Entering Turkey from Switzerland

What a Swiss company needs to know before setting up in Turkey or collecting from a Turkish customer: tax treaty rates, documents, staff and enforcement.

Last verified: 12 October 2026

Short answer

A Swiss company can own 100% of a Turkish company and register it in a day once the documents are in order. Dividends paid to the Swiss parent carry withholding tax of 5% if the Swiss parent holds at least 20% of the Turkish company, and 15% otherwise. Switzerland is a party to the Apostille Convention.

How much business do Turkey and Switzerland do?

Trade between Turkey and Switzerland reached USD 18 billion in 2025 including gold, according to the Turkish Embassy in Bern, which also counts about 1,086 Swiss companies operating in Turkey. Excluding gold, trade was CHF 4 billion in 2024 according to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The modernised EFTA-Türkiye free trade agreement has been in force since October 2021, and a bilateral investment treaty since 1990.

How are dividends to a Swiss parent taxed?

A Turkish company pays 25% corporate income tax. When it pays a dividend to its Swiss parent, Turkey withholds tax. The domestic rate is 15%. Under the tax treaty the rate is 5% if the Swiss parent directly holds at least 20% of the Turkish company and Switzerland grants relief for the dividend, and 15% otherwise. Rates are from PwC Tax Summaries, reviewed in September 2026. The full table for all countries is in the tax chapter.

Which documents does a Swiss shareholder need?

Switzerland is a party to the Apostille Convention, so Swiss company documents such as the commercial register extract are notarised, apostilled by the cantonal authority and then translated by a sworn translator in Turkey. No consular legalisation is needed.

Company registry extract or certificate of activity
Resolution to establish the Turkish company and appoint its representative
Power of attorney, if the formation is handled without travel
Passport copies of the managers

The full process and our fixed price are on the company formation page.

Can you post Swiss staff to Turkey?

Yes, with a work permit. The employer must have five Turkish employees for each foreign employee and paid-in capital of TRY 500,000, or meet the net sales or export test. A social security agreement between Switzerland and Turkey has been in force since 1972, which matters when you post staff. Swiss citizens can enter Turkey without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Entry rules are published by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Details are in the work permit chapter.

What if a Turkish customer does not pay a Swiss supplier?

You can start enforcement proceedings in Turkey without a judgment, and the debtor has 7 days to object. Switzerland and Turkey are both parties to the 1954 Hague Convention on Civil Procedure, which exempts Swiss companies from posting security for costs in Turkish courts. There is no judgment treaty between the two countries. Reciprocity is assessed by the Turkish court. One published practitioner note reports that courts generally accept it for Swiss judgments, but we found no Court of Cassation decision, so a Swiss judgment should be reviewed before you rely on enforcing it. Arbitral awards are enforced under the New York Convention. Routes, costs and fixed prices are on the debt collection page.

Who can help on the ground?

For introductions and trade events, the Swiss Chamber of Commerce in Türkiye is the main bilateral business body. For the legal and tax side of your entry, we give you a written scope and one price.

Common questions

What is the dividend withholding tax between Turkey and Switzerland?

Turkey's domestic rate is 15%. Under the tax treaty the rate is 5% if the Swiss parent directly holds at least 20% of the Turkish company and Switzerland grants relief for the dividend, and 15% otherwise.

Do Swiss company documents need an apostille for Turkey?

Does a Swiss creditor have to post security in Turkish courts?

Switzerland and Turkey are both parties to the 1954 Hague Convention on Civil Procedure, which exempts Swiss companies from posting security for costs in Turkish courts.

Can a court judgment from Switzerland be enforced in Turkey?

There is no judgment treaty between the two countries. Reciprocity is assessed by the Turkish court. One published practitioner note reports that courts generally accept it for Swiss judgments, but we found no Court of Cassation decision, so a Swiss judgment should be reviewed before you rely on enforcing it. Arbitral awards are enforced under the New York Convention.