Freelance work and remote software consulting have exploded in popularity across Turkey in recent years, particularly among expatriates, digital migrants, and young professionals in the tech sector. Turkey’s strategic location, lower cost of living, and increasingly digital infrastructure have made cities like Istanbul and Izmir hubs for remote developers and IT consultants working for foreign clients. However, while the business model is modern and flexible, the legal framework behind it is complex, fragmented, and, in many cases, poorly understood. Questions around tax residency, legal status, invoicing rights, social security obligations, and even intellectual property enforcement often go unaddressed until a problem arises.
At ER&GUN&ER Law Firm, we help freelance developers, tech consultants, and SaaS professionals working from Turkey understand their legal rights and obligations. As a trusted Turkish Law Firm with a focus on international technology law and remote work compliance, our English speaking Turkish lawyers provide legal clarity to professionals navigating between local and global regulatory systems. Whether you work as a contractor for a Silicon Valley firm or offer freelance backend development to a UK-based startup, your contract, tax setup, and IP protections in Turkey must be carefully structured to avoid liability, penalties, or breach of contract claims.
1. Defining Freelancer and Remote IT Consultant Status in Turkish Law
Turkish labor and tax laws do not use the term “freelancer” in a technical legal sense. Instead, individuals working independently must either register as “self-employed” (bağımsız çalışan) under the Tax Administration or establish a company—most commonly a sole proprietorship or limited liability company (LTD). If a remote IT consultant provides services to foreign clients without formal registration, they may fall into the grey zone of “unregistered economic activity,” which can lead to legal consequences such as fines, back taxes, and social security investigations.
Our Turkish Law Firm helps clarify whether you need to register under Bağ-Kur, establish a company, or invoice through a third-party platform. We analyze your activity based on Turkish definitions of independent professional service, economic substance, and recurring activity patterns. This classification affects not only your taxes, but also your access to legal protections under contract law, consumer law, and social security frameworks.
2. Legal Basis for Freelancer Contracts in Turkey
Freelancer agreements in Turkey are usually classified as service contracts (hizmet sözleşmesi) or contracts for work (eser sözleşmesi), depending on whether a specific deliverable or ongoing support is provided. Turkish contract law allows broad freedom of contract, but enforcement depends heavily on clarity, language, and structure. Clauses covering scope of services, deliverables, termination, IP, and jurisdiction must be legally precise. Oral agreements or downloaded templates often fail to meet the burden of proof in court.
At ER&GUN&ER Law Firm, our English speaking Turkish lawyers draft customized freelancer contracts in Turkey for software developers and IT consultants. We localize agreements to comply with Turkish Commercial Code requirements, adapt jurisdiction clauses for enforceability, and insert platform-specific risk mitigation clauses. This includes SaaS environments, code repositories, remote Git workflows, and even agile deliverable structures.
3. Invoicing and Tax Registration for Remote Freelancers in Turkey
One of the first legal requirements for freelancers and remote IT consultants in Turkey is proper tax registration. Individuals providing ongoing paid services must open a tax file with the local tax office (Vergi Dairesi) and obtain a personal tax identification number. For local clients, the freelancer must issue e-fatura (electronic invoice) in accordance with Turkish Revenue Administration standards. For foreign clients, invoices can be issued in foreign currency and sent digitally—however, the freelancer is still liable to declare this income for Turkish taxation.
At ER&GUN&ER Law Firm, our English speaking Turkish lawyers assist remote developers and freelancers with registration, e-fatura activation, and compliance with Turkish tax and invoicing laws. As a top-rated Turkish Law Firm, we ensure your income is declared correctly and protect you against audit exposure, missing documents, or retroactive penalties.
4. Social Security Obligations: Bağ-Kur vs. SGK
Freelancers in Turkey are generally required to register with the self-employed pension system known as Bağ-Kur. This is distinct from SGK (Social Security Institution), which covers salaried employees. If a remote IT consultant is not officially employed but provides continuous services, they must declare their activity and make monthly Bağ-Kur premium payments. Failing to do so can result in loss of health insurance, interest penalties, and inability to access retirement benefits.
Our legal team provides social security structuring based on work scope, income volume, and bilateral agreements if the freelancer is also covered in another country. We ensure our clients fulfill all freelancer social security obligations in Turkey while avoiding double contributions or gaps in coverage. As a proactive Turkish Law Firm, we also advise foreign freelancers on whether Turkey recognizes their home country’s insurance scheme and whether exemption certificates can be used.
5. Receiving Foreign Currency Payments and Banking Law
Many freelancers working from Turkey are paid in USD, EUR, or GBP from clients abroad. Turkish law permits invoicing and receiving payments in foreign currency for cross-border services, provided that the services are not consumed domestically. However, freelancers must declare these payments and convert them into Turkish lira within their books. They must also comply with anti-money laundering (AML) rules, bank reporting thresholds, and Central Bank audit practices—especially for wire transfers exceeding $10,000 or their equivalent.
At ER&GUN&ER Law Firm, we help freelance professionals structure foreign currency billing, prepare AML compliance documentation, and work with Turkish banks to avoid transaction blocks. Our English speaking Turkish lawyers provide legal support in creating transparent payment trails that satisfy local financial regulators.
6. Intellectual Property Ownership and Code Licensing
Remote developers often create code, APIs, UX elements, or databases that qualify as intellectual property under Turkish copyright law (FSEK). By default, the freelancer owns the IP unless it is explicitly assigned to the client through a written agreement. Failing to address IP transfer or licensing can result in future disputes—especially if the code is reused in other projects or commercialized by the client. Courts may require signed transfer clauses and proof of deliverables to determine rightful ownership.
