MERSIS Number in Turkey: What It Is and Where It Is Used

MERSIS is the abbreviation of Merkezi Sicil Kayıt Sistemi, generally translated as the Central Registry System. It is operated by the Turkish Ministry of Trade and provides the digital infrastructure through which trade registry records and many company registration applications are managed.

Foreign founders often encounter the MERSIS number when establishing a limited liability company or joint-stock company, opening a corporate bank account, completing compliance checks or making changes to an existing Turkish company. However, it should not be confused with a Turkish tax identification number or the company’s local trade registry file number.

What Is MERSIS?

According to the Ministry of Trade, MERSIS has two principal functions:

• conducting the registration, amendment and deregistration procedures of companies and commercial enterprises electronically; and
• bringing legal entities and other economic units together under a unique identifier so that public authorities can obtain up-to-date registry information from a central source.

The system stores and processes information that must be registered or announced through the trade registry. Depending on the legal form and transaction, this can include the company name, registered address, business activity, capital, founders, shareholders, directors, authorised signatories and amendments made during the company’s lifetime.

What Does a MERSIS Number Look Like?

A company’s MERSIS number is generally a 16-digit numeric identifier. It is linked to the relevant entity or registered commercial enterprise within the central system.

Although certain number patterns may be associated with particular legal forms, businesses should not try to determine a company’s legal status solely from the digits. The current record should be checked through MERSIS, the relevant Trade Registry Office or official registry documents.

Where Is the MERSIS Number Used?

The number may appear in a wide range of corporate and commercial procedures. Its exact use depends on the legal form of the business and the transaction being completed.

MERSIS Number vs Tax Number vs Trade Registry Number

These identifiers are related to different administrative functions and should be recorded separately in corporate files.

A newly incorporated Turkish company will generally have more than one identifier. Possessing a MERSIS number does not mean that all tax registrations, social security registrations, licences or electronic document activations have been completed.

Foreign founders who need a personal tax number before incorporation can review our Turkish Tax Identification Number Acquisition service.

How Is a MERSIS Number Obtained?

For a newly established company, the MERSIS number is generated or confirmed as part of the electronic formation and trade registry process. It is not normally obtained through an unrelated standalone application.

1. Create or access the authorised user account. The applicant or authorised representative accesses the MERSIS service through an available authentication method.
2. Select the legal form. The application must identify whether the entity will be a limited liability company, joint-stock company, cooperative, branch or another permitted structure.
3. Enter the company information. The registered name, address, business activity, capital, shareholders, directors and representation structure are entered.
4. Prepare the formation documents. The articles of association and relevant application documents are generated or uploaded according to the transaction.
5. Submit the application to the Trade Registry Office. The electronic application is reviewed together with the required supporting documents, signatures and payments.
6. Complete registration. Once the competent Trade Registry Office approves and registers the establishment, the company’s permanent registry information becomes available in the system.

The precise documents and signing procedure depend on the company type, nationality of the founders, representation method and whether foreign corporate shareholders are involved.

How Can a Company Find or Verify Its MERSIS Number?

A company can generally confirm its number using one or more of the following records:

• the company record available to authorised users through MERSIS;
• formation and amendment documents issued by the Trade Registry Office;
• the company’s trade registry certification documents;
• relevant announcements in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette;
• official company records and documents on which the number is displayed.

The company name alone may not be sufficient where several entities have similar names. The registered city, tax number, company type and current trade name should be compared before relying on a search result.

Can a MERSIS Application Be Completed Entirely Online?

MERSIS enables the electronic preparation and submission of many trade registry procedures. However, this does not mean that every company transaction is completed solely by filling in an online form.

Depending on the application, the Trade Registry Office may need to review original or certified documents, signatures, foreign shareholder records, resolutions, powers of attorney and fee payments. Additional procedures with the tax office, banks, social security authority, municipality or sector regulator may also remain necessary.

Common MERSIS Mistakes

MERSIS for Foreign-Owned Companies

MERSIS is a central part of establishing a foreign-owned company in Turkey, but it represents only one part of the full formation process. Foreign investors may also need:

• Turkish tax numbers for foreign shareholders and directors;
• translated and legalised foreign documents;
• a suitable registered company address;
• trade registry registration and announcement;
• tax-office registration and statutory accounting setup;
• signature authorisation and corporate books;
• bank compliance and beneficial-owner documentation;
• e-invoice, e-archive or e-ledger activation where applicable.

Our Company Formation Services in Turkey cover the coordination of the MERSIS, trade registry, tax registration and post-incorporation accounting stages. After registration, companies requiring banking assistance can also review our Corporate Bank Account Setup Services in Turkey.

Official Sources

• Ministry of Trade: Central Registry System
• e-Government: Ministry of Trade MERSIS Access
• Turkish Trade Registry Gazette
• Turkish Legislation Information System

This article provides general information. Registry procedures, required documents and system functionality may vary according to the legal form, transaction and current Trade Registry practice.