Turkey - Legal Updates, Legal Highlights

Principle Decision on Sending Verification Code via SMS was published by the Personal Data Protection Board

In its principle decision dated 10 June 2025 and numbered 2025/1072 (“Principle Decision”), the Personal Data Protection Board (“Board”) set out the principles regarding the processing of personal data in the context of sending verification codes via SMS to data subjects during the provision of products and services. The Principle Decision is published in the Official Gazette dated 26 June 2025 and numbered 32938 and on the official website of the Personal Data Protection Authority.

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Regulation Amending the Regulation on Distance Contracts Published

The “Regulation Amending the Regulation on Distance Contracts” (“Amendment Regulation”), issued by the Ministry of Trade and published in the Official Gazette dated May 24, 2025, and numbered 32909, introduces new provisions regarding consumers’ right of withdrawal in distance sales contracts. These amendments to the Regulation on Distance Contracts (“”), which was originally enacted based on Articles 48 and 84 of the Law No. 6502 on the Protection of Consumers (“Law”), will come into effect on January 1, 2026.

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COMMUNIQUÉS ON CRYPTO ASSET SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED

The Communiqué on the Establishment and Operational Principles of Crypto Asset Service Providers (III-35/B.1) and the Communiqué on the Working Procedures, Principles, and Capital Adequacy of Crypto Asset Service Providers (III-35/B.2), which have been prepared by the Capital Markets Board (“Board”), have been published in the Official Gazette dated March 13, 2025. These communiqués have set out the procedures and principles regarding the establishment, commencement of operations, activities, and suspension of activities of crypto asset service providers.

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New Regulations Introduced in the Classification of Goods and Services for Trademark Applications Under Communiqué No. 2024/2

The Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (“TÜRKPATENT”) has revised the List of Goods and Services for trademark applications. The changes were published in the Communiqué on the Classification of Goods and Services for Trademark Applications No. 2024/2 (“Communiqué”) in the Official Gazette dated 20 December 2024 and numbered 32758, entering into force as of its publication date. This regulation repealed the previous Communiqué No. 2016/2, published in the Official Gazette dated 30 December 2016 and numbered 29934.

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E-Government Lease Agreement Period Begins

The Ministry of Treasury and Finance (“Ministry”) announced that a new service (“Service”) will be introduced for the execution of lease agreements via e-Government and the Service is planned in two phases.

The first phase was introduced via e-Government as of 04.11.2024 and the second phase is expected to be introduced at the end of the year.

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New Regulations Have Been Introduced Regarding Lease Payments in Residential and Workplaces

With the Income Tax General Communiqué published in the Official Gazette No. 32695 on October 17, 2024, and came into effect on the same date, an obligation for certification (providing with documentation) has been introduced in lease payments related to residential and workplaces, along with penalties for violations of this obligation.

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Significant Amendments Made Regarding Work Permit Evaluation Criteria

In accordance with the annex to the Regulation on the Implementation of the International Workforce Law (“Regulation”) published in the Official Gazette dated 02.02.2022 and numbered 31738, the “Work Permit Evaluation Criteria” used by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security (“Ministry”) during the evaluation process of work permit applications have been updated pursuant to Article 22 of the Regulation.

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Amendments Have Been Made to the Regulation on Business Opening and Operating Licenses

The Regulation Amending the Regulation on Business Opening and Operating Licenses (“Amendment Regulation”), which was published in the Official Gazette No. 32688 dated October 10, 2024, and came into effect on the same date, has introduced several changes to the relevant provisions of the Regulation on Business Opening and Operating Licenses (“Regulation”).

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Amendment to the Communiqué on the Protection of the Value of the Turkish Currency No. 32

Communiqué (Communiqué No: 2024-32/70) Amending the Communiqué on the Decree No: 32686 on the Protection of the Value of Turkish Currency (Communiqué No: 32686) published in the Official Gazette dated 08.10.2024 and numbered 2024-32/70), which entered into force on the date of its publication.

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Important Amendments to the Animal Protection Law and Our Opinions

The Law on Amendments to the Animal Protection Law (“Law Amendment”), which involves changes to the Animal Protection Law No. 5199 (“Law”), was published in the Official Gazette on August 2, 2024, and came into effect on the same date.

This article has been prepared to summarize and comment on the significant changes.

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Amendments to Customs Law No. 4458

The Decision Concerning the Amendment to the Decision on the Implementation of Certain Articles of the Customs Law No. 4458 ("Decision Amendment") was published in the Official Gazette, and the changes brought by the Decision Amendment will come into force as of August 21, 2024.

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Enforced Collection of Social Security Institution’s Receivables

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Recent Important Decisions by the Board of Advertisement

Advertisements must comply with the principles determined by the Board of Advertisement (“Board”) operating under the General Directorate of Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance of the Ministry of Trade, and must be appropriate to general morality, public order, personal rights, and must be truthful and honest.

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The Regulation On The Procedures and Principles Regarding the Transfer Of Personal Data Abroad Has Been Published

Long-awaited amendments to the Law No. 6698 on the Protection of Personal Data (“Personal Data Protection Law”) have been implemented through the Law No. 7499 on the Amendment of the Criminal Procedure Code and Some Other Laws . Although the provisions amending the Personal Data Protection Law came into force on June 1, 2024, the secondary regulations that will determine the details regarding the transfer of personal data abroad have not been published during this process, delaying the steps to comply with the new rules.

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Effective Regulations Have Been Introduced Regarding Crypto Assets

With the Law on Amendments to the Capital Markets Law, accepted on 26.06.2024 and published in the Resmi Gazete on 02.07.2024, the following definitions have been added to Article 3 of the Capital Markets Law No. 6362:

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