Lawyer carrying a folder down courthouse steps

Suing in Turkey as a Foreigner: Jurisdiction, Costs, Security and Procedure

By Av. Talha Yayla · November 1, 2026 · 16 min read

A foreign individual or company can bring a lawsuit in Turkey (Türkiye) on the same footing as a Turkish claimant, without living here and without attending in person. Three things are different: a foreign claimant may be ordered to deposit security for the defendant's costs unless exempt by reciprocity or treaty (International Private and Procedural Law No. 5718, Art. 48); every foreign document must be legalised and translated (Civil Procedure Code No. 6100, Art. 224); and serving a defendant abroad adds months. In most commercial, employment, consumer and tenancy disputes, a mediation attempt is compulsory before the claim can be filed.

Whether the dispute is an unpaid invoice, a property deal gone wrong, a defective product, a partnership dispute or a claim against a former employer, the practical questions are the same: can I sue in Turkey, what does it cost, how long does it take, do I have to come, and what happens if I win. This guide answers them in order.

Jurisdiction: Turkish courts' international jurisdiction follows the domestic rules on venue (Law No. 5718, Art. 40) — chiefly the defendant's domicile (Civil Procedure Code Art. 6).
Security for costs: may be required from foreign claimants; exemption on the basis of reciprocity (Law No. 5718, Art. 48). Not required from a claimant with legal aid or sufficient real estate in Turkey (Civil Procedure Code Art. 85).
If security is not provided in time: the case is dismissed on procedural grounds (Art. 88).
Costs on filing: court fees and an advance on expenses (Art. 120).
Foreign documents: certification by the issuing state's authority or the Turkish consulate, subject to treaties such as the Apostille Convention (Art. 224).
Foreign law: applied by the judge of his or her own motion where the conflict rules point to it (Law No. 5718, Art. 2).
Choice of law and forum: respected in contracts with a foreign element, within limits (Law No. 5718, Art. 24, 47).
Representation: by a lawyer under a notarised power of attorney (Civil Procedure Code Art. 76).

Legal status of this guide. It reflects the Civil Procedure Code and Law No. 5718 as in force. Court fees, advances and the official minimum lawyers' fee tariff are revised every year, and monetary thresholds for courts and appeals change with them; they are not stated here. Last updated: October 2026.

Can you sue in Turkey?

Capacity to sue is not restricted by nationality or residence. The question is whether a Turkish court has jurisdiction. The international jurisdiction of Turkish courts is determined by the domestic rules on territorial jurisdiction (Law No. 5718, Art. 40): if any court in Turkey would have venue under the Civil Procedure Code, the Turkish courts have international jurisdiction.

Connection	Result
The defendant is domiciled in Turkey	The court of the defendant's domicile at the date of filing has general jurisdiction (Art. 6). With several defendants, the claim may be brought where any one is domiciled (Art. 7).
The contract was to be performed in Turkey	The court of the place of performance also has jurisdiction (Art. 10).
The wrongful act happened, or the damage occurred, in Turkey	The courts of those places, and of the injured party's domicile, have jurisdiction in tort.
The dispute concerns real estate in Turkey	The court of the place where the property is situated has exclusive jurisdiction for rights in rem.
The defendant has no domicile in Turkey but has assets here	Claims for money may be brought where the assets are located.
Employment, consumer and insurance contracts	Special protective rules in Law No. 5718 allow the weaker party to sue where he or she lives or works, and cannot be displaced by agreement.
Inheritance	The court of the deceased's last domicile in Turkey; failing that, where the estate's assets are.

Jurisdiction and choice-of-law clauses

Where venue is not exclusive, parties to a dispute with a foreign element arising from obligations may agree that a foreign court is to hear it; the agreement is valid if evidenced in writing, and a Turkish court will then hear the case only if the foreign court declines jurisdiction or no objection is raised (Law No. 5718, Art. 47). Conversely, a clause choosing the Turkish courts is respected. Check the contract before filing: suing in Turkey in the face of a valid foreign jurisdiction or arbitration clause will be met by an objection that ends the case.

Contractual obligations are governed by the law the parties expressly chose; an implied choice that emerges without doubt from the contract or the circumstances is also valid (Art. 24). A Turkish court can therefore decide a dispute under English, German or another law.

