1. Preparation Phase
Obtaining the Application Form
Free Zone Operating License Application Form is downloaded from the official website of the T.R. Ministry of Trade and filled out electronically in accordance with the activity for which the application will be made. Explanations must be read carefully before filling out the form.
Payment of the Application Fee
The fee of 5,000 USD determined for the application is deposited into the Free Zones Special Account at the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey, to the dollar account numbered 951 101 301.
The bank receipt confirming the payment of the fee is added to the application file.
2. Application on Behalf of an Existing Company
Preparation of Required Documents
The filled-out Application Form and the documents requested on page 1 of the form are prepared completely. These documents are:
Commercial Registry Gazette showing the company’s establishment and its latest capital structure.
Signature circular (belonging to authorized persons representing the company).
Profit/loss balance sheets for the last three years.
Documents showing the amount of foreign currency brought into Turkey in the last three years (if any).
GTİP (Customs Tariff Statistics Position) numbers of goods to be brought into and sold in the free zone.
Production flow chart for manufacturing companies and a descriptive text about the company.
Submission of Application
The prepared application file, along with all documents, is submitted to the ….. Free Zone Directorate. The application documents are submitted to be sent to the T.R. Ministry of Trade General Directorate of Free Zones.
Obtaining the Letter of Conformity
The T.R. Ministry of Trade General Directorate of Free Zones sends a “letter of conformity” to the company after evaluating the application.
If an existing company is to relocate to the free zone, after receiving the letter of conformity, the necessary address changes are made in the company’s articles of association.
3. Application on Behalf of a New Company
Preparation of Application Documents
In addition to the application form, a descriptive text explaining the activity to be carried out in the free zone is prepared.
The production flow chart for manufacturing companies and the GTİP numbers of the goods to be brought into the free zone are appended.
The Central Bank receipt showing that the 5,000 USD application fee has been paid is appended to the application file.
The draft articles of association of the company and the signature declarations of the company partners are also included in the file.
Submission of Application
All documents are submitted to the ….. Free Zone Directorate and forwarded to the T.R. Ministry of Trade General Directorate of Free Zones.
Company Registration
After obtaining the letter of conformity, an application is made for the registration of the company with the Menemen Trade Registry Office.
After the company is registered, either its announcement in the Trade Registry Gazette or a clipping indicating that the gazette will be published is submitted. With these documents, an application is made again to the ….. Free Zone Directorate.
Land Lease or Purchase Procedures
After the letter of conformity is received, the process of leasing or purchasing land in the free zone is completed within 30 days.
The lease agreement or notarized title deed, after being approved by the ….. Free Zone Directorate, is sent to the T.R. Ministry of Trade General Directorate of Free Zones.
4. License Issuance Process
After the lease agreement is submitted, the operating license is issued by the T.R. Ministry of Trade General Directorate of Free Zones and sent to the relevant free zone directorate.
Tax and Ledger Procedures
After the license is issued, accounting ledgers in accordance with the Tax Procedure Law are obtained and notarized. Necessary notifications are made to the tax office.
Tax authority-controlled invoices are printed and added to the company’s accounting records.
Free Zone Inventory Ledger
The Free Zone Inventory Book, in which all goods entering and exiting the free zone will be recorded, is printed and approved by both the ….. Free Zone Directorate and the ….. Free Zone Customs Directorate.
Personnel and Vehicle Entry Cards
The company obtains a Free Zone Entry Card for its personnel from the ….. Free Zone Directorate.
Vehicle permits are obtained from the relevant free zone directorate for company vehicles to enter the zone.
Why is Expert Legal Support Necessary for a Free Zone Operating License Application?
A Free Zone Operating License application is a highly detailed and meticulous process involving numerous official documents, technical information, and administrative procedures. The bureaucratic stages encountered when existing companies move to the free zone, or when a new company is established, can lead to the rejection of the application or an extension of the process due to a minor error.
At this point, expert legal support is of great importance both for the legally flawless progression of the process and for increasing the chances of the application being accepted.
Why Should You Seek Legal Support for Free Zone Applications in Tuzla and Istanbul?
Istanbul is one of Turkey’s most important industrial and foreign trade centers. Especially regions such as Tuzla, Pendik, Orhanlı, Kurtköy, and Gebze, due to their proximity to organized industrial zones, ports, and customs points, hold great potential for free zone activity.
Investors in and around Tuzla aim to apply to operate in areas such as Tuzla Chemical Specialized OIZ, Istanbul Anatolian Side OIZ, Leather OIZ, and Istanbul Tuzla Free Zone. However, during these applications; critical issues such as the preparation of correct documents according to the type of activity, the revision of the company’s articles of association to be compliant with the free zone, the execution of the entire process in accordance with the Free Zones Implementation Regulation, the error-free completion of tax and bookkeeping procedures, and the follow-up of the process with the Ministry of Trade require professional knowledge and experience.
What Do You Gain with Lawyer Support?
📌 You eliminate the risk of erroneous or incomplete applications.
📌 Every stage of the process is conducted in accordance with legal regulations.
📌 Details such as customs, tax, rent, title deed, and registration are followed up completely.
📌 Correspondence with the Ministry of Trade and the Free Zone Directorate is handled professionally.
📌 Potential legal disputes that may arise in the future are prevented in advance.
For Investors Seeking Legal Support in Tuzla
Many industrial enterprises operating in Tuzla are either transitioning to the Tuzla Free Zone or planning new investments. In such steps, expert lawyers will be with you from the beginning to the end of the process, assisting with matters such as license applications appropriate for the company structure, lease transactions, articles of association adaptations, and legal consultancy.
