Guides on the legal framework governing foreign direct investment in Turkey — investor rights, treaty protections, and what DYYK Law No. 4875 means for your business.
Turkey's foreign investment regime is anchored in DYYK (Doğrudan Yabancı Yatırımlar Kanunu, Law No. 4875), which replaced the earlier Law No. 6224 in 2003. DYYK guarantees milli muamele — national treatment identical to that afforded to Turkish investors — for all qualifying foreign investors, including foreign natural persons, Turkish citizens resident abroad, foreign legal entities, and international organizations (DYYK Art. 2/a).
Articles in this category explain what these protections mean in practice and how they interact with Turkey's bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and international bodies such as MIGA and ICSID.
Foreign investors have the same rights as Turkish nationals to establish companies, acquire shares, and operate in Turkey. No sector is closed by default.
Investments cannot be nationalized or expropriated except for public interest, under due process, non-discriminatorily, and with fair, timely compensation.
Profits, dividends, capital proceeds, and sale proceeds may be freely transferred abroad through Turkish banks or authorized financial institutions.
Foreign investors may designate ICSID or other international arbitral bodies in their investment agreements. ICSID awards are binding and enforceable in all contracting states.
Turkey's MIGA membership covers eligible investments against currency transfer restrictions, expropriation, contract breach, and war/civil disturbance.
Turkish law lets you contribute real estate as company capital instead of cash. Few guides mention that a mortgaged property doesn't qualify at all, or that only cash contributions unlock a real tax deduction real estate never gets.
Turkey attracted between $7.8 and $14.1 billion in foreign direct investment every year from 2018 to 2023, even through a pandemic, a currency crisis, and an earthquake. Here's what the inflow data shows about where the opportunities are now.
The legal framework, institutional challenges, and proven strategies for foreign investors in Turkey's construction and real estate sector — and how to structure your company from day one.