Company formation, investment, and the Türkiye–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement

This page is for Turkish citizens and Turkish companies wishing to establish a company, invest, or trade with Ukraine. The Türkiye–Ukraine Free Trade Agreement entered into force on October 1, 2026; customs duty reductions will begin on January 1, 2027. Below you will find the scope of the agreement, how to establish a limited liability company or sole proprietorship in Ukraine, investment incentives, and the institutions to which you should apply.

• The agreement was signed in Kyiv on February 3, 2022.
• Türkiye's ratification process was completed by the Presidential Decision published on October 4, 2024.
• On the Ukrainian side, the process was completed with the approval of the President of Ukraine on July 31, 2026.
• The agreement entered into force on October 1, 2026. It also appears as "in force" (чинний) on Ukraine's official legal portal.
• Customs duty reductions in the product lists relating to trade in goods will apply from January 1, 2027.
• The Turkish and English versions of the agreement text are published on the Ministry of Trade's website.

• The agreement's main headings:
  • market access and customs duties for goods
  • trade in services
  • facilitation of commercial presence (investment and company formation procedures)
  • electronic commerce
  • competition and dispute settlement
  • annexes: financial services, transport and logistics, movement of natural persons, telecommunications
• Rules of origin: Annex I and the relevant provisions of Annex II of the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention on preferential rules of origin (PEM) apply. Proof of origin is an EUR.1 movement certificate or a declaration of origin. Electronic EUR.1 certificates are also accepted when the customs administrations agree.
• The heading facilitation of commercial presence (Title V) provides for:
  • publication of licensing requirements, fees, contact details of competent authorities, and estimated timeframes
  • a single application point and electronic applications wherever possible
  • acceptance of a certified copy instead of the original document
  • written notification of the reasons and appeal procedure if an application is rejected
  • licensing fees that are reasonable and proportionate to costs
  • efforts to establish a "single point of contact" (PSC) within five years
• This heading alone does not grant a right of market access; each country's domestic legislation applies.
• Annex on the movement of natural persons: facilitates the temporary entry and stay of persons providing services. The documents requested must be proportionate to the purpose. When permission is granted, a multiple-entry visa is issued. The annex does not cover access to the labor market, citizenship, or permanent residence.

• Company registration is the service called "State registration of legal entities and sole proprietors" (Diia service No. 00050). Limited liability companies (ТОВ), additional-liability companies, joint-stock companies, limited partnerships, and general partnerships are established through this process.
• Who registers it? The state registrar at the company's address. Applications may be submitted to:
  • district state administrations (district administrations in Kyiv and Sevastopol)
  • executive bodies of village, town, and city councils
  • notaries
• Application method: in person or by post on paper, or electronically through the e-services portal.
• Time and fee: documents are reviewed within 24 hours (excluding weekends and holidays). There is no fee.
• Documents:
  • application for state registration
  • decision of the founders (original or notarized copy)
  • articles of association, or the "model charter" (модельний статут) may be selected in the application
  • if the founder is a foreign company: a commercial register extract for that company in its home country
  • ownership structure
  • a notarized copy of the identity document of the ultimate beneficial owner (кінцевий бенефіціарний власник) for non-resident individuals
• You may select registration of the company as a VAT payer or the simplified tax system in the application.
• Rules for foreign documents (Article 15 of the State Registration Law):
  • Documents issued in a foreign country must be apostilled (or consular legalized).
  • Documents in a foreign language must be translated into Ukrainian; the translation or the translator's signature must be certified.
  • The foreign company's commercial register extract must have been issued no more than one month before the application.
• If the applicant is a foreigner, they present their passport as an identity document (Article 15).
• Taxes: the corporate income tax rate is 18% (Article 136.1 of the Tax Code). For treaty rates on dividends paid to a shareholder in Türkiye, see U8.2.

• A sole proprietorship is a suitable form for small businesses and sales or services to consumers.
• Registration methods: automatic registration on the Diia portal (approximately 10 minutes, with a qualified electronic signature), through an administrative service center (ЦНАП), or through a notary.
• Registration is completed in one day. The registration information is automatically sent to the tax authority.
• The simplified tax system or VAT registration may be selected in the application.
• Non-resident individuals cannot be taxpayers under the single tax (simplified tax system) (Article 291.5.7 of the Tax Code; see U8.1).
• For the conditions under which foreigners may establish a sole proprietorship and the effect of this registration on a residence permit, see U3.2.

