How long does commercial litigation take in Turkey?
Official average durations for each court level, the stages of a case and what shortens it.
A commercial court case in Turkey took 383 days on average at first instance in 2025. An appeal to the regional court adds about 371 days and a further appeal to the Court of Cassation about 185 days, so a fully appealed case takes roughly two and a half years. Mandatory mediation of up to 8 weeks comes first.
What do the official statistics show?
Figures are from the Ministry of Justice judicial statistics for 2025.
| Court or case type | Average duration, 2025 | Earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial courts of first instance | 383 days | 409 in 2024, 417 in 2023, 594 in 2020 |
| Debt cases, all civil courts | 472 days | |
| Actions to annul an objection to enforcement | 397 days | |
| Regional courts, civil chambers | 371 days | 373 in 2024 |
| Court of Cassation, civil chambers | 185 days | 205 in 2024 |
| Enforcement offices | 883 days |
Adding the three court levels gives about 940 days. That total is our arithmetic, not an official figure, and individual cases vary widely.
What are the stages of a case?
Pending lawyer reviewMediation
Mandatory for commercial money claims. 6 weeks, extendable by 2.Written phase
Claim, defence and replies. The defendant has 2 weeks to answer, extendable.Hearings and experts
Preliminary hearing, evidence, and almost always a court-appointed expert report.Judgment
Then execution through the enforcement office, unless appealed.Appeals
Regional court above TRY 50,000. Court of Cassation above TRY 682,000.Proceedings are in Turkish. Foreign documents need an apostille or consular legalisation and a sworn translation. Smaller commercial cases, up to about TRY 2.85 million in 2026, follow a simplified written procedure.
What makes it shorter?
Enforcement without judgment
If the debtor does not object within 7 days, you skip the court entirely.
ReadArbitration
No mandatory mediation and no three-level appeal. Fast-track awards within three months for claims up to TRY 5,000,000.
ReadSettling in mediation
A signed mediation settlement can be made enforceable like a judgment.
6 to 8 weeksInterim attachment
Does not shorten the case, but freezing assets early often brings the debtor to the table.
DaysWhat does a lawsuit cost?
Court fees, statutory attorney fees and translation costs are set out on the legal costs page. Foreign claimants should also plan for security for costs unless a treaty exempts them.
Common questions
Pending lawyer reviewHow long does a commercial court case take in Turkey?
Commercial courts of first instance took 383 days on average in 2025, according to Ministry of Justice statistics. That is down from 409 days in 2024 and 594 days in 2020.
How long do appeals take?
In 2025 civil chambers of the regional courts averaged 371 days and civil chambers of the Court of Cassation 185 days. A case that goes through all three levels therefore takes roughly two and a half years.
Is mediation mandatory before suing in Turkey?
Yes, for commercial claims for money. It must finish within 6 weeks, extendable by 2. It also applies to foreign claimants, because the rule depends on the type of claim.
Can every judgment be appealed?
No. In 2026 a judgment can be appealed to the regional court if the amount exceeds TRY 50,000, and further to the Court of Cassation if it exceeds TRY 682,000.
Does the loser pay the winner's legal fees?
Partly. The court orders the loser to pay court fees and a statutory attorney fee calculated from the official tariff, not the fees the winner actually paid.
Related pages
How to recover money from a Turkish supplier
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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 much do legal services cost in Turkey?
Legal costs in Turkey in 2026: official minimum attorney tariff, market hourly rates in EUR, court fees of 6.831%, translation and expert costs.
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