Investors must apply officially to receive the supports provided within the scope of the Investment Incentives Program. Before applying officially, in line with certain principles and procedures, they can consult the Ministry of Economy, Directorate of Incentive Implementation and Foreign Investment to seek information on the scheme their projects fit in or investors can determine their scheme by studying the incentives communiqué. Investors should be well informed about their projects in terms of the following aspects in order to run through the process efficiently:  

• Place of investment designated for the project or alternative investment places,
• Industry of the investment project,
• Subject, capacity and approximate investment amount of the project,
• For the strategic investments, domestic production capacity and import data of the product to be produced.

Before applying, investors should also check investment subjects not supported or conditionally supported.

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Where to Apply?

Investors must apply to the Ministry of Economy, Directorate of Incentive Implementation and Foreign Investment to benefit from the Investment Incentives Program. They can apply to the Ministry of Economy personally or via mail. Applications to be made via mail should be delivered to the following address: 

T.C. Ekonomi Bakanlığı
Teşvik Uygulama ve Yabancı Sermaye Genel Müdürlüğü
İnönü Bulvarı No:36 06510 Emek / ANKARA

Investment projects within the scope of the General Incentives Scheme, with a fixed investment amount that does not exceed 10 million TL and which are designed for the following investment subjects can apply to the Ministry of Economy or to the Development Agencies or Chambers of Industry (12 local units) located in the province of the investment.

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LOCAL UNITS THAT ARE AUTHORIZED FOR APPLICATIONS

List of Chamber of Industries
Name of the Local Unit	Province	Address	Tel
Adana Chamber of Industry	Adana	Turhan Cemal Beriker Bulvarı No : 156 01130 Seyhan / ADANA	+903224366363
Ankara Chamber of Industry	Ankara	Atatürk Bulvarı No: 193 Kavaklıdere / ANKARA	+903124171200
Aydın Chamber of Industry	Aydın	Denizli Bulvarı üzeri Ilıcabaşı Mah. No:101/ 09100 AYDIN	+902662811180
Balıkesir Chamber of Industry	Balıkesir	Organize Sanayi Bölgesi, 7.Cadde No:3/C BALIKESİR	+90266 281 11 80
Denizli Chamber of Industry	Denizli	Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvarı No: 76/2-3 P.K.: 88 20100 DENİZLİ	+902582421004
Ege Bölgesi Chamber of Industry	İzmir, Muğla	Cumhuriyet Bulvarı No:63 İZMİR	+902324552900
Eskişehir Chamber of Industry	Eskişehir	Organize Sanayi Bölgesi 26110-ESKİŞEHİR	+902222360360
Gaziantep Chamber of Industry	Gaziantep	İstasyon Cad.  No:2  Kat:3  P.K.112  27010 Şahinbey / GAZİANTEP	+903422210900
İstanbul Chamber of Industry	İstanbul	Meşrutiyet Cad. No:62   34430 Tepebaşı / İSTANBUL	+902122522900
Kayseri Chamber of Industry	Kayseri	Kocasinan Bulvarı No:161 (38110) Kocasinan / KAYSERİ	+903522451050
Kocaeli Chamber of Industry	Kocaeli	Kocaeli Sanayi Odası  Fuariçi İzmit KOCAELİ	+902623158043
Konya Chamber of Industry	Konya	1.Organize Sanayi Bölgesi İstikamet Caddesi 42300 Selçuklu / KONYA	+903322510670

 

