Workflow checklist
- Identify the registry. mersis.ticaret.gov.tr/
- Check access requirements. Account required: Optional. Local ID required: No.
- Plan budget. Price range: USD 0.00. Payment methods: Not published; confirm at source.
- Anticipate friction. Captcha / 2FA: Unknown. English UI: Partial.
- Plan turnaround. Expected: Unknown.
- Verify recency. Last verified: 15 Sept 2026. Confirm current pricing at the official registry before submitting.
TL;DR. Turkey’s central company registry is MERSIS (Merkezi Sicil Kayıt Sistemi), operated by the Ministry of Trade at https://mersis.ticaret.gov.tr/. That host name did not resolve when last checked. No search screen, gazette page or lira fee could be read, so fees in this guide are unknown rather than free; confirm at source. Whether Turkey appears on a FATF monitoring list is not confirmed here; confirm at the FATF source. This page does not prescribe enhanced due diligence.
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. The published address is https://mersis.ticaret.gov.tr/. That host name did not resolve when last checked, so no MERSIS search screen is described here.
The Trade Registry Gazette (Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi, TTSG) is the publication of record for legal notices of commercial events: incorporations, amendments, mergers, capital changes, and dissolutions. This page does not claim a Gazette host loaded here.
MERSIS has been reported to cover 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. Confirm coverage at source.
What can you search?
Nothing could be searched on mersis.ticaret.gov.tr: the host name did not resolve when last checked. Company name, MERSIS number, tax identification number, trade registry number and province fields are therefore not confirmed here; confirm at source.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Cost (TRY) | Cost (USD, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Basic MERSIS profile search | Unknown | Unknown |
| Trade Registry Gazette search | Unknown | Unknown |
| Gazette database subscription | Unknown | Unknown |
| Certified company extract (from local trade registry office) | Varies by office | Unknown |
The MERSIS site could not be read, so the table above reads unknown; confirm at source. Certified extracts have been reported to be obtained in person or via notarized power of attorney at the relevant provincial trade registry office.
Do you need a local account or ID?
Optional. The host name did not resolve, so whether a basic search runs anonymously could not be confirmed. A MERSIS user account has been reported to unlock document downloads, and a passport number has been reported as acceptable for foreign users; confirm at source.
For certified extracts, a local representative or notarized power of attorney is the practical route for foreign companies without a Turkish presence.
Is the website in English?
Partial. English coverage could not be confirmed, because the host name did not resolve. Company records have been reported as Turkish; confirm at source.
Key terms reported for Turkish filings: “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?
Unknown. No turnaround time could be read, because the host name did not resolve; confirm at source. Certified company extracts from the relevant provincial trade registry office have been reported as available within 1-3 business days for standard requests.
Is there an API?
No public API for MERSIS or the Trade Registry Gazette could be confirmed. This page does not claim a GIB or TOBB host loaded here.
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. MERSIS and Trade Registry Gazette terms have been reported to 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
Confirm current terms at source. This page does not prescribe a screening workflow.
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. Confirm current designations at the OFAC source. This page does not claim that OFAC page loaded here.
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. Prefer the MERSIS number over transliterated names when the search is reachable.
- mersis.ticaret.gov.tr did not resolve when last checked. Expect no search page until the host answers.
- 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. Convert at the day-of transaction rate from the Central Bank of Turkey when a fee is published.
- FATF lists. Whether Turkey appears on a FATF monitoring list is not confirmed here. Confirm at the FATF source. This page does not prescribe enhanced due diligence.
- 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. Confirm current MASAK material at source.
- 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. For the wider due diligence context on European registries, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.
Alternatives if you cannot access MERSIS directly
- 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.
Local data suppliers
No commercial bureau is cited here.
Use MERSIS for the legal filing record when the host is reachable. OFAC and FATF lists are separate checks from the register. This page does not prescribe a screening workflow.
FAQ
Can a foreign company access the Turkey registry directly?
Not at present. https://mersis.ticaret.gov.tr/ did not resolve when last checked; confirm at source.
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 has been reported to cover 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. Confirm current coverage and capital thresholds at source.
Does Turkey have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?
No beneficial-ownership search could be confirmed, because the host name did not resolve. Beneficial ownership disclosure to the Revenue Administration (GIB) has been reported; confirm at source.
How current is the data in MERSIS?
Not confirmed. The host name did not resolve, and it publishes no statement of how current its data is.
Is Turkey on the FATF grey list?
Not confirmed here. Confirm listing status at the FATF source. This page does not prescribe enhanced due diligence.
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, when the host is reachable. The Revenue Administration (GIB) maintains the tax registry. This page does not claim a GIB host loaded here.
Last verified: 2026-09-15. Source: mersis.ticaret.gov.tr, which did not resolve when last checked. For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.