Since 1999, Türkiye’s civil society legislation has undergone significant changes. Today, Türkiye is an indispensable hub for international associations due to its geopolitical location. However, operating in this dynamic field requires not only a noble cause but also navigating the correct legal path. Why is Türkiye important, and how do you navigate the bureaucratic maze?
There are three primary methods for foreign associations to operate in Türkiye.
- Opening a branch/section
- Opening a representative office
- Conducting activities with an operating permit.
Legal Rules Governing Foreign Associations
The activities of foreign associations in Türkiye are primarily governed by two key regulations:
- Law No.3335 on the Establishment of International Organizations
- Law on Associations
1. Activities Under Law No.3335 on the Establishment of International Organizations
This law dated March 26, 1987 provides an important legal basis for foreign associations, although it is not widely known in practice. According to this law: A foreign association may open a branch in Türkiye only with the permission of the President. The establishment process begins with an application by at least seven founders. Founders may be natural or legal persons. Foreign nationals among the founders have to hold a work or residence permit in Türkiye.
For example, AFCEA International, headquartered in Washington, D.C., operates in Türkiye by opening a branch in accordance with the permit it obtained. Although the law places greater emphasis on technological and economic objectives, in practice, associations active in various fields have also been able to open branches under this framework. For instance, the International Association of Lawyers, the International Palestine Solidarity Association, and the Turkic World Yörük Turkmen Association are foreign-affiliated “associations” authorized to operate in Türkiye. According to statistics shared by the Ministry of the Interior, there are three international associations that have established branches in Türkiye under this law.
2. Activities Under the Law on Associations
The most common legal framework for foreign associations operating in Türkiye is the Law on Associations.
Under this law, foreign associations may, with the permission of the Ministry of the Interior and the opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
- open a representative office or branch, or
- carry out activities in Türkiye for a limited period with a permit obtained without opening a representative office or branch.
2.a. Open a Representative Office
This method appears to be attracting growing interest among foreign associations in Türkiye that prefer to operate through a representative office rather than establish an organization or admit members. Furthermore, it is possible to open a representative office even with a single person’s application, and this choice has practical implications for foreign associations. This is because accepting members through a branch in Türkiye necessitates a branch charter, the formation of branch bodies, and consequently, an increase in administrative procedures. Representative offices cannot admit members. When we look at foreign associations and foundations that have opened representative offices in Türkiye using this method, the Germany-based Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, and Heinrich Böll Stiftung; the U.S.-based Relief International; and the UK-based Action for Humanity stand out for the representative offices they have established in Türkiye.
What Should Foreign Associations Do If They Want to Open a Representative Office in Türkiye?
First, the board of the foreign association must pass a resolution regarding the establishment of a branch in Türkiye. A notarized translation of this resolution into Turkish must be obtained. The original bylaws of the foreign association must be certified with an apostille by the competent authority of the country in which the association is registered, and a notarized translation of these bylaws into Turkish must then be obtained. The person appointed as the representative of the foreign association in Türkiye must complete the form included as Annex No. 6 of the Associations Regulation. The representative must be a Turkish citizen or a foreign national with a work permit in Türkiye. Additionally, Annex No. 9/A of the Regulation must be completed, and the representative’s bylaws must be prepared in the specified format and in Turkish. If copies of residence permits or work permit documents are to be submitted, the original documents must be included in the application materials with a “certified true copy” notation, to be returned later. The application process will be completed upon submission of the preliminary information form obtained from the Ministry, and the Ministry will issue a decision. If a positive decision is issued, the representative office may now commence operations. A rejection of the representative office application is subject to judicial review. A lawsuit must be filed with the Administrative Court against the rejection decision.
2.b. Open a Branch/Section
According to the latest statistics updated by the Ministry of the Interior on April 22, 2026, 15 foreign associations have branches in Türkiye under the Law on Associations. The Turkish section of UK-based Amnesty International, the Turkish branch of the U.S.-based International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, and the Turkish branch of the France-based La Congregation Communaute Des Petites Soeurs Des Pauvres Association have established branches in Türkiye under the permits granted pursuant to this law.
What Should Foreign Associations Do If They Want to Open a Branch/Section in Türkiye?
Although the procedures will be similar because the foreign association will register members in accordance with its purpose when opening a branch in Türkiye, the procedures following the opening will differ and be somewhat more detailed.