List of Development Agencies
Name of the Local Unit	Province	Address	Phone
Ahiler Development Agency	Kırşehir, Kırıkkale, Nevşehir, Niğde, Aksaray	Kapucubaşı Mah. Atatürk Bulv. No:57 NEVŞEHİR	+90384 214 36 66
Ankara Development Agency	Ankara	Aşağı Öveçler Mah. 1322. Cad. No: 11 06460 Çankaya/ANKARA	+90312 310 03 00
Batı Akdeniz Development Agency	Antalya, Isparta, Burdur	İl Özel İdaresi Yerleşkesi Atatürk Bulvarı Eğirdir Yolu 4. Km. 32200 ISPARTA	+90246 224 37 37
Batı Karadeniz Development Agency	Zonguldak, Karabük, Bartın	İncivez Mah. Milli Egemenlik Cad. No:130 Demirpark AVM Kat:4 67100 ZONGULDAK	+903722577470
Bursa-Eskişehir-Bilecik Development Agency	Bursa, Eskişehir, Bilecik	Yeni Yalova Yolu 4.Km Buttim İş Merkezi Buttim Plaza Kat 6 Osmangazi/BURSA	+902242111327
Çukurova Development Agency	Adana, Mersin	Çınarlı Mah. Atatürk Caddesi No:1 Sabancı İş Merkezi Kat: 6-7 Seyhan / ADANA	+903223630039 - 40
Dicle Development Agency	Mardin, Şırnak, Siirt, Batman	Savurkapı Mah. Nusaybin Cad. No:31 Meydanbaşı MARDİN	+904822121107
Doğu Akdeniz Development Agency	Kahramanmaraş, Osmaniye, Hatay	Yavuz Sultan Selim Cad. Birinci Tabakhane Sk. No:20 Antakya HATAY	+903262251415
Doğu Anadolu Development Agency	Van, Hakkari, Muş, Bitlis	Şerefiye Mah. Mareşal Fevzi Çakmak Cad. No: 27 65100 Merkez / VAN	+904322156555
Doğu Karadeniz Development Agency	Ordu, Trabzon, Giresun, Rize, Gümüşhane, Artvin	Gazipaşa Mahallesi Nemlioğlu Sokak Taksim Yokuşu No: 3 TRABZON	+904623213652
Doğu Marmara Development Agency	Kocaeli, Sakarya, Yalova, Bolu, Düzce	Yenişehir Mah. Demokrasi Bulvarı No: 72/A  41050 İzmit - KOCAELİ	+902623320144
Fırat Development Agency	Malatya, Elazığ, Bingöl, Tunceli	Turgut Özal Mah. Ankara Cad. No:139 Merkez / MALATYA	444 53 52
Güney Ege Development Agency	Aydın, Muğla, Denizli	EGS PARK Kongre ve Kültür Merkezi 20085 DENİZLİ	+902583718844
Güney Marmara Development Agency	Çanakkale, Balıkesir	Paşaalanı Mahallesi A. Gaffar Okkan Caddesi No:36 / B Merkez - BALIKESİR	+902662461000
İpek Yolu Development Agency	Gaziantep, Adıyaman, Kilis	İncilipınar Mahallesi Muammer Aksoy Bulvarı Vakıflar Güven İş Merkezi Kat : 2-3 Şehitkamil GAZİANTEP	+903422310701
İstanbul Development Agency	İstanbul	Havaalanı Kavşağı EGS Business Park Blokları B2 Blok Kat: 16 34149 Yeşilköy Bakırköy/İSTANBUL	+902124683400
İzmir Development Agency	İzmir	Şehit Fethi Bey Caddesi No:49/1 Birlik Plaza Kat:3 35210 Gümrük İZMİR	+902324898181
Karacadağ Development Agency	Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır	Karacadağ Kalkınma Ajansı Selahattini Eyyubi Mah. Urfa Bulvarı No:15/A 21080 Bağlar / DİYARBAKIR	+904122371216-17
Kuzey Anadolu Development Agency	Sinop, Kastamonu, Çankırı	Cebrail Mah. Saray Sk. No: 1 37200 KASTAMONU	+903662125852
Kuzeydoğu Anadolu Development Agency	Erzurum, Erzincan, Bayburt	Cumhuriyet Caddesi No:3 Yakutiye/ERZURUM	+904422356111
Mevlana Development Agency	Konya, Karaman	Medrese Mahallesi Ulaşbaba Caddesi No:28  Selçuklu/KONYA	+903322363290
Orta Anadolu Development Agency	Kayseri, Sivas, Yozgat	Barbaros Mahallesi Sümer Yerleşkesi Kümeevler No:1 Kocasinan/KAYSERİ	+903523526726
Orta Karadeniz Development Agency	Samsun, Çorum, Tokat, Amasya	Kale Mahallesi Şükrüefendi Sokak No:2 Kat:3 İlkadım / SAMSUN	+903624312400
Serhat Development Agency	Kars, Ardahan, Iğdır, Ağrı	Atatürk Cad No:117 Ortakapı Mah Merkez KARS	+904742125200
Trakya Development Agency	Edirne, Tekirdağ, Kırklareli	Ertuğrul Mah. İskele Cad. No: 12 TEKİRDAĞ	+902822633737
Zafer Development Agency	Kütahya, Manisa, Uşak, Afyonkarahisar	Cumhuriyet Mah., Hayme Ana Cad., Metem Tesisleri, Kat:4 Merkez/KÜTAHYA	+902742717761-62

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What are the application documents?
The following documents must be included in all application files submitted in order to benefit from investment incentives:

