Debt collection in Turkey
Recover unpaid invoices from a Turkish company. A clear route, real costs and a fixed price for each stage.
A foreign creditor can start enforcement proceedings against a Turkish debtor without a court judgment. The enforcement office serves a payment order and the debtor has 7 days to pay or object. Without an objection, assets can be attached within weeks. With an objection, the case moves to mandatory mediation and then to the commercial court, which takes one to two years. The general limitation period is 10 years.
What are the routes to recover a debt from a Turkish company?
Pending lawyer review| Route | When it fits | Typical duration |
|---|---|---|
| Demand letter and negotiation | The debtor is trading and the claim is not disputed | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Enforcement without judgment | You have invoices, delivery records or an acknowledgement of debt | Payment order final 7 days after service if there is no objection |
| Interim attachment | The claim is due and there is a risk that assets disappear | Court order within days. Must be executed within 10 days |
| Mediation, then commercial court | The debtor objects or disputes the claim | Mediation 6 to 8 weeks. First instance 1 to 2 years |
| Enforcing a foreign judgment or arbitral award | You already won abroad | 6 to 18 months at first instance |
What does debt collection in Turkey cost?
Pending lawyer reviewOfficial fees for 2026 follow the statutory tariff, summarised by KPMG Türkiye. Most of them are recovered from the debtor if you win.
| Cost | Amount, 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement application fee | TRY 732 | Fixed |
| Collection fee | 4.55% to 11.38% | 4.55% if paid before attachment, 9.10% after attachment, 11.38% on sale of assets. Borne by the debtor out of the proceeds |
| Court fee, if litigation is needed | 6.831% of the claim | Proportional judgment fee |
| Security for foreign claimants | 15% to 20% of the claim | Returned at the end. Not required from creditors covered by the 1954 Hague Convention or a bilateral treaty |
| Security for interim attachment | About 15% of the claim | At the court's discretion |
Late payment adds up quickly in Turkey. The statutory commercial default rate for lira debts follows the central bank advance rate: 39.75% a year since 20 December 2025.
What if the debtor is in concordat?
Pending lawyer reviewConcordat is a court-supervised restructuring. While it runs, pending enforcement stops and new proceedings cannot start. The temporary stay lasts 3 months and can be extended by 2. The definitive stay lasts 1 year and can be extended by 6 months. Creditors must register their claims with the commissioner, so acting early matters.
What do we need from you?
- Contract or order confirmation, invoices and delivery documents
- Correspondence in which the debtor acknowledges or disputes the debt
- A notarised and apostilled power of attorney, or one signed at a Turkish consulate
- Company registry extract showing who can sign for you
Packages
| Package | What you get | Our fixed price | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recovery assessment | Debtor check, limitation and security check, recommended route, budget | EUR 450 | 3 working days |
| Demand and negotiation | Formal demand in Turkish through counsel, follow-up calls, settlement agreement | EUR 950 | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Enforcement proceedings | Filing, service of the payment order, asset inquiry, attachment requests. Claims up to EUR 100,000 | EUR 2,400 | From 3 weeks |
| Litigation or foreign judgment enforcement | Mediation, court proceedings, enforcement of the result | Fixed per stage | Quoted in your scope |
Official fees and security are separate from our price. For comparison, published no-win-no-fee commissions for Turkey are around 19.5% of the amount collected.
Related guides and tools
Recovering money from a Turkish supplier
Advance payments, non-delivery and defective goods.
ReadEnforcing a foreign arbitration award
Procedure, refusal grounds and fees.
ReadHow long litigation takes
Official durations for each court level.
ReadDebt recovery assessment
Route and costs for your claim.
Open toolEnforcement checker
Can your judgment or award be enforced?
Open toolDoes your home country change anything?
Yes: whether you must post security and how a judgment from home is treated. See Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Common questions
Pending lawyer reviewCan a foreign company collect a debt in Turkey without a court judgment?
Yes. Turkish law allows enforcement proceedings without a judgment. The enforcement office serves a payment order and the debtor has 7 days to pay or object. If there is no objection, the creditor can move to attachment of assets.
What happens if the debtor objects?
The proceedings stop. The creditor can file an action to annul the objection within one year. Mediation is mandatory before that lawsuit and must finish within 6 weeks, extendable by 2. A debtor who objected without grounds to a clear claim is ordered to pay compensation of at least 20% of the claim.
How long do I have to claim?
The general limitation period is 10 years. A 5-year period applies to some claims such as rent, interest and other periodic payments, and shorter periods apply to bills of exchange and cheques.
What interest can I claim on a late commercial payment?
For lira debts the statutory commercial default rate follows the central bank advance rate, which has been 39.75% a year since 20 December 2025. For foreign currency debts the rate is the highest rate state banks pay on one-year deposits in that currency.
Do foreign creditors have to post security?
Often yes. Foreign claimants are asked for security for costs, in practice 15% to 20% of the claim. Creditors from countries that are party to the 1954 Hague Civil Procedure Convention, or that have a bilateral treaty with Turkey, are exempt.
Can I enforce a foreign judgment or arbitral award in Turkey?
Yes. A final foreign court judgment can be enforced if there is reciprocity with the country of origin and it does not breach Turkish public policy. Arbitral awards are enforced under the New York Convention. Published estimates range from 6 to 18 months at first instance.
Related pages
How to recover money from a Turkish supplier
Advance payment lost or defective goods from a Turkish supplier? Notice deadlines under the CISG, enforcement, interim attachment, mediation and costs.
ReadEnforcing a foreign arbitration award in Turkey
How to enforce a foreign arbitral award in Turkey under the New York Convention: procedure, documents, refusal grounds, court fees and duration.
ReadHow long does commercial litigation take in Turkey?
Official 2025 court durations in Turkey: 383 days at commercial courts, 371 days on appeal, 185 days at the Court of Cassation. Stages and shortcuts.
ReadDebt recovery assessment
Free tool: likely legal route, official costs and security for recovering a debt from a Turkish company, based on your claim and home country.
Read