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Practising law in Turkey as a foreign lawyer

No route for foreign-qualified lawyersLimited home-law practice is possible

Under the Attorneyship Law, only Turkish citizens can be registered as attorneys. Foreign lawyers can work only through a foreign attorney partnership, and only on foreign and international law, with no right to appear in Turkish courts.

Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

Rules change. This page describes the kinds of route that exist. The regulator listed under “Official sources” publishes the current requirements, fees and dates, so always confirm with them. This is general information, not legal advice.

The routes

Foreign attorney partnership

For: Foreign lawyers who want to work in Turkey on foreign and international law.

  1. Form a partnership of foreign attorneys, or of foreign and Turkish attorneys, in line with the foreign investment rules and on a reciprocal basis.
  2. Apply to the bar association of the province where you will practise. The Union of Turkish Bar Associations assesses the application and the Ministry of Justice confirms it.
  3. Do not start work until the partnership is registered.

The partners do not enrol with a Turkish bar. The partnership may work only in the areas of foreign and international law.

Practising only your home-country law

A foreign attorney partnership may advise on foreign and international law. Foreign lawyers cannot represent clients before Turkish courts, and can take part only in an advisory role alongside a Turkish attorney.

Understand the legal system first

Turkey belongs to the Civil law family. Knowing how its system works makes the admission route easier to follow.

Read the Turkey legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Compare Turkey with another country →

Official sources

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TheLawToKnow Tools’s Bar Admission guide is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the regulator’s own information. Report a mistake.