Our Turkish Law Firm drafts IP clauses that cover moral rights, licensing models (exclusive, non-exclusive), and open-source restrictions. We protect freelancers against loss of control, and we help companies ensure full ownership of paid-for code. Whether your platform uses GitHub, Figma, AWS, or private servers, our lawyers know how to structure enforceable and developer-friendly IP rights.
7. Risk of Platform-Based Work: Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal
Many freelancers in Turkey use international platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, or Toptal to find clients. While these platforms offer convenience and access to global demand, they also create legal ambiguity. Income is often received via Payoneer or similar tools, bypassing traditional tax visibility. Turkish tax authorities are increasingly monitoring platform-based income for undeclared revenue, VAT evasion, and financial control risks. Moreover, platform terms rarely comply with Turkish law in case of disputes, leaving freelancers without local recourse.
We assist clients in regularizing platform income, adapting terms to Turkish jurisdiction when possible, and declaring marketplace earnings safely. Our English speaking Turkish lawyers also defend freelancers in audits or when PayPal-like services are frozen due to compliance concerns.
8. Permanent Establishment Risk for Foreign Companies
Foreign companies that hire Turkish freelancers without a clear contractual boundary may be deemed to have a “permanent establishment” (PE) in Turkey. This exposes the company to Turkish corporate tax, VAT, and potential employment liabilities. Risk factors include long-term exclusive relationships, use of company email addresses, provision of equipment, and regular meetings held within Turkish territory. If audited, companies may face fines or retroactive tax assessments.
Our Turkish Law Firm provides legal opinions and contract structuring that prevents permanent establishment risk. We help foreign employers draft remote agreements, structure invoicing through local entities, and assess compliance with tax treaties. As a best lawyer firm in Turkey for cross-border workforce law, we protect both the freelancer and the client against unintentional tax exposure.
9. NDAs and Confidentiality in Remote Projects
Freelancers and remote IT consultants often access sensitive source code, business logic, and personal data. Without a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), there’s no legal obligation to maintain confidentiality or limit reuse. Under Turkish law, breach of confidentiality is enforceable—but only if clearly stated and documented. Generalized trust is not enough.
At ER&GUN&ER Law Firm, our English speaking Turkish lawyers prepare NDAs tailored to freelance contracts, platform access, and development projects. We include confidentiality, non-circumvention, and post-contractual secrecy clauses. As a seasoned Turkish Law Firm, we protect innovation before it is compromised.
10. Termination Clauses and Dispute Resolution
Every freelance contract must include a termination clause. Turkish courts recognize fair cause, notice periods, and compensatory terms—but only if drafted clearly. Disputes over delivery, payment, or IP must have structured resolution steps (e.g., negotiation, mediation, arbitration).
We prepare termination clauses, choice-of-law provisions, and ISTAC-compatible arbitration models for international remote teams. If enforcement in Turkish courts becomes necessary, we provide the representation, proof structure, and execution strategy needed for freelancers to collect what they’re owed—or defend against unjust claims.
11. KVKK Compliance for Freelancers Handling Personal Data
Freelancers working on CRM platforms, user analytics, or web development often handle personal data, triggering Turkish KVKK (data protection law) obligations. If you collect, store, or process data, you may need data processing contracts, privacy policy reviews, and breach protocols—even as a solo contractor.
Our Turkish Law Firm ensures that freelancers and IT consultants are KVKK-compliant, particularly when handling customer, employee, or user-level data. We also guide clients through GDPR-KVKK alignment when Turkish contractors serve European entities.
12. Immigration and Visa Concerns for Foreign Freelancers in Turkey
Foreign freelancers living in Turkey long-term often overlook visa status. Tourist visas do not permit economic activity, and residence permits granted for “property rental” or “tourism” don’t legalize work. This creates immigration risks, especially if income is visible or disclosed.
Our English speaking Turkish lawyers advise on compliant visa paths for remote workers, including company setup, freelance registration, and executive permits. We assist with immigration filings, Ministry of Labor compliance, and risk-proofing digital nomad lifestyle models under Turkish law.
13. Work Permit Pathways for Freelancers and Consultants
Foreign freelancers who want full legal stability in Turkey can apply for work permits—usually via limited company formation or consultancy-based applications. These require proper contracts, a tax number, and office presence.
We handle work permit preparation, employer registration, contract formatting, and follow-up processes for freelancers ready to turn their Turkish base into a long-term, legal headquarters.
14. Litigation and Contract Enforcement in Turkish Courts
If a dispute escalates, freelancers must understand Turkish civil procedure. Court-based resolution requires a notarized contract (or admissible digital agreement), proper invoicing, delivery proof, and communication records. Unstructured deals often collapse at the first stage of litigation.
Our Turkish Law Firm represents freelancers in commercial court, labor disputes (where misclassification is claimed), and foreign jurisdiction enforcement matters. We manage the full dispute lifecycle—from letter of demand to court execution.
15. How a Turkish Law Firm Supports Freelancers and Developers
Freelance tech professionals face unique risks—contractual, financial, immigration, and regulatory. Without legal guidance, what begins as an efficient business model can turn into a tangle of unpaid invoices, visa issues, and unenforceable terms. From contract drafting to tax registration, and from IP defense to litigation, proper legal infrastructure is your competitive advantage.
At ER&GUN&ER Law Firm, we support developers, UX designers, cybersecurity experts, and SaaS consultants with legal structures that match their remote flexibility. As a top Turkish Law Firm for IT law and freelancer rights, our English speaking Turkish lawyers help you scale with confidence, structure with clarity, and resolve disputes before they begin.