What Is MERSIS?
MERSIS (Merkezi Sicil Kayıt Sistemi — Central Registry System) is Turkey’s national online platform for commercial entity registration, operated by the Ministry of Trade. Every Turkish company formation, amendment, and dissolution begins with a MERSIS pre-registration.
MERSIS serves multiple functions:
- Company name search and reservation: Check whether your proposed name is available
- Pre-registration: Enter all formation data electronically before visiting the Trade Registry Office
- Articles of association generation: Draft and submit the articles of association (ana sözleşme) online
- Tax ID lookup: Integration with the Tax Administration for shareholder and manager verification
- Post-formation amendments: File amendments to articles, share capital changes, management changes, address updates
The MERSIS number assigned to your application is used throughout the formation process and becomes your company’s permanent identification number in the trade registry.
Why MERSIS Matters
Before MERSIS, company formation required all documents to be manually prepared and submitted in paper form. MERSIS digitized and centralized the process, significantly reducing formation time and errors. Today, the Trade Registry Office requires a MERSIS application reference before accepting any formation filing.
For foreign investors, MERSIS is the first hands-on step in forming a Turkish company — or it is handled by your formation agent on your behalf.
Step 1: Access the MERSIS Portal
Navigate to mersis.gtb.gov.tr (Ministry of Trade’s MERSIS portal). The portal is available in Turkish only — non-Turkish speakers will need a formation agent to navigate the system.
The portal requires:
- An internet browser (Chrome or Firefox recommended)
- Turkish e-Government account (e-Devlet kapısı) for Turkish residents, OR
- Digital signature (e-imza) for companies and authorized representatives, OR
- Formation through an agent: Foreign investors without Turkish e-Government access or digital signatures typically use a licensed formation agent or attorney who has system access
Step 2: Create an Account or Access Through Agent
For Turkish Residents
Turkish national ID holders can log in through the e-Government Gateway (turkiye.gov.tr) using their national ID and mobile verification code.
For Foreign Investors
Foreign nationals who do not have a Turkish e-Government account must either:
- Grant power of attorney to a Turkish formation agent/attorney who accesses MERSIS on their behalf (most common approach), OR
- Obtain a digital signature certificate (e-imza) from an authorized Turkish certification authority — less practical for newly arriving foreigners
Most foreign investors forming companies remotely use a licensed formation agent for the MERSIS process.
Step 3: Initiate a New Company Application
After logging in, select the option to form a new commercial entity. You will be prompted to enter:
- Company type: Choose from LLC (Limited Şirketi), JSC (Anonim Şirketi), branch (Şube), etc.
- Trade Registry Office: Select the Trade Registry Office corresponding to the company’s registered city (Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, etc.)
- Chamber of Commerce: Select the chamber in the same city
Step 4: Company Name Entry and Availability Check
Enter your proposed company name. MERSIS automatically checks the name against its database of registered trade names and pending applications.
Important: The MERSIS name check is a preliminary filter. The Trade Registry Office conducts its own review and may reject a name that MERSIS does not flag. Work with a formation agent to select a name with a high probability of acceptance.
If the name is available (no conflict found), MERSIS tentatively reserves it for the duration of your pending application.
Step 5: Enter Shareholder and Capital Information
Enter details for each shareholder:
For Individual Shareholders
- Full legal name (exactly as it appears on the passport)
- Date of birth
- Nationality
- Turkish Tax Identification Number (Vergi Kimlik Numarası)
- Address
- Capital contribution amount
For Corporate Shareholders
- Foreign company name
- Country of incorporation
- Company registration number
- Turkish Tax ID of the corporate entity
- Authorized signatory details
- Capital contribution amount
Turkish Tax ID requirement: All shareholders must have a Turkish Tax ID before MERSIS data entry. Foreign individuals can obtain a Tax ID at any Turkish tax office or through a Turkish consulate using just their passport.
Step 6: Enter Manager Information
Enter the details of the company’s manager (müdür for LLC) or board members (yönetim kurulu üyeleri for JSC):
- Full name
- Tax ID
- Nationality
- Scope of authority (individually authorized, jointly authorized with others, etc.)
- Signature declaration (signature samples must be notarized separately)
Step 7: Draft the Articles of Association
MERSIS provides a template articles of association for each company type that pre-fills based on the data you have entered. The template covers all mandatory clauses under Turkish Commercial Code:
- Company name and registered address
- Business purpose (faaliyet konusu)
- Share capital and shareholder contributions
- Management structure and authority
- Duration of the company
- General assembly provisions
- Profit distribution policy
Business purpose: This section is critical. List your intended business activities specifically and comprehensively. Subsequent amendments to add new activities require a Trade Registry filing and fee — so be inclusive from the start.
The MERSIS-generated articles of association template is in Turkish. All content must be in Turkish. The document will then be printed and signed before a notary public.
Step 8: Obtain the MERSIS Application Number
Once all data is entered and the articles of association are drafted, MERSIS assigns a unique application number (başvuru numarası). This number is:
- Used on all Trade Registry documents
- Referenced in the notarized articles of association
- Provided to the Trade Registry Office at filing
Print the MERSIS application and bring it to the notary.
Step 9: Notarize the Articles of Association
The MERSIS-generated articles of association must be signed before a Turkish notary public (noter):
- Shareholders (or their attorneys-in-fact with power of attorney) sign before the notary
- The notary verifies identity, witnesses the signatures, and notarizes the document
- The notarized articles reference the MERSIS application number
Step 10: Trade Registry Filing
Take the notarized articles of association (and all supporting documents) to the Trade Registry Office. The Trade Registry:
- Verifies the MERSIS application
- Reviews all documents
- Processes the registration
- Issues the company’s Trade Registry Number and certificate
After registration, MERSIS is updated with the company’s official registry details.
Common MERSIS Mistakes to Avoid
- Incorrect shareholder Tax IDs: Verify Tax IDs before entry — wrong IDs cause application rejection
- Vague business purpose: List activities comprehensively to avoid costly amendments later
- Name similarity: Run multiple alternative names in case the first choice is rejected
- Manager authority scope: Carefully define individual vs. joint authorization based on your governance preferences
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use MERSIS in English? No. MERSIS is available in Turkish only. Foreign investors need a Turkish-speaking formation agent or attorney to navigate the system.
Is MERSIS available 24/7? The portal is generally available online at all times for data entry, but Trade Registry processing follows business hours. Applications submitted outside business hours are processed the following business day.
Does MERSIS require digital signatures for article submission? For Turkish residents using e-Government login, digital signature functionality is integrated. For foreign investors using power of attorney, the physical notarized document is the primary instrument — the MERSIS system generates the draft; the notarized physical document carries the binding signature.
Can amendments to an existing company also be made through MERSIS? Yes. Post-formation amendments (address changes, capital increases, management changes, article amendments) are also processed through MERSIS before submission to the Trade Registry.