Turkey Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Turkish Business

TL;DR. Turkey’s central company registry is MERSIS (Merkezi Sicil Kayıt Sistemi), operated by the Ministry of Trade at mersis.gtb.gov.tr. The interface is in Turkish; a partial English version exists but company filings remain Turkish-only. Basic profiles are free and searchable without an account. Turkey was removed from the FATF grey list on June 28, 2024, after nearly three years of increased monitoring. Post-removal compliance expectations are higher: Turkish counterparties face elevated due diligence scrutiny from international financial institutions that implemented enhanced procedures during the grey-list period.

What is the official Turkey business registry?

Turkey’s commercial companies register under the Turkish Commercial Code (Law No. 6102, in force since July 2012, replacing the 1956 Code). The Ministry of Trade operates MERSIS (Merkezi Sicil Kayıt Sistemi, Central Trade Registry System) as the central electronic register, accessible at mersis.gtb.gov.tr. MERSIS went live in 2013 and has since become the authoritative source for company registration data across all 81 provincial trade registries in Turkey.

Alongside MERSIS, the Trade Registry Gazette (Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi, TTSG) at ticaretsicil.gov.tr publishes official announcements of commercial events: incorporations, amendments, mergers, capital changes, and dissolutions. The Gazette is the publication of record for legal notices; a filing is not deemed official public notice until it appears in the Gazette.

MERSIS covers joint-stock companies (Anonim Sirket, AS), limited liability companies (Limited Sirket, Ltd.), branch offices of foreign companies, limited partnerships, and sole traders. The MERSIS number assigned at registration is the primary cross-system identifier. The tax identification number (Vergi Kimlik Numarasi, VKN) is a separate but linked identifier used for tax purposes.

What can you search?

MERSIS supports searches by:

• Company name (full or partial, Turkish characters)
• MERSIS number (the primary registry identifier)
• Tax identification number (VKN/TIN)
• Trade registry number (Ticaret Sicil No)
• Province of registration

Free public profiles on MERSIS include: company name, MERSIS number, registration date, trade registry number, tax office, VKN, entity type, registered address, authorised capital, and basic board member information. Some records display founding partners and signatory authorities.

The Trade Registry Gazette search at ticaretsicil.gov.tr allows full-text search of gazette announcements by company name, gazette number, or date range. All gazette announcements from January 1, 1992 onwards are in the database.

Data freshness: MERSIS records are updated on a filing-event basis as local trade registry offices (ticaret sicili müdürlüğü) process submissions. Standard filings are typically reflected within 1-5 business days.

How much does it cost?

Basic MERSIS and Gazette searches are free. The paid Gazette database subscription grants access to the full structured database of announcements. Certified extracts must be obtained in person or via notarized power of attorney at the relevant provincial trade registry office. TRY/USD conversion used: approximately TRY 35:1 (May 2026; the lira has experienced extended depreciation and rates fluctuate, verify at the Central Bank of Turkey before purchase). Pricing verified from the ticaretsicil.gov.tr fee schedule as of May 2026.

Do you need a local account or ID?

No Turkish identity document or local entity account is required for basic MERSIS or Gazette searches. Foreign buyers can search and view public profiles without registration. Creating a MERSIS user account (optional) enables document download features; account creation accepts a passport number for foreign users.

For certified extracts, a local representative or notarized power of attorney is the practical route for foreign companies without a Turkish presence. Istanbul and Ankara trade registry offices have processes for handling internationally addressed requests.

Is the website in English?

Partial. MERSIS has an English-language navigation option, but company records, entity type descriptions, and filing details are displayed in Turkish. The Trade Registry Gazette at ticaretsicil.gov.tr offers partial English interface for navigation but all gazette announcements are Turkish-only. The TOBB (Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey) maintains an index interface at tobb.org.tr with basic English-language guidance for gazette searching.

For foreign compliance buyers, machine translation of Turkish-language records is reliable for standard corporate terms. Key terms: “Aktif” means active; “Tasfiye Halinde” means in liquidation; “Fesih” means dissolved; “Anonim Sirket” (AS) is a joint-stock company; “Limited Sirket” (Ltd. Sti.) is a limited liability company.

What’s the turnaround time?