Account Details of Ministry of Economy

• A letter of application signed by person or persons authorized to represent and bind the investor.
• The authorized signatory list of person or persons authorized to represent and bind the investor certified by a notary public, or a statement of signature for public institutions, private companies and real persons.
• Investment Information Form, Letter of Undertaking and the Lists of Local and Domestic Machinery-Equipment filled out in accordance with the Project and every page signed and stamped by person or persons authorized to represent and bind the investor.
• For applications to the Ministry, receipt proving that four hundred Turkish Liras have been deposited in the Ministry’s Central Directorate of Circulating Capital account; for applications to local units, receipt proving that one hundred Turkish Liras of the above mentioned amount has been deposited in the local unit’s account and the receipt proving that the remaining being deposited in the Ministry’s Central Directorate of Circulating Capital account
• Original or notarized / certified copies of Turkish Trade Registry Gazette or Turkish Merchants and Craftsmen Registry Gazette showing the final state of the company with regard to its partnership structure, capitalization and scope of field,
• A document from the related units of the Social Security Institution or a barcoded printout from the Institution’s IT medium stating that there are no outstanding overdue premium debt or administrative fine to Social Security Institution, or, if any, that such debts have been deferred and split into installments or put on a payment plan which is strictly followed, pursuant to law no. 5510 on Social Security and General Health Insurance throughout Turkey, excluding the applications by public institutions and agencies, 
• The Resolution of the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization for investments that require the decisions of ‘Environmental Impact Assessment is Positive’ or ‘No Environmental Impact Assessment is Required’ listed in the annexes to the By-Law on Environmental Impact Assessment, pursuant to Environment Law no 2872,
• For strategic investments, the feasibility report containing the technical, financial and sectoral analyses and calculations regarding the criteria stipulated in article 8 of the Decree concerning the investment subject.

The General Directorate of Incentive Implementation and Foreign Investment may seek additional information and documents apart from those listed above in accordance with the investment industry, size or incentive scheme.

There are additional information and documents to be obtained from other authorized institutions and organizations in applications to be made for specific industries and subjects depending on the quality of the project as per the relevant legislation. Documents required as per the industry and/or subject of investment are as follows: 
 

For mining and energy investments; 
a) For extraction investments and integration investments including extraction subject to the Mining Law no 3213, attested copies of Operating License and Permit issued on behalf of the investor by the General Directorate of Mining Affairs under the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources,
b) Attested copy of the Operating License granted by Special Provincial Administrations to 1(a) group mines defined in the Mining Law no 3213,
c) For investments in relation to the generation, transmission and distribution of power subject to the Regulation on Electricity Market, attested copy of the license issued on behalf of the investor by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority,
d) An official approval letter for the project to be provided by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources for power plants generating electricity for their own needs in accordance with the Regulation on Energy Market and not working in parallel with a transmission or distribution network,
e) Operating License for geothermal drilling and production investments, and final permits and/or licenses stipulated in the legislation of the relevant public institutions and agencies for petroleum and natural gas drilling and production investments,
f) An official letter from the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources to conclude that coal to be used in coal mining investments is under the category “low C” as per the international codification system of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe,
g) An official letter to be received from the relevant public institutions and agencies as a party of the contract/agreements for investments in mining on royalty.

For refinery investments; 
An attested copy of the license to be granted by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority.

For investments in the production of military equipment and arms, ammunition and explosives;
Facility establishment permit to be granted by the Ministry of National Defense.

For investments for the manufacturing of hunting equipment, aiming training gun, hunting knives and non-monopolized explosives and etc.;
Establishment permit to be provided by the Ministry of the Interior.

For investments in the production of sound and gas cartridge weapons;
An attested copy of establishment and preliminary permits issued by the Ministry of Industry and Technology.

For waste disposal investments; 
An attested copy of the “environmental license” or “environmental permit and license” issued by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization on waste disposal (this license should be presented at the completion visa stage in completely new investments).

For waste recovery investments; 
An attested copy of the “environmental license” or “environmental permit and license” issued by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization on waste recovery (this license should be presented at the completion visa stage in completely new investments).

For investments in alcoholic beverages and tobacco products;  
An attested copy of the establishment permit granted by the Tobacco and Alcohol Market Regulatory Authority.

For completely new or expansion investments in the production of sugar refining from beet or cane; 
An attested copy of the establishment permit issued by the Turkish Sugar Authority.

For hospital and medical center investments; 
Official preliminary permit letter provided by the Ministry of Health for complete new investments, and attested copy of operating license for other investments (excluding healthcare investments to be undertaken by natural or legal persons under private law on the Ministry of Health’s demand against leasing as part of Appendix-7 of the Law no 3359).

