Grants and Incentives Guide
How to Get an Investment Incentive Certificate in Türkiye: 6 Steps on E-TUYS
Written by Başak Yüksel, Project and TURQUALITY® Specialist
Reviewed by Ahmet Ersoy, Co-Founder
- Related service Investment Incentive Consulting
Contents6 sections
How to get an investment incentive certificate: 6 steps on E-TUYS
An investment incentive certificate in Türkiye is issued by the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Industry and Technology through the E-TUYS online system, after you register, enter your company and project details, upload HS-coded machinery lists and pass the Ministry’s review. It brings VAT and customs duty exemptions, tax reductions and social security premium support together under one document, which is why getting the application right matters as much as the investment itself.
Region 1 provinces and organised industrial zones: what investors can still access
Under Türkiye’s incentive system, developed provinces such as Ankara fall into Region 1. That does not mean investors there miss out on strong support. Companies in long-established production bases such as organised industrial zones (OIZs) can access support beyond their regional classification, especially for technology-intensive projects.
Three sectors stand out in particular:
- Defence and space technologies: a leading sector. Projects accepted into the Strategic Incentives programme receive a 40% investment contribution and 8 years of employer social security (SGK) premium support (12 years in Region 6), whatever their region.
- Medical devices and biotechnology: fed by university ecosystems such as METU, Hacettepe and Bilkent, this field ranks high on the list of priority investment areas.
- Software and IT: software companies in technology development zones can build a strong support package by combining this certificate with R&D investment incentives.
What support does the certificate provide?
| Support item | Scope | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| VAT exemption | Machinery and equipment purchases | Applies to both domestic and imported purchases |
| Customs duty exemption | Imported machinery and equipment | Equipment listed by HS code |
| Corporate tax reduction | Based on the investment contribution rate | Varies by region and sector |
| Social security premium support | Employer’s share | Covered by the state for a set period for new jobs |
| Interest or profit share support | Investment loan interest | Applies to fixed- and variable-rate loans |
| Investment site allocation | Treasury land | Available on request for investments outside OIZs |
Applying on E-TUYS, step by step
Since 2018 the process has been fully digital: paper files are gone and everything runs through E-TUYS (the Electronic Incentive Application and Foreign Capital Information System). These are the six stages from application to approval:
1. Get authorised with KEP and an e-signature
The person who will represent your company must be registered on E-TUYS. You apply to the Ministry of Industry and Technology for authorisation through the company’s KEP (registered electronic mail) address, and a qualified electronic signature is a prerequisite.
2. Enter your company details
You enter the shareholding structure, capital, production capacity and any tax or social security debts. Companies with outstanding tax or Social Security Institution (SGK) debts must restructure them before applying, so catching these early saves the application.
3. Define the investment project
Record the type of investment (brand new, expansion or modernisation), its location, planned employment and timeline. Mistakes here can cause serious trouble later, at the completion visa stage.
4. Upload machinery and equipment lists with HS codes
This is the most technical step. Domestic and imported machinery is entered item by item with its HS code (GTİP in Türkiye), technical specifications and proforma invoice value. A wrong code can leave goods held at customs or even trigger penalties. Items such as passenger cars and luxury office furniture are excluded, and drawing that line correctly takes expertise.
5. Submit for approval and Ministry review
The finished project goes to Ministry experts, who check sector restrictions, the minimum investment amount and regional criteria. Applications with missing or incorrect information are sent back, which adds significant time.
6. Follow up after approval
Approval is not the end of the process. You still need to obtain VAT exemption letters, revise machinery lists when needed and complete the closure procedure (completion visa) once the investment is finished. Every purchase made while the certificate is active must be recorded.
The 3 most common mistakes on E-TUYS
Most companies applying for an investment incentive certificate get stuck at one of these points:
- Mixing imported and domestic lists: E-TUYS requires separate lists for imported and domestic machinery. Applications that mix them are rejected outright.
- Wrong HS code: machinery entered under the wrong code will not match at customs, which risks both delays and penalties.
- Skipping the completion visa: if the closure procedure is not completed when the investment ends, the support received can be reclaimed.
Working hand in hand with customs brokers during the application is the most effective way to avoid these mistakes. See our Investment Incentive Consulting services for details.
For current legislation and minimum investment amounts, check the Ministry of Industry and Technology’s official website.
Frequently asked questions
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How long does E-TUYS approval take?With a complete application file, the Ministry’s review usually takes 15 to 30 working days.
With a complete application file, the Ministry’s review usually takes 15 to 30 working days. Incomplete or incorrect applications take considerably longer.
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Can every sector get an investment incentive certificate?Not every sector. Some are on the restricted list, led by retail trade and certain agricultural activities.
Not every sector. Some are on the restricted list, led by retail trade and certain agricultural activities. Manufacturing, service and technology investments can use the certificate under general, priority or strategic investment status.
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Is there a minimum investment amount for the certificate?It depends on the region and the type of investment.
It depends on the region and the type of investment. As of 2026, under the general incentive scheme, the minimum fixed investment is set higher for Regions 1 and 2 and lower for Regions 5 and 6. For current figures, follow the official publications of the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
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Why does the completion visa matter?The completion visa is the official step confirming that the investment was carried out in line…
The completion visa is the official step confirming that the investment was carried out in line with the conditions in the incentive certificate. If it is skipped or done late, all the support used during the investment can be reclaimed.
At FIX, we run this process from start to finish. Working alongside customs brokers, we prepare complete and accurate machinery lists and manage E-TUYS end to end, from registration to the completion visa.