• The "Agreement on the Mutual Promotion and Protection of Investments" was signed on October 9, 2017. Ukraine ratified the agreement by Law No. 2528-VIII dated September 6, 2018. The agreement appears as "in force" on Ukraine's official legal portal.
• This agreement replaced the previous investment agreement signed in Ankara on November 27, 1996.
• Principal guarantees:
  • In the event of expropriation, compensation must equal the market value of the investment and be paid without delay (Article 6).
  • Transfers related to an investment are made freely and without undue delay (Article 8). Transfers may be temporarily restricted in the event of a serious balance-of-payments problem.
  • Disputes between an investor and the state may, among other means, be submitted to ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes) or arbitration constituted under UNCITRAL rules (Article 10).
• Profit transfers in Ukraine are also subject to the foreign-exchange rules applicable under martial law. The NBU permits dividend transfers on a limited basis through special limits such as an "investment limit" (see U7.1).

• Significant investment projects: Under the "Law on State Support for Significant Investment Projects in Ukraine," projects meeting the requirements may conclude a special investment agreement with the state. Requirements:
  • investment of more than EUR 12 million in the project after the agreement
  • more than 10 new jobs, with the average salary at least 15% higher than the average salary for the same activity in the region
  • inclusion of construction, modernization, or technical renewal
  • a project duration of no more than five years
  • operation in one of the sectors listed in the law: manufacturing, extraction of minerals for processing, waste management, transport, storage, logistics, education, science, healthcare, culture, sports, tourism, electronic communications, and biogas and biomethane production
• Available support includes a 15-year guarantee against legislative changes, a five-year corporate income tax exemption, VAT and customs exemptions for imported equipment that is no more than three years old and unused, infrastructure support, and reductions in land tax.
• UkraineInvest: the investment office of the Ukrainian government. Information, guidance, and advisory services are free of charge; it does not provide legal advice. It has an online guide (HelpDesk) on doing business under martial law.
• Residence permit through investment: a foreigner holding a share worth at least EUR 100,000 in the capital of a Ukrainian company may be granted temporary residence, while a foreigner investing at least USD 100,000 may be granted an immigration permit subject to the quota (see U2.1 and U2.2).

• Commercial Counsellor's Office of the Republic of Türkiye in Kyiv — Ukrainian market, legislation, and business contacts
  • Address: 22 Panasa Myrnoho Street, Kyiv (Embassy building)
  • Telephone: +380 44 377 76 77
  • Email: kiev@ticaret.gov.tr
• Commercial Attaché's Office of the Republic of Türkiye in Odesa
  • Telephone: +380 48 722 70 05, +380 48 722 71 07
  • Email: odesa@ticaret.gov.tr
• UkraineInvest — free information and guidance for investors
  • Telephone: +380 98 567 88 99
  • Web: ukraineinvest.gov.ua
• Company registration: district state administrations, executive bodies of city councils, or notaries; for sole proprietorships, also the Diia portal and administrative service centers (ЦНАП).
• For Turkish business organizations in Ukraine, see Ruski Gazeta's Businesses guide and the Associations section.

• Assuming that customs duty reductions began on October 1, 2026. The reductions begin on January 1, 2027.
• Expecting an FTA reduction without preparing the proof of origin for the goods (EUR.1 or declaration of origin).
• Submitting the Turkish company's commercial register extract dated more than one month earlier.
• Submitting Turkish documents without apostilles or with uncertified translations.
• Failing to prepare a notarized copy of the ultimate beneficial owner's identity document.
• Trying to open a sole proprietorship under the single-tax system as a non-resident.
• Failing to take foreign-exchange rules under martial law into account when planning profit transfers.

• Is the FTA in force? Yes. It entered into force on October 1, 2026. Customs duty reductions in the product lists will begin on January 1, 2027.
• How long does it take to establish a company in Ukraine? Documents are reviewed within 24 hours after reaching the registrar. Registration is free of charge.
• Can I establish the company from Türkiye? Documents may be submitted by post or through a representative. A notarized power of attorney is required for the representative.
• Is my investment protected in Ukraine? The Türkiye–Ukraine investment agreement grants the right to compensation at market value in cases of expropriation, free transfers, and international arbitration.
• Can I obtain residence if I invest in Ukraine? A share of at least EUR 100,000 in the capital may lead to temporary residence, while an investment of at least USD 100,000 may lead to an immigration permit within the quota (see U2.1 and U2.2).
• Which institution can provide free assistance? The Commercial Counsellor's Office in Kyiv and UkraineInvest. Consult a lawyer authorized in Ukraine for your legal matters.

• Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye – Türkiye–Ukraine FTA page
• Türkiye–Ukraine FTA – Turkish text (PDF)
• Türkiye–Ukraine FTA – English texts and annexes (ZIP)
• Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – FTA text
• Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine – Investment agreement
• Diia guide – state registration of a legal entity (No. 00050)
• Diia – Online sole proprietorship registration
• State Registration Law (full text in Ukrainian)
• UkraineInvest – Significant investment projects