What Documents Should You Request From a Turkish Supplier?

When conducting due diligence on a Turkish supplier, relying on their website or marketing brochure is insufficient. Requesting and reviewing standard Turkish corporate documents is a fundamental business practice.

Note: The documents required depend on the transaction, product, jurisdiction, and your specific risk profile. DealyVIP does not provide legal advice, and this list should not be considered a mandatory legal checklist.

Documents to Support Identity Verification

These are the foundational documents that almost all legitimate Turkish businesses can easily provide to prove they legally exist.

1. Vergi Levhası (Tax Registration Certificate) Every active company in Türkiye must have a tax plate. It contains their Vergi Kimlik Numarası (VKN - Tax ID Number), their registered tax office, their legal corporate name, and their primary business activity code (NACE code).

2. Faaliyet Belgesi (Certificate of Activity) Issued by the local Chamber of Commerce (e.g., Istanbul Chamber of Commerce - İTO), this document proves that the company is currently active and registered. It generally includes the company’s registration number and date of establishment. It is best to request a recent copy (issued within the last 3 to 6 months).

3. Ticaret Sicili Gazetesi (Trade Registry Gazette) This is the official publication of the company’s establishment. While you can look up the index yourself, asking the supplier to provide the PDF of their foundational Gazette publication helps you cross-reference their legal structure.

Documents to Support Representation Authority

To ensure the person signing the proforma invoice or contract actually has the legal right to bind the company:

4. İmza Sirküleri (Signature Circular) This is a notarized document detailing exactly who is authorized to sign on behalf of the company, what their signature looks like, and what limits (if any) are placed on their authority (e.g., “Authorized to sign contracts only up to 100,000 TRY”).

Documents to Support Business Activity & Capacity

If you need to verify that the supplier is an actual manufacturer and not just a trading intermediary:

5. Kapasite Raporu (Capacity Report) Issued by the local Chamber of Industry (e.g., İSO), this is a critical document for manufacturers. It lists the exact factory address, the number of employees, the specific machinery on site, and the calculated annual production capacity.

6. ISO / Quality Certifications If the supplier claims ISO 9001, CE marking, or industry-specific certifications (like OEKO-TEX for textiles), request the certificates. Important: Always verify these certificates directly with the issuing body, as fake certificates are a common global trade issue.

Transaction-Specific Documents

Once you move past initial verification and into the transaction phase, you will typically deal with:

• Proforma Invoice: The preliminary bill of sale outlining the terms.
• Commercial Invoice: The final bill of sale required for customs.
• Packing List: Details the exact contents, weight, and dimensions of the shipment.
• Bill of Lading (B/L) or Airway Bill (AWB): The transport document proving the goods have been received by the carrier.
• Certificate of Origin (Menşe Şahadetnamesi): Proves where the goods were manufactured, often required for customs duties.

General Due Diligence Practice: Obtaining documents is only the first step. You must cross-check the information on these documents against official registries (like MERSİS) and ensure absolute consistency across all paperwork. If you cannot read Turkish legal documents, hire a local professional to review them.