerce registration
• Competition-law compliance
• Environmental and ESG exposure
• Anti-bribery controls
• Supply-chain integrity
• Electronic signatures and digital contracting
• Artificial-intelligence-related data and intellectual property risks

Regulatory compliance should not be assessed only on the date of signing. Long-term contracts should require periodic updates and immediate notification of significant legal, ownership, regulatory, financial, or operational changes.

Can a Foreign Company Complete These Checks Without a Turkish Lawyer?

Some basic checks can be completed directly through official sources. However, registry documents may be in Turkish, authority rules may be complex, and litigation or enforcement information may not be publicly available.

A Turkish lawyer can assist by:

• Confirming corporate identity
• Reviewing Trade Registry history
• Verifying representation authority
• Examining signature documents
• Conducting legal due diligence
• Reviewing licences
• Identifying litigation risks
• Drafting protective clauses
• Structuring payment security
• Conducting sanctions and compliance checks
• Negotiating Turkish-law agreements
• Coordinating with tax and financial advisers

Legal assistance is particularly important where the transaction involves significant advance payments, exclusivity, distribution rights, regulated activities, intellectual property, real estate, share acquisitions, long-term supply obligations, or cross-border data transfers.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I check whether a Turkish company is officially registered?

You can review its Trade Registry announcements, request a current Trade Registry Certificate, verify its MERSIS number, and compare those records with its tax, signature, address, and bank information.

2. Is a Trade Registry Gazette record enough to prove that a company is reliable?

No. It confirms registry-related information but does not prove financial strength, legal compliance, absence of litigation, operational capacity, or commercial reliability.

3. How can I verify who is authorized to sign for a Turkish company?

Review the latest Trade Registry announcements, signature circular, board resolutions, internal authorization rules, and any power of attorney. The documents must be current and consistent.

4. Should I pay a Turkish company through a personal bank account?

Generally, payment should be made to an account held in the exact legal name of the contracting company. Requests to pay a director, shareholder, employee, or unrelated third party require careful legal and financial verification.

5. Can I search whether a Turkish company has lawsuits or enforcement proceedings?

Some information may be available through official publications or authorized legal channels, but court and enforcement records are not universally open to the public. A Turkish lawyer may be required to conduct lawful and transaction-specific checks.

6. How can I determine whether the company is financially stable?

Request recent financial statements, independent audit reports, debt information, receivables data, bank references, tax and social security documentation where appropriate, and evidence of operational capacity.

7. What documents should I request before signing a contract?

At minimum, request a current Trade Registry Certificate, relevant Gazette records, MERSIS number, tax certificate, signature circular, authorization documents, bank account confirmation, licences, and identification of the authorized signatory.

8. Is notarization required for every commercial contract in Turkey?

No. Many commercial contracts may be valid without notarization. However, certain transactions require a specific legal form, notarization, registration, or official execution. The form requirement must be assessed according to the transaction.

9. What should I do if the company refuses to provide due-diligence documents?

Refusal to provide basic corporate and authorization documents is a serious warning sign. The foreign party should avoid making payments or signing until the company’s identity, authority, and reliability are adequately verified.

Legal Support for Safe Commercial Transactions in Turkey

Verifying a company before signing a contract can prevent fraud, unauthorized transactions, payment disputes, regulatory exposure, and costly litigation.

Fırat Fesih Kaya Law Office assists foreign investors, international businesses, exporters, importers, suppliers, distributors, and corporate clients with Turkish company verification, commercial due diligence, contract drafting, representation-authority reviews, regulatory compliance, and dispute-prevention strategies.

Obtaining a legal assessment tailored to your transaction before signing may protect your investment and prevent avoidable loss. Managing the process with an experienced lawyer ensures that corporate records, authorization documents, licences, payment mechanisms, and contractual protections are reviewed correctly.

Phone: +90 312 434 22 22
Mobile: +90 532 769 22 22
Email: info@firatfesihkaya.av.tr
Address: Mevlana Boulevard No: 221, Yıldırım Tower, Office No: 148, 06520 Balgat, Çankaya, Ankara, Turkey

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every transaction should be assessed according to its specific facts, documents, commercial structure, and applicable legislation.