Which court

Civil court of first instance (asliye hukuk): general civil claims.
Commercial court (asliye ticaret): disputes between merchants and matters classified as commercial — company law, negotiable instruments, banking, insurance, carriage.
Civil court of peace (sulh hukuk): tenancy and eviction, condominium disputes, partition of co-owned property, certain non-contentious matters.
Consumer court: disputes between consumers and businesses above the threshold for consumer arbitration committees.
Labour court: employment disputes.
Family court: divorce, custody, maintenance, recognition of foreign family judgments.
Intellectual property court, cadastral court, enforcement court: specialised matters.
Administrative and tax courts: claims against public authorities — a separate branch with its own procedure and short time limits.

Filing in the wrong court is not fatal — the file is transferred — but costs months.

Before filing: mediation and notices

Mandatory mediation

In a growing list of disputes, applying to a mediator is a precondition of suing; a claim filed without it is dismissed. The list includes employment claims, commercial claims for money, consumer disputes within the consumer courts' jurisdiction, tenancy disputes, disputes between neighbours and condominium owners, and partition of co-ownership. The application is made at the mediation office in the courthouse; a mediator is assigned from an official roster and holds a meeting, which a lawyer can attend for you. The process is designed to finish within weeks. A settlement is enforceable; a record of non-agreement is attached to the claim.

A party who fails to attend the first meeting without a valid excuse is held liable for half of the litigation costs the other side would owe, even if it wins, and is awarded only half of the statutory lawyer's fee. Give your lawyer authority to attend and, if you wish, to settle.

Notices

Many claims require the debtor to be put in default, or a contract terminated, by a notice — usually sent through a notary so that content and date are provable. Interest often runs from that date.

Limitation

The general limitation period is ten years; five years for rent, interest, wages and several trade and service claims; shorter periods for tort, defects, insurance and transport. Some rights are subject to forfeiture periods of weeks or months. Establish the period before anything else; an application to mediation suspends it for the duration.

Security for costs

Foreign natural and legal persons who bring a lawsuit, intervene in one or start enforcement proceedings in a Turkish court must provide the security the court determines to cover the costs of the proceedings and the other party's loss. The court exempts the claimant from security on the basis of reciprocity (Law No. 5718, Art. 48).

Reciprocity by treaty. Turkey and many other states are party to the Hague Convention on Civil Procedure of 1954, under which nationals of contracting states domiciled in one of them are exempt. Bilateral judicial assistance agreements have the same effect. Reciprocity can also be legislative or factual.
Other exemptions. No security may be demanded where the claimant has been granted legal aid; has real estate in Turkey sufficient to cover the security, or a claim secured in rem; brings the action solely to protect a minor's interests; or is enforcing a judgment (Civil Procedure Code Art. 85). Turkish citizens without habitual residence in Turkey are in the same position as foreigners in this respect (Art. 84).
Amount and form. The judge sets the amount and form freely — cash deposit or a bank guarantee letter — and may later reduce, increase or lift it (Art. 87).
Consequence. If security is not provided within the peremptory period set by the judge, the case is dismissed on procedural grounds (Art. 88).
Return. The security is returned when the reason for it ceases — normally when the claimant wins or the costs are settled.

Raise the exemption in the petition itself, citing the treaty and attaching proof of nationality and domicile, rather than waiting for an order. Refugees and stateless persons are entitled to the same treatment as nationals in this respect under the relevant conventions. See our guide to legal aid in Turkey for foreigners.

What it costs

Item	When	Notes
Court fees	On filing	A fixed application fee, plus — in claims for money or valued assets — a proportional judgment fee calculated on the amount claimed, part of which is paid in advance and the balance by the losing party at the end. Some case types carry only fixed fees.
Advance on expenses	On filing (Art. 120)	For service, expert and inspection fees, according to an annual tariff. The court gives two weeks to top it up if it proves insufficient.
Mediation	Before filing	The first two hours are covered by the State in mandatory mediation if no agreement is reached; a tariff applies otherwise.
Translation, legalisation, notary	Before filing	Often the largest early cost for a foreign claimant.
Lawyer's fee	By agreement	Freely agreed, not below the official minimum tariff. Success-based fees are permitted within limits; a fee consisting solely of a share of the outcome is restricted.
Security for costs	If ordered	See above.

Who pays in the end

The losing party bears the court fees and litigation expenses, and pays the winner a statutory lawyer's fee calculated from the official tariff — not the fee actually agreed between the winner and its lawyer, which is usually higher. Where a claim succeeds in part, costs are apportioned. A claimant who inflates the amount claimed pays fees on, and risks costs for, the part that fails; in claims whose amount cannot be determined at the outset, the Code allows the claim to be filed for a provisional amount and increased once the evidence is in.