For education investments;
Preliminary permit by the Ministry of National Education for complete new projects, and attested copy of institution establishment license for other types of investments.

For tourism investments; 
An attested copy of the Tourism Investment, Tourism Enterprise and/or Partial Tourism Enterprise Certificate issued by the Ministry of Culture  and Tourism.

For port, dock, fishing port and harbor investments; 
Official approval letter for the as-built project by the General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments under the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications and official approval letter for the construction plan by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization (Attested copy of the Tourism Investment, Tourism Enterprise and/or Partial Tourism Enterprise Certificate issued by the Ministry of Culture  and Tourism is also required for marina investments).

For complete new investments in ground handling services to be made in airports;  
An attested copy of the official permit letter issued by the General Directorate of Aviation and Space Technologies under the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications. 

For investments in air cargo and/or passenger transport; 
An attested copy of the official letter specifying that the plane is technically eligible for import and issued by the General Directorate of Aviation  and Space Technologies under the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications.

For railroad cargo and/or passenger transport investments; 
An attested copy of the Application Protocol signed with the Turkish State Railways (T.C.D.D).

For investments to be made through financial leasing companies; 
Financial leasing agreement.

For investments to be made according to the Build-Operate or Build-Operate-Transfer models; 
Resolution of the Higher Planning Council regarding the approval of the implementation agreements concluded with the relevant ministry, institution or organization.

For investments to be made by public institutions and agencies and municipalities; 
A document to be obtained from the registered tax office regarding being a VAT payer.

For cultural investments;
An attested copy of the Cultural Certificate issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (The Cultural Investment Certificate is required for completely new investments and the Cultural Enterprise Certificate at the completion visa stage).

For logistic services investments; 
An attested copy of the L2 certificate issued by the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications (it will be required at the completion visa stage for completely new investments).

For cable and satellite broadcasting investments; 
For complete new investments, an official letter from the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) indicating that licensing and broadcasting permit procedures have been initiated (The license and an official letter from the RTÜK proving that broadcasting permit has been granted will be required at the completion visa stage) and the license and an official letter from the RTÜK proving that broadcasting permit has been granted for other types of investments.  

For terrestrial broadcasting investments; 
An official letter from the RTÜK indicating that a license application has been made within the legal term and a permit letter from the same Council regarding broadcasting as per the Law no 6112.

For manufacturing industry investments; 
A chamber or notary certified copy of the valid capacity report for all types of investments other than the completely new ones.

For storage facility investments within the scope of the Petroleum Market Law no 5015 of December 4, 2003; 
An attested copy of the license to be extended by the Energy Market Regulatory Authority.

For licensed storage investments;
An attested copy of the license issued by the Ministry of Customs and Trade (For completely new investments, an official letter provided by the Ministry of Customs and Trade proving that an establishment permit has been granted is required. License is to be submitted at the completion visa stage). 

 

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INVESTORS’ RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES DURING THE UTILIZATION OF INCENTIVES

Investment Incentive Certificate and the Certified Lists of Domestic and Imported Machinery-Equipment 

Following the application of an investor, the General Directorate of Incentive Implementation and Foreign Investment of the Ministry of Economy issues an Investment Incentive Certificate for the projects that are deemed eligible to benefit from an incentive scheme- Regional, Large Scale, Strategic or General- offered within the scope of the Investment Incentive Program. This Certificate includes certain information such as details regarding the approval of the investment project, the incentive instruments to be utilized and the project value. The lists of domestic and imported machinery/equipment to be employed in the project will be certified. The Investment Incentive Certificate and the certified lists of domestic and imported machinery/equipment submitted to investors will be used during and after the project realization process, for the implementation of the incentive instruments by the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Customs and Trade, Social Security Institution, banks and other institutions. These documents will also be used during the investment project realization process and for the procedures the Ministry of Economy will handle after the completion of the project.

The investor, as long as the required criteria for the issued incentive is met, may request amendments regarding increases and decreases exceeding fifty percent of the fixed investment amount indicated in the Investment Incentive Certificate, as well as regarding information and values such as the investment location, investment type, investment scope, tax office, tax account number, company title, capacity, or amount of investment, as registered in the certificate.

