Trade registry and tax registration make a company exist legally, but many activities also require a workplace opening and operating licence and sector permits. Operating without a licence can lead to the premises being sealed and fines; in health, food or education it may be a criminal offence.
Which permits are needed depends largely on your NACE activity code and the premises: Choosing a NACE code.
1. Workplace opening and operating licence (municipality)
Basis: Regulation on Workplace Opening and Operating Licences (Law No. 3572). The licence is issued by the district municipality (for some types, the metropolitan municipality).
| Type | Examples | Process |
|---|---|---|
| Sanitary establishment (no harm to surroundings) | Office, shop, café (no alcohol), hairdresser | Declaration basis: licence issued on the day; inspection within 1 month |
| Non-sanitary establishment (classes 1–3) | Workshop, manufacturing, car repair, bakery | Site selection, environment and health suitability; committee inspection |
| Public recreation and entertainment | Restaurant serving alcohol, bar, internet café, wedding hall | Municipality + police opinion |
Usually required: application form, title deed or lease, occupancy permit, fire safety report (for most premises), tax certificate or trade registry record, responsible manager documents where needed, disabled access and parking.
With a virtual or shared office used only as the registered address, a separate licence is usually not needed; keep the operator's licence and the lease.
2. Ministry of Health permits
| Activity | Permit / registration |
|---|---|
| Practice, polyclinic, medical centre, hospital | Private health institution licence (Provincial Health Directorate) |
| Sale, import, manufacture of medical devices | ÜTS (product tracking system) registration; authorisation for sales centres |
| Cosmetics manufacture and import | ÜTS cosmetics registration, responsible technical staff |
| Optician, pharmacy | Licence and responsible staff requirements |
| Beauty centre (with medical devices such as lasers) | Compliance with health rules; physician for medical procedures |
| Health tourism intermediation | International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate |
3. Food businesses (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry)
Under Law No. 5996 every food business registers with the Provincial Directorate before starting (Business Registration Certificate). Producers of meat, dairy and fish products obtain an Approval Certificate. Restaurants and cafés are food businesses. Selling alcohol also requires a sales certificate from the Ministry's Tobacco and Alcohol Department.
4. Ministry of Trade and other bodies
| Activity | Document |
|---|---|
| Real estate agency | Real Estate Trade Authorisation Certificate (professional competence of the responsible person) |
| Car dealer, second-hand vehicles | Second-hand Motor Vehicle Trade Authorisation Certificate |
| E-commerce | ETBİS registration; registered e-mail (KEP) |
| Travel agency | Ministry of Culture and Tourism certificate and TÜRSAB membership |
| Accommodation | Tourism operation certificate (Ministry) or municipal certificate |
| Cargo, courier | BTK postal service provider authorisation |
| Private school, courses | Provincial Education Directorate permit |
| Private security company | Ministry of Interior permit |
| Freight transport | Ministry of Transport authorisation certificate (K, L, R etc.) |
| Employment agency | İŞKUR permit |
| Facilities requiring environmental permits | Environmental permit / licence |
| Car service, repair shop | TSE Service Adequacy Certificate |
| Industrial businesses | Industrial registry certificate (Ministry of Industry and Technology) and capacity report (chamber); fees: Trade registry fees |
5. Obligations for every company
- Tax certificate and inspection: the tax office checks the premises after formation.
- e-Notification and KEP: mandatory for companies.
- Occupational health and safety: safety specialist and workplace physician services with the first employee (Law No. 6331), risk assessment.
- SGK workplace notification: on the day the first employee starts.
- Signboard: municipal advertising tax; signboard details on the licence.
- KVKK: every business processing personal data prepares a privacy notice; those above thresholds register with VERBİS.
Practical order
- Define the activity and NACE code.
- Check the occupancy permit, fire safety and zoning before signing a lease; site selection is critical for non-sanitary activities.
- Form the company (Company formation).
- Run licence and sector permit applications in parallel.
- Do not start operating before the licence; municipal inspections usually take place in the first months.