Interest is awarded at the statutory rate or the commercial default rate, from default or filing; for foreign-currency debts, at the rate applied by state banks to deposits in that currency.

Documents, language and foreign law

Language. Proceedings are in Turkish. Every document in another language must be accompanied by a translation by a sworn translator; where a party or witness does not speak Turkish, an interpreter is used, at that party's cost in civil cases.
Legalisation. Official documents issued by foreign authorities have that status in Turkey if certified by the competent authority of the issuing state or by the Turkish consulate; treaties to which Turkey is party are reserved (Art. 224). Between Apostille Convention states, an apostille suffices.
Evidence. Claims above a statutory value must in principle be proved by documents; witness evidence is not admitted to prove such a transaction or to contradict a document. Commercial books, emails, messages, bank records and expert reports are all used. Courts rely heavily on court-appointed experts; party-appointed expert opinions may be submitted.
Evidence must be identified early. A party must list its evidence in its pleadings; evidence produced late may be refused.
Foreign law. The judge applies the Turkish conflict rules and the foreign law they designate of his or her own motion, and may ask the parties for help in establishing its content. If the relevant provisions cannot be established despite all inquiries, Turkish law is applied (Law No. 5718, Art. 2). In practice the party relying on foreign law should file a legal opinion or official text; otherwise Turkish law will fill the gap.
Power of attorney. A lawyer must file a notarised power of attorney (Art. 76). Made abroad, it is signed at a Turkish consulate or before a notary with apostille. See our guide to powers of attorney for Turkey.

Wooden benches along a quiet courthouse corridor — Most of a Turkish civil case is conducted in writing. A represented party rarely needs to attend.

Serving the defendant

A case cannot progress until the defendant is validly served.

Defendant in Turkey. Service is by post to the registered address, or electronically for those obliged to hold an electronic notification address — companies and lawyers among them. A person who cannot be found at the address in the population register can be deemed served there.
Defendant abroad. Service follows the Hague Service Convention of 1965 where the other state is a party, a bilateral treaty, or diplomatic channels. Documents must be translated into the language of the receiving state. Expect several months; the court sets hearing dates far ahead to allow for it.
Turkish citizens abroad can be served through Turkish consulates.
Service by publication is available only as a last resort when the address cannot be established.

Defective service is a common ground on which a foreign court later refuses to recognise a Turkish judgment — and vice versa — so it is worth getting right even when it is slow.

The stages of a civil case

Exchange of pleadings. Statement of claim; statement of defence within two weeks of service, extendable; reply and rejoinder. Claims and defences cannot be widened or changed freely after this stage.
Preliminary examination. The court checks procedural conditions, identifies the points in dispute, invites settlement and sets the timetable for evidence.
Investigation. Documents are collected, witnesses heard, experts appointed, sites inspected. Hearings are short and spaced weeks or months apart; most of the work is written.
Oral argument and judgment. The operative part is read at the last hearing; the reasoned judgment is written and served later, and time for appeal runs from its service.

There are no juries and no extended oral trial. A single judge sits in most courts; a panel in commercial courts for larger cases. The simplified procedure used in several courts shortens the pleading stage. The court may hold hearings by video link at a party's request.

Do you need to attend? Not usually. A party represented by a lawyer need not appear, except where personally summoned — for questioning on a specific fact or for an oath — or in family cases where the judge wishes to hear the spouses.

How long? A straightforward first-instance case takes one to two years; complex commercial or construction disputes with several expert reports take longer. Appeal adds a year or more.

Securing the claim: interim measures

A judgment against a defendant with nothing left is worth nothing. Turkish law offers two main tools, available before or with the claim:

Precautionary attachment (ihtiyati haciz) for money claims that are due and not secured by a pledge: the court allows the defendant's bank accounts, receivables, vehicles and real estate to be attached pending judgment. For debts not yet due it is available where the debtor has no fixed domicile or is hiding or removing assets or preparing to abscond. The claimant must then file the action or enforcement proceedings within a short period.
Interim injunction (ihtiyati tedbir) to preserve the subject of the dispute: an annotation on a title deed preventing transfer, an order not to dispose of shares or goods, an order to maintain the status quo.

Both are granted on a showing that the claim is probably well founded, often without hearing the other side first, and usually against security from the applicant, who is liable if the measure proves unjustified. For a foreign claimant against a Turkish debtor, an early attachment is often the single most valuable step. See our guide to how debts are enforced in Turkey.

