Citizenship Law
Turkish citizenship by investment, by marriage and by residence; preparing the file and challenging refusals before the administrative courts.
Citizenship Law guideServices: practice areas
Bilgi Law Firm advises and represents individuals and companies in almost every area of Turkish law. Below you will find the areas grouped by subject. Each guide explains the procedure, time limits, competent court and frequently asked questions.
International clients
Matters that most often concern foreign nationals, investors and Turks living abroad, including company formation.
Real Estate Law
Buying property in Turkey as a foreigner, title deed checks before transfer, off-plan and construction contracts, co-ownership and title deed disputes.
Real Estate Law guideImmigration Law
Residence permits, work permits and the Turquoise Card; objections to deportation decisions and removal of entry ban codes.
Immigration Law guideInheritance Law
Inheritance of property in Turkey by foreigners, certificates of inheritance, foreign wills, renunciation and reserved shares.
Inheritance Law guideFamily Law
Divorce in Turkey where one or both spouses are foreign, custody, maintenance, division of property and recognition of foreign divorce judgments.
Family Law guideCommercial Law
Company formation in Turkey (LLC and JSC), foreign shareholders, share transfers, commercial contracts and shareholder disputes.
Commercial Law guideLandlord and Tenant Law
Leases for expats and foreign owners, the rent increase cap, rent review, eviction grounds, deposits and short-term holiday lets.
Landlord and Tenant Law guideContracts, technology, tax and social security
Contracts under Turkish law, intellectual property, data protection, arbitration and foreign judgments, internet law, tax and social security.
Contracts and Obligations
Drafting and reviewing contracts under Turkish law, debt collection lawsuits, penalty clauses, termination and tort claims.
Contracts and Obligations guideIntellectual Property Law
Trademark registration and oppositions in Turkey, bad-faith filings, non-use revocation, patents, designs and copyright infringement.
Intellectual Property Law guideData Protection (KVKK)
KVKK compliance for companies, VERBİS registration, data breach notification, cross-border transfers and Board complaints.
Data Protection (KVKK) guideArbitration and Mediation
Mandatory mediation, arbitration clauses, setting aside awards and enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards in Turkey.
Arbitration and Mediation guideIT and Internet Law
Removal of online content and access bans, the right to be forgotten, online defamation, cybercrime and e-commerce compliance.
IT and Internet Law guideTax Law
Objections to tax assessments and penalties, settlement (uzlaşma), tax audits and tax obligations of foreigners in Turkey.
Tax Law guideSocial Security Law
SGK pensions and EYT, unreported work, foreign employees and social security agreements, periods abroad, invalidity and survivors' pensions.
Social Security Law guideDisputes, courts and public authorities
Employment and consumer disputes, enforcement of debts, actions against the administration, criminal proceedings, medical malpractice and accident compensation.
Labour Law
Severance and notice pay, reinstatement claims, overtime, unfair dismissal and the mandatory mediation step for employment disputes.
Labour Law guideConsumer Law
Defective goods and services, consumer arbitration committees, distance sales and the right of withdrawal, off-plan housing purchases.
Consumer Law guideEnforcement and Bankruptcy
Debt enforcement proceedings, objections to payment orders, attachment of assets, enforcement of judgments and bankruptcy.
Enforcement and Bankruptcy guideAdministrative Law
Annulment and full remedy actions against public authorities, stay of execution, zoning fines and public procurement disputes.
Administrative Law guideCriminal Law
Rights in custody, interpreters and consular access, detention and travel bans, victims' rights, HAGB and appeals.
Criminal Law guideMedical Law
Medical malpractice claims, informed consent, health tourism disputes and cosmetic surgery, against private clinics and public hospitals.
Medical Law guideCompensation and Insurance
Traffic accident claims in Turkey, including tourists and rental cars, diminished vehicle value, injury and loss of support, insurance disputes.
Compensation and Insurance guideBefore filing a lawsuit
Disputes where mediation is mandatory before going to court
In the disputes below, a lawsuit filed without first applying to a mediator is dismissed on procedural grounds.
| Dispute | Legal basis | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Employee claims for receivables and compensation, reinstatement claims | Labour Courts Law No. 7036, Art. 3 | Labour law |
| Commercial cases for payment of a sum of money | Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102, Art. 5/A | Commercial law |
| Consumer disputes (with statutory exceptions) | Consumer Protection Law No. 6502, Art. 73/A | Consumer law |
| Disputes arising from tenancy relationships | Mediation Law No. 6325, Art. 18/B | Tenancy |
| Partition of co-owned movable and immovable property | Law No. 6325, Art. 18/B | Real estate law |
| Condominium and neighbour disputes | Law No. 6325, Art. 18/B | Real estate law |
Check the current legislation
The scope of mandatory mediation and its exceptions may be extended or narrowed by legislative amendments. This table is for general information only.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about practice areas
Which court will hear my case in Turkey?
It depends on the subject. Civil disputes are generally heard by the civil courts of first instance, with specialised courts for family, labour, commercial, consumer and intellectual property matters. Actions against public authorities, including refusals of citizenship or residence applications, are heard by administrative courts, and tax disputes by tax courts. Each practice area page explains the competent court for that subject.
Is mediation mandatory before going to court in Turkey?
For several types of disputes, yes. Under current legislation, an application to a mediator is a precondition to filing a lawsuit in employment claims (Law No. 7036, Art. 3), commercial claims for payment of money (Turkish Commercial Code, Art. 5/A), most consumer disputes (Law No. 6502, Art. 73/A), and disputes arising from tenancy, co-ownership partition, condominium and neighbour relations (Law No. 6325, Art. 18/B). A lawsuit filed without mediation in these matters is dismissed on procedural grounds. The scope changes from time to time, so check the current legislation.
Can the firm handle matters outside Istanbul?
Yes. A lawyer registered with any Turkish bar association can represent clients before courts and authorities anywhere in Turkey. For files outside Istanbul, the working plan and travel-related costs are discussed at the outset.
Can I get advice in English in every practice area?
Yes. Meetings, correspondence and updates on your file are available in English in all practice areas. Court and administrative proceedings in Turkey are conducted in Turkish, so documents submitted to them are prepared in Turkish and explained to you in English.
The information on this page is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a lawyer about your specific situation. Last updated: 7 October 2026
Need to discuss your legal matter?
You can request an appointment by phone, WhatsApp, email or the contact form. Meetings can be held in English.