Just as in the case of a representative office, the board of directors of the foreign association must first pass a resolution regarding the establishment of a branch. A notarized Turkish translation of this resolution must be obtained. Similarly, the original bylaws of the foreign association must be apostilled by the competent authority of the country in which it is registered, and a notarized, certified translation of these bylaws into Turkish must then be obtained. The apostille process may also be carried out by the Türkiye Consulate in that country. As mentioned above, a representative office can be established with an application by a single individual. However, an application to open a branch requires at least three individuals. If any of these individuals are foreign nationals, they must possess a work permit in Türkiye. Since foreigners with work permits also have the right to reside, there is no need to obtain a separate residence permit. Applicants must complete the form attached as Annex No. 6 of the Associations Regulation. Additionally, Annex No. 9/A of the regulation must be completed, and the representative office’s bylaws must be prepared in the specified format and in Turkish. If copies of the residence permit or work permit documents are to be submitted, the originals must be included in the application documents to be certified as “true copies,” to be returned later. The application process will be completed upon submission of the preliminary information form obtained from the Ministry, and a decision will be issued by the Ministry. If a positive decision is issued, the branch may now commence operations. A rejection of the branch application is subject to judicial review. A lawsuit must be filed with the Administrative Court against the rejection decision.
As can be seen, the branch application process is virtually identical to the representative office application process. The difference lies in the fact that branches have additional obligations under the Law on Associations and the Turkish Civil Code. A branch must register members and convene its founding general assembly within six months to elect its mandatory governing bodies. After this stage, these branches will also be subject to the obligations of associations established under Turkish law. This is because they have now become associations organized in Türkiye that accept members.
2.c. Operating Under a Temporary License Without Opening a Branch or Representative Office
Some foreign associations may choose to operate in Türkiye without opening a branch or representative office. Examples include Save the Children, headquartered in the United Kingdom, and Charita Ceska Republika, headquartered in the Czech Republic. Such activities may be carried out with a permit, and the permit is valid for a limited period.
What Should Foreign Associations Do If They Wish to Operate in Türkiye Without Opening a Branch or Representative Office?
Establishing a representative office requires, to a certain extent, having a physical presence in Türkiye. A branch, on the other hand, is a suitable option for foreign associations that wish to have a physical presence and also register members. So what is the situation for foreign associations that wish to operate in Türkiye without either of these?
In such cases, associations must obtain a “Permit to Operate in Türkiye” in order to directly carry out specific activities in Türkiye in accordance with their objectives within a specified period. At least one person must be appointed to conduct activities in Türkiye on behalf of the foreign NGO, and if the appointed person is a foreign national, they must hold a residence permit (work permit) in Türkiye.
The documents required are the same as those required for a representative office. The only difference is that Annex 9/B of the regulation must be completed instead of Annex 9/A.
| Feature | Opening a Representative Office | Opening a Branch | Temporary Activity Permit |
| Membership Admission | N/A ❌ | YES (Min. 3 people while establishing) | N/A ❌ |
| Decision-Making Authority | Ministry of Interior (with the opinion of Ministry of Foreign Affairs) | Ministry of Interior (with the opinion of Ministry of Foreign Affairs) | Ministry of Interior (with the opinion of Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
| Mandatory Organs | None (Single representative is sufficient) 👤 | Available (General Assembly, Board of Directors, etc.) 👥 | None 👤 |
| Validity Period | Indefinite ♾️ | Indefinite ♾️ | Temporary (Subject to permit) ⏳ |
| Regulation Annex | Annex 9/A | Annex 9/A | Annex 9/B |
| Who is it for? | Those who want to carry out established activities with fewer procedures, without registering members | Those who want to organize, register members, and expand in Türkiye | Those who will be in the field temporarily for a specific project |
The Requirement for Foreign Associations in Türkiye to Have a Lawyer
There is no such requirement for associations. However, errors made in administrative processes can result in significant costs, particularly given the sharp increase in administrative fines under the Law on Associations. To avoid this issue and ensure administrative processes are conducted in accordance with the law, it would be in the best interest of foreign associations to carry out the procedures mentioned above with the assistance of a lawyer. In particular, errors made during the permit application process cannot be corrected later, which makes the presence of a lawyer during the establishment phase all the more critical.
Published on 24 May 2026