Considering a claim in Turkey? Send the contract, the correspondence and the amount in dispute. We will tell you which court, whether mediation is required, whether you are exempt from security and what the realistic costs and time are. Message Yayla Law on WhatsApp or use the contact form.

Appeal and enforcement

Appeal

Judgments above a monetary threshold can be appealed to the regional court of appeal (istinaf) within two weeks of service of the reasoned judgment. The regional court reviews facts and law and can decide the case afresh. A further appeal on points of law to the Court of Cassation (temyiz) is available above a higher threshold and in specified categories.

Enforcement

Money judgments can generally be enforced before they are final; the debtor may obtain a stay by depositing security. Judgments on rights in rem over real estate and on family and personal status are enforceable only when final. Enforcement is carried out by the enforcement office: attachment of accounts, salary and property, and sale by auction.

Enforcing a Turkish judgment abroad

If the defendant's assets are outside Turkey, the Turkish judgment must be recognised there under that country's rules. Consider at the outset where the assets are: it may be better to sue where they are, or to obtain attachments in both places.

Enforcing a foreign judgment in Turkey

If you already hold a judgment from another country, you do not start again: you ask a Turkish court to declare it enforceable. See our guide to enforcing a foreign judgment in Turkey.

Alternatives to a lawsuit

Enforcement proceedings without a judgment. For a money debt, a creditor can have a payment order served through the enforcement office; if the debtor does not object within seven days, the creditor proceeds straight to attachment. If the debtor objects, a lawsuit follows, but an unjustified objection to a liquidated debt carries a penalty of at least twenty per cent. See our guide to payment orders in Turkey.
Arbitration. Where the contract contains an arbitration clause, the dispute goes to arbitration, seated in Turkey or abroad. Turkey is party to the New York Convention, and foreign awards are enforced through a court procedure. For cross-border commercial contracts, arbitration is often preferable to either party's home courts.
Consumer arbitration committees for small consumer claims: free, written, no lawyer required. See our guide to consumer rights in Turkey.
Criminal complaint. Where the facts amount to fraud or breach of trust, a complaint can lead to asset seizures and pressure to pay, alongside the civil claim. See our guide to filing a fraud complaint.
Negotiated settlement, recorded before a mediator or in a document signed by the parties and their lawyers that the court can certify as enforceable.

Frequently asked questions

Can a foreigner file a lawsuit in Turkey?

Yes. Foreign individuals and companies can sue wherever a Turkish court has jurisdiction — typically where the defendant lives, where the contract was to be performed or where the property is.

Do I have to be in Turkey?

No. A lawyer acts for you under a notarised power of attorney, which you can sign at a Turkish consulate or before a notary with apostille.

Will I have to pay security for costs?

Possibly. Foreign claimants can be ordered to deposit security, but are exempt on the basis of reciprocity — in practice under the Hague Civil Procedure Convention or a bilateral treaty — and where they have legal aid or sufficient real estate in Turkey.

How much does it cost to sue in Turkey?

Court fees, part of which is proportional to the amount claimed, an advance on expenses, translation and legalisation costs, and your lawyer's fee. The loser reimburses court costs and a statutory lawyer's fee, not the full fee you agreed.

How long does a case take?

Typically one to two years at first instance and a year or more on appeal. Service on a defendant abroad adds several months.

Is mediation compulsory?

In employment, commercial money claims, consumer, tenancy and several other disputes, yes. A claim filed without it is dismissed.

Can a Turkish court apply foreign law?

Yes. Where the parties chose a foreign law or the conflict rules point to one, the judge applies it and may ask the parties to help establish its content.

Can I freeze the defendant's assets before judgment?

Yes, by precautionary attachment or interim injunction, usually against security, where the claim is shown to be probably well founded.

I already have a judgment from my own country. Do I need to sue again?

No. You apply to a Turkish court for recognition and enforcement of the foreign judgment.

Legal basis and sources

Civil Procedure Code No. 6100, Articles 6–10, 76, 84–89, 120 and 224 — official consolidated text at mevzuat.gov.tr.
International Private and Procedural Law No. 5718, Articles 2, 24, 40–48 — mevzuat.gov.tr.
Law No. 6325 on Mediation in Civil Disputes; Enforcement and Bankruptcy Law No. 2004.
Hague Conventions on Civil Procedure (1954), Apostille (1961) and Service Abroad (1965).

This article provides general legal information on Turkish law as of October 2026. It is not legal advice. Fees, thresholds and time limits depend on the type and value of each claim.