MERSIS basic profile data is returned instantly upon search. Gazette announcement retrieval is instant for the online database. Certified company extracts from the relevant provincial trade registry office are typically available within 1-3 business days for standard requests. Some trade registry offices in Istanbul and Ankara offer same-day or next-day service for straightforward extracts.

For electronically issued trade registry excerpts (ticaret sicili tasdiknamesi) through e-government channels (e-Devlet, turkiye.gov.tr), Turkish entities with e-government access can generate an instant electronic extract with a QR verification code. Foreign buyers without Turkish e-government access must go through the in-person or representative route.

Is there an API?

No public API for MERSIS or the Trade Registry Gazette is documented for external developer access as of May 2026. Platform-level access to MERSIS data requires engagement with the Ministry of Trade or TOBB directly. Commercial Turkish data providers such as GIB (Revenue Administration) taxpayer lookup offer limited structured data on registered companies, primarily for tax compliance purposes.

What you legally cannot do

Turkey’s Personal Data Protection Law (KVKK, Law No. 6698, 2016) governs the handling of personal data derived from registry records. The MERSIS and Trade Registry Gazette Terms of Use prohibit:

• Bulk automated scraping of either portal for commercial redistribution
• Using director or shareholder personal data obtained from registry records for marketing, profiling, or any purpose other than the stated compliance or business use
• Publishing MERSIS extracts commercially without explicit authorization

Compliance buyers using registry data for KYC, counterparty due diligence, or AML monitoring are within permitted use. Document the stated purpose of each fetch as part of internal records.

OFAC does not maintain a general Turkey country-level sanctions program, but individual designations targeting specific Turkish nationals and entities exist across various OFAC programs (counternarcotics, Iran-related, Syria-related). Check the OFAC SDN list for any Turkish counterparty individually. The EU similarly maintains individual designations of Turkish nationals under various geographic programs without a blanket Turkey program.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• MERSIS number is the anchor. The MERSIS number is a unique numeric identifier assigned at registration and stable across name changes and restructurings. Always request the MERSIS number from a Turkish counterparty and verify it on the MERSIS portal before onboarding.
• TRY volatility affects fee calculations. Turkey has experienced extended lira depreciation. Any TRY-denominated fee will have a different USD equivalent from month to month. Always convert at the day-of transaction rate from the Central Bank of Turkey (tcmb.gov.tr).
• Post-FATF-removal compliance norms. Turkey was removed from the FATF grey list on June 28, 2024, after meeting its action plan commitments. However, many international financial institutions (banks, correspondent banks, payment processors) that implemented enhanced due diligence procedures during Turkey’s three-year grey-list period (October 2021 to June 2024) continue to apply elevated scrutiny to Turkish counterparties. Compliance buyers should expect Turkish entities to face higher documentary requirements in cross-border transactions.
• MASAK as the FIU. Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK, Mali Suc Arastirma Kurulu) under the Ministry of Treasury and Finance is the Turkish financial intelligence unit. MASAK supervises obligated entities on AML/CFT compliance, including crypto asset service providers. MASAK’s regulatory framework was expanded considerably during the grey-list period and remains active post-removal.
• Branch vs. subsidiary distinction. Foreign companies operating in Turkey often use either a fully registered subsidiary (registered through MERSIS as a Turkish legal entity) or a liaison/representative office (irtibat bürosu, which cannot conduct commercial activity). Confirm which structure a counterparty uses before relying on MERSIS data alone.
• Gazette announcement is the legal trigger. Under Turkish commercial law, certain corporate changes (capital increases, board appointments) are not effective against third parties until published in the Trade Registry Gazette. A MERSIS profile update does not substitute for the gazette publication check. For the wider due diligence context on European registries, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.

Alternatives if you cannot access MERSIS directly

• Aggregator search (free, indicative only): OpenCorporates indexes Turkish company filings but lags official data and does not include the full gazette announcement history. Useful for a quick name check; not for compliance-grade verification.
• Trade Registry Gazette direct search (ticaretsicil.gov.tr): For event-driven due diligence (recent capital change, director appointment, dissolution filing), the Gazette is often more informative than the MERSIS summary.
• Local legal counsel: Turkish law firms in Istanbul and Ankara routinely handle certified extract procurement and can also retrieve founding documents and past gazette announcements. For sanctions-complex situations involving MASAK interaction, local counsel is advisable.

