Since 2 January 2026, citizens of the People’s Republic of China who hold an ordinary passport can enter Türkiye without a visa for tourist travel and transit. The legal basis is Presidential Decision No. 10798, dated 31 December 2025 and published in the Official Gazette the same day (No. 33124, 5th repeated issue), under article 18 of Law No. 6458 on Foreigners and International Protection.
For investors in mainland China, this makes a first visit to Türkiye as a tourist simpler. It does not, however, change the rules on working in Türkiye, and its wording is narrow.
What the decision says
The decision grants a visa exemption to:
- citizens of the People’s Republic of China holding ordinary passports (umuma mahsus pasaport); other passport types are not mentioned;
- for tourist travel and transit;
- for stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period;
- from 2 January 2026.
That is the entire decision. It does not mention business travel.
Is a business trip covered?
The decision speaks of tourist travel and transit only. It does not say whether meetings with partners, banks or advisers, site visits or attending a signing count as “tourist” travel, and we have not seen an official statement that settles the question.
So before a trip whose purpose is business, ask a Turkish embassy or consulate which entry basis applies to your visit. Do this before you book, and keep their answer.
Visa-free entry is not permission to work
Working in Türkiye requires a work permit or a work permit exemption under the International Labour Force Law (No. 6735); a work permit or exemption also counts as a residence permit. Longer stays need a residence permit. The visa exemption changes none of this.
Some roles are treated differently. For example, board members of a joint-stock company (A.Ş.) who do not live in Türkiye, and partners of other companies who are not managers, fall under the work permit exemption rules. The manager of a limited company (Ltd. Şti.) who works in Türkiye needs a work permit. Check the route for each person before anyone starts work.
The cost for employers since July 2025
A regulation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Ministry of the Interior, in force since 23 July 2025 (Official Gazette No. 32964), applies when a foreigner found working without a permit is deported. Where the Presidency of Migration Management pays from its budget for the foreigner’s accommodation, the journey home and, if needed, health care, including for a spouse and children, and these costs cannot be recovered from the foreigner, they are collected from the employer or the employer’s representative.
This comes on top of the administrative fines under Law No. 6735. Visa-free tourist entry makes the point more relevant, not less: someone who enters as a tourist and then works without a permit is still working without a permit.
Forming a company: you do not have to travel
Do you need to come to Türkiye to form a company? Not necessarily. There are two routes:
- Power of attorney (POA): you sign a power of attorney before a notary in mainland China, have it apostilled and send it to Türkiye; we complete the formation for you. This costs USD 3,000 without a package, which covers the complete formation, or USD 4,950 + 3,000 with the Professional package, plus government fees in both cases. See company formation with power of attorney.
- Signing in person: the founder signs at the trade registry in Türkiye. Formation on this basis is included in our Professional package (USD 4,950 per year plus government fees) and is also available on its own for USD 1,250 plus government fees; see pricing.
Prices exclude VAT: no VAT for clients invoiced outside Türkiye; 20% VAT is added for clients in Türkiye.
If you choose to come in person, confirm the correct entry basis for that trip with a Turkish embassy or consulate first, as explained above.
What this means for you
- Holiday or transit: no visa is needed with an ordinary PRC passport, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Business trip: check with a Turkish embassy or consulate before travelling.
- Staff for Türkiye: obtain the work permit or exemption before anyone starts work.
- Company formation: choose the POA route if you prefer not to travel.
ETITAX is a firm of licensed Turkish CPAs (SMMM): we do not handle visas or entry applications, and this article is for information only. For company formation, bookkeeping and tax, read our step-by-step formation guide or contact us.
You can write to us in Chinese or English: WeChat ID etitax, e-mail info@etitax.com, WhatsApp +90 532 061 99 83 (it may not be reachable from mainland China; WeChat or e-mail works better there), office +90 442 213 94 04.