After the Investment Incentive Certificate is issued, if the investor makes a price or quantity-related change on the planned purchasing of machinery and equipment, then the lists of machinery and equipment will be updated and approved. However, in cases of a price increase of up to a hundred percent, or a decrease of down to fifty percent for each machine or equipment, there would be no need for amendments or approval. Those machinery and equipment that fit the project scope, acquired after the investment’s start date but are not recorded on the original machinery and equipment lists, can be added to the certificate as machinery and equipment acquired within the framework of the incentive certificate.    

Extension of the Investment Project Duration

The investment project subject to the Investment Incentive Certificate must be completed within the stipulated time frame. If the investor foresees that this will not be achievable due to reasonable causes, then the investor may apply to the General Directorate of Incentive Implementation and Foreign Investment of the Ministry of Economy, or to the local authority that issued the certificate, with the Investment Incentive Certificate and the Investment Tracking Spreadsheet attached to this Guide (Page …) and apply for an extension. If the application is deemed suitable, an extension of half the investment time stated in the Investment Incentive Certificate is granted for the project.

Furthermore, during the investment period, the import of machinery and equipment, transactions of which are initiated by using one of the payment types mentioned in the relevant foreign exchange regulation, or of machinery and equipment, the cost of which has been fully or partially paid but the import of which has not yet been completed, will be allowed through the Customs Administration’s implementation of support measures provided within the framework of the certificate, within four months following the investment period’s final date.       

Investment Completion Visa

The investor has to apply to the local unit that issued the Investment Incentive Certificate or to the General Directorate of Incentive Implementation and Foreign Investment of the Ministry of Economy within six months following the end of the stipulated period, or the end of the additional time granted, in order for the completion visa to be issued. The General Directorate may either appoint its own authorized experts, or the local units, banks or the Governor’s Office for the completion of the investment procedure.

As a result of the appraisal, handled by authorities appointed for the completion visa issuance, the completion visa annotation together with the actual investment values will be recorded on the Investment Incentive Certificate. The investor has to submit the information and the documents specified in the Investment Incentive legislation for investment completion visa related procedures.   

Transfer, Sale, Export and Leasing

If the investor wishes to transfer, sale, export and lease the machinery and equipment listed in the incentive certificate for which a completion visa has been issued, the investor should wait for five years after the purchase of the relevant machinery and equipment. The transfer of machinery and equipment that are not yet five years old to another investor with an incentive certificate, or sale, export and leasing of such to another investor without a certificate is subject to the permission of the Ministry of Economy, the General Directorate of Incentive Implementation and Foreign Investment, provided that the investment integrity is not harmed or the machinery and equipment are transferred, sold, exported or leased as a whole, regardless of the completion visa.

Financial Leasing Operations   

All or some of machinery and equipment recorded in the Investment Incentive Certificate may be acquired through financial leasing. In order for the financial leasing company to benefit from customs duty exemption and VAT exemption supports, it should conclude a contract with the investor holding an Investment Incentive Certificate, and the list of machinery and equipment subject to financial leasing should be certified by the relevant authority issuing the certificate.

The Liabilities of Investors Benefiting from the Investment Incentive Schemes

The certificates of those investors that violate the provisions of the Investment Incentive Scheme legislation; that fail to meet the conditions and requirements stipulated in the Investment Incentive Certificate; that falsify the Investment Incentive Certificate and other documents, fabricate or use forged documents or documents which are misleading in content; provide false and misleading information; sell or cause the selling of machinery and equipment included in the certificate before the stipulated time, as a result of judicial sale and sale through bankruptcy due to failure to perform liabilities to other institutions, associations or companies, or for other reasons; who fail to complete their investment within the time stipulated in the Investment Incentive Certificate and who disregard the determined minimum investment amounts, will be cancelled, and part or all of the supports availed will be revoked.   

Import with Collateral

The import of machinery and equipment, to be used in those investments for which an incentive certificate has been applied but has not been yet granted, will only be allowed on condition that a collateral equal to the total amount of tax and cutbacks that may be exempted within the framework of the incentive certificate is provided. The relevant permission is granted by the Ministry of Customs and Trade by virtue of the Ministry’s approval.

Relocation of the Investments

Large scale and regional investments should operate at the location where they are initially established for a minimum of five years. However, the investment may be relocated to other regions, provided that permission is granted by the Ministry, that the investment area is among the subsidized areas in the new region and that extra supports which had been granted under the current region’s scheme are returned.

Changing the Investment Subject

The investor may demand to make amendments to the incentive certificate regarding the investment subject within the framework of the relevant legislation, taking into consideration the regional and sectoral restrictions.

Loss of Documents

If the incentive certificate or its attachments are lost, they may be recertified in return for three hundred Turkish liras added to the working capital.