Local data suppliers

• Orbis/Bureau van Dijk (moodysanalytics.com). Moody’s Orbis platform covers Turkish companies with financial data sourced from trade registry filings and local credit bureaus. Useful for financial risk analysis beyond the registry extract.
• GCR (Global Credit Rating) and Findeks (findeks.com.tr). Findeks, operated by the KKB (Credit Bureau of Turkey), provides commercial credit reports on Turkish entities including payment history and credit risk scores. Primarily used by Turkish counterparties; foreign access requires registration. Findeks is the local equivalent to a D&B credit report for Turkish companies.

Use MERSIS and the Trade Registry Gazette for authoritative legal filing records. Use Findeks or Orbis when you need payment-behavior data or financial risk scoring on top of the registry extract.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access the Turkey registry directly?

Yes. Both MERSIS at mersis.gtb.gov.tr and the Trade Registry Gazette at ticaretsicil.gov.tr are publicly accessible without a Turkish identity document or account. Basic company name searches are free. Foreign buyers who need certified extracts must use a local Turkish representative or notarized power of attorney to collect documents from the relevant provincial trade registry office.

What is the MERSIS number in Turkey?

The MERSIS number (MERSIS Numarasi) is a unique numeric identifier assigned to each company at the time of registration via the MERSIS system. It serves as the primary identifier linking the company’s data across MERSIS, the tax authority (GIB), and local trade registry offices. For companies incorporated before 2013 (before MERSIS went live), a MERSIS number was retroactively assigned during migration. The tax identification number (VKN) is a separate but linked identifier.

What entity types are registered with MERSIS?

MERSIS covers joint-stock companies (Anonim Sirket, AS), limited liability companies (Limited Sirket, Ltd. Sti.), collective companies (Kolektif Sirket), limited partnerships (Komandit Sirket), branch offices of foreign companies, and sole traders (Sahis Sirketi). Cooperatives and foundations register with separate authorities. As of the 2012 Turkish Commercial Code reform, minimum capital requirements for AS were set at TRY 250,000 and for Ltd. at TRY 100,000 (verify current thresholds as these are subject to periodic revision by the Ministry of Trade).

Does Turkey have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Yes, in part. Turkey introduced beneficial ownership disclosure requirements as part of its FATF action plan. Under amendments to the Tax Procedure Law, companies must report beneficial owners (defined as natural persons with more than 25% ownership or effective control) to the Revenue Administration (GIB). As of 2023, this data is held by GIB and is not publicly searchable by third parties; it is accessible to competent authorities. Turkey’s progress on UBO transparency was one of the factors assessed by FATF in the June 2024 delisting decision.

How current is the data in MERSIS?

MERSIS data is updated on a filing-event basis. Standard commercial events (director changes, address changes, capital amendments) are reflected within 1-5 business days of the local trade registry office processing the submission. Gazette publications typically follow the MERSIS update by 1-3 days. Compliance buyers should check both MERSIS and the Gazette for a complete picture: MERSIS provides the current state; the Gazette provides the legal notice history.

Is Turkey on the FATF grey list?

No. Turkey was removed from the FATF Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (grey list) on June 28, 2024, at the FATF Plenary. Turkey had been on the grey list since October 2021. The removal was contingent on completing Turkey’s action plan, including strengthening MASAK’s enforcement capacity, implementing AML/CFT controls on crypto asset service providers, and improving beneficial ownership transparency. As of May 2026, Turkey is not subject to FATF increased monitoring. See fatf-gafi.org for current status.

What’s the difference between MERSIS and Turkey’s tax registry?

MERSIS (Ministry of Trade) covers commercial existence: company name, registered address, directors, shareholders, authorized signatories, and capital structure. The Revenue Administration (GIB, gib.gov.tr) maintains the tax registry, tracking VAT registration, tax payer status, and tax debt. A thorough counterparty check on a Turkish company typically requires both: MERSIS for corporate standing and the GIB taxpayer search (ivd.gib.gov.tr) for tax compliance and any outstanding tax liabilities.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: MERSIS Central Trade Registry System (mersis.gtb.gov.tr); Turkey Trade Registry Gazette (ticaretsicil.gov.tr); FATF statement on Turkey’s removal from increased monitoring, June 2024 (fatf-gafi.org); Ministry of Trade Turkey. For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.